"Parelli Stick" WHAT?????

Question

Ok, I do not know a dang thing about Parelli and the more I hear from people the less I give credit to this method of training. Now, in a previous question the term "parelli stick" was used, a 2nd person is behind the horse with this device to assist in training. WHAT????

Now, I don't understand the Parelli thing as I have not ever looked into his methods but I've heard some ridiculous things and it would be a cold day in &^*( before I would have someone behind me giving queues with a stick as I'm on a green horse. This man is teaching newbies this kind of thing to train a horse???? Anyone else here think this is ridiculous? Anyone want to expand on this training method?

Mulereiner, that is hillarious. crouch down and stare at his hip... lol.

Seriously though, he came over and whacked your horse across the face for not understanding your stare while this tree is on his back. I'd have hit him across the face, lol. Very loving and gentle ways to train.... confuse an animal and then hit him. Thats very interesting... I think I'll keep too my ways of training too!

I just wanted to add. Now it all makes sense, this girl a while back stated that she was doing correct in whacking her horse repeatedly and the horse was bucking or kicking out each time as she had pressure applied to the mouth. That must have been a parelli "tree" too, things are getting clearer!

I would state names but I didn't want to sit and write out names to remember who said what..... I so agree with those against or somewhat against this tactic. Either you know horses or you don't and its a fraud, its completely insane for those that don't know how to do the basics to assume they are good enough to train a green horse!!!!! If I ever have to see another ill trained animal, it will be too soon!!!!!! For those for it... do you own a dog? Do you allow it at your dinner table and beg for scraps too???????? Do you take it for walks and let it tell you where it wants to go and allow it to run you all over the country??

Whew, got my ..... in a bunch. LOL!!!! Better stop before I offend too many here:)

jhg: come see my horses, from weanling to 20+ and tell me if I need a &*(*( "carrot stick". I call they come, I ride they ride, I load they load, I show at world.. they show,... heck, they qualify to get their and if you EVER seen me abuse, or punish or drug a horse for anything, Shoot me, Take me to court.. whatever... but I'm not telling youth, inexperienced to do what I see being done.. ESPECIALLY after one weekend clinic with hundreds where assumption is made. What a joke, seriously! I take the years I have under me, both the hard way, and from experienced horseman to heart. I've done wrong in my life and believe me, I WON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE!

Answer 1

Thanks for asking this question. I'm glad you have not been sucked into the parelli cult yourself. I have not only heard ridiculous things about parelli, I have seen even more f*&%#@ up things when amatuers attempt to train thier horses using this method. I agree that understanding the mental psychology of a horse and catering to herd animal behavior can increase your training success, but any training method that swears by the use of a "carrot stick" or refers to work outs as "games" honestly speaks for itself. I do not know any parelli horses that have made it to the show ring and I know of many, like the one with the ulcer that really needed veterinary care, not a bunch of hoopla to fix behavioral problems (most of which are a direct result of physical problems, pain, discomfort etc). The only people that I know who use parelli are back yard amateurs who want to be horse whisperers and people who do not know how to properly train a horse. The problem with parelli is you are not training your horse to do anything, you are acting upon the horse's natural behavior to interact with it through a series of games. You do not break a horse to ride with parelli, you bond with it (according to my hick neighbor who thinks she's "one with her horse") I guess bonding means your horse likes being beaten with carrot sticks and having you stand on its back ;). I have never seen pat or linda parelli break a horse to ride or drive, I have just seen them play with it, they are not trainers, just showmen. Think about it the parelli cult now has a tv show on RFD, tons of idiots buy carrot sticks and "magic" halters from them, because people go to seminars and watch them goof around on horses they have gained a lot of attention. I advise you to ignore it.

Answer 2

Carrot Stick Parelli

Answer 3

a Parelli stick is basically a long orange stick. Like when you are lunging your horse, you use your long whip to direct the horse right? Parelli is doing the same thing except the whip is orange so the horse can see it better, and use it to direct the horse while you are riding. Parelli is a natural horsemanship program which helps you bond very closely with your horse so that in the end, you can ride without a bridle or a saddle.
Some people really love this stuff, I've seen my friend do it and it;s quite amazing!

Answer 4

This is a great question as I have wondered it myself. I have seen some of Parelli's stuff and it just looks "different" to me. I don't like the games and tricks. I want down home stuff like Clinton Anderson. But, I cannot wait to hear the explanations for the "Parelli Stick!"

Edit: jhg...it is wonderful to feel passionate about something and you do about Parelli. I think the point that is getting out is that Anyone can see a video and say "hey i can do that" and they might be able to...but the problem is they then think they are trainers! Therin lies the problem. It's the same with Clinton Anderson and all the others BUT, Parelli is the "game" guy and if you can get your horse to play a "game" then what are you really teaching him to do? Also, if you can ride your horse bareback in a cutting pen then I would pay money to see that!! It's the people that really want to learn that get cheated by the ones that think they know everything..not saying you said you did. Not everyone is dedicated to learn everything all the way thru like it sounds like you are and that is wonderful but when you get done will you call yourself a Certified Parrelli instructor?

Answer 5

Do you know he apprenticed under a guy who trained animals for the circus. A lot of "smoke and mirrors" I would say more but I will just get some nasty e-mail saying how Parelli is god and to criticize is sacrilege.

I will say that 75% of the horses that I get that need re-training were originally trained by a Parelli certified trainer. All of those horses have had the same three problems if not more: they don't work off the legs, they back for s..., and they walk all over their owners with no respect for personal space. I have figured out that the "prickly pear" game results in the poor leg responses, the "yo-yo" game makes them hard to back up - unless you are on the ground shaking a lead rope at them - and the overall Parelli method seems to teach the horse to think of the rider as an equal rather than as the boss. I don't beat my horses, but they know I lead the way!

Why does he wear spurs? How is that natural?

Answer 6

I've never had anything to do with Parelli although 2 friends spent small fortunes on sending their horses to different Parelli trainers. One ended up losing a lot of money when she came to sell her horse because he was all over the place. The other was a Cleveland Bay training to become a Western Pleasure horse - poor creature. I've read with great interest the answers and as usual Mulereiner cracks me up with her insightful thought on the subject. I agree with you though I wouldn't have some guy chasing me around with a stick. It's not a theory I would subscribe to and I wouldn't pay for it either.

Answer 7

THanks for asking this...I needed a good laugh and sure got it reading the answers.

Like anything, the man has some good points...but for the most part, "Parelli" is an innovatively packaged concept complete with accessories strategically designed to seperate the horse owner from their money.

Answer 8

I've watched a few of his shows on tv. I've found that beneath all of the hooplah there is a core of basic horse handling that most anyone who has been around horses already knows. He has just found a way to make it "prettier" to the general public, and they have taken it to the extreme.

I'm sorry, I fully agree that a horse needs ground work before I get on, BUT it will be a cold day in hell before I put YEARS of groundwork on a horse before that first ride and another 2 years before I make it beyond a jog.

My cutting trainer was roommates with Pat in college. He says he knows what he's doing, but he learned where the money is.

I have found over the years that I enjoy watching these different clinicians. I usually can pick up a thing or two from each of them to fit into my own training. Agreeably, I learned less from the Parelli way than the John Lyons, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Personally, if I need to beat my horse with something, there is usually a lead rope, a lunge whip, a tree branch.... you get it.

Answer 9

I personally do not agree with parelli's methods of horse trainning.I haved viewed one program of his on RFD-TV and I belive he has alot"of smoke and mirrors"
To get my mare to do as I ask,I do not feel like I should have to play a game with her for 5 months to achive the one thing I am asking.I do belive in humane trainning,but I am not going to chase her around with a carrot stick.My horse is sensitive on harsh treatment(she is a Arab) and would defintly fly into a tizzy if I sat there smacking or having someone smack her on the bum with a stick thing repeatly.
I like clint Anderson alot.But when It comes down to it alot of these"natural Horsemanship" trainners came out of the woodwork after the movie horse whisper(which I love the movie)and suddenly people have to buy their $300.00 dvd set and their $50. halter if you want to go anywhere with your horse.
I am not a trainner or plan to be.But I do belive ALOT of people out their are getting to "master levels" or what ever you call it where they are certified trainners ,where to begin with have no buisness trying the things they do with other people's horses.
But the point is I don't look into the smokey mirrors-I use the method that best fits my horse and do not jump into the Parelli method. I had a lady at the old barn I boarded my mare at came back from a "clinic" where she was so excited that her horse was able to pick up a barrel? How does that help on a trail,(unless their is a barrel in the way-lol) or show ring or other issues??????

Answer 10

The 'Parelli Stick' is an extention of your arm, it is not suppose to be used for violence. To the horse it is suppose to feel like another horses tail. Your suppose to use it every time you lounge, not just when you get mad because then the horse will get mad too unless it is used to it and knows you aren't going to hurt him with it.

And on the workouts, games, it's suppose to be fun for your horse so it doesn't get arena sour or mean spirited on you. It helps your horse relax and keeps him interested.

When you are sitting there, you are not suppose to look threatening, you are suppose to be letting your horse get used to you. When the horse turns his hindquarters to you, you are suppose to move out of the way and stay within eyesight.

If people would stick with the training methods and not try and rush things, they would know with Parelli training it's about earning the horses trust and respect. Which is what we need from them right? If the horse doesn't have trust and respect in you, who's to say it won't throw you off when you least expect it? That happend to my friend in the middle of a 4-H show, and it scared all of us but we all knew it was because she didn't have the horse's trust or respect, she wanted to rush everything in the horse's training and she paid for it.

Although if you did ever watch him, he does a good job with horses but I think his wife does a better job. She is an extermely talented equestrain!

Pat Parelli isn't that bad of a horseman, he started the Mule Association and rode a mule, bridleless and did a flawless performance.

Okay, I will admit some of the things he does with the horses is a little over rated and gives the horse mixed signles, but there are some methods that do work.