Parelli - For an Older Horse??

Question

My horse is a 12yro. quarterhorse. I got her 2 mo. ago. She has not been ridden hardly at all in over a year. I've ridden her quite a few times and she definetly needs a brush up on her training (changing leads etc.) and her manners in general. I've had 3 lessons with a trainer and she suggested sending her to another trainer for a 30 day tune-up. I can ride but have no idea how to train to do anything. The trainer also suggested Parelli. I would like a little more time to bond before I send her somewhere. I bought her from people who bought her from auction so I don't like the idea of sending her all over the place in such a short amount of time. I'm afraid of making her colicky or sick or just keeping her too strung out. I've been reading up on all of these "celebrity" trainers. Parelli, Clinton Anderson, John Lyons, Monty Roberts, Frank Bell. Some of it is very PRICEY! I want to try one of these programs. Any suggestions for an older horse?

When I say "older" horse I mean as opposed to a colt, etc..

Answer 1

I agree with you completely! You shouldn't send her all around and you need to learn and grow with your horse... Take lessons with a trainer at a local barn-- they should be like 30$ for a half an hour private to 40$ for an hour private. This way you can bond and learn together-- i personally don't agree with sending horses off to another trainer, then taking them back when they are all trained up... it's basically like skipping all the hard work and having an easy horse to ride! That doesn't help the rider grow at all, we need challenges sometimes! What i say is-- if the horse you are looking at buying is green and so are you then DONT BUY HIM! Celebrity trainers mean nothing, they are almost robotic in their training and therefore make your horses outcome robotic! Don't you want a horse with character!

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Answer 2

All the big name training stuff is fine, but personally I'm not a fan. More than anything else a horse needs to bond with you for the training to stick. That doesn't have to mean special equipment or exercises. Just hang out with your horse for a while, grooming, lungeing, and taking short, slow rides. Then pick up the lessons again and have your instructor help you both out. Perhaps one day a week another trainer can come in and ride her to help her brush up on the essentials.

Answer 3

There are things you can learn to do on your own, and in my opinion that is better than sending the horse away to have someone else train it and then get her back and YOU don't know what she learned or how she learned it.

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Parelli isn't bad, but there's a lot of new stuff going on in the horse world, too.