I recieved the package and realized how very few items were contained in the stunning box. The DVD seemed realistic to do first so I sat down with popcorn thrilled to finally own a little piece of the Parelli logo. After ten minutes I'm bored, frusterated and furious! Did you know that those DVD's are just ads for other DVD's that you 'can't do Parelli without.' He doesn't tell you how to do the patterns or anything about horse physiollogy or behavior- just that the patterns are the Parelli's roadmap... A little dispointed I figured that all my questions and ideas about horse physiollogy would be answered in the book. I opened it. "Do you want more savvy? Buy the Online, At Liberty, Freestyle and Finesse patterns today!" Then it was just fancy photos and a horseinality thing which was too complicated and a little stupid- I could've invented it. These patterns were just made-up games- not a pathway to my horse. I gave up my dogs training lessons, my riding, my money I had saved for six months and my dignity to be a Parellite. And it sucks.

So saddened by what I had discovered I determined that I would not be a mindless Parellite who simply followed the footsteps of the money driven Pat. Thank goodness I hadn't bought that stupid carrot stick (crop with Parelli logo on it) or the savvy string (a piece of string with the Parelli logo on it). Instead I started listening to you people on here with experience, my instructor and experienced horse people again and guess what- they had plenty of information if I was willing to listen. My instructor already knew that horses were flight animals and that they weren't being 'bad' when they spooked or shied. She already knew the biomechanics of riding (the Parelli's Fluidy thing is cr-p!!!) and how to recieve the most out of your horse! She didn't need a billion dollar stick to establish her alpha or a trillion dollar DVD to know how to respond. She was a good horseperson.

I really wanted something more with the horses I rode though. I wanted to understand them, to read them, to respond to them accordingly. I didn't want to be a rider. I wanted to be a horseperson. Finally prepared to take a chance on another clinician I did much more studying- did not judge anything by a pretty cover or photo- and decided on TTouch.

Linda-Tellington Jones does not think her method is gospel and reconizes plenty of other methods- and recommends them. I've already found 'centered riding' and another method through her website! Did the fat old Parelli's do that? No way! (Well not unless they were getting something out of it.)

So the moral of this story is if you're a novice out there like me who was awed by some circus tricks, pretty photos and a cool website make sure you know what you're getting into. Have a list of questions like:
1. Do they train competition horses?
2. Are they genuinely good riders/horsepeople?

3. Are they in it for the money or do they really have something to offer you?

4. Do they reconize other methods in case theirs doesn't work out?

5. Do they have lists of products you NEED to have or can you use substitutes.

Now I'm not trying (really) to bash PNH here. If it works for your horse good for you! But try to be open to new ideas. You miss a lot when you simply pick one method as gospel. I did. But I won't anymore.

http://www.equinecanada.ca/reining/templates/reining/graphics/reining_banner800x160.jpg
Reining: Spinning, Running and Sliding Into Fun!

There was a post on here called 'Looking With Both Eyes' which is a perfect example of what happens when someone who doesn't understand horses follows a 'set program' and when there horse doesn't do A to get B then they don't know how to fix it! (I don't mean this offensively the person who wrote that post!)

So if I hit a rough spot with TTouch than I may go to John Lyons, Chris Irwin or even my non-NH instructor because TTouch is not a set program!

http://www.equinecanada.ca/reining/templates/reining/graphics/reining_banner800x160.jpg
Reining: Spinning, Running and Sliding Into Fun!

Join Today!!!

Watch him for yourself and see if he is what you are looking for. I have been following his program and I have a responsive, loving, respectful, and trustworthy horse and a relationship with him that I never even dreamed of. Yes, some of his stuff is expensive, but I can tell you, he has the real deal. Everything is super high quality and his customer service is excellent.

Try him out!! 

People may have many different opinions about me, but it doesn't matter, because I am only living for the audience of ONE... HIM, JESUS.

Horses are not my whole life, but they make my life whole!

EDIT;

now im not saying, you as a person cant ride, but this is just what ive noticed.. IMO.. people need to stop paying for a way to get closer to their horses.  Spend time with him,  sit with him, go for walks,  bring him snacks every so often.   Alot of people above were talking about T touch.. Iv eused it, and ive found that it really works, if you horse doesnt mind being touched.

heres a website explaining it; http://www.ttouch.com/whyTTEAM.shtml