I personally hate most of them but if one of their methods didn't work then I'd simply buy a DVD from another.

Sorry to say this to all you Parellites (I was one of them) but PP didn't even start out as an NH trainer- he says it on his bio on his website- so technically he didn't really have a talent with horses, he just found out about pressure and release (pr) and the flight animal instinct, made a whole bunch of games, and priced everything to where he could afford five hundred dollar chaps for his in it for the money wife...

"People may tell me that they are great riders, fantastic horsemen, or knowledgeable horsepeople. I never believe them until I speak to their horses."

Society does not need more children; but it does need more loved children. Quite literally, we cannot afford unloved children - but we pay heavily for them every day. There should not be the slightest communal concern when a woman elects to destroy the life of her thousandth-of-an-ounce embryo. But all society should rise up in alarm when it hears that a baby that is not wanted is about to be born. ~Garrett Hardin

A horse is worth more than riches.
Spanish Proverb

There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse
Robert Smith Surtees

To be loved by a horse, or by any animal, should fill us with awe-
for we have not deserved it.
Marion Garretty

My heart galloped through the skies that night.                 Spirit:Stallion of the Cimarron  

Stop Horse Abuse!            

Society does not need more children; but it does need more loved children. Quite literally, we cannot afford unloved children - but we pay heavily for them every day. There should not be the slightest communal concern when a woman elects to destroy the life of her thousandth-of-an-ounce embryo. But all society should rise up in alarm when it hears that a baby that is not wanted is about to be born. ~Garrett Hardin

I was lucky enough to be in on the "ground floor" with most of these trainers.  I knew Linda Tellington-Jones before she became a horse-hold name.  I remember John Lyons before he became a "trainer" (he always trained horses, but this was before it became his main role)....as well as George Morris (I remember when he was in Medal-Maclay classes!)....when Monty Robert first came on the scene (before he went to England)....when Clinton Anderson first came to the States.....so I saw the original intent....the original focus and the original thinking.    It simply got twisted from the "here's some things to do/watch for/think about and adjust accordingly for your animal" to the "Just use my program, exclusively, and there will be no problems".

I "chose" Linda Tellington-Jones because she continues on doing her thing, has a low-key approach and admits to coming up against horses that don't play the game and having to sit back and figure out how to work with them so they WILL play.  I've been using TTouch since she came back from Israel with it and both animals and humans.  It's the next best thing to a message.

Savvy, you turned on the Parelli's with the same venom you showed to people here who warned you about them.  When you find a new tool for your toolbox, it's GREAT to be excited and eager...but if/when it doesn't work, don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.   There are good things in the Parelli box, as well as the tremendous amount of crap.  They DID start with the same premise of trying to "find a better way to unite horse and rider".....they just got overwhelmed with their own success and got cocky (and in my opinion, stupid).  You'll find there are things Linda Tellington-Jones does that are VERY similar to the Parelli games.....however, her FOCUS is not on "playing games" but using that time to bond, and see HOW your horse responds certain cues.  Her whole idea of the "wrap" seemed absurd to me, until I really understood what she was doing Physically/psychologically with the horse (plus reading about an autistic child who used the same approach on herself to help her cope was very helpful, tooA)....and when I tried it on a horse with "space" problems (she would step ON you rather than walk beside you....she just HAD to be touching her handler/other horse) it worked just like she said it would.   However, it did not work on a horse with just the "pushy" attitude.....nor was it supposed to.

So my take on many of these things is a bit different....cuz I was there when it got started, and not after things got a bit out of control.

My blog:  www.horselistening.blogspot.com

It didn't take 1 day to create.....it won't take 1 day to fix.

Might want to educate yourself a little more on Monty Roberts. He most certainly did NOT create Join-Up. All he has managed to do is alienate himself from most horse people and have a few lawsuits brought up against him. He's horrible.

 -Andi