Parelli's view on safety helmets!

If the message wasn't being diluted by the contradictory text first dissing people who wear helmets, then offering their own brand of helmet for sale, then I would say there is SOME TRUTH in the message.

Nobody should rely upon a hat to keep them safe when around horses. Nobody should be led into the belief that if they wear a hat, they are safe around horses.

Far far better to learn enough about horse body language, horse behaviour (single horses and horses when loose in pairs, in herds, mares with foals, geldings with other geldings, geldings with one mare, etc) so that you are in a better knowledge position to hopefully avoid putting yourself into a vulnerable position in the first place.

So yes I agree with the first sentiment - to maximise your safety, you should learn to understand horse body language first so that you can place yourself correctly. But that sentiment is undermined by then being able to buy a specially branded safety hat.
 
LOL!

... Ah well ... Good for a laugh!

I have a client who is mostly terrified when riding. Therefore, she will only get on her ancient mare who was plod and plod. Luckily, she is cowardly enough to wear a helmet as said ancient mare fell onto her knees on a downhill slope and client went toppling off down the hill. Hat was crushed in on one side ... Looks like an innocuous fall as well, but actually the impact was severe. Mare's knees damaged too.
 
A riding hat is just like a car seat belt , it protects you( a certain amount ) when stuff goes wrong.
With horses like cars stuff does go wrong but then most of the parelli stuff I have ever seen is based around not riding so what does it matter.
 
What a load of bl**dy drivel!

I will admit, I have used some Parelli methods in the past and have often spoke good things about them, but that was the biggest load of horse poo I have ever read.

Do they expect horses to never get scared of a bird flying out a tree, or an unexpected car to come flying round the corner?
 
MissTyc- Thats a very good point, a horse could be as 'safe as houses' yet nobody can predict things like tripping when cantering or god forbid a car striking you both causing the horse to fall. In some situations the horse is 100% innocent of any blame yet you could still end up with a head injury without a hat on!
 
I presume all that carrot stick waving also means their horses will never slip on damp ground, or misjudge a stride to a fixed fence and have a rotational / trip / ditch rider through no fault of horse?

Those are some powerful sticks they're selling :cool:
 
ahhhh !!! I should have been using the Parelli technique .. that was the problem when my mare slipped, fell and deposited me onto a stone head first ! hat split in 2 - minor concussion ... but if I had been applying the Parelli method I would be ... wait for ... DEAD ! ooohhhh they are a bunch of *****
 
I don't understand how a helmet affects your balance and perception, unless you're riding around in your WW1 antique. Mine, on the other hand, is pretty light.
 
JFTD said:
I presume all that carrot stick waving also means their horses will never slip on damp ground, or misjudge a stride to a fixed fence and have a rotational / trip / ditch rider through no fault of horse?

Those are some powerful sticks they're selling :cool:
Click to expand...

If they had used this as their marketing angle, I would be the proud owner of many of these magic sticks - I'd have them all over the yard within easy reach for all occasions
 
I have had some lessons with two different Parelli instructors, one of whom is a personal friend. They both insist that I wear an approved helmet when mounted (Charles Owen not Parelli if anyone cares). My classical instructor feels that the wearing of a helmet is personal choice - I generally wear one in her lessons but she does not if she hops on.

It is worth noting that PP and LP are based in the US where the attitude to helmets is completely different to here- I used to compete IHSA western over there and we weren't allowed to wear helmets as part of our show clothes even though we were competing unknown horses. Over here all students at the UK Parelli campus have to wear helmets when mounted.
 
They have some strange ideas, but there are plenty of riders in the UK who would agree with them that safety headwear isn't essential.
 
Caol Ila said:
I don't understand how a helmet affects your balance and perception, unless you're riding around in your WW1 antique. Mine, on the other hand, is pretty light.
Click to expand...

I actually laughed at this....I DO remember having a hat back in the 90s which was huge and my Mum used to call it my German army helmet. Did the trick though :)

I Cant believe how stupid these Parelli people are, the problem is the idiots who believe the crap they spout!!

Im all for common sense, that doesnt cost anything, well the cost of a riding helmet possibly :P
 
A girl near me died when her horse had a heart attack and collapsed while they were hacking. No amount of skill or parelli games could save you from this, but a helmet might.
 
Suechoccy said:
So yes I agree with the first sentiment - to maximise your safety, you should learn to understand horse body language first so that you can place yourself correctly.
Click to expand...
My emphasis.


sooooo, you should go into a stable yard and close to horses without a helmet on, and learn to understand horse body language, and then you should buy a hat?

Wouldn't it be better to have the hat on while you are a novice handling horses and take it off when you know that stuff???

I'm ribbing you, but I doubt that you really meant what you wrote :) ? Or maybe you did, now I've read that rubbish about hats altering your balance and perception??
 
Last edited:
Whenever I've thought that I couldn't hear anything more stupid from or about the Parellis, smack and bang, something else comes up. ”Personally speaking we feel very uncomfortable wearing helmets because it affects our balance and perceptiveness.” *sigh* Yeah, and if you are about to fall off, just flap with your arms and try to fly...


Or wait, you could just forget about if you should wear or not wear a helmet, and simply buy one of their mechanical horses instead! There is 3 to choose between as well!
"... that allows riders to exercise, improve fitness and balance, rehab from an injury, and train for riding real horses."
Equicizer

So first they make people stop riding their horses until they're safe enough, and meanwhile they want to sell you a mechanical horse that you can train on...

 
meesha said:
ahhhh !!! I should have been using the Parelli technique .. that was the problem when my mare slipped, fell and deposited me onto a stone head first ! hat split in 2 - minor concussion ... but if I had been applying the Parelli method I would be ... wait for ... DEAD ! ooohhhh they are a bunch of *****
Click to expand...

I knew it was my fault that my horse's aorta split when I was riding him. I had a helmet on.

I will never forgive myself :(
 
So, to apply that logic, if my motorbike is correctly maintained, it's safe, so I shouldn't be wearing a helmet because it'll stop me hearing other traffic when I'm out on the road. Oh yes, and bike helmets make me claustrophobic, so I shouldn't wear one when riding because I'd be distracted.

It makes you weep.
 
Wow, pretend horses! Are they for those who want to do Parelli but still want to ride? If they're that scared of riding their real horses, then shouldn't they just get a nice, Parelli branded hat so they feel safe? Reckon you'd need a hat for the equiciser one too though, just in case you forgot to lock the wheels.:eek::D:D
 
“The reason you do not see our people wearing helmets is because we try to teach people that rather than be brave because they are wearing a helmet to protect them, they would be better off not riding until their horse is behaving safely".

That explains a lot. :D
 
The link didn't work for me on my phone, but I do Parelli - but would always wear a hat (Champion make) when riding. I try to remember for ground work, but do sometimes forget.

It's a rule at our yard that anyone riding wears a hat - so my Parelli instructor will wear a hat for riding my boy, but have seen photo's of her riding hatless. I wouldn't be comfortsble with her hopping on my horse without one.

I feel I'm safer riding than I ever was ( thanks to Parelli training - in terms of my serial bucker, napper is no longer such a serial napper and bucker and I appreciate it may not be the only way, but for my pony it has been the big turning point) but it doesn't make me invincible. Horses will always be horses and accidents may always happen.

As it happens, I always wear a body protector at the moment too.
 
So if my car behaves ok and I know how to drive, does that mean I don't need a seat belt? For gods sake, what a load of bull.
 
It will be interesting to see how many people will be wearing safety helmets at Aintree this weekend. I see Linda Parelli has been wearing a safety helmet quite alot recently.
 
Pale Rider said:
It will be interesting to see how many people will be wearing safety helmets at Aintree this weekend. I see Linda Parelli has been wearing a safety helmet quite alot recently.
Click to expand...
Pale Rider said:
Everyone wore safety hats except Pat.
Click to expand...

Maybe he thinks he knows so much, that it doesn't matter if he loses some of it...



Who knows, maybe he one day decides to move on to something bigger...
62919_elgsmiley.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top