Parelli for an older horse?

montanagirl · 01-31-2007, 09:07 PM

I am in the midst of acquiring an older (22 y/o) QH/TB gelding who is well broke and trained to ride Western. I've been reading a lot about parelli, and would like to start some Level One training with him.

Has anyone started Parelli or other natural horsemanship with an older horse? Is it worth a try? I really like the aspect of establishing a relationship of trust and respect right off the bat with him.

Thanks for any input!

BornToRide · 01-31-2007, 09:16 PM

Hi!!!

I began Parelli with my gelding, and he's 14. Parelli will also add that he did his program on a horse that was 38 once, so they are never too old. I was also quite happy with the program, I just enver completed it. I need to begin workign on it again!!!

**taelesean** · 01-31-2007, 10:24 PM

A horse is never too old to learn to trust and respect you.

Perrys_mama · 01-31-2007, 11:53 PM

Parelli Level 1 is working great with my 11 year old, one piece of advice, I give Spooky a little more leeway than I would a baby, just to see what she's already trained to do. For example, I discovered that when I reach my hand under her nose, as a "target", she drops her head and EXPECTS a forehead rub. She has some other responses that I decided not to bother changing, but by and large, Parelli is pretty general and works in lots of situations!

mandelyn82 · 02-01-2007, 06:23 AM

It was a success with my 20 yr. old Anglo-Arab gelding.

In all reality, it's best to learn the program on a been-there-done-that horse.

An older horse can be more forgiving as you learn, so it works out for both horse and owner!

wundahoss · 02-02-2007, 07:00 PM

I started learning about & teaching my first horse Parelli exercises when he was a handful of a 17yr old & I was a relative beginner. It was a great success.

The biggest thing about this sort of 'training' is that it's just as much, if not more, about training the person as the horse in most instances. If you already understand a fair bit about equine behaviour & behavioural psychology, if you already know how to train a horse effectively, to gain their trust, to become their partner, then you probably wont get much from PNH, but otherwise, you'll learn a heap & the actual exercises that you teach your horse are the least of it. The *principles* are the most important thing to learn.

It's just as easy to teach an old.... whatever animal... new tricks. The thing with older animals is that they often have some old... tricks that also need to be untrained too.

CoppysGirl · 02-02-2007, 07:12 PM

Would I be able to do parelli with my mini? Or is parelli mostly on horseback? (I don't know much about it..)

wundahoss · 02-02-2007, 09:29 PM

There are plenty of minis that I've seen doing PNH. I beleive Pat Parelli has a few himself. Riding(or driving, or whatever 'job') is only one part of horsemanship, so therefore only one part of the PNH program.

mandelyn82 · 02-03-2007, 04:04 AM

Level one is the 7 games, which is on the ground. It would be cute to see a mini doing that!

(and beneficial I'm sure)

Krista · 02-03-2007, 10:07 PM

I started doing some Parelli work with my mare in October, and she is turning 16. After a little over 12 years of doing the same thing over and over, it was nice to try something new. We're having a ton of fun with it. Also, a few friends at the barn have minis and do Parelli stuff with them as well. One friend has the cutest picture of one of her boys with one of the minis standing in a hula hoop

01-31-2007, 09:07 PM
montanagirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 591	Parelli for an older horse? I am in the midst of acquiring an older (22 y/o) QH/TB gelding who is well broke and trained to ride Western. I've been reading a lot about parelli, and would like to start some Level One training with him. Has anyone started Parelli or other natural horsemanship with an older horse? Is it worth a try? I really like the aspect of establishing a relationship of trust and respect right off the bat with him. Thanks for any input! __________________ No hour is ever wasted that is spent in the saddle. --Winston Churchill

01-31-2007, 09:16 PM
BornToRide Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,470	Hi!!! I began Parelli with my gelding, and he's 14. Parelli will also add that he did his program on a horse that was 38 once, so they are never too old. I was also quite happy with the program, I just enver completed it. I need to begin workign on it again!!! __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

01-31-2007, 10:24 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,756	A horse is never too old to learn to trust and respect you. __________________

01-31-2007, 11:53 PM
Perrys_mama Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 887	Parelli Level 1 is working great with my 11 year old, one piece of advice, I give Spooky a little more leeway than I would a baby, just to see what she's already trained to do. For example, I discovered that when I reach my hand under her nose, as a "target", she drops her head and EXPECTS a forehead rub. She has some other responses that I decided not to bother changing, but by and large, Parelli is pretty general and works in lots of situations!

02-01-2007, 06:23 AM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,974	It was a success with my 20 yr. old Anglo-Arab gelding. In all reality, it's best to learn the program on a been-there-done-that horse. An older horse can be more forgiving as you learn, so it works out for both horse and owner! __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

02-02-2007, 07:00 PM
wundahoss Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 138	I started learning about & teaching my first horse Parelli exercises when he was a handful of a 17yr old & I was a relative beginner. It was a great success. The biggest thing about this sort of 'training' is that it's just as much, if not more, about training the person as the horse in most instances. If you already understand a fair bit about equine behaviour & behavioural psychology, if you already know how to train a horse effectively, to gain their trust, to become their partner, then you probably wont get much from PNH, but otherwise, you'll learn a heap & the actual exercises that you teach your horse are the least of it. The principles are the most important thing to learn. It's just as easy to teach an old.... whatever animal... new tricks. The thing with older animals is that they often have some old... tricks that also need to be untrained too.

02-02-2007, 07:12 PM
CoppysGirl Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 901	Would I be able to do parelli with my mini? Or is parelli mostly on horseback? (I don't know much about it..) __________________ When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine... you know you are loved. -John Lyons

02-02-2007, 09:29 PM
wundahoss Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 138	There are plenty of minis that I've seen doing PNH. I beleive Pat Parelli has a few himself. Riding(or driving, or whatever 'job') is only one part of horsemanship, so therefore only one part of the PNH program.

02-03-2007, 04:04 AM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,974	Level one is the 7 games, which is on the ground. It would be cute to see a mini doing that! (and beneficial I'm sure) __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

02-03-2007, 10:07 PM
Krista Halter broke Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 173	I started doing some Parelli work with my mare in October, and she is turning 16. After a little over 12 years of doing the same thing over and over, it was nice to try something new. We're having a ton of fun with it. Also, a few friends at the barn have minis and do Parelli stuff with them as well. One friend has the cutest picture of one of her boys with one of the minis standing in a hula hoop