What is the best way to start Natural Horsemanship?
October 7th, 2009
I have been looking on the internet for books and dvds etc. for natural horsemanship. Are they any you would recommend? So far i’ve found Parelli looks quite good but it is very expensive and Clinton Anderson.
I’ve seen Pat Parelli live, and later attended a day long clinic by a Parelli instructor, plus I’ve seen some of his DVDs and have his book.
I like his 7 games and use them with my horses. And to see him live is so much fun – it’s like a cross between a circus and a horse show!
But when it comes right down to learning and teaching horses, I prefer Clinton Anderson. Clint is very, very clear and easy to understand. His DVDs start at point A and spend a long time on that point, sometimes you almost get tired of having it repeated and repeated and repeated, except that’s the way you learn, and it’s also the way horses’s learn. Repetition. Then he goes to point B and shows how to expand everything. If you use Clinton Anderson properly you will help your horse think instead of react, to learn to trust you, and to be respectful and stay out of your space.
Clinton Anderson has DVDs on almost every topic. I would say his focus is – teaching the backyard horse owner how to be a better rider and how to work with their horse. I would say Parelli focuses on groundwork to almost exclussion of riding, where Clinton does alot of groundwork, but it is with the focus of stuff you can use when its time to get riding.
I bought two sets of DVDs from Clinton off eBay this winter. One is a set of 6 DVDs on foals/weanlings/yearlings. It starts with a two day old foal and how to catch them, progresses to training your young horses to lead, shows how to handle an older foal that hasn’t been caught or trained. By the end of the set he is doing quite advanced excercises with four month old foals and later yearlings, I am using these excercises with both my yearling and my mature mare who has some respect issues and they are making a big difference. On eBay I paid about $70 for this set. I also bought his 4 DVD set called "Problem Solving" it isn’t a training set so much as a specific problem set, so don’t get that one as your first. The cost for this was about $50 on eBay. My friend bought a set of 12 DVDs (In three different packages) called "Riding with Respect and Confidence" (I think) that are a perfect set to use after the groundwork set, showing how to get your horse under saddle handling thoughtfully, calmly and respectfully. I think she paid $160 for this big set.
I wouldn’t be scared to buy used DVDs on eBay if the seller has a good reputation. I live several hours away from the nearest trainer, so DVDs are essential to me. I also bought 8 different Cleve Wells DVDs this winter, they are terrific too but basically for someone who wants to train their horse to show, specifically Western Pleasure.
All DVDs are expensive. On the other hand, I spend only about $120 for my Clinton Anderson DVDs and that’s alot less than I’d pay for a trainer, and I learned what to do so I can use it on my next horses. And you can keep them and refer back – its amazing how you think you understand a concept until you get out there and try and things act up! Good luck and have fun! Spend some money – that’s what its for!
October 7th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
i obviously do Parelli and love it.
i would look around and see what you like best.
yes it’s very expensive but i dont own any of the dvds or packs and am in level 3 stuff now— i just took lessons with another parelli person
so i personally like parelli but that is why i do Parelli, so just look around and see what you like and dislike about every trainer.
i do recommend parelli as it has worked for many people.
so good luck and always keep it natural!
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October 7th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Parelli and Lyons techniques are GREAT! But you might find it a little pricey. I would siggest trying it, taking what you like out of it and then putting it into practice. Be ware of the expensive "tools" they sell that you can buy MUCH cheaper at your local tack store. Aside from that, I can confess that I have the BEST mannered 3yo TB out there bc of alot of their techniques. So important to ground your horses well, and this is their focus. Good Luck and ENJOY : 0)
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Competitive Rider – Trainer – Coach
October 7th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
i have the book by pat parelli natural horse man ship its a good book 223 pgs.
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October 8th, 2009 at 12:04 am
It depends on what you want to accomplish with your horse. There are a lot of good trainers out there, all of them have a few good ideas for training. Look for a wide variety of books and DVDs (DVDs are typically really boring). There are almost no trainers that promote beating horses into submission – and there is nothing "natural" about someone riding a horse – otherwise they would have evolved to have stirrups hanging off there sides. Look at a wide variety of trainers – any knowledge is good knowledge, and a wide variety will give you more possibility for success.
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http://www.kickingbearmustangs.com
October 8th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I’ve seen Pat Parelli live, and later attended a day long clinic by a Parelli instructor, plus I’ve seen some of his DVDs and have his book.
I like his 7 games and use them with my horses. And to see him live is so much fun – it’s like a cross between a circus and a horse show!
But when it comes right down to learning and teaching horses, I prefer Clinton Anderson. Clint is very, very clear and easy to understand. His DVDs start at point A and spend a long time on that point, sometimes you almost get tired of having it repeated and repeated and repeated, except that’s the way you learn, and it’s also the way horses’s learn. Repetition. Then he goes to point B and shows how to expand everything. If you use Clinton Anderson properly you will help your horse think instead of react, to learn to trust you, and to be respectful and stay out of your space.
Clinton Anderson has DVDs on almost every topic. I would say his focus is – teaching the backyard horse owner how to be a better rider and how to work with their horse. I would say Parelli focuses on groundwork to almost exclussion of riding, where Clinton does alot of groundwork, but it is with the focus of stuff you can use when its time to get riding.
I bought two sets of DVDs from Clinton off eBay this winter. One is a set of 6 DVDs on foals/weanlings/yearlings. It starts with a two day old foal and how to catch them, progresses to training your young horses to lead, shows how to handle an older foal that hasn’t been caught or trained. By the end of the set he is doing quite advanced excercises with four month old foals and later yearlings, I am using these excercises with both my yearling and my mature mare who has some respect issues and they are making a big difference. On eBay I paid about $70 for this set. I also bought his 4 DVD set called "Problem Solving" it isn’t a training set so much as a specific problem set, so don’t get that one as your first. The cost for this was about $50 on eBay. My friend bought a set of 12 DVDs (In three different packages) called "Riding with Respect and Confidence" (I think) that are a perfect set to use after the groundwork set, showing how to get your horse under saddle handling thoughtfully, calmly and respectfully. I think she paid $160 for this big set.
I wouldn’t be scared to buy used DVDs on eBay if the seller has a good reputation. I live several hours away from the nearest trainer, so DVDs are essential to me. I also bought 8 different Cleve Wells DVDs this winter, they are terrific too but basically for someone who wants to train their horse to show, specifically Western Pleasure.
All DVDs are expensive. On the other hand, I spend only about $120 for my Clinton Anderson DVDs and that’s alot less than I’d pay for a trainer, and I learned what to do so I can use it on my next horses. And you can keep them and refer back – its amazing how you think you understand a concept until you get out there and try and things act up! Good luck and have fun! Spend some money – that’s what its for!
References :
I own, show and train Paint horses in Canada.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:37 am
parelli is the BEST.
It is well worth your money.
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October 8th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Don’t forget John Lyons, Pony Boy, and all the rest. I have found that mixing them all works for me.
It is like going to different trainers to get different views on the proper hunt seat or how to jump or do dressage. If you have a horse expo near you, you can go there and see if there is anything you like about the different trainers.
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October 8th, 2009 at 2:18 am
Ehhh… if I were you I’d find a REAL horse traininr. Both of those guys (no offense) suck in my opinion, they let thier horses walk all over them. It’s probally not gonna get you anywhere.
I recomend someone like Craig Cameron, and even Denise Reise does an okay job. But try finding a local trainer, someone you can actually work with, not just read thier books and watch thier videos.
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October 8th, 2009 at 3:02 am
I suggest checking out the different trainers on RFD tv before buying anything. You can get a feel for how they work before spending the money that way.
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October 8th, 2009 at 3:34 am
I agree with Kicking Bear. Bear in mind that these people are consummate business persons first and foremost. They have ‘repackaged’ what good responsible trainers do, added a few tricks and presented it to a public that does not see what is being done because they crave a magic answer to the long hard road to becoming a skilled rider. None of these people will teach you that, because they rely on games and the slightly unusual to convey an air of mystery to disguise what is really hard bitten commercial ’savvy’ to borrow a NH buzzword. I know this attitude is not a popular one, but there are no riders at the top of the three Olympic equestrian sports who use or advocate Natural Horsemanship, barefoot trimming, bitless bridles (Not the showjumping german hackamore but the crossover type that ensures the horse never attains a true round outline) or treeless saddles. Get a good classical trainer, listen, learn and ride well. Good Luck!
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Dressage trainer for 30 years
October 8th, 2009 at 4:06 am
I personally use Parelli. It is easy to follow, understand and accomplish. Not everyone cares for Parelli due to the fact that they do focus so much on the relationship between you and your horse (which to me is very important) and they do teach you that the problem doesn’t lie with your horse, it lies in us as humans. Having your horse want to do things for you vs. having to do things. You will also learn horse psychology and being able to read your horse and what they are thinking. And in learning how to better ourselves as horse-men (women) we better our horses automatically.
Parelli also teaches every discipline in every capacity of horses. So it doesn’t matter what your overall goals are, they will get you to a place where you can accomplish anything that you want… plus more!
Many people say that it is tricks and showy… the way the horses strive to respond to their leaders (us) and the things that you can accomplish may look that way, but nothing is better than accomplishing with your horse what you see them do on TV or at their clinics. Proves that it is not useless, all tricks, or too showy.
If you go to http://www.Parelli.com they have a place there on their website that you can get a promo dvd for free and you can check them out that way. Also if you do choose to go Parelli I would suggest checking out, on their website, the things taht you would need so that you know exactly what it looks like (particularly the dvd’s and books section) and if you go to e-bay you can get it for so much cheaper.
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I have been practicing Parelli for a few years now and the results in my horses and myself are amazing!!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Continue what you’re doing. Talk to people. See what seems to fit you best.
I like Parelli, but I do use many methods. There is no need to stick with just one.
If you just keep away from the traditional "obey me or I’ll hurt you" mentality, you’ll do fine.
Good luck!
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October 8th, 2009 at 4:52 am
first of all be a stable boy/girl and work yourself up eventually the stable horse owner may want you to be riding the horse for exercises etc then a trainer then maybe a jockey get the feel of the stables first and see how far you can go,it takes time and patience things don’t come quick time will tell.
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October 8th, 2009 at 4:59 am
I wouldn’t recommend any of the big-name trainers unless you have a lot of money to throw away. Not saying you wouldn’t learn anything, but I think you’d do far better by finding a good local trainer IN YOUR AREA that will let you observe and follow him around and ask questions.
Talk to horse people, find out who trained their horse, find some no-name hard working guy who really knows horses. That’s what I’ve done, and it cost me nothing and I learned tons. I grew up near a trainer who learned from Tom Dorrance, and he is the best trainer ever. Would rather help you help your horse than line his own pockets, and that’s hard to find.
When a trainer really cares for the horse, all the money in the world couldn’t buy the training that you’ll see. Just watch and learn.
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