THE SIX KEYS TO SUCCESS

 

Pat Parelli starts his Level 1 theory by outlining the six keys to success.  The achievement of any horsemanship goal  is a journey that requires commitment, perseverance, focus and discipline as well as a lot of effort over a long period of time.  Like any major project in life, these six keys, if understood and applied, will help you succeed beyond your expectations.  Some may come more easily to you than others, but you need to keep your focus on all six to get the formula right.

 

 

Key #1  ATTITUDE

Can you be natural, positive and progressive all at once, all the time?  Most people are either one or the other at any time, sometimes two of these things, but rarely can master all three together.  Some people are natural, and positive, but they get stuck doing the same thing over and over without ever getting better.  Others are very progressive, but can't be bothered to do it in a natural way, and they resort to force and artificial tools to reach their goals.  And there are people that will find wrong with anything and everything, including themselves, and as they try to achieve their goals, don't understand that they are standing in their own way.

Attitude is a choice that we make every day.  How you decide to perceive your life and life's events is really up to you!  This program teaches you to stay calm, cool and collected, which is exactly what you expect of your horse!  A good attitude will allow you to focus your energy on your goals, on the good that surrounds you everyday, on the little successes and on the treasures that lie on the path.  Trusting the process to get there, even though it may not look like the finished product yet, is another way to define the right attitude.

 

Key #2  KNOWLEDGE

Most people think expertise with horses, more than anything else, involves only riding.  But riding is less than half of what you really need to know to be good with horses.  There is so much more... how they think, how they learn, what's important to them, how to communicate with them, how to help them reach their own potential.

Knowledge can be obtained in a number of ways in the Parelli program.  One of the biggest advantages of the Parelli system is the multitude of structured educational material that is available to support our learning.  In addition to the tools that help us to be more effective and to learn feel and timing, Pat and Linda have produced many books and audio and video material to help their students acquire savvy.  If you don’t already own your Savvy System packs, I strongly advise that you acquire them.  They start at Level 1 and go on to Level 2 and 3.  These are meant as a home study program and are structured to help students learn and progress in a systematic way.  They are must-have tools for your journey.  The packs contain the theory, the concepts and the instructions to learn the level you are pursuing.  In addition, Pat and Linda have filmed actual classes with real students and horses like yours, and they use this footage to explain step by step what you need to be doing to advance.  The Level 1 pack contains 18 hours of DVD footage.  The Level 2 contains more.  Produced in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Burns, a world-renowned specialist in adult learning and education, the Savvy System packs are truly in a class of their own, compared to any other home study program out there, horses or not.  If you are a good student, you will study the packs over and over again; each layer of information will unfold as you advance your horsemanship and are ready for a new depth of understanding.  Don't forget the theory books - it contains valuable principles and concepts that are often overlooked in a rush to get to the visual components of the pack.  To gauge your progress through the levels, you can submit an assessment based on a list of tasks which define what you need to accomplish to officially pass that level and move on to the next step.  Assessments are a way to gauge if you are as good as you think you are - you don't have to submit an assessment, unless you intend to eventually apply to become a Parelli professional. 

The Liberty and Horse Behavior pack was released in 2006 and it is unique in the industry.  It supports every thing you want to accomplish with your horse.  It is a complete video of Pat and Linda teaching this two-week long course at the Parelli Center, and it also includes additional tools such as a Parelli puzzles booklet.  It will give you in-depth knowledge on how horses think and feel, and teach you to read the horse in order to determine what you need to be doing to address the horse that shows up.  You will learn to be creative and to use your imagination to make your play sessions provocative and fun.  You will use this pack at all levels in your journey.   It is the key to understanding your horse's point of view and to finding the right strategy to build a strong and effective relationship!

 

 

Whether you are brand new to the Parelli program, or already well on your way, you may want to take a look at the brand new Parelli Success Series DVDs.  Linda and Pat Parelli share their revolutionary keys to success with horses in this extraordinary new 10 DVD collection.  Each beautifully filmed DVD presents a concentrated version of the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Program concepts.  Both the novice rider and advanced equestrian will discover new and surprising insights into the horse-human relationship.  Watch as Linda and Pat Parelli ride and work with their own amazing horses, to deliver precise techniques, strategies, and principles using equine psychology to achieve incredible results and produce braver, smarter and more athletic horses.  This will give you a conceptual view of the program and is a great source of inspiration.  Start with the HorsenalityTM and Seven Games DVDs.  These are a must see an any level, and will help anyone reveal their horse and kick start into Level 1 Ground skills.  Level 1 Riding skills are covered in the Safe Ride and Natural Rider DVDs.  Level 2 Ground skills - watch Natural Attraction and Beyond the Round Pen.  Calm Ride and Ride Out are the topics for Level 2 Riding.  Level 3 concepts, including brand new Level 3 information only taught at the Centers, are addressed in the Natural Collection and Natural Lead Changes DVDs.  Reveal your horse, discover your potential and live your dream!

Knowledge is also available from Licensed Parelli Instructors.  We are here to help you and to complement the home study program.  Taking lessons and attending clinics will not only keep you on track, but it will allow you accelerate your progress, as you won't have to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over.  They are like a shot of savvy!

Licensed Parelli Instructors have all been personally and officially approved by Pat Parelli.  No one else is.  Pat chooses his professionals very carefully and sets a very high standard for his instructors to ensure that his program is being taught as it should.   The training to become a Parelli professional is long and intensive, and it allows Pat and Linda to ensure that those that teach the method have the calibre, the savvy and the human qualities to teach it correctly, fairly, without deviation, safely, and to allow their students and the horses to learn effectively.  Level 3 is not enough to become a Parelli instructor – Level 3 is only a prerequisite to apply to become a professional.  It’s not a guarantee!  Levels 1 to 3 are designed to teach the humans.  It’s after Level 3 that we learn to teach horses, and it is very different.  There are also other requirements to be admitted into the professional training program, such as experience, horsemanship, the ability to work in teams, interpersonal skills, teaching ability, emotional fitness, work ethic, personal habits, etc.  Only Pat’s licensed instructors are allowed to teach Parelli.  We are trained to teach the method, because it’s one thing to be able to do it with your horse, and another to communicate the knowledge to students.  In addition, we are required to return to the Parelli ranch on a regular basis to stay up to day and to be re-evaluated.  You are therefore assured that your instructors are always competent and that they are up to date with the latest developments in the program.

The International Savvy Club is another great source of knowledge.  It is monthly support offering a personal connection to Pat and Linda.  Alternating between 8 DVD's and 4 Magazines per year, students will be touched every month on the most recent innovations, the latest teaching principles, new thoughts and newest discoveries.  The Savvy Club Forum is a great way to keep in touch with other Parelli students all over the world and to get support and understanding.  Savvy Club members also get sizeable discounts on equipment purchases and on courses at the ranch, as well as free tickets to the Parelli tour stops.  See the Parelli website for added benefits.  To join the Parelli International Savvy Club, click here.

You have your pack and you are following the program step by step, but you are stuck on a specific issue?  There are also DVDs that discuss specific topics which represent the most common challenges that people encounter with horses.  These DVDs contain demonstrations with Pat and Linda playing with horses that have these specific challenges, and there are a great source of information and coaching to help you understand the root of the issue and the best way to address it.  The DVD collection includes: 

Please check the Parelli Web Shop for the latest releases of educational material.  For more details on any of the Parelli educational product, you can contact us or visit www.parelli.com

 

Key #3  TOOLS

Keep it simple, kind and effective.  Pat recommends the use of only a few tools, but he is very particular about their quality and function.  They were designed because no one else was making equipment for communication.  When you have savvy you need very few tools to be effective with horses, and you become more and more particular about the tools you use.  The Parelli tools are made only from a certain gauge of smooth, soft yet strong yachting braid; natural leathers and sweet iron metal.  They work for people and for horses to improve the quality, effectiveness and sensitivity of communication.

For Level 1, you will need:

The Parelli rope halter, the 12 foot line, a carrot stick and a 6 foot savvy string.

For Level 2, you will also need:

     

The Level 1 tools, plus the Parelli natural hackamore and the 22 foot line.  You may also want to purchase a bareback pad  and the Parelli snaffle bit bridle (optional).

For Level 3, you should have:

     

The tools for Levels 1 and 2, plus the Parelli snaffle bit bridle (several models are available), the 45 foot line and a second carrot stick. 

You may also want to acquire the Confidence bit and Finesse reins (pictured below) once you are ready to start working on flexion and engagement.

   

The Cradle System is another excellent tool for riders who wish to use a bit at Levels 2 and higher.  This revolutionary bridle, designed jointly with the Myler brothers, has been developed to maximize confidence, comfort and communication with the horse under saddle.  The bit is selected according to your horse's personality.  For more information on the selection and usage of the Cradle bridle, please check the corresponding documentation in the Downloads section.

 

Key #4  TECHNIQUES

Techniques are nothing if you don't understand the psychology behind them.  Learning to think like a horse will help you find the right way to communicate and to be effective.  There are thousands of techniques that can be used to achieve a result, but what matters is whether it is used with the right attitude, and whether your communication is clear and understandable to the horse.  Horse training can be forceful and cruel.  You are going to learn techniques for communication.  Therefore, every technique used must have the following ingredients:  the right attitude, focus, feel, timing and balance.  They are not forceful.  They allow the horse to think and to choose his response.  Quality of feel is almost impossible to learn through traditional methods.  However, this program will cause this quality to evolve in you naturally.  You will learn when and how to use steady and rhythmic pressure, rhytmic motion, comfort, discomfort, phases, and release.

 

Key #5  TIME

You have to invest time to improve yourself and your horse.  With this program, what took Pat Parelli 20 years will take you just a few because you won't have to spend time learning lessons the hard way!  How much time do you get to spend with your horse?  Is it always enjoyable and stimulating?  Would you enjoy spending more time if it was more interesting and rewarding?  Would it help if the time really counted for something?

Even after a break in time, you and your horse can pick up where you left off - there will be no gap.  This is because you are creating a relationship...  It would be like picking up a conversation with an old friend you had not seen in a while.  The foundation of love, language and leadership in equal doses is the basis of this relationship.

Remember that even if you see you horse an hour a day, he has 23 more hours to think about things he could be doing either to you, or with you...

 

Key #6  IMAGINATION 

Horses learn 7 times faster than humans!  You need to learn to become more imaginative, more sensitive and more creative when you play with your horse.  Horses get so easily bored and frustrated by people when it is just the same thing every time, over and over.  They need to be positively stimulated at three levels:  mental, emotional and physical.  Horses need to play and have fun when they learn.  Over the span of the three levels in this program, there will be a multitude of tasks laid out to help you take a more imaginative approach to the development of yourself and your horse.

If your horse is recreation for you, can you be recreation for your horse?  Imagination will make all the difference.  Your horse will thank you for it!