At 14:16:16 on 06.09.09, PonyPower wrote:
Anyone got any tips on where to start with it..and what is the difference between the "old" level 1,2,3 and the new "Serries" kits???

At 19:50:13 on 06.09.09, plodalong wrote:
hi ,im not in the savvy club but from what others have told me the levels have been changed because so many people appeared to get stuck in level one nd didnt progress so i think that the new levels are more attainable,If you look at some of the parelli auditions on u tube you can get a good idea what level you are on.My boy is a different horse now than he was three years ago.i didnt know what to do with him and i didnt have much experience as an elderly horseowner my top priority was safety and the pnh helped me with that,as my knowledge grew so did my confidence,I never learned the usual way with horses,i started late in life nd the parelli system worked for us, the equipment doesnt have to be expensive you can get bargains on ebay,I can reccomend the book written by parellinamed Natural horse-man-ship this book will explain the reasoning behind the seven games.Kelly marks has also written some good books and so has Mark Rashid and Clinton Anderson not forgetting Monty Roberts,good luck finding your savvy.

At 08:58:39 on 07.09.09, PonyPower wrote:
Thanks plodalong. I was going to do it with a group of people at the yard who are quite suddenly disinterested in it. I'm not really surprised, as I wouldn't call any of them friends, and in the past have been left high and dry to pay for 3 days horse box hire. What a nice bunch. At the moment I have a number of choices. I can try parelli, and give up my regular riding lessons. I can have parelli from my instructor, but as I only get her for an hour a week...I could move yards to a nicer, quiter, but far more expensive place where Parelli could come to us, or knock it all on the head, put all the cash I spend on my precious into savings and get my own transport in the new year....on which all my present yard mates have an opinion...I don't understand them, I trully don't. One girl thinks a pessoa is going to solve all her problems...she hasn't ridden her horse in a month...

At 23:53:20 on 07.09.09, plodalong wrote:
i get some stick from other liveries on the yard .but the best way to deal with it is to ignore them and do what you think is best for you and your horse,the whole point is to enjoy your horse and be as safe as you can be.both on the ground and in the saddle.we all have different ideas and dreams of what we want to do with our hores and we all have the right to train our horses in whatever way suits us.just say to yourself this little mantra,What other people think of me is none of my buisiness.you are lucky to have an instructor who can teach you the fluidity riding.What a lot of people dont understand is that it all leads to the same thing in the end.Good riding skills and good communication with your horse.the seven games are a lot of fun and they build a language that both you and your horse understands,i get asked why do i want my horse to do circus tricks and i have to say.if my horse cant stand on a pedastal with confidence then he wont stand on a trailer ramp with confidence,and i often just say because its cool.i have learned to just smile and carry on.while some critics stay in the menage on windless days riding their horse in endless circles im out hacking having fun and feeling safe.some say well hes just a cob, My just a cob was a nightmare when i got him,bucking,rearing spooking at everything that moved turning his back and threatening to kick when he was in the stable.all those things have now been fixed and not by hittig him or getting mean and mad with him,Parelli worked for us so i will continue on my journey to being a better owner for my horse,Parelli doesnt train horses Parelli trains people and gives people like me a easy to understand programme,you get what you pay for.ive heard it said that its time consuming well it is,but people havent got the time to do it right seam to find the time to do it wrong time and time again.have a think about what you want to do with your horse and you may find that the way forward for you my be the normal way.good luck with whatever you decide.

At 09:12:05 on 08.09.09, PonyPower wrote:
LOL! Seems some people view parelli as a four letter word. I used to be one of them. I took a MR course in 2001 in New Zealand. I just happened to find myself in Hamilton when Monty was touring, and with cash in my pocket and not much to do (except support my then boyfriend in his dellusions which were looking threadbare). I have just had an email from a lady called Nikki after contacting Sharon Crabbe, a level 2 instructor from Shropshire. There is a L1/L2 Play Day weekend on the 26th in Trowbridge so I am going to go and watch and see if it is for me. Sharon also sent me her prices...for a group of 6 for 6 hours tuition it works out at £67 each...very reasonable. So, we shall wait and see. My pony has loading issues after a partition collapsed on her when she was 4. What made things worse was the "help" I received at the show to get her back in the trailer to go home. I have had NH people out since, and even hired a trailer and sat it in a field for a month loading her in and out each morning and evening. Fine while there was no partition in it, but OMG when it was put in, bit by bit. I am hoping that if I can play the games, she will evetually trust me enough to load even if she doesn't like it terribly much. She really is terrified of anything that touches her once on any kind of transport. Hence my desire to get my own. I can then spend all the time in the world palying with her in and around it untill she has no fear.

At 19:32:59 on 08.09.09, plodalong wrote:
hi pony power,its not about the trailer,its all about what a horse need,safety comfort food and play in that order.its about confidence,is your horse confident in his enviroment confident in your leadership,and willing to try anything when you ask him with passive persistance.i hope you go and spectate at the parelli clinic ,and watch what can be achieved in the way of bonding with your horse and creating a language that both of you understand.have fun,im going on one in gaisborough in november ,with Dave Stuart he was a top parelli proffessional who now goes his own way,this one will be the follow on clinic from the one i did in august with Russell Higgins .let me know how you got on.are you spectating or taking your horse?

At 21:14:58 on 08.09.09, PonyPower wrote:
Debating on whether to take, but can go and do an absolute beginner's course in Devon, so may wait for that, the next few weeks are a bit hectic, and the last thing I want is to be in a stress about getting T'ster to a clinic. My girl is good and confident and trusting of me in all ways except when it comes to trailer loading. We have hacked out on our own since a month after backing, and has never bolted with me as a result of being scared. She has done it though when other riders don't keep their distance, so I hack out on my own now, as accidents always seem to happen when my gung ho go at the only pace (gallop) worth riding in. Essentially she gets pissed off when others don't respect her space. I don't rememeber if I told you..she's been with me since she was 1, seen me do all sorts of strange things, and had to let me get her out of pickles she has found herself in, including a narrow tack room when she was two. That was when she had to learn the command back with me behind her...bless. My own fault for leaving the door open. My other horse couldn't fit in the doorway otherwise I would have had two to reverse out. She doesn't hold me responsible for trailers being bad places, she doesn't load for anyone, and my YO keeps dragging her in so I want to find a different way. Parelli will hopefully give me an insight into how she is really seeing things, and what she needs from me to make life more comfortable. That way we will both be able to extend our comfort zone together. I am going to spectate on the 26th, and then hopefully go back for the afternoon on the 27th.

At 21:10:44 on 09.09.09, plodalong wrote:
i hope you enjoy it and find what your looking for.sounds like you have a nice understanding horse,enjoy her and have fun,but most important stay safe.

At 12:24:18 on 10.09.09, PonyPower wrote:
He he he...I have been a bad girl and spent some money to join the savvy club. I may only do the membership thing for a year, but as there is no one, bar my instructor who can give me guidance, I thought it would be a good idea to start with. I've also sent off for the Seven Games and Online Patterns DVD. Should be enough to get me through the winter. I feel really quite excited about it. The hosting yard is unfortunately too far away for it to be feasable for me to move the pony there(would mean a house move, and that is a bit extreme), but not beyond the realms of weekend trips...thank god I still have my tent.

At 22:48:51 on 10.09.09, plodalong wrote:
well done you. im not in the savvy club,but i believe that you can get all the information you need on there, dont forget the webite,shareparelli.you may find likeminded people who live nearby so you can have your own playdays.