Just read a few entries from the link provided. Since it includes references to this thread, maybe y’all, or your mignons, are continuing to read. If not, one of you lurkers out there, feel free to forward!
The rationalizations of those who subscribe to the Parelli program only serve to lend a lot more credence to the theory that the Parellis are really not interested in good horsemanship at all- only the profit margin.
Linda, strongly suggest you read ‘The Emperor’s New Suit’ by Hans Christian Andersen.
Paul, the history of the horse as related in your post is vastly different from what was posted in this thread. However, I can tell you, I had a foxhunter who lost an eye while I owned him, it took him about a year to adjust but you know what, he did just fine without being smacked on his blind side or having a lead shank wiggled and ‘clunked’ at him. Photos of him posted earlier in this thread, actually.
To both of you: Yep, I am basing conclusions on four minutes of video. Get over it. One can do that when one has decades of experience with horses. One sees a horse that is in no way exhibiting dangerous behavior. In fact one perceives from some of the ‘defense’ expressed on the link referenced previously that ‘dangerous’ is an adjective listed as an excuse to buy DVDs and paraphernalia that will increase profit margins but really have nothing to do with the fundamentals of horsemanship.
Any ‘dangerous’ behavior on the part of that horse exists, or existed, only in the mind of novice, intimidated humans.
Rule #1: (I give you this at no charge) ALL horses are dangerous. They are big and heavy. They can hurt you without meaning to. If you cannot accept this premise, quit messing with horses.
Rule #2: Because you are intimidated by a horse, because you are a novice, or a ‘pretend expert’ that doesn’t really understand horses, is not a reason to take your fears out on the horse. YOU need training. The horse doesn’t.
Rule #3: The number one reason for horse misbehavior is overfeeding. The number two reason is insufficient exercise, principally in the form of turning horses out and letting them run and romp and be horses. When you combine these factors with a handler scared of horses (see rule #2 above)- you still don’t have a dangerous horse. What you have is a dangerous handler. Here’s a big hint. The solution to THAT is NOT jerking a horse around with a few gratuitous whacks to boot.
And, Linda, may I add, your ‘explanation’ of what was so ‘dangerous’ about this horse and what you were doing to fix this problem is just so totally bogus as to be laughable. What is not laughable is that you don’t mind making lots of money while leading novices into real danger by insisting that if they do what you say and buy lots and lots of Parelli products, they’ll be just fine.
I could go on, but gee, my wine glass is empty, most do something about that.
