From a recent visit to an online equestrian forum:
I am sending this to a couple different groups as I feel it is important to get the word out to potential Parelli followers. As many of you know, I am currently recovering from a brain injury from a fall from a horse this summer. This was a green horse but he spooked while I was getting off, something any horse could do and the odds of a serious accident on a horse finally caught up with me. One thing I have noticed is an ad for Parelli and Linda is jumping a horse bareback and no helmet. Also while I was bedridden I watch a couple of his episodes and he had a a young person who was physically disabled riding without a helmet and it was obvious her balance was not good. I sent a letter to Parellis asking them to please advocate the use of helmets. This is their reply, which I think is totally STUPID coming from professionals.
Patti – w.wa
The Parelli Faculty’s response:
Hi Patti,
Thank you for taking the time to write us. We understand your views and concerns. As quoted by the faculty at our ranch:
You are quite right – helmets are fabulous things and they save many lives. Tragically though, people who ARE wearing helmets also die or suffer serious head injuries in accidents with horses.
Our program is intended to address the safety problem at its root – which is behavioral – rather than address the symptoms of it. Our message is about developing the relationship with the horse, and the savvy level of the rider, so that unsafe behavior is addressed long before the rider gets on the horse – rather than allowing the unsafe situations to continue to occur and hope that the helmet, body protector, etc, will protect us from the consequences.
The reason you do not see our people wearing helmets is because we try to teach people that rather than be brave because they are wearing a a helmet to protect them, they would be better off not riding until their horse is behaving safely.
People have called us brave for not wearing helmets, but we say they are a lot braver than we are. We would not get on their horse until we had addressed the issues that cause it to behave in unsafe ways.
We hope this helps,
From the Faculty, Parelli Centers
As a fascinating conclusion to this insanity, a post about Linda Parelli’s recent fall.
People respect this man’s organization enough to send them a great deal of their hard-earned cash. I understand that there is a lot to be learned from any trainer, especially one so accomplished as Pat Parelli. Yet I hoped that he would feel the responsibility incumbent upon him by virtue of all those faithful adherents and send out a message in support of safety and security. Doesn’t Parelli Natural Horsemanship have lawyers?
© 2009 enlightened horsemanship through touch and Kim Cox Carneal
If you like what you have been reading, please subscribe to the RSS Feed, and visit Bloggers Choice Awards to vote for Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch.
“unsafe behavior is addressed long before the rider gets on the horse”
Sure, that’s why I just watched a video of Pat at a colt starting competition getting bucked off!
Accidents happen, we are only human and they are only horses. Look at Linda’s fall because her horse tripped. Watch their programme on Horse and Country TV and see their students take falls.
I think Parelli horsemanship is continuing its dive in popularity here in the UK, and my pet peeve about starts with this issue. Its not big and its not clever – just put a hat on!
Hi knockabouts.
My personal pet peeve with Parelli horsemanship is its size, figuratively and literally. It’s all so showy and the organization is just so large. Often things get out of hand in situations like this.
How odd to come here to respond to you to find that my domain forwarding is not working. Please visit me at http://www.enlightenedhorsemanship.net.
As the victim of a severe head injury, I couldn’t agree with you more, even though, in my case, the lack of a helmet was the only thing that saved my life. It allowed my skull to crack and thereby allow the swelling to have a minimal effect on my brain. In spite of my survival (a one in a million chance), the correct riding apparel is CRUCIAL for rider safety. People in positions of extensive media exposure have a social obligation to behave responsibly, especially when their actions will influence young riders. How tragic it would be if a young rider decided to mimic Parelli’s behavior and was injured due to the lack of proper riding equipment.
Anne
I totally understand. After having seen and participated in the care of so many avoidable cases of severe head injury, it seems beyond stupid to model reckless behavior.
I cringed at the idea of posting the photo of Rowan Isaacson in my post above because not only is he not wearing a helmet, but he’s also wearing some floppy shoes. I fell victim to the cutesies though and put it up anyway. Maybe I should put a disclaimer. Think I will.
Have you told your story on your site? I can’t help but wonder if the people who hold more informed opinions had their say, it might override the nonsense perpetuated by folks who don’t want to mess up their photogenic hair.
Although I agree that wearing a helmet is certainly a good idea and can definately save your head in a fall or accident, I find this discussion interesting. I find it interesting mostly because it is taking place in America, where it is perfectly normal for motorcycle riders to wear no helmets, car drivers to not belt up and where every Joe-on-the-street can buy and carry a gun.
It’s not the content of the discussion that intrigues me, it’s the context it is held in.
Lisa
Good point. I think those folks who resist or refuse helmets and seatbelts are idiots. Don’t get me started about guns. Not all Americans are mindless gun-toting helmetless yahoos.
Hey there!
What I am thinking is the role of the horse in these kinds of conversations. It seems to me from my own work, that the role of the horse — somehow — the relationship we have with our horses — somehow — the psychological and sometimes psychic atmosphere that surrounds us when we are in the presence of the horse — somehow — empowers someone like Parelli to become a guru-like cult figure. It’s the same with my trainer — I watch her work and she is working “in a zone” that is so amazing, that I have several times labelled her as my guru. EXCEPT she is such an old fashioned, hard working cowpoke, that that kind of projection doesn’t stick….
What is fascinating is how people can manipulate this tendency to associate horses with spirtuality on some level (natural horsemanship is a kind of romance of nature mysticism) for such self-promotion, that it elicits love and loyalty on the one side, and obsessive derision on the other.
Parelli people are always wondering “Why do they hate us so much?” On the flip side, we can’t understand their devotion. That is classic sign of cult-like relationship.
In my other persona (Integral Theorist) we have the same problem. The field is dominated by a beheamoth of a man, Ken Wilber. He and his followers deomnstrate cult-like relationship. Not surprising, integral theory is a spiritual-liberation theory, at best as a system-view understanding, at worst as an ideology….
The reference to martial arts is appropos. I was the President of the National Qigong Association in the early 2000’s. ALthough our mission is to de-mystify Qigong, there was a constant and affixiating feeling of “devotional” relationship back and forth — when I was on stage, and being “on” — I solicited (voluntarily or involuntarily) so much devotional projection, that it interested me, and I could understand how teachers in certain realms can get way-too attracted to this kind of thing.
Of course, it happens to sports and movie and music stars all the time.
To me, it felt like GUM IN MY HAIR (if you know what I mean).
When I give my horse workshops, I let the students interact with the horses as teachers, with as little intervention as possible. They often develop deep intuitive “devotional” relationships with one or another of my horses. It is pleasant and delightful to see the resonance. It is better because I am not the target, and the horses don’t seem to mind/ care about what comes their way. I think they play with that kind of energy in a kind of magical (read magician, trickster) way.
LOGIC??? When it comes to horses, its over rated.
in one of his books, Klaus (Hempfling) — another guru-devotional-type persona — says “Horses as chaos machines!” Whatever YOU are susceptible to, the horse will find, pick on it, play wiht it, and nurture it all at the same time. Either side of the coin. The horse doesn’t seem to care.
Bonnie
Kim:
Re: On Parelli’s non-use of helmets & Parelli “natural” horsemanship: I was being in part (a very large part) ironic/facetious…
In the same vein: If one insists on riding bareback, then one ought to consider riding in the bare, i.e., naked!
For an extended taste of my sardonic & perhaps difficult-to-fathom use of irony in otherwise serious-sounding discourse, you ought to purchase (Amazon.UK sells it) & read my new book:
“Post-Solidarity and Postmodern Intergenerational Relation(ship)s.”
P.S.: Every purchase of said text will help me re-pay the $230,000 in federal student loan I owe–
& in the back-cover author info section I managed to sneak in a statement about my beliefs & actions on non-human animal rights, which have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of the book.
Cheers,
Shoshin
Dude. That’s a lot of student loans. Even I didn’t rack up that much, and I thought I was the champ.
Have you ever ridden naked? I drew the line at riding in shorts the one time I tried it. Ouch.
Lady Godiva must have had tough skin.
I’ll check out your book. I love that on Amazon you can peek inside.
Choosing to wear a helmet or not is like the seatbelt law (and motorcycle helmet). My husband was a OTR truck driver for 20 years and has more than 2 million commercially logged miles (that’s a LOT and that is just the logged miles) and is the best and safest driver I have ever seen, truly. He never would wear a seat belt (granted in a big truck is one is less likely to be injured than the person in the 4 wheeler). One night on the way to Austin, TX we ran over a Mazda truck – the lady was drunk, her fault and Larry’s reaction prevented any further damage or injury). No one was physically injured but since we have been wearing our seat belts and guess what! It isn’t really inconvenient! Smart or not smart, it is just a person’s choice and like all freedoms in this country let people make thier choices (adults over 18). And just like driving, horse riding is a crap shoot. You can go your eniter life without a helmet and without a accident – or not. As good a driver as Larry is, he cannot account for the other drivers, therefore you the rider cannot account for the actions of your horse because your horse has a brain as well. Just yesterday I took a fall off my shetland. Granted, the ground is closer than on a full size horse, and I am usually pretty aware and prepared when she shys at something but this one took me by suprise. Fortunately all I got was a bruised hip (no, I don’t wear a helmet at this time). As for the Parelli’s, what amazes me is that anyone will follow something fanticlly (including religions and politics) without questioning everythng alont the way. When I was learning marial arts the one thing I did learn is that you take what is good and useful for yourself from every disipline. One should never ever ever stop thinking for oneself. Does it make sense to you? Does it work for you? If it does, use it. If it doesn’t, discard it. You are just as smart as everyone else. You are just as smart as Linda or Pat. It may be that you just haven’t noticed or been introduced to some of the ideas they or anyone else is presenting.
Kerry
Thanks for this reasoned response. I particularly like your last comments about human intelligence and our ability to think for ourselves.
“One should never ever ever stop thinking for oneself. Does it make sense to you? Does it work for you? If it does, use it. If it doesn’t, discard it. You are just as smart as everyone else. You are just as smart as Linda or Pat. It may be that you just haven’t noticed or been introduced to some of the ideas they or anyone else is presenting.”
HEAR HEAR!
The problem, you see, is that wearing a helmet is not “natural” & therefore is inconsistent with Parelli “natural” horsemanship.
And remind me what is “natural” about a human sitting atop a horse & hanging onto the horse with ropes or non-human animal leather straps tied to metal bars running through the horse’s mouth?!
It has been said but bears repeating: The term “natural horsemanship” is an oxymoron.
However, given Parelli’s cowboy/rodeo background, I am not the least bit surprised that he doesn’t wear a helmet or give a second thought to encouraging others to ride without helmets or saddles.
His wife, who over & over again tells anyone who will listen that she once was a successful competitive Dressage rider, ought to know better.
Furthermore, I know of very, very few horses who enjoy having a human on their bare backs.
For my part, I am no longer in the thrall of “natural” horsemanship–or those who identify themselves as teachers thereof.
I prefer to observe & follow the horsemanship practiced by Philippe Karl & others like him.
Of course, there is no one on earth who can compare to the horsemanship developed & practiced by Alexander Nevzorov
Shoshin
I’m not sure I agree with you that Parelli’s reasons for not supporting helmet use is because it doesn’t fall into line with the “natural” concept. If that were really it, he’d have to ride naked to be genuinely natural.
It boggles the mind.
Literally.
I agree. I just don’t understand. Scratchin my head on this one.
When I took my Centered Riding clinic the only person to fall off AT A WALK was a disabled rider riding without a saddle on an inappropriate horse, who was listed as one of Parelli’s success stories on his website. It was Parelli who told this rider to ride w/o a saddle.
The experienced CR instructor said it was the only time she had had anyone fall off during a CR clinic; and if you have taken one you know most is done at a walk with little trot.
Nope, not a fan of Mr or Ms Parelli. I have them under my Snake Oil listing.
That’s dreadful! I do have to say how easy it is for a handicapped person to fall off, however. After many years of watching my own child ride (most of it with peeking through my tightly clenched fingers), along with other kids in similar situations, it is remarkably easy to hit the dirt when your balance is impaired. Come to think of it, even if your balance is OK, like mine, it’s easy to take a face plant. I certainly have had more than my fair share.
I understand your point to be that this person had been used by the Parellis as an example of the success of their method.
I don’t think anyone that successful can be branded a snake oil salesman, but I do feel uncomfortable about many aspects of what he teaches. This helmet thing is a major case in point. I still can’t stop scratching my head and wondering about it.
I’ve fallen so many times, the only reason I have a head to scratch is that I wear a helmet.
I have been aware and read about Parelli on the original rec.equestrian board starting over 15 years ago. This method has been repeatedly under attack by experienced horse people across numerous horse forums and it’s obvious why, at least to me.
I have also been with people who have gone up pretty far in the Parelli cult-system and they then dropped it, disillusioned with the increasing amounts of pressure that has to be applied to gain results (if you are so tied into your horse with this method, then why is increasing pressure needed?)
In this situation that I wrote about (above) this person had no leg below the knee (both sides) and had specifically trained under Parelli himself. It was quite evident from my four days there that she had been encouraged to do dangerous and risky behavior using the Parelli method – I left that clinic surprised that she had not gotten kicked in the head – her horse was the only one who escaped (separate incident from falling off at a walk with no saddle) and ran across the dresage areana putting other riders in danger. Unfortunately, I do not want to go into further details as this would most likely humiliate someone that could be easily identified on the internet.
Suffice to say, Parelli teaches in a cult-like setting and I am not the first, nor will be the last, to notice or write about it.
I am so sorry that what should have–and easily could have–been a fantastic experience for someone who needed it was not. Maybe the Parelli experience enabled this person to interpret these occurrences as unfortunate flukes and continue on to learn and grow as a horseperson.
The pressure thing is what turned me off of all of natural horsemanship in the first place. It took a while for me to see pressure increasing in this way as bald-faced dominance. The lightbulb went off one day as I sat next to Linda Tellington-Jones at a training and listened to her speak softly about how easy it is NOT to use pressure in that way, and not to appear predatory to our horses, the thing they fear the most.
As for “cults,” I’m open to learning from any trainer at all who doesn’t doesn’t use dominance and who recognizes and respects the spirit of the horse as well as the rider as a unified pair. There are more and more these days who have this message, and it makes me so happy! SO many people to learn from!
Ditto with Michelle. I have ridden with a professional dog trainer and field-trialer, a woman who rides horses for a good part of her living, and watched her take a spill because the horse slipped on clay into a hole and went over. Mercifully the helmet saved her head and the horse was fine. While the Parellis’ observation might apply to me (as someone with merely an introduction to horsemanship and borrowed horses), their stance is odd.
Maybe the Parellis only ride their horses in hermetically-sealed arenas where nothing ‘natural’ happens? Curious minds want to know.
best
Andrew
Andrew
It really doesn’t matter where the Parellis ride, or even the fact that their skill and that of their instructors is probably monumentally greater than most of ours. (Though I’d like to see Linda Parelli ride first flight for four hours and still look camera-ready) What matters is the example they set and the lessons they teach. Every single person in the horse world, no matter how long or short a time they’ve been in it knows someone who has suffered due to the lack of a helmet, or someone shoe life has been saved because of wearing one. Yes, their observation applies to you. And it should apply to them and their students equally.
In my area, there is a yearly fundraising shindig for a former hunt staff who had been riding all his life. Probably started riding in the womb. Hounds, horses, riders, he handled them all as a profession on horseback every day. A truly gifted rider in the field, which is something many so-called expert riders are actually not. One day while sitting on his daughter’s Shetland Pony, (where his feet nearly reached the ground) he fell after the pony spooked. He crushed his spinal cord and now only has the use of his fingers. Who would have thought you’d need a helmet to sit on your kid’s teeny pony? No one. Just one of those things. Which actually makes the Parellis statements all the more out of touch with reality. ANYTHING can happen. Put a helmet on.(I’m glad you wear one–don’t fall off as much as I do)
Wow. Have to say I’m pretty surprised. I really don’t get why having a safe horse and wearing a helmet are mutually exclusive! I’ve seen lots of falls that have nothing to do with an unsafe horse or behavioral issues – a horse can slip and fall or trip and throw the rider off balance just as easily as by spooking. It just doesn’t seem very bright (or very PC) to take a non-helmet stance with this sort of business. Interesting.
Michelle
LOGIC–what a strange concept in the world of high-dollar horse business. But I would have thought political correctness would have won out where logic apparently failed.