How to start Parelli?

[~Perdita.M~]

I would like to give parelli a go, not that we have any real problems (touch wood!) but just generally to strengthen a bond and hopefully make us both happy and fulfilled. I have been looking at the parelli site and a uk one, but I am totally lost! All the levels, packs, assessments blah blah! What do I actually need to set me up for a good while?! Can anyone doing it explain in laymans terms how it works, what all the stuff is, and how we go about beginning, also where to get it, how much it is and anything else you think is useful!:D

[MelanieD]

I haven't done parelli, but was almost did so found out what I needed.. To start you need the level 1 pack, a halter, carrot stick, 12ft rope. You also use a natural hackamore but you don't need it right away and you can attach reins to the halter, or buy a natural hackamore instead of the halter. If you don't want to spend loads of money to try it out you can buy halters and 12ft ropes cheap off ebay and the 7 games are on plenty of websites for free. I haven't figure out what makes a good cheap carrot stick yet, but I did something similar to friendly and porcupine with fatty before even knowing what parelli or a carrot stick was and we managed fine without.

[luv2jump2!!!]

MelanieD covered basically all you need, The books are all writen in extreme detail... Once you know what you have to do (from books/videos/ tapes ect..) It is pretty simple!

Fern grasped the freindly game, and porcupine game almost instently.. Th driving game we are finding harder..
I went straight to riding in the halter and 12ft line, and have discovered that fern much prefers it in that than her bitted bridle! They can be much more responcive in it its unbeleiveable! the slightest squeeze she'll back up, she'll do a turn on the forehand (not tried haunches yet..) But all in all Very good system!!

Lucy

[katieB]

Perdita, I have started (well I say started, more like played around) to do a bit of parelli and have found it definitley works for us. I would say that the best way to get started is to have the support of someone who already does it, Alibi has been a great help to me, answered load of questions ive had, lent me her partnership pack and also came down and had a play with Ellie, which was so inspiring, Ellie respnded so well to the games, she was getting some things on phase 2!! Like you, I dont have any major issues to sort out, maybe a few respect ones, but I would like to improve our relationship.
The games are very well written and give you all the do's and donts but if youre like me and just want that extra bit of help and reassurance its great to have someone there. Of course, if you join the Savvy Club, you have the support of hundreds of members (you also get your partnership pack for free)
The tools - carrot stick, 12' line, halter etc are quite pricey but you can get some cheaper ones, PM if you would like websites, as soon as I pay my vets bill off I will be able to afford the carrot stick and 12' line so I will finally be able to start :)

[~Perdita.M~]

Ok, thanks for the help. Think we will definately give it a try when the kids go back to school and see whether it is for us! How many times a week do you need to go through the exercises?And is it possible to do it anywhere? Ie, a field?:rolleyes: Would love the links to the websites KatieB, will pm you for them in case for some reason you don't want to put them on here?:D

[Esther.D]

We do ours in a very rough field..very irregularly (sometimes only once in a fortnight...or less) :o and we are still progressing albeit slower than people who do it more regularly. This is where we train...very posh (not) :D outside the field gate on the track :D

[Tor&Warrior]

We to do ours, Here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/Flyte/Bitless.jpg) , in a field which you may also be able to see is also on a big hill! We don't always do it very often either. Sometimes 3 or 4 times a week but sometime we'll go 2 or three weeks without doing any. Obviously were slow on progress but as we've go no real issues to fix and its more just something else to do we don't find it a problem not doing it all the time.

Torx

[katieB]

Perdita, just read the post after answering your PM - was going to post the address' earlier but didnt have them to hand :rolleyes: :) Just incase anyone else wants them, they are..
http://www.halterhouse.co.uk/
http://www.scotknots.co.uk/index2.html
http://www.naturalhorsemanship.org/introductoryoffer.html
:)

[Louida]

You could also try these:

http://www.sinningtonmanor.co.uk/index.htm

(follow the equipment link)

http://www.ropehalters.co.uk/shop.htm

(I bought a 'baby' halter when my filly was a youngster from these people).

Also try Ebay - genuine Parelli equipment comes up quite often. If you widen your search to include 'items available to the UK' you get all the american sellers as well - I have got quite a bit of equipment from the States at less than the RRP over here (inc shipping).

Parelli ground training has meant that Lou is very responsive when showing in hand - a bonus in a youngster!!

Good Luck!

(_)(_)

[farm-girl]

I hav always ridden parelli and to start i read up about it, and then found a private house in my area with 2 horses trained that needed looking afta and ridin, and ull b surprised how many der r.:D