Horsey people - Parelli/ natural horsemanship method?

I live on a horse rescue ranch my family started 15 years ago. My mom still works with the horses and our team of 50 volunteers are instructed exclusively using Parelli Natural Horsemanship techniques. I highly recommend it. It's been working for us for 15 years. The horses we get are abused and neglected with many emotional, physical and behavioral problems. The Parelli methods are ideal for compassionate, effective horse handling.

Definitely get the tools recommended, namely the carrot stick and Parelli halter. Start out with the 7 games and work your way up.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Just saw your last post......she needs a manners check big time.....a simple halter will not due.....you need to put the fear of god into that mare and check her BIGTIME.....No abuse necessary but she needs a whoopin for that behavior.....she is way too old and way too big (I am assuming) to be acting like that....if she is still like that after training there may be no hope

Sorry to hear you have problems, they are far to big and strong to have the upper hand.

I don't have much knowledge re Parelli, as I have never felt the need to use it on any of my horses, it's a very controversial subject and always raises a good debate.

Don't rule out diet being a contributory factor, is she chewing wood ? If so, could be lack of fibre

Best of luck, they should be there to be enjoyed, not to scare us x

I've known a lot of people who have had success with Parelli, it can't hurt to give it a try. I had a very neurotic thoroughbred when I was a teenager. I took a lot of info from of different places to keep him focused and thinking (if I could get him interested in an activity he would spend more time thinking than running around like a maniac). I did some round pen work and brought weird things into the arena (tarps etc). He became the most fabulous horse in the world after he started learning how to think instead of how to panic, we built a lot of trust. Best of luck with your mare!

i really like parelli, i also like clinton anderson and buck brannaman. do a lot of reading/watching and try out some techniques and do what works for you and your horse.

did anyone see the movie Buck about buck brannaman ? if you havent, i highly reccommend it !

I am not a fan. I think there's a lot of snakeoil being sold (Linda's saddle that CORRECTS conformation?? pah-leeze) and I have seen A LOT of horses ruined by all the rope shaking and what-not. I also don't like all the branded accessories or dogmatic training program.

Parelli himself has good results, but a lot of amateurs get lost in the process and do more harm than good.

Join-up and being able to move a horse around with your body is the extent of my use of "natural horsemanship" techniques. Once a horse is paying attention to you and reliably moving away from pressure I employ classical technique. All horses in all disciplines should go by the same set of natural aids.

I have been training horses for almost 20 years and come from a long line of compassionate horsepeople.

Parelli is NOT the way to go with the horse. And it my opinion it is not the way to go for a lot of horses. There is controversy around Pat and his Wife for a REASON. I have seen some horrible things be done by those two AND by their followers... Step away from the parelli, ESPECIALLY if she is already behaving in a "spoiled" fashion.

Questions:
1. What are the situations that cause rearing?
2. Does she walk all over you? Into you? Bump you with her body? If so, how do you respond?
3. TB? Is she off the track?
4. Teething? What?? If she is chewing is she cribbing?? This is often a neurotic type behaviour, do you have a collar on her? Is she getting all of her necessary minerals? If she is from a racetrack stomach ulcers could also be an issue. Has a vet seen her?

A halter is NOT going to fix this. You need to get her on a lead rope with a decent (no name brand) rope halter and you need to carry a big, solid crop. If that horse gets an inch into your space you get them out of it immediately. Start by raising your hand and if they keep pushing, tap with the crap, gradually increasing pressure. If you need to wail on her, it means she has NO RESPECT for you. Time to establish that. (No, smacking a horse that isn't paying attention/ walking all over you is NOT abuse). Man yourself with a crop or stick and OWN that space. Smack to the nose if moving to bite, disengage those hinds if she is moving to kick. You MAKE her back up 20 feet until her ears are on you and she is listening. Pull her out of the mud, do it on the driveway if necessary to make sure you and her both have your feet under you. It is even MORE important that she have these manners in place in crappy footing.

Edited to Add: I think what you need to do, since this isn't your horse, is tell the owner that the horse is a danger to you and others and that you cannot continue to board her unless training occurs by a professional.

Parelli simply has commercialized many of the older natural horsemanship methods and turned it into a highly lucrative business. It gets to me because he's taking credit for what so many older trainers pioneered, but many people are very successful with his program, but its success does depend on your "feel" with horses. I hate the tools because I've seen so many people do the same or better with nothing but a round pen and regular tack, but if you need the guidance of a pre-set program, then it's probably good in that it provides you with a complete guide.

Personally, I would prefer to start by working with a local trainer who is respected and get help training under that other person's guidance. Good luck! If you really need problem solving with a potentially dangerous horse, I would let someone with experience evaluate the horse, if you don't have that type of experience.