Parelli natural horsemanship opinions?

Question

Parelli natural horsemanship opinions?

Answer 1

I think it is awesome and a great thing to use. The horsenality idea makes so much sense and I think it really works

Answer 2

If a person tries it, and it works for them and makes them and their horse happy, then that is great. If you don't get results, then try something else.



I was skeptical at first and laughed about the "games", but all of my horses responded so well that I continue to train my horses the same way. I do feel all of their equipment is pricey, BUT the few things I have purchased have been higher quality than my other tack.

Answer 3

it is wonderful! that man can talk to horses!

he has an amazing way of understanding

these wonderful creatures...he uses

methods that the horse understands, and

he has awsome patients...hes gentle and calm

with the horses. i really think you should try

his methods! i have a book about him and his

ways...



good luck and happy trails

Answer 4

I started doing Parelli around 8 months ago, so I'm fairly new to the concept. It's a steep learning curve, requiring sustained effort on the part of the human to get their head around the concept. I guess it might not work for anyone who wants a 'quick fix', or for individuals who don't have the time to put the work in.



I'm finding it great fun, my horses are going brilliantly and it's helping me to use a programme of training that strengthens the bond I have with my horses. I'm saving money by buying equipment, and learning material, either 2nd hand or cheaper imitation halters etc (from Germany, which are fantastic quality). I am a little bemused at how much Parelli branded kit costs, but I guess that's down to marketing. So many people waste a lot more cash on buying complicated gadgets to control their horses, that go unused in the tack room for years, but consider rope halters, and the effort to learn how to use them correctly, too big an expense!



If you are interested in watching some demos, for free, check out this link : http://horseandcountry.opusstream.net/Horsemanship

There are 13 programmes to give you lots to work on!



You need not spend a fortune, but you will need to dedicate time and patience to Parelli training. The best way is to dedicate yourself just to that form of training, so that you don't get confused and gain a full understanding. It's likely that you won't need to follow other methods once you get going with Parelli.



(Pat Parelli was one of the founder members of the American Mule Association, and regularly does demos with his trained mules. Parelli CAN be used with mules).



I'd like to point out that I have been a professional in the horse industry for many years. I have letters after my name, recognised training qualifications, and I've backed hundreds of horses and trained them on to National competition. I thought I was pretty well educated about horses, that I understood the horses nature and was a 'kind' equestrian, but I'm learning so much, every day, using Parelli.



Good luck with whatever training you decide to follow...

Answer 5

I think that Parelli's methods can and do work wonders for some people and their horses. Like every other training method out there it won't work for some people and some animals. It won't work if you don't take the time it takes to do it.

His techniques are generally good and are much better than some out there!!

I'm all for him making as much money as he can. No one is forced to buy his things and if you want to pay money for a string on a stick, go for it.

That said, he's not for me. I think the training is too ridged and too focused on the horse doing all the giving.

Answer 6

Don't limit yourself to just Parelli. Do your homework and check them all out if that is the route you want to go. Personally, I would want a trainer that has done something in the area that I am wanting to work. I'll use Clinton Anderson, he works and rides reining and working cow horses. He goes to shows and shows his horses. I don't live by what he says but I do like some of his ideas. I read Monty Roberts book and he's just a flake. Give me Buck Brannam any day. I have not used Parelli because to me, I just don't get it. I really don't want to play games with my horse. I want solutions.

Take what you want and use what works for you. Try it all.

Best of luck.

Answer 7

I have and do use a combination of natural horsemanship to problem solve some issues with horses I've owned in the past. Over the last 6 weeks, however, I have been doing Parelli with my mare and a small group at my barn.



The results have been amazing. The things I can get her to do, and the rate she picks up on what I want from her is almost scary.



Mind you, she wasn't a bad girl anyway. Well broke, well trained, and a sweetie on the ground. She just doesn't quite stay focused on me on the ground, and her ADD kicks in. She tends to be looking everywhere but here, and calling to the other horses, and she sometimes invades my space when I'd prefer her not to, but mostly she walks in circles around me on the lead, or doesn't stay with me off lead.



The first day was incredibly frustrating. Everything just seemed so simple and so easy to do, and yet the horse wasn't getting it. She wasn't standing still, she wasn't responding to the pressure of the stick, she was looking everywhere, calling to the other horses.



Holy cow the difference already. I practice about 2 x's a week with her, and what I introduce to her the first time, she usually has down pat the second time. She stands perfectly quiet and still, she responds now to just the stick in the air next to her, she lunges behind me, she backs up with just a jiggle on the lead, she pivots to change direction to the best of her athletic ability, I've had her lunging through a 24" squeeze opening at the trot, she's LOADING ON THE TRAILER! Happily and willingly! I can get her to drive around the barrels in a pattern with or without the lead rope on her, just responding to the stick in the air next to her. She'll do figure 8's around them, and halt in the middle. She doesn't mind the ball at all, but I haven't done much with that yet.

I plan on introducing her to a tarp this weekend, pool noodles, too, and maybe something different with the barrells. I wish I had a stand, I am confident I could get her to stand up on it by the second day. She's also following me around a bit more off lead - actually giving a hoot that I am there.



But most importantly, the biggest thing I wanted to work with on her- was her attention span towards me. She's staying focused on me. Instead of looking out the arena doors, or if outside, looking across the farm at the other horses, she is keeping an eye and ear on me 90% of the time. It's a huge improvement, and I can literally see the gears in her brain turning - she is truly thinking about what I want, and focusing on me so much more, and that's the whole reason I started the PNH with her in the first place.



I am just interested in seeing how far I can go with it. I pick & choose what I am going to keep, too, and there are things about the training method I do not like and do not want to do - like have her face me when I lunge her and stop her. I want her to stop square when I say whoa where I say whoa, not turn in to me or walk towards me. So I've been teaching her to do just that and she does not face off with me.There are a few other little things that I am refraining from because they don't make sense to me, or I can't see the point. But so far, I have been so amazed with how this is coming along.



I've also noticed the mare's curosity pricking up recently. As Parelli encourages horses to be confident & curious about their environment. My mare has been willing to put her nose on just about anything I point her at, and even walked into the tack room the other day... not something I'd encourage, but it was funny as hell. She stuck her head in the door, then her neck, then she just walked in there like she belonged. She's never done that before, and I think she never would had I not been doing the parelli work with her. She loaded in to the trailer in much the same way, and I think she just figured the tack room door was a tight space I wanted her to walk through, and when I didn't reprimand her for trying it- in she went. It was quite funny. She's a goofy girl. :)



When I am fairly solid with my mare, probably in the winter, I am going to start this stuff with the mini monster and see if I can build any level of respect with her. I just need to find a mini rope halter :)

Answer 8

if you have the time it works

Answer 9

I have seen the Parellis on RFD TV, but they didn't do much for me. That said, I know lots of people who love those methods and have groups they go to, and clinics to learn more.

Answer 10

I have been practicing Parelli natural horsemanship opinions and it is just absolutely amazing!!!! If you take the time that it requires you will see amazing things and will experience amazing things with your animal.

Parelli unlike Clinton Anderson and some other good trainers does do something a little differant and that is what drew me. It was about the relationship between you and your horse and having it so that your horse wants to please with everything!!! Not just doing it cause they are told to.

Another thing...about it not working for mules..Pat Parelli came up with this whole concept for mules specifically and he is the one who started the mule association. The relationship between him and his mules and what he was able to accomplish with them is amazing.

It really is something you would have to try for yourself to see if you like it and how it works for you.

But what I do know is that with Parelli I have been able to take a disrespectful, to the point of dangerous, horse and he is now a sweet teddy bear who would rather be with me than anything. He loves to trailer load now where as before he was very scared because being a tall horse he would hit his head and freak out. Now I am able to just point from outside of the trailer and he will run to self load himself.

That is just one of the many things I have been able to accomplish with Parelli. This training system also teaches you how to read a horse so that you can tell what is going to happen before what is going to happen happens. This totally empowers me as the human to be able to see where my horse is at or going emotionally and I am now equipped to know how to detour any blowouts and how to deal with anything that may come my way from him.

As you can tell, I love the Parelli way and if followed exactly as was set in place by Pat and Linda the possabilaties are endless!!!!

You would need level one and the equipment that goes with it. Level one will take you through both ground and riding.

Go to www.Parelli.com and check it out. Also the level one packs and even the equipment can be bought on e-bay for cheaper. Just check it out thoroughly on the Parelli sight first to make sure that you are getting the true stuff.

Answer 11

To each their own - I personally think Parelli is a waste of time and money though if someone else wants to do it with their horse good for them. My issue is the Parelli zealots that seem to conglomerate around you whenever your horse is acting up... For some reason they always feel the need to offer their opinion and it's either their way or the high way. It's like they lay in waiting ignoring their own horse and jump at the opportunity to "teach" you when the moment is right. For the Parelli horses that I have seen trained, most of them go sour after while. It's the same repetitive crap without any mental stimulation that drives the horse bonkers but these zealots just claim it's their "horseinality." Oh, I did look up my horse's horsenality and I can assure you she didn't fit ANY of the right/left brain crap. Quite frankly I don't need to know what her horsenality is to know what she likes and doesn't like. If you need a chart to figure it out then either find a trainer or do your horse a favour and sell them. My 2 cents.

Answer 12

I have posted my thoughts on other threads about it.



It just simply doesn't work for my mules and I. I went into it with already a fairly well trained animal, just looking for some focusing tactics, and found their training too rigid.



There was no consideration given to animals that are driving animals and verbally trained. I was unable to use verbal commands for the needed gaits.



It seems that all my pals that are into it believe that any other method other than "parelli" is abusive and wrong. That PP is the only correct way to train an animal.



I have seen some horrendous injuries from my friends and also others that come into my xray room from PP methods. I realize this can happen in any training method, but some of their trainings are just down right dangerous such as riding a horse out on a trail in a itty bitty rope halter. I worked a poker ride and you could see these horses coming and they simply weren't broke enough to be in that position.



My friends horses are a 5 yrs old, now in a snaffle, no where close to a bridled bit. I see very few of these horses in the show ring, I don't see them trained to properly carry themselves. It just seems they stay in kindergarden for an extended period of time.



Maybe if you didn't know much and the horse didn't know anything, it would work better, but if the horse is finely tuned in cues and commands, its a trainwreck I think.



But as with any training, go check it out, dont take your animal, watch and see if you pick anything up. It never hurts to attempt to learn, just throw out what you can't use.



JHG, i just wanted to say, its nice you and I can disagree like adults about this :) I value your opinion and if it works for you, more power to ya.

Answer 13

Natural horsemanship does work along with conventional training. I prefer Clinton Anderson rather than Parrelli. He is more down to earth and practical. You see him teaching out on the trails too, not just in an enclosed ring. You need to find a trainer that appeals to you and that you understand. That is the important part. That is why there are so many different training methods, not all of them work on every horse.

Answer 14

I agree with HHQH, Mulereiner, Callis on this one. He along with Monty Roberts and many others saw a niche in the market and fully took advantage of it. They marketed themselves in such a way as to lead people to believe any other method was cruel and barbaric which just isn't the case. They charge extortionate amounts for DVD's, videos, equipment and seminars and I think people and their horses would benefit more from taking that money and using it for lessons with a good local trainer then sitting watching a DVD and attempting to go outside and try it on their own horse. Of course, this is just my opinion and I know that there will be those that differ greatly from mine but I really do think it's a huge marketing ploy that takes advantage of people desperate to find help with their horse or think they need these methods so that they can "communicate" properly.

Answer 15

I don't know much about it, learned some things here and think that man is making a fortune on his garbage. I'll keep training my horses the way they have being trained for the last 20 years here and if I see anything "Parelli" I'm turning the other way. I'm not saying that everything he teaches is garbage, have not heard any that sound good but... he's just ripping people with his "carrot" sticks, halters, video's etc.

Answer 16

I have watched him on TV. I Have his book on natural horsemanship and have thought about taking 1 of his clinic. I have learned over the years that my horses are kinda like my kids that what might work on one may not work on a different horse.

Answer 17

Pat Parelli is just an over glorified horse breaker.

He is making A LOT of money from people. eg Pat Parelli rope halter $40-$50 the exact same rope halter (without his name on it ) $15- $25

Do your own research, if you can, visit horse training facilities (as many as you can )

Speak to as many trainers and breakers as you can.

Some of his ideas are just common horse sense with a lot of showmanship thrown in.

There are a lot of trainers out there all with their own ideas on training a horse , it really depends on whether or not you want to spend a lot of money on ropes and "carrot" sticks etc.

If you have a problem with your horse find someone who is experienced in training and breaking horses and have them show you a few techniques that you can do yourself on your horse.

Remember owning a horse is meant to be fun!!!!! not confusing or hard, always listen to what people have to say but at the end of the day its your choice.

As Gill Rolton once told me "kick on and just have fun "

Answer 18

Well, it definately takes time, but I have also been considering training my four year old mare Parelli methods for fun during the fall. She is already basically trained, so if i want to go back to the regular stuff, I could. Maybe you could try this with your horse.

Answer 19

I do not like Parelli because he said in one clinic that dressage ruins horses and that it causes them to hold their heads too high.



First off: Dressage does NOT ruin horses! (That's what racing is for.) It is just emphasizing behaviors that horses perform in the wild. For example, passage (and to a certain extent, piaffe) in the wild is known as the "paralell prance" in which stallions trot side by side with their knees up, giving the other stallion a chance to see his strength and back off if he wants to. Extended trot is also a method used to make the rival stallion back off before a fight. And horses will use half-pass to move away from something going laterally.



Second: The horse's head is held too high? I think not. The dressage horse's goal is to accept the bit in his mouth and be ready to respond to the slightest command of his rider. The arched neck and high head carriage is a sign that this has happened. If you look closely, the rider does not have a lot of pressure on the reins; just enough to keep contact and keep the horse on the bit and awake so that they can respond quickly when asked for a movement. This shows that the horse carries his head this way because HE wants to. Besides, in dressage you're not supposed to have a lot of pressure on the reins because it shows that you are the one supporting the horse's head, not himself. He should respond to your commands, not pull against them.

Answer 20

hey

i think that u have to put alot of time into it. its not a thing that happens over night. and it doesnt work for everyone.



some people i know say it worked for them but me personally dont think much of it. i think that horsemanship is about making your own style. but not to say you shouldnt listen to tips from experienced people



just pick up what ever you can from different people.

Answer 21

I have also seen them on RFD but I think that they are boring and I havent really learned anything from them. The one I like the best is Clinton Anderson.

Answer 22

again

another trainer who has come up with gimmick's to buy and your money to spend!!!

its all about the money!!!