What do you think about Parelli?

[vicijp]

[ QUOTE ]

One of the principles is for the Human not to get negatively emotional with their horse. That means don't ever get frustrated, angry, upset, frightened etc with your horse.

For me and many of my Parelli friends this is a major challenge.


[/ QUOTE ]

But you dont need anyone to tell you how to do that, let alone a marketing ploy.
If you get angry/frustrated/upset with something, such as a horse, then a shrink would be a better option.
If you are frightened then you have the wrong horse.
The things you guys stress are the main teaching point of Parelli are things gained by experience with different horses.
There are no short cuts to that.

 

[RuthR]

a Shrink won't help you understand how a horse thinks because they think in the exact opposite way to how we think. Horses = prey animal; human = predator; genetics tells a horse that they taste good to predators so if you feel threatened by one you either run away or you fight. Horse's aren't afraid that we are going to hurt them...they are afraid we are going to kill them.

Just because we sometimes forget that we are predators doesn't mean a horse does - they are acutely aware of it; they survival depends on it. the only way that a horse's behaviour will stop being frustrating to you is if you learn to see the world through their eyes first - thats what Parelli helps you to do...not a shrink (IMHO)

 

[Searcher]

I will be at the NEC in August to learn as much as i can
I cant get enough of parelli.
you only have to buy one carrot stick as they are of such good quality and can last for years.also the parelli halters.
I had a large Suffolk Punch(horse) and a parelli halter. he had great respect for it as it works on pressure and release. if he pulled it gave pressure if he didnt pull he got relief.
he learnt not to pull in 5 mins.
I did have a cheaper one but the knots came loose and it frayed after a month, this one still looks new and ive had it for a year

 

[Skhosu]

no, you misunderstand. I don't do parelli. I have happy horses in general, I am not talking about my horses. I want someone to post a picture of a horse ENJOYING parelli?
I have only ever seen dull, lifeless horses when pictures are shown of parelli. Are there no pictures of horses enjoying it? Or why is this question being ignored by everyone ranting about how if you don't do parelli/ride with a bit/carry a stick you are not connected or your horse is not happy?

 

[RuthR]

Hi,

Tell me how to post a picture and I will see what I can do! However, even if I do post a picture you may still think my horse looks bored even if I know he isn't...it can be a very subjective thing. Far better to watch a video clip where you can see how the horse appears for a length of time rather than just a split second. But as I say I'm happy to do it...just tell me how.

Ruth

 

[Searcher]

I couldnt agree more RuthR.
I was going to say that horses only concern is their survival, if they feel threatened they will fight for it and do not care who gets in the way.
We are predators no matter what anyone thinks. We eat meat so we are predators and horses can smell that.
We need to gain their trust first and foremost before we can develope a relationship with them.
once you have got that you still have to work to keep it.
they are very intelligent animals and every move you make means something to them, so you have to be aware of every thing you do around them.
Its so easy to teach them to do the wrong thing without knowing it.

 

[sophielove]

Brilliantly said, Tierra! I have heard that some of the people who helped Linda Parelli DEVELOP Fluidity have walked away from it and the organisation, believing that she is going in the wrong direction with this. I have recently been researching an article on 'balance in horse and rider', talking to Alexander Technique afficionados, horse and dressage trainers, and they have all said exactly what you did!
What is so interesting is the FALL OUT from Parelli - staff, students and instructors. There must be something wrong with an organisation which attracts so much negativity. Why? Because it looks and sounds and feels like a cult - all these posts from the Parelli afficionados - they all use the same language - the Parelli language, the 'Parelli-isms' - haven't they got minds of their own? Because it IS very expensive - pack, gear, lessons, events. And yet the information IS good, it IS helpful, it CAN make a difference with your horse, and as someone said it is often people who are 'overhorsed' who turn to Parelli in desperation. And maybe the answer is STILL that they are 'overhorsed'. If Parelli enthusiasts, staff, owners, trainers didn't go around spouting that Parelli is THE way, the ONLY way, and that all other horsepeople are idiots and doing it 'wrong' or fools who haven't yet seen the light, there wouldn't be this antipathy towards them. No-one slags off the BHS like this and they do Levels/Stages and charge a decent whack for their books and exams and we accept that as par for the course. What's so funny about Parelli at Stoneleigh is that they fired the old Parelli UK people for trying to get it accepted in traditional equitation education, and now they are positioning themselves as part of the establishment at Stoneleigh! It's not so much the information that is all wrong about Parelli it is their ATTITUDE - their arrogance, their 'my way or the highway', their patronising perception of anyone who hasn't joined the cult, the fact that they always travel in twos just like cultees (in fact, read the book 'Captive Hearts, Captive Minds' by Tobias & Lalich) and you will agree that this IS a cult and that's the thing that scares the discerning, intelligent, thinking, self-aware, confident horseperson with good self esteem and an open mind the most.

 

[RuthR]

[ QUOTE ]
What's so funny about Parelli at Stoneleigh is that they fired the old Parelli UK people for trying to get it accepted in traditional equitation education, and now they are positioning themselves as part of the establishment at Stoneleigh!

[/ QUOTE ]

FACT: The former distributors (Parelli UK) were in breach of their contract so Parelli US sought legal advice and dissolved the contract. No-one was fired. After that experience Parelli US decided to take everything back in house and no longer have any distributorships.

 

[Skhosu]

I believe there is a stepby step guide to posting pictures in the picture gallery.

 

[RuthR]

Thank-you, I'm at work at the moment so when I get home I will attempt to do this.

thanks again

 

[spaniel]

[ QUOTE ]
I couldnt agree more RuthR.
I was going to say that horses only concern is their survival, if they feel threatened they will fight for it and do not care who gets in the way.
We are predators no matter what anyone thinks. We eat meat so we are predators and horses can smell that.

<font color="red">Which is whyI spend £18 on a bottle of Pax and not huudreds on bits of knotted rope </font>
We need to gain their trust first and foremost before we can develope a relationship with them.
once you have got that you still have to work to keep it.
they are very intelligent animals <font color="red">Absolute twaddle, the horses brain is tiny in relation to its size and its been proven time and time again that horses are, in fact, not very intelligent at all </font> and every move you make means something to them, <font color="red"> Wrong again, only certaibn movements register at all in the horse otherwise they would spend their entire lives in a state of heightened awareness </font> so you have to be aware of every thing you do around them.
Its so easy to teach them to do the wrong thing without knowing it. <font color="red">Only if you arent sensible and experienced </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[sophielove]

Rambo, you are smarter than the average bear!

Parelli have asked their worldwide community of cultees to get onto this forum, with a plea in their weekly E Newsletter which goes to about 80,000 homes worldwide every Friday (see below) so you can expect to see a whole lot more newbie Parelli fanatics weighing in with their two cents worth!

Horse &amp; Hound Magazine 17 May 07; Parelli feature, page 9
An announcement of our evolving presence and commitment to the growth of natural horsemanship in the UK—interestingly it says that Pat will be teaching clinics at Stoneleigh himself....which is news to us!! How interesting—but it never hurts to put it out there! What is exciting, they are asking for YOUR opinion on WHAT you think about Parelli? So please post your views on www.horseandhound.co.uk/parelli

So far the poll is only two hours live and there are 136 postings....lets show how much WE CARE about increasing knowledge around horse human relationships! Thanks for sharing the journey with us all! <font color="red"> </font> <font color="blue"> </font>

more slick marketing, more cultee behaviour, more b***dy Parelli!

 

[gemmah]

Hi everyone! Saw some of these posts and thaught I'd reply!

I have been studying PHN for about 4yrs now (I am also a BHSAI int SM and have been woking with and owning horses for 19yrs) I must say that in all the arguments I have heard on both sides in my own opinion there is not so much natural v normal as good horsemanship v bad! I know many 'normal' horsemen who are fantastic and who's help and opinions I value greatly and also some 'naturals' who I wouldn't let lose on a rocking horse! The thing with Parelli, if you look at the material withtin the study packs, is that while yes it is VERY expensive on the surface, the knowledge you can gain from using the info. provided is invaluable. Most of us have lessons fairly regulary and can pay anything form £15 to £50 per hour, so when put into perspective, £120 for a level 1 pack, with about 15hours of dvd's study guides etc that you can keep and refer back to for ever doesn't seem that bad!
With regard to the schooling whip/carrot stick argument, as mentioned previously the main difference is in the flexibilty of the stick. Sometimes as we all know it is necessary to defend your space from the horse, or let him know that yes you really DID mean move!

and with the carrot stick is is possible to be very firm without the flick and sting that would be produced by a whip. One can also stop at the last minute if the horse yields and the stick will stop too with out making contact, where as a long flexible whip MAY not. Both points are very valuble in building trust and respect with your horse. (by the way, if anyone is interested, it is called a carrot stick to try and remind people to be half way between the 'stick' person and the 'carrot' person, as niether are effective in the horses eyes!!)
Mentioning the 'middle aged women who are scared to ride' yes there are probably lot's of them! As there are in the 'normal' world too! (I teach several of them!) The thing that gets missed so often is that many people only turn to alternative methods when all else has failed. They are then starting something completely knew, often with a 'problem' horse and shatterd confidence. This takes time to rectify and it is unfair to ridicule some-one who is doing their best not to trip up on their stick and hang themselves with a twelve foot line AND get over their lack of confidence enough to be a good leader for their horse! At least they are trying and haven't just said 'oh well it must be the horse I'll sell it and get a different one' What most people see of Parelli is the very bottom end. LEARNING! Watching this and saying people are silly and ruining their horses (I hear that alot) is like watching a person's first few driving lessons and laughing saying they'll never be a racing driver because they stalled or crunched the gears! Everyone has to learn and in learing the most valuable thing for the rider AND the horse is CONFIDENCE, and that will just take as long as it takes.
I think ONE of the biggest things to bring from Parelli (and there are too many good bits to mention) is the building of a language with your horse. Pat always says 'Love, Language and Leadership in equal doses' and it is the language that is so often missing today. People tend to either Love , love ,love their horses and then get walked all over and taken for a ride by their horse (pun intended!) who now thinks he rules the world, or they are all leadership and get the job done at the expense of the horses comfort and dignity with the bigger bit bigger stick approach. In so many cases the horse and the human just don't understand each other. A bit like going abroad and shouting 'chips and beer' louder instead of in the native language! You might get what you wanted in the end but it takes ages, looks ugly and neither party really enjoys it! LOL!
I know I've been waffling on for ages now guys ! Sorry! I just find it so frustrating when this whole debate comes up and both sides just shut down, put their blinkers on and refuse to enter in to any kind of 'grown up' discussions and back up their opinions with facts. My experience has been all positive wilth PNH and I cannot fault the programme in any way. However, I do concede that there are a few people out there who follow many 'natural' approaches and as horsemen are ineffective, and often a danger to themselves and others but these people would, in all likelyhood, be exactly the same whatever method they followed, and I can assure you that that is NOT what the Parelli method is about!
Just to finish (Yes, I nearly have! LOL!) a bit about my own experiences. I have ridden since I was 10, competing in dressage, showjumping and eventing through pony club and into my 20's. I have hunted, worked with dressage horses, racehorses and riding school horses, and taught clients young and old for 9years. I've had experience with problem horses and problem people, and until I lost my old horse about 5 years ago competed successfully in bsja. I have also had my fair share of bumps, scrapes, falls and dented ego! I thaught I was doing ok!!

Then along came my current horse! Hmmm 16.2HH of highly opinionated very sensitive mare that told me in no uncertain terms that I wasn't anywhere near as good as I thaught I was!! I had lessons on this horse twice a week for 2 years from fully qualified instructors, a BHSI and a BHSII (spendig alot more along the way than I have on Parelli by the way!) I didn't fall off her once but she was getting worse and worse (rearing, plunging freaking out etc) and it culminated in us both going over backwards and me having a very lucky escape with a crushed leg! EVERYONE told me to shoot her, sell her to a man who could be hard on her, put her in foal and don't ride her again etc. I was devastated (yes I love my ponies!!LOL) Enter PNH on a free DVD!! Watched it whilst I was recovering and thaught what the hell! I had nothing to lose everyone wanted my horse dead!! Four years later and here we are! We're not doing anything great (YET!) mainly due to nearly 2 of those years being spent tryint to fix a recurring hoof abcess and so not working with the horse

but we can ride in a halter, My horse is calm relaxed, can take new things in her stride, and I understand more of why she does the things she does than I could ever have hoped. If you have heard or seen bad things about PNH please try to look at the info at source before you make a judgement. And yes it is just a lot of common sense, but as in everyday life, that is something sadly lacking FAR too often these days! LOL! In my eyes anything that can help people to be safe and confident and have fun with their horses has to be a good thing. And if they don't all want to ride, then who are we to make a judgement? After all, most of us have horses for fun, so if you're having fun WHO CARES!!

If anyone wants to know more or ask any questions about why I say what I say then feel free to message me and the official PNH site is www.parelli.com

 

[Grahamp]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

One of the principles is for the Human not to get negatively emotional with their horse. That means don't ever get frustrated, angry, upset, frightened etc with your horse.

For me and many of my Parelli friends this is a major challenge.


[/ QUOTE ]

But you dont need anyone to tell you how to do that, let alone a marketing ploy.
If you get angry/frustrated/upset with something, such as a horse, then a shrink would be a better option.
If you are frightened then you have the wrong horse.
The things you guys stress are the main teaching point of Parelli are things gained by experience with different horses.
There are no short cuts to that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Vici
You are right, experience with lots of horses is the best way to learn these things, but I am not sure it is the only way and most of us do not have that opportunity.

If you never feel any of those emotions with your horses then that is great and is one reason why you do well with them but many people do and, I believe, do not understand the effect they are having on their horse.
If you get a chance to talk to a Parelli professional. please do, they will explain it much better than I can here.

 

[sophielove]

Graham, you talk about the 'Human development aspect of Parelli.' Most of the Parelli people I have met have SERIOUS emotional problems (you can tell by their bodies, slightly crazed look in their eyes and fanatical attachment to a cause/leader). If the Parelli organisation is so good at human development tell me why do they have such a high staff turnover? why can't they keep their instructors in any country in the world? Why are there LESS Parelli instructors now than at any other time in their history? There's something seriously wrong with that organisation - it's NOT the horsemanship, it's the PEOPLE!

 

[sleepingdragon10]

[ QUOTE ]
Blah Blah Blah. ou don't know what you are talking about! You all just don't understand about parelli do you. You DON'T give it a chance. BHS is RUBBISH! I couldn't even control my pony when i did BHS. And guess what, I can control my pony now that iv started parelli. If you are a BHS instructor, you are probably only saying those things about parelli as your scared of losing your jobs. Do you know what BHS stands for?

Big Horrible and Stupid. Thats my motto!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's always so refreshing to see a sensible argument being put forward

 

[RuthR]

With regards to the instructor situation Pat has always said 'Hard In, Easy Out'. they only accept 10 new people in the instructor program per year - how many do the BHS accept? I don't know the exact figure but I bet its a lot more.

I do not know why people leave the organisation - they each have their own personal reasons. I do know that there are very strict contracts that instructors must adhere to because the Parelli's want to ensure that only the best instructors are out there teaching their system.

I have had the priveledge to meet and be instructed by several different PNH instructors all of whom speak fondly of Pat and Linda and the organisation itself. These instructos often travel the world teaching because they love their job so much (I have been taught by people from the US, Australia, NZ and the UK). If someone does leave then it is always with Pat and Linda's blessing and they wish them the best for the future...there is no animosity.

I personnally would love to become a Parelli Professional - I couldn't think of another job I would rather do.

 

[LEC]

I deal with horses other people have cocked up. I use no parelli in order to make them happy instead I treat them like a horse. I think this is the problem with a lot of horses they are NOT allowed to be horses. They are pets that just do not live in your house.
NH is just over sentimentalised tripe - Why not just advocate good horsemanship and understanding. But of course that would not make so much money.

 

[Dancinglite]

[ QUOTE ]
With regards to the instructor situation Pat has always said 'Hard In, Easy Out'. they only accept 10 new people in the instructor program per year - how many do the BHS accept? I don't know the exact figure but I bet its a lot more.

I do know that there are very strict contracts that instructors must adhere to because the Parelli's want to ensure that only the best instructors are out there teaching their system.



[/ QUOTE ]

I guess there are only 10 per year that can afford it?

 

[sophielove]

Do you take Visa?

PMSL . . . ver' ver' good!

All you need is a website and you're in business . . . horsemanship for the (h)ordinary horseperson . . .

 

[Maiscene]

I have tried it with my stroppy aggressive chestnut mare and I like some of the principals and games but then again not all of it is very affective and I find followers can be alittle too in to it. But each to their own, It does however promote a good relationship and some basic manners. Try it!

 

[tiga7592]

I am replying because Horse and Hound want to know what I think. If other people aren't keen then that is not my problem or concern.

I should probably have been one of the last people to embrace the NH movement having BHS teaching qualifications following which I trained as a Mary Wanless 'Ride With Your Mind' Coach. I Evented and Dressage'd at affilliated level and now run a small stud breeding Lusitanos. I was seriously into 'Classical Dressage' and display riding and everything was 'on the bit' and in a double bridle as soon as it was ready.

The BHS do a great job and I learnt a lot from them. Mary Wanless is the worlds leading authority on rider biomechanics. She filled in for me things the BHS left out.

When I found out about Parelli Natural Horsemanship it filled in all the many gaps the other two programmes had left. I could ride pretty well but I was not a horseman. The Parelli system trains you to be a horseman first, a rider second and a competitor third. Huge numbers of people try to do it the other way around and the horse is the one who suffers.

So I wholeheartedly welcome the Parelli Organisations move to Stoneleigh and look forward to future collaborations between PNH and the other disciplines based there.

 

[mitchellk]

I watched a Parelli demo at a polo match a few years ago and I must say that the horses had a dull look in their faces and were very 'mechanical' and I did not enjoy the experience one bit, they had no spirit or personality it left me with a bitter after taste.
If my horse was standing at the gate waiting for me to come out of the house to 'play' I would be horrified, he should be eating grass with his friends as part of a herd.

 

[panchoearle]

"Common Sense"
To dismiss the Parelli program as common sense is to commit a grave error in judgement. There is little common about the Parelli program - it is in fact most un-common in it's approach. I advise those who dismiss it to give it a study, look at the results people are having with their horses (and horses are having with their people!). Open your mind to the un-common - I believe you'll be pleased with the results. In my opinion, the move of PNH to Stoneleigh will be mutually beneficial.

In addition, the Parelli carrot stick tool is most unlike a dressage or lunge whip. It's an extension of your arm, not reactive in nature or "flippy" in any way. Pick one up sometime and you'll see the difference at once.

 

[ShirlJean]

Reading some of the first comments listed on the Parelli program, I have to wonder if all people are concerned about is money, rather than the well being of their horse. I have found the program to be an emotional, life changing experience. The money I paid for my equipment 13 years ago was well spent.....I am still using the same equipment. You have to be open-minded enough to accept the fact that there might be a "better way" for you to interact with your horse. As Pat says..."If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got"...I am getting a lot more from my horses now than I ever could have dreamed of.

 

[gemmah]

Hi! Me again! Just sat down and read all the posts! I should be fencing my field! LOL. Just a quick 1 (well maybe not that quick) from a PNH'er! Instead of all this who/what is right b*****ks can't we just listen to the horse??? That is what parelli trys to teach you but if you study enough and open your mind you can achieve this in many different ways! When I go to a show and see nice responsive balanced horses jumping in a snaffle, a caveson and no martingale enjoying what they do and not being punished if they make a mistake, that is horsemanship! I don't care what the person labels it as, the horse tells me!! When they have enough ironmongery and leather strapped to them to sink a battle ship and are still fighting that is NOT!!! (unfortunately it is all too often the latter that I see

)Listen to the horse and HE will tell you if you're right! If he opens his mouth to evade the bit, if he rears, bolts, bucks, swishes his tail, bites, kicks etc etc. or leaves when you turn him lose HE'S TELLING YOU SOMETHING!! If you don't cover up his opinions with flashes, grackles, martingales, bigger bits, sticks, etc etc and you look for the reason WHY he's doing what he's doing (pretty much always our fault, even if indirectly) and address it in the correct way you will end up with a partner and friend who will try his heart out for you and stay with you even if given the option to leave. The horse doesn't care what you wear, what you call it or who you pay for the knowledge but he does care and he does know if you treat him fairly, give him leadership and understand his way of thinking and listen when he 'speaks' to you. That is what horsemanship is all about, 'natural' or 'normal'.
There are alot of traditional horsemen who do all these things just as a matter of course and I know quite a few, one in particular who even though I am one of 'them' is still my very first port of call if I ever have any problems. It seems that now the horse has become such an item of leisure, riding and 'doing' at all costs has taken over from the real art of horsemanship, with the horse being made to put up with people's inadiquacies instead of people having to take responsibility for themselves and become good enough that their horse doesn't have these negative 'opinions' about them!!
For me, PHN has given me massive ammounts of knowledge and in conjuntion with what I had already learned from bhs, experience in the field, other instructors, many different horses and plenty of my own mistakes it has taught me things I didn't even realise existed! I learn something knew every day, from MANY different sources! I follow the parelli programme but I do search out and apply anything else that makes sense and my horse tells me is ok! (As do Linda and Pat btw).
About the use of bits n stuff. Parelli does use bits, snaffles and, at higher levels, selected curb bits, but when PEOPLE are learning it is better for the horse if they get a bump on the nose from wobbbly hand than a jab in the mouth, and when the HORSE is learning it's better to run in to the halter than in to the bit. Similar I suppose to schooling in a lunge caveson in hand b4 starting the horse and having novice riders learn balance b4 being let lose on the horse's mouth! If you think of bits like holding your partner's hand. If they want to be with you and are having as much fun as you are, it's simply the lightest touch to communicate your intention and they follow. If you have to heave and pull (and in that I include the multitude of 'correctional' bits) then the other party clearly would rather not be there! LOL. Anyway if everyone on both sides looks for the facts and realities in each others methods instead of judging from bandwagon, accross the board opinions and brief observations (and that is directed at blinkered 'naturals' as well as 'normals! I'll be in trouble from both sides now! LOL) And most importantly listens to the horse himself, we could ALL learn alot!!

 

[Kate_13]

So are you saying that the Spanish riding school of vienna should have carrot stick?????

Spaniel, you are so right.

These people are clones!!!!

I can't believe you lot are still bleeting on about how us 'normal' and I do mean 'normal' people do not have a good bond with our horse? Also do you really think we are that stupid not to know the mechanics and thought process of the horse??? We all know they are flight animals!

Do you lot really belive we whip our horses and beat them into submission?!!! Do you really think that we cannot communicate with our horses?!!!

You lot are having a bubble bath!!!!!

 

[Weezy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


From the e-news:
An announcement of our evolving presence and commitment to the growth of natural horsemanship in the UK—interestingly it says that Pat will be teaching clinics at Stoneleigh himself....which is news to us!! How interesting—but it never hurts to put it out there! What is exciting, they are asking for YOUR opinion on WHAT you think about Parelli? So please post your views on www.horseandhound.co.uk/parelli

So far the poll is only two hours live and there are 136 postings....lets show how much WE CARE about increasing knowledge around horse human relationships! Thanks for sharing the journey with us all!

[/ QUOTE ]

That has made me PMSL! Obv there are no inside Parelli people contributing to that forum - seeing that Pat himself has quoted about being so happy to be based at Stoneleigh

[/ QUOTE ]

That didn't come from a forum. It is from the official Parelli e-news that is sent weekly from their headquarters. You can view it if you visit Parelli.com and click e-news.

[/ QUOTE ]

Still think it is rather funny that they do not know that Pat is already set up at Stoneleigh - or is he lying...

 

[gemmah]

kudu. No I would not imply that anyone should or would even need to use a carrot stick, I was just expaining in answer to some previous posts the difference between a schooling whip and the stick and why we chose to use it. It saddens me to have to agree that there are many 'clones' as you put it out there, but please be assured I am not one of them and there are plenty of other pnh people who have a balanced opinion of life and horses too! It is also a shame as I posted b4 that no balnced discussions can be entered into on this subject! It's almost as scary as the hunting debate! LOL (and b4 anyone asks I an VERY PRO hunting! Oops i'll probly get my ass kicked from sumwhere now!!LMAO) PNH is very commercialised and americanised yes, but there is plenty of good stuff in there. I don't know who is implying that 'normal' people do not have a good relationship with their horses but it's certainly not me!!! And I would never be so rude, insensitive or arrogant as to imply that people would beat their horses unless it is something I have seen with my own eyes!!I see good and bad examples on both sides and, as I said in my previous post, it's the horse that tells me if the method is right or wrong, and he will never lie!

 

[ges]

I am one of those middle aged women!!!! and I have ridden traditionally for 32 years. For the past 2 I have taken to learning 'parelli' which at times has been challenging, frustrating, exhausting but more than anything else absolutely fantastic and rewarding. How can understanding and interpreting the language of the horse and then replicating it be so negative. I can see that many of your readers are object to it but is it fair to comment on something in such a way if it hasn't been personally experienced. It has taken me some time to progress and it has been difficult to change but I belong to a share scheme where children and adults can build a relationship with their horse or pony - children adapt to it so easily and to see them go and catch their pony in a field and read their ponie's body language and play their games is a wonderful sight. My daughter, aged 11, was lucky enough to own her own pony last year and she practises parelli regularly with him. He has been a little poorly recently and with the help of parelli practices she has been able to put him at ease and settle him. He looks forward to her going to the yard and if he seems playful she will play games with him before catching him. She rides him in a halter - no bit - and a bareback pad - walking, trotting, cantering, jumping and all the added extras that you can experience with parelli - in a school and out on hacks. She plays with him on the ground and mounted and their relationship is ever developing - there is such a strong bond and when she is out of sight he makes a fuss until he sees her.

I would urge everyone to at least have a go - understand the horse from a different view - learn to tackle problems differently and recognise when your horse is trying to tell you something - horses aren't naughty, cheeky maybe, and they shouldn't be punished or forced into doing something they are not happy with - everything is achievable with parelli - horses have feelings and personalities too and sometimes the traditional way just doesn't work. Don't be afraid to try something new and change.

From a very passionate parelli rider