The Parelli USA tour was in Redmond, Oregon this weekend. I headed out and spent the weekend there. I have never been to a
Parelli event and was really looking forward to finally seeing them. I turned to their program when I first got Maddy. I was leaving the barn in tears and looking for strategies to deal with her fear issues. After a couple months, we passed our Level One and the day I received her certificate and red savvy string in the mail, I saw her "hop" on the lunge line. Long story short, she fractured her coffin bone and spent almost 8 months on stall rest. In February, we started our work again and really hoping to pass Level Two this year.
The event itself was like a big commercial for joining the Savvy Club and buying the Level sets. I think the tour is geared towards getting people to say "I want to do that" instead of actually teaching us "how" to do that. It was lots of "playing" with horses and not so much instruction, but I enjoyed it. It was entertainment at it's best. It was nice to see the horses I have watched on the Savvy Club DVDs for the past two years in person. I got to see my favorite,
Vanna, a right brain extrovert like Maddy. Also present were Allure, Casper, Remmer, Lucky Seven, and a new
Atwood Quarter horse named Vision. Allure is the Trakener Linda bought in France and is the horse responsible for her discovery of the
4 Horsenalities. She says he is her biggest challenge and he looked it by watching him in the arena.
I enjoyed watching Pat work with a demo horse on the first day. He just did his thing to music and the horse made huge changes. He also roped a mechanical steer with his son Caiden. I think the highlight was watching this group teenage of girls from the San Juan Islands just play with their horses. Amazing stuff. Linda saw a video on YouTube of them and paid to get there here to perform. Pat worked with them a little bit and at the end lunged all six of their horses at one time. It looked like a living merry-go-round.
See this big green Parelli ball....I won one today during one of the drawings! Linda is hiding from Remmer...it is that huge. Maddy is going to love playing with that big thing. I know people think Parelli is cult-like, but I didn't drink the cool-aid. Their program just works for Maddy and me. I enjoy being a part of the Savvy Club and we train at our own pace. I feel I am learning so much about reading horses and learning how to be creative with our time together. Above all, the relationship I have with Maddy is very important to me and I want to do all I can to make sure I am worthy partner for my beautiful mare.
The Parelli USA tour was in Redmond, Oregon this weekend. I headed out and spent the weekend there. I have never been to a Parelli event and was really looking forward to finally seeing them. I turned to their program when I first got Maddy. I was leaving the barn in tears and looking for strategies to deal with her fear issues. After a couple months, we passed our Level One and the day I received her certificate and red savvy string in the mail, I saw her "hop" on the lunge line. Long story short, she fractured her coffin bone and spent almost 8 months on stall rest. In February, we started our work again and really hoping to pass Level Two this year. 
The event itself was like a big commercial for joining the Savvy Club and buying the Level sets. I think the tour is geared towards getting people to say "I want to do that" instead of actually teaching us "how" to do that. It was lots of "playing" with horses and not so much instruction, but I enjoyed it. It was entertainment at it's best. It was nice to see the horses I have watched on the Savvy Club DVDs for the past two years in person. I got to see my favorite, 
Vanna, a right brain extrovert like Maddy. Also present were Allure, Casper, Remmer, Lucky Seven, and a new Atwood Quarter horse named Vision. Allure is the Trakener Linda bought in France and is the horse responsible for her discovery of the 4 Horsenalities. She says he is her biggest challenge and he looked it by watching him in the arena.
I enjoyed watching Pat work with a demo horse on the first day. He just did his thing to music and the horse made huge changes. He also roped a mechanical steer with his son Caiden. I think the highlight was watching this group teenage of girls from the San Juan Islands just play with their horses. Amazing stuff. Linda saw a video on YouTube of them and paid to get there here to perform. Pat worked with them a little bit and at the end lunged all six of their horses at one time. It looked like a living merry-go-round.
See this big green Parelli ball....I won one today during one of the drawings! Linda is hiding from Remmer...it is that huge. Maddy is going to love playing with that big thing. I know people think Parelli is cult-like, but I didn't drink the cool-aid. Their program just works for Maddy and me. I enjoy being a part of the Savvy Club and we train at our own pace. I feel I am learning so much about reading horses and learning how to be creative with our time together. Above all, the relationship I have with Maddy is very important to me and I want to do all I can to make sure I am worthy partner for my beautiful mare.
11 comments:
How are their videos? I have ordered horse training videos from other trainers in the past and they turned out to be a huge disappointment. In one, the trainer just talks into the camera the entire time without providing any demonstrations, which is worse than reading a book, because at least with a book they edit out all the umms, errrs, uhhs and other pauses.
The Parelli crew definitely does provide good entertainment. I enjoy watching them.
Hey - it's whatever works best for you and Maddy. And as far as being marketing geniuses, hey more power to 'em!
Didn't drink the kool-aid, eh? heheh. Yeah, I saw them at the horse expo here in CA last year and I felt it was one big infomercial. And when Pat yelled 'Everyone say 'I BELIEVE!', I wondered to myself hmmm, am I at a revival meeting or something to do with horses?!? What really bothers me is some of the dangerous activity Pat engages in on the tour which I feel is what gives them such a bad rap. Being that there are a lot of fans in the audience who will try to emulate it - why? Like not wearing a helmet.. or loading into a trailer on horseback and sticking his head out. That's a decapitation waiting to happen....
That being said, I think you can learn a lot from their videos and I have.
Just wish they didn't omit the whole starting a horse under saddle stage!
I hear that a lot about Parelli, big selling thing, but no teach. Never been to one myself.
I think all of the "trainers in box" have something worthwhile. I just cant say I have ever followed any one of them to the letter. I myself will take the sampler platter please.
I want one of those big horse balls. As for Parelli, I have a problem with the followers who think the method is more important than having a horse with manners.
My poor vet just got badly kicked by a certified Parelli person's ill mannered horse, just one of many incidences I can relate. There's something wrong with that for sure.
I'm with 20 Metter Circle, I'll take mine in the Heinz 57 variety.
Hey all, This was my first Perelli event. Both my husband and I loved it. You all need to be aware, they are a "business" how else do they get "their word out" if not by selling items to help you become a better horseman. PLEASE.....quit whining, if you don't like it, then don't buy it!!!! We enjoyed their "stories" and learned what is capable by adjusting one's mind into a new capacity of horsemanship. This was a very worthwhile weekend and we joined the Savvy Club and bought Level 1 training. We are looking forward to a training method that addresses "ALL" horses and their personalities. Thank you to both the Perelli's for our very entertaining weekend!!!
I was there in Redmond, at Parelli! At least for the first day. Maybe we saw each other and didn't know it?? :) Like you said, I agree it was mostly a big commercial for the Parelli method. But how much is a 2-day clinic (where you don't bring your horse) really going to teach you anyway? But it was amazing and gave me chills watching it. So I was sold. I want to try some of it with my gelding.
I do agree that it is not for everyone. And the Heinz 57 approach is good, too. But I do not think that Parelli promotes or allows poorly mannered horses. A horse is a horse, and despite Parelli or other training, they will kick out or do unexpected horse things at times. As far as helmets....well, I don't know why they don't. But neither does Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox, or any of those other "natural" horseman. They just don't.
I would LOVE to do Parelli BUT in all honesty I just can't afford to do so. The DVDs are so out of my price range! :( Someday I hope I can afford them...someday! :)
Steve Rother The Ugly Truth
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