This is where you can find out what is involved in a clinic and can see the progression.  If you have any doubts about where you fit in, please contact the clinic coordinator or the instructor.

 

Get Started Clinic -  Safety and Communication

This is a one day clinic that covers the foundation of Level 1 on the ground.  You will spend the day on the ground and sessions will be divided into theory, simulations and practical exercices.  We will discuss the philosophy and concepts of natural horsemanship (as opposed to normal horsemanship).

Level 1 is about understanding "Opposition Reflex" and about learning the basic language of the horse.  This is where you will learn to be safe with horses and to start building a partnership based on mutual respect and understanding.  You will learn to play the Seven Games with your horse, as opposed to 'working' him!  This level teaches you the basic concepts for psychology, communication, partnership and leadership.

Once you realize that Opposition Reflex is the reason you get frustrated, disillusioned, and get mediocre results with your horses, you'll move into a whole new level of understanding about what you need to learn to make incomparable progress ... and it doesn't matter what riding experience level you're at now.

Some of the fundamentals for learning to communicate with your horse more naturally are:  understanding prey-predator relationship, opposition reflex, Approach and Retreat, the Seven Games, the Five Zones, the Four Phases, building respect and learning to use the Parelli tools.

You will come away with lots of new and inspiring material!  When you get home, you can expect to see results that are way above expectations and to have the most fun you have had with your horse in years!

For the Get Started clinic, you will need this basic equipment:  The Parelli rope halter, the 12 foot line, a carrot stick and a 6 foot savvy string.  There is no riding in this clinic. 

Must have study material:  it is highly recommended that you acquire and begin the study the Get Started DVD and Level 1/2 DVD set before the clinic, it will greatly accelerate your learning! 

Complementary study material:  the Parelli Success Series DVDs 1 and 2 - Horsenality^TM and Seven Games, as well as the Parelli Patterns (On-Line) which will help you delve deeper into in your study of the program.

You will be issued a 30-day trial pass to the Savvy Club site to allow you to explore this comprehensive support knowledge base.

Level 1/2 On Line Clinic - Horse Behavior and Patterns

This clinic is designed to give you more information and techniques to help you advance once you have learned to communicate with your horse through the basic Seven Games.  Now that you understand the primary principles and language, you can start developing your confidence and your horse's confidence by advancing your ground skills and start having some real fun!  This is also a great clinic for those of you who wish to advance past Level 1 with a horse that you are not ready to ride or you don't want to ride.

This is a 2 day clinic on the ground.  You must have attended the Get Started clinic or learned to play the Seven Games at Level 1. 

The clinic includes more advanced ground skills, more challenging concepts with the Seven Games and the Five Zones, the teaching and use of Patterns, HorsenalityTM information to learn to read and understand your horse, recognizing and addressing thresholds, focus games, how to add purpose to the games with obstacles and the use of the 22-foot line.

 

For Level 1/2 On Line, you will need this equipment:  The Parelli rope halter, a 12 foot line, a 22 foot line, a carrot stick and a 6 foot savvy string. 

Must have study material:  the Get Started and Level1/2 DVDs will help you get the most out of the clinic and you will advance much faster! 

Complementary study material:  the Parelli Success Series DVDs Horsenality^TM and Seven Games, as well as the Parelli Patterns On-Line.  If you are truly committed to understanding horse psychology, the Liberty & Horse Behavior pack is an excellent and comprehensive tool to help you truly understand your horse's behavior and learn the right strategies when playing with him.

You will be invited to join the Savvy Club to participate in this clinic if you are not already a member.  If that is the case, you will be able to request a 30-day trial pass to allow you to explore the members-only site.

Level 2 Freestyle Clinic - Confidence

Now that you have explored Level 1 and 2 on the ground, you are ready to start Freestyle riding.  Level 1 is your basic alphabet, the building blocks to start forming a partnership with your horse.  You have made changes in the way you think, you are learning to consider your horse's point of view and to understand the predator-prey relationship challenges.  Level 2 has a lot more information in it and it's also the fun level!  In this clinic, you will learn how to improve the relationship and how to gain a safe and willing partner for riding.

The Level 2 Freestyle clinic is a full 2 days that will cover two Savvys, On Line and Freestyle. Emphasis is on confidence, on preparing your horse for safe riding, on learning to be in harmony with your horse and on how to get your partner to be in harmony with you.  Time spent in the clinic will be 1/2 groundwork and 1/2 riding each day.  

Some of the things you will learn are:  more details on HorsenalityTM and how to get your horse to be calm, trusting, motivated and obedient, adjusting the use of phases depending on the situation, how to ask for positive reflexes,  the 8 responsibilities, make vs want.  The riding portion of the clinic will explore saddling and mounting like a horseman, pre-ride checks, the balance point, mounting and dismounting (including the emergency dismount), one rein emergency stops, three rein positions to move your horse, how to be a good passenger, gait transitions, and the first riding Patterns. 

Riders must be proficient with the natural horsemanship philosophies taught in the Level 1/2 ground clinics or in the first two DVDs of the Success Series set and be able to complete the Level 1 self-assessment.  Students must also be comfortable walking and trotting their horses in an enclosed area.

 

For Level 2 Freestyle, you will need this equipment:  a Parelli Halter, 12-foot Line, 22-foot Line, Carrot Stick, Savvy String and Parelli Hackamore.  You should bring your saddle and pad. 

Must have study material:   the Level 1/2 DVD set, the HorsenalityTM DVD and Parelli Patterns (On-Line, Freestyle).  It will greatly accelerate your learning!

Complementary study material:  the Parelli Success Series DVDs Safe Ride, Natural Rider, and Natural Attraction.   If you are truly committed to understanding horse psychology, the Liberty & Horse Behavior pack is an excellent and comprehensive tool to help you truly understand your horse's behavior and learn the right strategies when playing with him.

At this level, you should already be a member of the Savvy Club.

Level 2 Advanced Clinic - Fun with Patterns

Good partners share mutual responsibilities.  This clinic explores those responsibilities - both for the horse and for the human.  It's about emotional development for the partnership and finding impulsion.

This is an advanced clinic that explores On Line and Freestyle with purpose.  You will review on line, and be introduced to more advanced Patterns, advanced freestyle riding and the impulsion programs.  Time spent in clinic will be 1/2 on the ground and 1/2 riding.

Things you will learn:  transitions on line, changes of direction on line, sideways without a fence, advancing your riding with fluidity, focus and transitions in the saddle, more impulsion programs, advanced Level 2 Patterns, riding the different gaits with fluidity, riding with a carrot stick, introducing the snaffle bit, sideways in the saddle, the 9 step backup, opening and closing gates, trail riding savvy.

Students must be proficient with the natural philosophies taught in the Level 2 Freestyle clinic, be able to complete the Level 2 Online self-assessment and must be comfortable walking and trotting their horses in an enclosed area.  Space requirements for this clinic are greater and typically require a larger outdoor arena.  Group and location permitting, we may also go on a walking trail ride, the Savvy way!

 

For Level 2 Advanced, you will need this equipment:  a Parelli Halter, 12-foot Line, 22-foot Line, Carrot Stick, Savvy String and Parelli Hackamore.  You may also want to purchase a Parelli snaffle bridle and a bareback pad (optional).  You should bring your saddle and pad.  

Must have study material:  the Level 1/2 DVD set and the Parelli Patterns (On-Line, Freestyle) will help you get the most out of the clinic and you will advance much faster! 

Complementary study material:  the Parelli Success Series DVDs Horsenality^TM, Seven Games, Safe Ride, Natural Rider, Natural Attraction, Calm Ride, and Ride Out.  If you are truly committed to understanding horse psychology, the Liberty & Horse Behavior pack is an excellent and comprehensive tool to help you truly understand your horse's behavior and learn the right strategies when playing with him.

At this level, you should already be a member of the Savvy Club.

 

Level 3 On Line and Freestyle - The Road to Excellence

You have a partnership going and you are ready for more excellence and refinement!  This clinic explores how to build an even stronger bond and communication at greater distances and faster gaits on the ground, and how to get better responses, lightness and refinement in the saddle.  You will learn the essential skills that take your horsemanship to a level of excellence most people only dream of.  This is where you take a giant step towards becoming a horseman, someone who truly understands horses from the inside out and possesses significant skills.  Time spent in the clinic will be 1/4 on the ground and 3/4 riding.

Things you will learn:  the use of the 45-foot line, driving in zones 4 and 5 and preparing for long lining, lead changes on line, teaching your horse to run to you, Level 3 Patterns, dynamics for canter leads, snappy transitions, bridleless riding, lateral maneuvers, teaching lightness.

Students must be proficient with the natural philosophies taught in the Level 2 Advanced clinic, be able to complete the Level 2 Online and Freestyle self-assessments and must be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering their horses in an enclosed area.  Space requirements for this clinic are greater and typically require a large outdoor arena or pasture. 

 

For Level 3 Excellence, you will need this equipment:  a Parelli Halter, 12-foot Line, 22-foot Line, 45-foot line, two Carrot Sticks, Savvy String and Parelli bridle (snaffle or Cradle).  You should bring your saddle and pad.  

Must have study material:  the Level 1/2 and 3 DVD sets and the Parelli Patterns (On-Line, Freestyle) will help you get the most out of the clinic and you will advance much faster! 

Complementary study material:  the ten Parelli Success Series DVDs.   If you are truly committed to understanding horse psychology, the Liberty & Horse Behavior pack is an excellent and comprehensive tool to help you truly understand your horse's behavior and learn the right strategies when playing with him.

At this level, you should already be a member of the Savvy Club.

 

Saddling Savvy and Makeover

What is your horse telling you about how his saddle feels?  Do you know that many behavioral issues when riding can be attributed to a saddle that is restrictive, even painful?  Not only that, but your horse's posture and muscling are strong indicators of this.

Does your horse have poorly muscled topline... or uneven muscle development?  Are his gaits short and choppy?  Does he have trouble collecting?  Move away when you approach with the saddle?  How about a tendency to rush, slow or stop without being asked?  Generally dislikes downward transitions?

An ill fitting saddle can damage your horse's health and impact his confidence and attitude with a rider.  Choosing the right saddle system can be a complicated endeavor and most people make many costly mistakes as they go through their learning curve.

Learn how to read your horse's body and know what your horse is trying to tell you.  Study the changes when a good saddle system is used.  We will show you some 'saddle makeovers'.  You will be astonished at how dramatic the changes are when you free up the horse's back. 

This clinic is more than a saddle makeover.  It is an in-depth study of biomechanics, posture analysis, how to make a horse happier and more comfortable, plus information on how you can protect his back when being ridden.  You may bring your own horse for a test ride, or watch as we will be using demo horses to learn and demonstrate.  Even if you don't bring a horse, you should bring the saddle and pad you are currently using as we will also learn how saddles can also help or compromise you as a rider.

This is a great opportunity to compare different saddles, to try them out to feel the differences, and to witness the effect of different saddles on different horses.  We will also discuss why custom made saddles generally won't fit the horse in motion.  If you opt for a Parelli saddle system, we will help you select the right width, size and options.  For those of you who already own one, we will learn how to fine tune the adjustment for your horse using the pad and shims.

It’s important to remember that buying a saddle, which is often a major investment, deserves great care and thought.  A good saddle will last you a lifetime, and will allow your horse to be comfortable, which means he may be more attentive, less emotional, more willing and perform better.  How else would you be able to reach harmony? 

 

Clinic and Workshop Rules of Conduct

To ensure that everyone benefit from their time at the clinic or workshops and that you are all set up for success, be aware that the following rules are in force when conducting a Parelli event.  Please understand that these rules exist only to ensure everyone's safety and to preserve the quality of the learning environment.

A rider in the clinic must be using a horse that he can handle comfortably on the ground.  Please do not bring a horse that cannot be led or easily touched, or that has no understanding of basic ground education.  The horse must be able to be haltered, led, must be used to humans, can have its feet picked up and does not pose undue danger to other participants.  Young horses (4 years or less) can be admitted with prior permission by the instructor.  If you are not comfortable handling your horse during the clinic, you will have to leave the arena and watch from the sidelines.  There will be no refund for riders that leave the arena.  Stallions are not allowed, no exceptions.   A stallion is an intact male two years older and up, whether used for breeding or not.  For all other special requests or circumstances, you must contact the instructor prior to the event. 

For clinics which include riding, all horses must be started under saddle and be ridden regularly.  Bring a horse you can ride at a walk and trot (on purpose!) and have ridden within the past two weeks.  You must bring a horse they you already ride, whether with the rope hackamore or bridle; do not bring a horse you want to learn to ride. Bring the horse with which you feel most safe and confident. You can transfer what you learn to more challenging horses later.  Your horse is your teacher, and learning from a “Steady Eddy” (your easiest horse) is what Pat and Linda Parelli recommend. 

English and Western riders are welcome, discipline does not matter. 

Kids under 14 are not admitted in clinics, unless it’s a clinic specifically for youth.  Participants under 18 must be accompanied and supported by a parent during the clinic.  If the parent is not on site during the whole clinic, he or she must be near and easily reachable in case of emergency.

You cannot switch horses or riders during the clinic.  If the rider or the horse are unable to complete the clinic, you cannot substitute one or the other.  No refunds will be given for riders that cannot complete the clinic as we cannot be responsible for unforeseen events.  The instructor can ask any participant to leave the arena at any time if she thinks that the participant is disrupting other riders.  No refund will be given in this case, whatever the reason for removing the rider.