Parelli

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Sophskies

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Can any body suggest a decent parelli instructor around the Maidstone (Kent area) who could come out and help me with my horses manners on the ground? She is lovely to ride but an absolute aggressive pain around the stable, she hates having her tummy touched and her girth done up (unless you take her away from her stable and then she is an angel about it). She puts her ears right back snakes her head round and grinds her teeth in your face, and has also squealed at me and kicked out whilst I'm grooming. Back all checked and nothing painful there, she is also much happier and easier to handle after she has been ridden. I just want some help to correct her moodiness around the yard as otherwise she is perfect for me.

Thanks!
 
Are you determined to go down the parelli route, or will someone who teaches good old-fashioned horsemanship be suitable?
 
Faracat said:
I'm just wondering if you have ruled out ulcers as the cause of this behaviour?
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Hopefully someone who understands good old-fashioned horsemanship would spot the difference between bad manners as a result of bad handling and bad manners as a result of pain.
 
jemima*askin said:
Hopefully someone who understands good old-fashioned horsemanship would spot the difference between bad manners as a result of bad handling and bad manners as a result of pain.
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One would hope so, yes, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it.

What would be the Parelli approach to this situation?
 
It screams ulcers to me, OP. Parelli is quite a harsh training technique and can certainly be helpful when dealing with aggressive or bolshy horses. I don't practice it myself, but do use the rope halters and long lines. However, in your case, I really would be getting her scoped for ulcers before assuming her behaviour is pure aggression.
 
As others have already mentioned, that behavior sounds symptomatic of ulcers, not just plain bad manners. I think you need a vet to scope your mare, and a change in diet to something high in fibre and low in sugar and starch.
 
How about NH ....the recommended associate in the area is in Sittingbourne and is Suzanne Harsley......nee Marshal. At Friday Fields stables.

After a check up eith the vet maybe
 
IME...bad behaviour or naughtiness is usually either a response to pain, remembered pain or the anticipation of pain. If your mare is sweet in other ways except when you saddle / girth then it sounds as though she is trying to tell you something.
 
I'd be happy with anyone who can make her behave! Doesn't have to have a label on it. I don't think it's ulcers as its only when she is in or tied up to her stable, when you lead her away from it and do up the girth or touch her she is absolutely fine and also fine to handle in the field. x
 
stilltrying said:
IME...bad behavior or naughtiness is usually either a response to pain, remembered pain or the anticipation of pain. If your mare is sweet in other ways except when you saddle / girth then it sounds as though she is trying to tell you something.
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Yes I thought this too, unfortunately as I've just bought her from a dealer I don't have any previous history so can't put it down to a bad past experience, which is why I wanted to have someone out to assess her behavior. x
 
Sounds like a past association with stable + immediate area. I took on an abused pony who was dangerously aggressive to children (as they had abused her, repeated beatings with whip), with me, as an adult she was able to differentiate me from a child. If she has been abused in stable and when tied up outside she may be going down 'I need to get you before you hurt me' route (like my pony), away from that area she doesn't get that stress as she's never been hurt there. If not ulcers, which change in behaviour wouldn't support, I'd suspect it's fear aggression from abusive handling. Would suggest you go for sensible, very experienced instructor who doesn't resort to heavy handed tactics as that would exacerbate situation. Taking mare into school (where parelli seems to be mainly done or in a field) wont help that much as that is not where behaviour occurs. Have to say really not a fan of that training method from personal experience.
 
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I've never fully tacked her up loose but I put the girth on the first hole due to all the issues then lead her away from her stable and do it right up and she doesn't bat an eyelid. x
 
pip6 said:
Sounds like a past association with stable + immediate area. I took on an abused pony who was dangerously aggressive to children (as they had abused her, repeated beatings with whip), with me, as an adult she was able to differentiate me from a child. If she has been abused in stable and when tied up outside she may be going down 'I need to get you before you hurt me' route (like my pony), away from that area she doesn't get that stress as she's never been hurt there. If not ulcers, which change in behaviour wouldn't support, I'd suspect it's fear aggression from abusive handling. Would suggest you go for sensible, very experienced instructor who doesn't resort to heavy handed tactics as that would exacerbate situation. Taking mare into school (where parelli seems to be mainly done or in a field) wont help that much as that is not where behaviour occurs. Have to say really not a fan of that training method from personal experience.
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Yes it's the change in behavior away from her stables that makes me doubt ulcers - I put her on ulcer gard just in case to see if there was a difference and there hasn't been. I agree that I need someone experienced to help out, and yes join up in the school has been done, although she was a tad face pully about me touching her ribs to move her over in the school that was more a " her space" issue I think, she got over this quickly and she behaved beautifully and was slightly improved when we took her back to her stable after some gentle join up, moving her out of my space and touching around her girth area, we managed to do it back at the stable too without any face pulling, but up the next day outside the stable starting afresh we had the same old grumpiness. She is a competition horse and has been in SJ yards so it is indeed possible that someone has not been nice to her. After she is ridden she is nice, she even gives you kisses. It's difficult :( Do you have any reccommendations of a good instructor who could possibly help?
 
I have found that horses which have been tied up and then handled roughly, respond well to being given a large pile of hay to eat, loose, during the grooming and tacking up process. You do need to have your wits about you though. I would look for a well-respected experienced horseperson to help you but would avoid Parelli-type training methods as these can be very heavy handed.
 
fburton said:
One would hope so, yes, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it.

What would be the Parelli approach to this situation?
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When my horse first showed signs of intermittent lameness, my Parelli instructor stopped short our lesson, had a cup of tea & discussed the options.

On her advice, I called the vet, had the lameness investigated, followed the veterinary plan agreed with the vet & she even lent me a couple if items to aid his treatment/recovery.

She made absolutely no money out of me for 3 months (nor did the Parelli programme) - but in this time, she kept in touch to ask after him & even popped in to say hello a few times when I was on the yard to see us both & she was teaching up the road.

I agree, I would get the vet out before starting with Parelli, as I'd recommend before any training if the horse is showing signs that could be discomfort.

I've not read the other responses, as from experience, a Parelli thread only tends to go one way on here (apologies, if I'm wrong on this occasion).

I believe Terri Martinus covers Kent though, I've not had her teach me myself on my horse, but I've attended a horse-less clinic she ran & she was lovely. I've watched her teach horses too & was very inmpressed :)
 
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If you have only recently bought her, just give her some time. Be gentle with her (I'm sure you are being!) ignore her bad behaviour and let her realise that you're not so bad after all! You may find that the aggressive behaviour will slowly stop.
I had a similar situation with my horse, also bought from a dealer, who was aggressive in the stable especially around food. With time, as he became more comfortable with me, the behaviour stopped and he turned into a really sweet horse.
 
Sophskies said:
Can any body suggest a decent parelli instructor around the Maidstone (Kent area) who could come out and help me with my horses manners on the ground? She is lovely to ride but an absolute aggressive pain around the stable, she hates having her tummy touched and her girth done up (unless you take her away from her stable and then she is an angel about it). She puts her ears right back snakes her head round and grinds her teeth in your face, and has also squealed at me and kicked out whilst I'm grooming. Back all checked and nothing painful there, she is also much happier and easier to handle after she has been ridden. I just want some help to correct her moodiness around the yard as otherwise she is perfect for me.

Thanks!
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Parelli is a method of horse training. However, you're describing a horse with a behaviour problem, which may be the result of either pain/discomfort, or of previous bad handling. For behaviour change, rather than consulting a trainer, I would suggest you would be better contacting a qualified behaviourist. Suzanne Rogers covers your area, and would be able to give you insight into the possible causes of the problem, as well as ways of dealing with it. In addition, since she's a behaviourist, she works under vet referral, so if the issue is related to pain she is best placed to liaise with your vet :) http://www.learningaboutanimals.co.uk/page14.html
 
OP returning to the original question about Parelli and how to learn. The basic games are just basically finding a way to move your horse around, which is the basis of any horse skills - from polo to dressage.

In the absence of a good teacher ( a good teacher is always best but they are not always easy to come by!), you can access them by the internet. I think they do have something to recommend them, though the trick is to make them your own, take what you need and don't just follow them like a sheep. The devil in Parelli is when it become a cult, not just part of the horsemanship puzzle along with other influences. So if you just sign up (I think it is about £7 a month) watch, get some inspiration and then take what you need.

Personally, I quite like the first 5 games and they certainly reminded me of the importance of being in charge of all 4 feet of my horse at all time and getting the horse to move around and also they meant that you can take it under saddle and thats always a good feeling. I loathe the last 2 games - but thats just me.

Like everyone else says though, a chat with the vet would be a good thing to do as well.
 
Brightbay said:
Parelli is a method of horse training. However, you're describing a horse with a behaviour problem, which may be the result of either pain/discomfort, or of previous bad handling. For behaviour change, rather than consulting a trainer, I would suggest you would be better contacting a qualified behaviourist. Suzanne Rogers covers your area, and would be able to give you insight into the possible causes of the problem, as well as ways of dealing with it. In addition, since she's a behaviourist, she works under vet referral, so if the issue is related to pain she is best placed to liaise with your vet :) http://www.learningaboutanimals.co.uk/page14.html
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LIKE. what a sensible post.
 
NativePonyLover said:
When my horse first showed signs of intermittent lameness, my Parelli instructor stopped short our lesson, had a cup of tea & discussed the options.

On her advice, I called the vet, had the lameness investigated, followed the veterinary plan agreed with the vet & she even lent me a couple if items to aid his treatment/recovery.
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What a refreshingly sane post - thanks for that, NPL.
 
canteron said:
OP returning to the original question about Parelli and how to learn. The basic games are just basically finding a way to move your horse around, which is the basis of any horse skills - from polo to dressage.

In the absence of a good teacher ( a good teacher is always best but they are not always easy to come by!), you can access them by the internet. I think they do have something to recommend them, though the trick is to make them your own, take what you need and don't just follow them like a sheep. The devil in Parelli is when it become a cult, not just part of the horsemanship puzzle along with other influences. So if you just sign up (I think it is about £7 a month) watch, get some inspiration and then take what you need.

Personally, I quite like the first 5 games and they certainly reminded me of the importance of being in charge of all 4 feet of my horse at all time and getting the horse to move around and also they meant that you can take it under saddle and thats always a good feeling. I loathe the last 2 games - but thats just me.

Like everyone else says though, a chat with the vet would be a good thing to do as well.
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Thanks for this sounds very helpful I will have a look. :)
 
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