Parelli Level 4 Finesse.. what do you see???

The Mustachioed One doesn't ride any English disciplines, so how can he possibly have any clue what's correct or not concerning contact?

Linda 'does' dressage about as well as I 'do' barrel racing.

Riding Western doesn't preclude one from knowing the effects of "contact" or loose reins, on the horse. Now, about those goofy moustachios so many "cowboys" sport: WHY, WHY, WHY?

Then she is not doing dressage. Period! The same way it is not really dressage with out a bit. The most basic principal of dressage is accepting the bit and that contact.

Very nice horse/rider team, I enjoyed watching the video. They could stand to learn a bit more about impulsion and working from the hind end forwards, but all in all, it was a pleasant video to watch.
Here's my criticism: What is level 4 in the grand scheme of things? I didn't see anything "wow" there; it was pretty, to be sure, but I was under the impression level 4 is getting up there in the pyramid of Parelli. They have a great base, but still have a ways to go before their performance is "wow."
Northern, if you would look at any English discipline, you're looking at the horse being on the bit (with contact) the entire ride, and that is correct. Even on a loose rein taking a break they are supposed to be on the bit. Saying otherwise is incorrect.

Unfortunately there was no finesse in this ride.

Lacked impulsion, and was crooked through 90% of the ride. It appeared to be a horse ready for training level dressage test with a few extra movements thrown in and them being done at a 40 % dressage score level.

1) PP's 80/20 means Linda's practicing dressage only 20% of her riding time.
2) the second poster, you refer to "contact" rein both during a discipline (so far, so good) but then, "even when on loose rein, should be on contact" - ? If you mean, that even at rest, after the discipline session's over, the horse should be held on "contact" rein, I disagree. I agree with loose rein as much as possible, for the horse's mouth. I've already posted on other thread that the unnecessary "contact" is incrementally diminishing the horse's mouth, & no one has given me any facts proving it isn't so. (Please back up claims with reasons/facts; why should you be listened to otherwise?)
3) I get uncomfortable around "contact" people anyway, because so often, they're interfering with the horse's movement, rather than helping the horse in hand. I really enjoy seeing a human stay out of the way on a loose rein & let the horse do its job, like in cutting.

I don't ride english but I do believe there is a huge difference between being "on the bit" like JDI said and having contact. A horse can be on the bit with the reins hanging slack, it is all a matter of training.

When I let my horse walk on a "loose rein" I will ask them to come to the bridle and follow my rein to the ground. They hold themselves round, and continue to march forwards from the hind end first. They are still round, they are still carrying themselves.
Conversely -- can you provide proof that a horse ridden correctly on contact will diminish the horse's mouth? I have never heard that, or experienced it myself. There is a distinct difference between "contact" and a person hauling on the horse's mouth though; perhaps there's some confusion there?

I'm sorry, but if a person is ruining a horse's mouth by asking for contact, and if they are interfering with the horse's movement, they are doing it wrong. In English disciplines, you MUST maintain contact unless specified - there is nothing wrong with this, it is not detrimental to the horse, nor does it interfere with the horse's natural movement - quite the opposite actually...

What Pat means about the whole 80/20 ratio is that you shouldn't focus on Finesse riding (contact) more than Freestyle (loose reins, brideless, etc). It has nothing to do with the length of time you hold the reins.

Are you sure..................?