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Whats with Natural Horsemanship

4K views 35 replies 14 participants last post by  saddle_girl_07 
#1 ·
So before I start, please dont yell at me or think that I'm insulting any of you that practice NH because I use it myself -- But thats the thing, I didnt know I was doing it until I started looking up all this Parelli and Anderson stuff. I went to a Clinton Anderson clinic last year and that was okay -- But some of his methods I didnt agree with (by the end of a saddling demonstration the 2 year old was flat against the ground heaving and literally dripping with sweat). But Parelli's students and he seem to have a great connection with their horse. But I've never had carrot sticks or games or anything -- Parelli methods basically just seem to be the same stuff I've been taught to do my whole life. Is there something I'm missing? I've looked more into it, and I can do all these things his students are doing, my horse and I have amazing trust -- But am I missing something?
 
#3 ·
ya i agree....im really not a fan of parelli, but that's just my opinion. im into nh, but you can't just tire out the horse and then start working, that doesnt solve the problem. and the games.....never solve anything for me. but nothing agains them, i just prefer different trainers. :D
 
#5 ·
Personally I just take what I like from one NH trainer, and make it so it goes with something else a NH trainer does, so it all flows. Some of it I completely disagree with, and don't think I'm trying to offend anyone, I'm not. But sometimes you have to wonder, are they doing it to better the relationship with their horses, or are they trying to milk the whole thing for what it's worth (get people to buy their oh so expensive gear and books)...... Than again that's just me.... naturally suspecious of anything that is too good to be true :roll: .
 
#7 ·
I don't agree with Clinton Anderson, one reason being the situation you described. I wouldn't suggest that anyone get into his "methods."

That's great you have such a wonderful bond with your horse. The horse world needs more good examples, IMO.

I'm a Parelli Level 3 student and trust me there are no gimmicks, tricks, smoke and mirrors, or whatever else people claim Parelli to have. It's straight forward, truthful information. I've seen huge improvements with every horse I've worked with using Parelli and I just love the program.
 
#8 ·
Like I said from what little I know of Parelli if someone asked me to recommend a NH trainer it would be him far before Clinton Anderson. Why he has a show on RDTV or whatever that channel is is beyond me. Half the trainers on there I wouldnt let within 100 yards of my horse. but im ranting.

My only qualm was the need to buy all these fancy sticks and tack. But Im not going to try and say anything wrong about the man because his methods do indeed work. Maybe I'm just cheap =P
 
#11 ·
All horses I've seen playing "Parelli Games" looked very bored. Yes, they did obey, but didn't look very happy. Not to insult anyone, but just what I noticed from number of shows and youtube videos.

Clinton is harsh in my opinion. It certainly works on some horses (very bossy horses do need whip reminder at times), but does not on others.
 
#12 ·
Spastic_Dove said:
My only qualm was the need to buy all these fancy sticks and tack. But Im not going to try and say anything wrong about the man because his methods do indeed work. Maybe I'm just cheap =P
Your not cheap. The only thing I bought from Parelli was his DVDs. I tied my own rope halter, found a stick for 20 dollars and replaced the string with a yacht rope string for five bucks, found knock-off leads for 20 bucks and my horse does just as well as a horse that uses all Parelli Equipment.

kitten_Val said:
All horses I've seen playing "Parelli Games" looked very bored. Yes, they did obey, but didn't look very happy. Not to insult anyone, but just what I noticed from number of shows and youtube videos.
The reason is because people WAY overdo the games. They are called games for a reason, because they are not meant to be overdone. Playing hide and go seek will get boring after the first couple rounds as would yo-yoing or porcupining the horse. The games are meant to be quick, one or two minutes per game and thats it. Not only that but you shouldn't need to play all seven games each time before riding after a while, you are only supposed to do the first four I believe.
 
#14 ·
The natural thing is great...the old school thing is great...but IMO nothing replaces a quality relationship with your horse.
"Grandpa Don" the guy I learned the most from, treated each and every horse different. One time you could swear that he was THE horse whisperer and another you would think he was the meanest old man you ever saw.
But I could do without the $40+ playballs and the high dollar whips, the 20 DVD set for a mere $500 & the "special" tack.
And I do.
 
#16 ·
Abby said:
The reason is because people WAY overdo the games. They are called games for a reason, because they are not meant to be overdone.
Good point, Abby! :)
 
#17 ·
I went to the British Open Showjumping Championships (which is one of the three biggest indoor international shows in the UK) on Saturday, and Parelli were doing a display there. It was amazing! The horses certainly weren't bored :wink: They were riding them bareback, playing with them, the horses were following them, it was lovely to watch, the horses were so relaxed and happy.

I don't do Parelli myself, but I have a friend on my yard who does, and her horse has come on in leaps and bounds by using the Parelli system. I'm more into Intelligent Horsemanship (Monty Roberst and Kelly Marks), but i'm not against Parelli, I think it's wonderful to watch :)
 
#18 ·
.Delete. said:
Whats so natural about a 40$ halter?
Or a 30$ carrot stick.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
#19 ·
I agree, the Games are usually way over done with people trying to perfect them. Level 1 is meant to be quick, get the concepts and GET OUT OF IT. Move on, start DOING SOMETHING with the Games. Put them to a purpose. Level 1 will not look pretty and it's not meant to look pretty. Levels 2 and 3 are where you refine everything.

I still don't understand the argument about halter prices, etc.......have you seen show halter prices? Have you seen lunging equipment prices?? It's crazy. For a leather halter, a plain leather halter, nothin special about it, can go for $70. And who said horse stuff was cheap? :lol:

I actually don't buy my halters, ropes and reins directly from Parelli. I am lucky enough to have a friend who makes them from the exact stuff Parelli does and he's a lot cheaper. But if I didn't know my friend, I would buy directly from Parelli. Their stuff lasts so long, it's cheaper to go with it in the end.
 
#20 ·
I follow Parelli and use it with my horse. I did buy the carrot stick, the savvy string, the halters, everything you need for Level 1 and they are great! They are extremely easy to clean and are very durable!

Vega also went and is currently going through the testing time in her life, and if i didn't do Parelli (not saying you MUST do him, but i love his methods and i know how well they work) that I probably would have sold Vega, or she'd still be for sale. She got too much for me to handle and i was starting to lose interest in horses because she made things just so impossible.

I'm also a savvy member and get their magazine and DVD every month and it has really opened my eyes to doing more with her than just riding.

Everyone has their own training method and no one is going to love what the other person does. I think of it more as a way for everyone to be able to pick and choose what they want to use with their horse and what methods they like better. Of course you don't have to go with the most expensive piece of equipment, but part of owning a horse is expensive equipment and spending $40 for a rope halter.

Look at saddle pads! There are some that are rather cheap and do the job, but then there are other ones that are more expensive.
 
#21 ·
Of course, it's matter of taste. We can all argue with each other up to the lost of breath (which happens usually once a month :) ), but not gonna change the opinions. I did watch number of NH trainers and liked some methods and didn't like other, but in the end the most important is what works for your horse. Lol!

Personally I still think Parelli's, Clinton's, Lyon's etc. stuff are overpriced, but it's just my own opinion. I did buy couple things from Clinton's website and found them working in fact worse on my horse than cheaper tack from local tack shop.
 
#22 ·
I use Clinton Anderson method for the majority of my training becasue I find him easier to understand than Parelli. JMO...

I don't think he is harsh in most of his methods. My horses respond very well with them and have come leaps and bounds. One was a rescue horse that had been treated badly. He responds to the "harsh" methods... :?
 
#23 ·
appylover31803 said:
but part of owning a horse is expensive equipment and spending $40 for a rope halter.
.
Yes but i can buy the same thing at the local tack store for 5-10$. I can buy a lunging stick (the white ones) for 4-10$. Your paying for a lable.

But again. Claims NH is natural. There is nothing "natural" about carrot stick or a "special Parelli rope". Sorry but i just think its false advertising.

Its all comericalized.
 
#24 ·
oh yes i totally know and understand that.

I guess I'm just one of those people that would rather spend the extra money for the name and know that it's good quality (not saying what's in a tack store isn't good quality)

It is kind of the same thing as some people that would spend over $4,000 for a saddle, that is just like a saddle costing $1,500, but it doesn't come with the same name as the $4k one.
 
#25 ·
Parelli doesn't really push you to buy his products, he says "Use what works" but I do get the feeling he's trying to say "buy from me" in subliminal messages through the music of his videos :wink:

Every trainer wants you to use their stuff. I'm just glad that Parelli and Clinton give you the option to save hundred bucks and buy the set without the gear.
 
#26 ·
I agree Abby. They do give you the option to buy their gear. I first got into making rope halters when i got my level one. And as i started watching it, obviously everyone has it in the videos. So i decided to get a lunge whip, but realized that it had too much play. And at my tack shop, they had 6 ft leads, or lunge lines.

So i got it because Vega is my first horse, and this is my first time doing anything like this and I just wanted to make sure it went smoothly.
But people that have been around horses longer than i have and have trained numerous horses, don't need that (unless they want it of course) and they already have a NH sense.
My fiance is very good with horses, he can pin-point stuff and he just has this natural NH about him, where as I took lessons and never did anything else beside riding, so this whole groundwork was all new to me, so i guess i just needed some guidance.
 
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