"In the book, Parelli made statements such as if one could not mount a horse bareback from the ground  then that person should not be riding."

What a jerk...I know a 17 h Warmblood that sometimes likes to take off at a dead run when someone tries to get on from the ground...wanna try , Mr Parelli?

Not to mention, what about handicapped riders?  Don't see many people in a wheelchair pulling themselves up from the ground.

All in all, spend your money on regular lessons with a good trainer, and good basic equipment, and you can't go wrong.

OOOHHH Yeah,he got it,allright! He's a man,after all!! He knew what he was doing far as THAT went.

I'd say Linda put one over on him that he didn't see coming.

And,wouldn't that be a funny sight,him trying to get on that 17hh Warmblood that takes off like he was shot out of a cannon,and Pat's about half on,half off,like in an old Roy Rogers/Hopalong cassidy movie or something.

Have been reading the post's and thought I would add my 2 cents. We bought a level one trained Parrelli horse about 2-3 years ago. He has been the best behaved easy to load horse we ever had. Now we are kinda  new to this horse thing. About 5 years. We own 3 horse's, they are all my daughter's and she is a 4-H kid. We started using Parelli methods on the other two and have seen improvement in there attitudes and personalities. My daughter got the level 1 cd's for free from another horse person and we bought the level 2 cd's ourselves. They have been helpfull but I would have to agree the Parrelli's are marketing guru's. With things like the savy club and being tested  on levels you can tell it was well thought out as far as a money generating operation. Of course you have to buy their sticks, ropes, halters etc. cause normal ones just will not work as well. I have also bought a Clinton Anderson book and have read it. It seems all natural horse trainers are more simular than different. Alot of the same "games" with different names. I must say that in watching the cd's I have never seen or heard Parrelli say that the horse sould be dominate over the rider. Quite the opposite, there is cause and effect to this methods. I actually think someone like Clinton Anderson is more aggresive in his methods but not to an unreasonalbe level.  I think IMO that Parrelli tries to come across as some one who would never smack a horse like some of the other Natural horse people might. I think this might give him a bigger following among some people who might not want to be to aggresive in how they treat their animals. For me I use Parrelli/Clinton Anderson methods when I work with my horse. But you'll never see me spend a dime on things like savy club membership. Also I think it is a really good idea to do ground training before you ever get on a horse. I believe to be just good basic horsemanship. I have seen too many kids at 4-h pull up in there trailers unload tack up and head for the arena with out ever seeing what kind of mood there horse's are in only to have them have trouble in the ring. So all in all take what works for you but keep reading and learning.

the parelli,s make alot of money  at what they do. so what. i would LOVE to  make money  with my passion for Horses.   would you feel better about them if they did,nt make any money at all ?   it would.,nt make a difference with who they are and what they do  .    I have my own dog grooming business, if someone  stepped in and showed me a better marketing plan...you bet I,d be all for .  

 if you got off your horse and led them across the bridge, they would more than likely just follow you. BUT if   the Horse went  all on it,s own...then you are building their confidense . I think your friend might not know when to encourage them a little when they do get bored.   also with the Trailer, when the horse starts to get bored then it is not concentrating on the task being asked and  needs some  encouragement. sound like your friend  is,nt stepping in when needed. the whole point  is to get respect from your horse and build  their confidense   so they can be independant and think about something rather than spook, or shy away ( their natural  response ).

I never did parelli with any of my horses until I got One that was WAAAY smarter than I was and  the traditional methods  were,nt working  and I had to find a different way to comunicate with her  before she killed Me !   She is  Now the best Horse I have ever owned  and I am proud to say we are a honest to goodness  TEAM !!!!     when I need Her, she is there and when she needs Me, I am there !  

We trailered to a short ride today,and were late getting there,and rather late leaving.We also wanted to go to town to eat after we got back home.My husband's big gelding has been used to being led in the trailer.I really don't like that at all,ESPECIALLY in a 2H trailer,even tho it is a slant load and pretty wide.I led him up to the trailer,and told him to "Get in,Red." Red didn't want to get in.Now,he's almost 12 and has been in trailers lots of times.I tried it again,he stepped sideways.It was hot,and I was tired,and my husband's at the trailer window saying "He's not used to going in like that."
DId I walk in the trailer and stand there in front of him looking at him for 30 minutes? No.Did I lead him in the trailer? NOPE.He's a big boy,and,I don't fancy getting smashed against the back tack wall as he maybe barrels out after he decides he doesn't want to be in after all.

I used the "CrowleysRIdge Girl" method.I got a broom out of the rear tack,and,when he stopped and tried to refuse again,I whacked him across the rear.

Might not be the carrot stick and lead rope trick,and I didn't make any money doing it,but,Red went in the trailer with no questions asked.

That is exactly what I do thanks to a hint from Hounddog....LOL..... If you think for a minute a lead mare is going to wiggle a rope at them you got another thought coming. She asks, then she tells........ It's just a form of pressure and release and it gets the job done quick.

As a friend of mine, the first woman in the top management position of a mulitcontinental corporation, she was from hard times, AR, she would say, "Common sense will be tolerated!"

Around here, the carrot (for eating) is up front and the broom at the back , the horse can choose, or it's our choice! 

Yes,and,if it was a fear issue with him,that would be different.At one time,it WAS a fear issue because we tried to force him into a trailer with butt ropes and a whip,and,guess what,WE LOST.But that was years ago.

He just flat didn't want to go in there without his "mommy" or "daddy" leading him in,and,it wasn't but a few hours ago that he had been in that same trailer.He was just refusing to do it our way.He's an excellent horse,and we have him for sale,but,we're now having second thoughts!

One of ours is going to have to go,it's hard to part with any horse and we are very attached to each one of ours.

Parelli is very good at what he does, as his wife is also, (very commercialized and I would not buy there equipment). I have to disagree with the statement Pat Parelli made about "if one couldn not mount a horse bareback from the ground then that person should not be riding".  Gosh up to age 40 i was doing well and could do that and  I can still ride bareback, but mounting bareback or with saddle.....why when you don't have to? . (smaller horse is not a problem) but my horse is 16 hands, and I am 5'2. I could do it, but I don't want to.   I wonder if he ever has a accident on his horse, but doesn't want to give up on riding and only needs a little help to mount?  I feel, I am older now and you just don't bounce as well, I will never give up riding as long as I can do it. In my mind I still can run and jump and ride off fast. Now days I am afraid of where I might land if I would try that, if you know what I mean!!! That is like saying older people shouldn't ride. My mom rode until 70 years old. Cancer got her but now her spirit for the love of her horse was so much in her. So what if we helped her up there, let her ride around a little. We knew what she use to be like. Called the WANT to.  Anyway with my horse  I use to mount from almost anything, still do and want them to let me mount them on each side from anything. if I have to get off on the trail, I want to be able to mount from a stump or even a hanging limb if needed.  I had knee problems, and fractured my elbow a few years back. I think it is a good thing I train all my horses to step up to a fence, or gate, or picnic table, ect and stand quiet and mount from there. I feel it is better on the horse than having to pull on them and pulling them off balance and saves my arm from hurting too? Especially on my older mounts. I have to agree with you notfromtexas about the good trainer, good basic equipment, and learning everything you can.  Natural horsemanship is very good, but I don't need a parlli tool to do it with. I should be quiet now. I have given up trainning and let my husband do it all now. I am done with green horses, just because I like to breath lol, but never going to quit riding, just riding more been there done that horses.

As my lovely bride, Cyclone indicates, I'm not much of a "Trainer Bigot"' type person.

I use what works for the horse.  Some of the Parelli's stuff is okay, some of it is pure mollycoddling and pandering to an audience that buys off on their methods like a religion.  I personally won't drink the Parelli Kool Aid. 

I like using various tools from my tool box...I'm well read and well versed in several methods...John Solomon Rarey, John Lyons, Gawani Pony Boy, Clinton Anderson, etc.  Really depends on the horse.

Not every horse needs to be layed down...it's a method that really works well for a really stubborn or mean-minded horse...but I won't do it to every horse I come upon.  Not necessary.

As far being able to ride bareback or I shouldn't be riding, what a "holier-than-thou" statement to make.  I'm certain I ride more in a week than both Parelli's combined, and I won't ride bareback...haven't in years.  No need to.  That's why we invented saddles, ya idiot.

Just my 2 cents.

I always ask my horse to do somthing- you know- ok lets hop in the trailer...they know how to load BUT my one gelding will hesitate. Sometimes its a matter of footing or balance but I know when its not...then its "get in NOW"...and a nice tap on butt with a crop or the end of the lead rope. I don't think parelli really teaches this wait until whenever method. They do not want to get into a fight with all the hitting,smacking and yelling...it doesn't work. ME thinks the OP friend was taking something out of context or misunderstood.

This sorta reminds me of a incident this summer at a show. I was riding the afore mentioned gelding at a show and there was a water puddle from the previous nights rain. It wasn't deep but it was something you could go through or go around. I chose going through, he didn't. So I had a choice, let the horse dictate the path or me. I, of course, chose my way since we weren't going to sink. I didn't yell, smack, or hit...just asked him to go. Each time he didn't want to, I didn't allow him to circle or back up. It took a few minutes, probably 15 mins, but he finally knew that we were going through it and he did. Then we did it again and again. Now when a similar situation occurs, he might hesitate but within a few minutes or less we are going over or through an obsticle. This can work if your willing to be firm and stick to it. Sitting there for an hour is silliness.

Very good vignette, farmbabe. 

My gelding's half-brother, Pepper, is nortorius for making his own choices with his novice owner.  I trained him up, and he knows the difference between my being on him and his owner. 

Tried to impress upon the owner that until you work to build a bond and trust relationship with the horse, he will always take his own way...backwards into brush, sideways to avoid mud...whatever. 

It's not the horse...it is understand the horse's fear and helping him overcome it...in a way that is patient and kind, but firm and impressionable to the horse.