TNT
25th Sep 2005, 09:18 PM
I've given this some thought today while I was out walking and this is what I've come up with. I bought my first horse in my mid 40's and tried to work with her on my own but ran into some problems. I soon found a great trainer and gave her my horse to work with. She did wonders for my horse and for me but something was missing. When I would see her with my horse I could see that my horse worshipped the ground she stood on . I was ok but this woman was her leader I wanted this kind of relationship. This woman could get this kind of response because she knew how to get it. She went to university to learn how to do it and did it everyday because thats how she made her living. Now I've got 1 child in university and 1 soon to be. We're farmers and I need to work outside the home to help bring home the bacon. there was no way I could afford to go back to school to get a degree in Equine science. I knew of some people who did Parelli talked to them and watched them and decided that this was a way I could learn some of this. You see I believe that Parelli is a home study course for people not horses. My horse already knows how to sidestep, jump, and backup but I wanted to learn how to have her want to do it when I asked her and I needed to know how to ask her and how to read her reactions when I did ask her. We are lucky here in Montana because we are home to the La Cense ranch in Dillon and they along with the University of Montana Western offers a degree in Natural Horsemanship. You can actually get a degree in it WOW! Remember it's people who are enrolling in this not their horses. I've completed level 1 and I've just started the new level 2. The woman who was my horses trainer backs me up all the way in my studies of it. She had the chance to study under Pat Parelli while in school and although she doesn't use all of the methods she understands how the program works in training people. I don't use all of the Parelli equipment I've been able to buy alot from a company thats' here in Montana. I did try just using his book and the seven games but got frustrated and soon learned that I needed the whole recipe. It's a step by step program with lots of backup both online and through dvd's and certified trainers in my area. I'm lucky because in Montana we have Dan and Gretchen Thompson and Aimee Brimhall who give clinicss and great advice on line when you need it. I live in a small community but there are lots of Parelli students here so we are able to talk with each other and get together for playdates. I am amazed at how many older cowboys and ranchers are getting into this program and enjoying it. We recently had the Savvy tour stop in nearby Great Falls and got to see Pat and Linda in action and see some great demo's given by local students. I was also able to meet (because of the Savvy club ) 2 gals from Maui Hawaii and have lunch with them. The tour was 2 full days and I along with 5 friends got in free. Our satellite stations provides us with the RFD TV channel and we get the Parelli show once a week . This past week was on trailer loading. We are working on getting a Parelli tournament for next year. We have O-mok-see's in Montana which are games on horse back based on Indian games. Parelli tournaments are games based on Parelli such as completing an obstacle course on line, at liberty, and freestyle. If you really want to understand more about it ask someone who has the new Level1 or level 2 programs if you can watch some of the dvds. The new Level 2 btw is great. If you want to know more about Natural Horsemanship may I suggest the book "The Revolution in Horsemanship and What it Means to Mankind" by Robert M. Miller D.V.M. and Rick Lamb. Harry Hobbs recommended it some time ago on a thread and I think it's great and you can get it used on Amazon. Parelli might not be the bee's knees for everyone but for me it's unlocked a door to knowledge of the equine world .