where to start- monty roberts, parelli, rashid???

[yph]

Really want to adopt a natural horsemanship approach with my horse for many reasons and have been doing some research- they are surprisingly different , and am getting confused as some of the principles surprise me and dont really seem that natural at all?? So far I seem to have warmed to the principles of mark rashid . can anyone give me a brief lowdown on these methods and maybe some experiences you have had- good and bad??
thankyou

[Showjumper]

Mark Rashid is my hero as he doesn't have a "set method" like the others do. He works with what he's got and adapts and changes his approach to engage with the horse in a non-confrontational way.

I'd love to ride in a clinic with him, having been to audit 2, however I'm riding in a clinic with his assistant, Kathleen Lindley later this year *excited*

[Joyscarer]

I really think it is mainly a matter of personal taste. I liked Parelli to start and it was so structured but that didn't stop me reading around the subject and finding how that the similarities between different NH advocates.

I rather like Kelly Mark's style of writing so if I didn't do Parelli then I would follow Kelly :)

[Bay Mare]

I like Mark Rashid's approach. It's more in tune with the way that I want to work with my horse.

I prefer Kelly Marks' approach to Monty's if I'm honest. There are a lot of things about the IH method that I like. I've got both of her books (Saffy features in one of them!) and have had an RA out a couple of times with excellent results.

I also like Richard Maxwell and Michael Peace.

Parelli doesn't do it for me at all for a whole host of reasons. I can see that some of the PNH stuff is ok but the overall concept and certainly the riding are against what I believe. It doesn't work for me and doesn't work for my horse.

[india]

You can't go far wrong with Mark Rashid, in general I think he's the one trainer that everyone admires and respects regardless of anything else.:)

I believe Parelli is a solid foundation to build on, that's my opinion because it worked for me and my boy....but as with any NH training method it's not flawless or suitable for every horse (or their owner).

My advice would be.....keep on open mind with whatever method you choose to follow and always be prepared to mix and match to get that perfect formula for both yourself and your ned!! :)

[mayoguinness]

I went to a Mark Rashid clinic. I liked it but it didn't do it quite for me not like Jayne Lavender does :D. Don't get me wrong I think he's very good but I dunno, it doesn't do it for me like Aussie NH does. I guess I've fallen in love with that method but Parelli is always a good starting block ;) Which contry do you live in??

[Kalasadi]

Have seen them all!

Mark Rachid, Ken Faulkner, Jayne Lavendar,etc.

I like the 3 above better than Monty or Kelly! Parelli is too 'set' but ok for people on their own without NH trainer about.

Personally I use Lewis Blackburn

http://www.blackburnnaturalhorsetraining.com/

Works exclusively with you and your horse and adapts to what you horse needs

[yph]

That all helps, i must admit that i like mark rashds approach best from what i have read, and thank for giving me some new names too. I live in wales, cant remember who asked. I will look up those webistes too. Want i really want to start with is some ground wrok with my cob, Ive had him for 3 years, amd unfortunately we have had to move about a bit the last18 months, and i also couldnt ride him for a year due to two slipped discs, then treatment - me not him. So its all been a bit stop start, then i got a sharer for him, god knows what she did with him but in the space of 5 weeks he turned from your perfect ( well ish!) laid back cob to Mr spooky, nappy, unhappy lttle chappy. Put my Oh in hopsital when he bolted with him and unseated him, then gave him a good kickin whilst on the ground- hospital for a week.. its all been a bit grim. has remained pretty good with me but i think has really lost cofidence in me, and respect and he had also scared me after all thats happened. Ive aways been a kind horse person - i think , never used a whip, artificial aids etc.
I really want to do some work to overcome this as i feel terrible about what might have happened to him with this sharer and also all the change we have had & i miss my boy terribly.
Any advice ideas oponions good or bad gratefully recieved,

[mayoguinness]

That does sound a bit grim:(Well if you would like NH lessons I can reccomend Jayne Lavender. I have a lesson with her every month and she travels all round the uk to give lessons. She's got a very gentle way with horses and with humans and is great teaching groundwork and ridden work alike. Her website adress is: www.jaynelavender.com but theres not much on it except her contact details as its under construction at the mo,

Hope this helps,

MG.xx

[yph]

can you tell me a bit more about her work mayoguiness, thanks for that

[mayoguinness]

Well she started off training with Parelli and became one of his instructers, then Ken Faulkner and now she goes for a very soft aprouch of her own and is amazing with horses. She uses liberty work and is very good at working with a horse using gentle techniques with both human and horse as well as being open minded. She doesn't go through all the games like Parelli and Ken Faulkner but does what she thinks you and the horse need to do with each other and takes on your veiws and the horses as well. Shes been giving me lessons for a while now and everyone at the yard and shes helped us all so much and to understand our horses better and how gentle we can really be with them and just how to enjoy ourselves whilst learning and teaching one anouther :)