Classes are from Jan. 21 and 22, 2012 at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport. Each day consists of two sessions. Morning session is from 9:30 - 12:30 for students new to the Parelli Program. Afternoon session is from 2- 5 for all students.Cost is $125 per session for students with their horses.Don't have a horse? Auditor space only costs $25 per student per day.
Private lessons are available for any level on Jan. 19-20. Cost for a single student is $75 per hour and two to three students is $45 per hour per student.For more information about the clinic or about horses in need of adopting at Alaqua, contact Samantha Graves at Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-855-4119 or info@aarflorida.com, or search "Dancing Pete Rodda" on Facebook.
There was a time when taming horses came as naturally to horse owners as breathing. Native Americans lacked fences and were often living a nomadic lifestyle, which meant they needed their horses to be their partners: they needed them to come at a whistle, to stay close to camp, and to be ridden at a moment's notice with no saddle and no more than a rawhide string in the horse's mouth for control.
Cowboys had a similar need from their partners, and often a similar way of communicating with them. But the industrial revolution changed everything: horses were now used as a transportation commodity in a busy and hectic lifestyle, and then, eventually, used for entertainment more than for survival.With this change, the old ways were lost. People didn't have the time to spend with their horses, and became less and less connected with them. They lost their connection with animals and nature in general, and these days, many people are taught to treat their horses like they are big dogs, dominating and man-handling them, often with disastrous results for both horse and rider. Enter Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
Founded more than 20 years ago by Pat Parelli, PNH creates a new approach to horsemanship, using ancient techniques. Based on the principal that horses are prey animals and that we humans are actually predators, horse owners who study PNH and other natural horsemanship techniques now have a completely different perspective about why their horses behave the way they do. "Horses and other prey animals, like zebras and deer, are born skeptics," says certified Parelli instructor, Pete Rodda.
"While we humans think in a direct line, focused on where we are headed and what we want to accomplish, horses zigzag, stop, pause, and even turn around before they get where they are going. They feel like everything is a possible ambush, and are constantly on the lookout for lions, wolves, or anything that could be a possible threat.”
This "prey animal point of view" can cause horses to be frightened and nervous, which in turn can cause them to not respond to commands, or to even spook or run away, according to Rodda. Owners often interpret this behavior as willful disrespect and disobedience, and that's where trouble starts. "The Parelli philosophy is based on 'Love, Language, and Leadership' in equal proportions. You have to treat your horse with kindness and understanding, that's the 'Love' part. But if you don't have a way to communicate, a language that the horse understands, you are dead in the water.
Finally, in a herd, there's a lead mare and a stallion, both filling leadership roles. This creates strength and unity in the herd. PNH basically teaches the human how to create a herd of "two" with their horse." Pete's "herd of two" is with his Cutting-bred Quarter Horse mare, "River." Pete is able to ride and control River with no bridle, saddle, lead rope or halter. His nickname, "Dancing Pete" is based on his smooth moves on the ground, in which his halterless horse appears to dance with Pete in choreographed moves around the arena, using a language that is so subtle that it appears that the two can read each other's minds.
However, Pete points out that this level of partnership comes with years of experience and study, and isn't something to expect to achieve in two days. "We hope to accomplish two things at Alaqua Animal Refuge in January," says Rodda. "First, we'd like to educate as many local owners as possible on the techniques and philosophy of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, helping them to create a relationship with their horse that is fun, fulfilling and most of all, safe.
Second, we also plan to empower the staff and volunteers at Alaqua Animal Refuge with resources to help them to rehabilitate and safely handle abused horses so they can get them ready to go to new homes." The Natural Horsemanship Clinic is Jan. 21-22, 2012, at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Fla. Private lessons of all levels and audit seats are also available. For more information about the clinic or about horses in need of adopting at Alaqua, contact Samantha Graves at Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-855-4119 or info@aarflorida.com. Or search "Dancing Pete Rodda" on Facebook. This article was written by Tonia Shatzel, DVM. Shatzel is a veterinarian and pet photographer and founder/photographer for "The Dogs of 30A," a photojournal celebrating the beloved canine companions on Florida's Emerald Coast.
Private lessons are available for any level on Jan. 19-20. Cost for a single student is $75 per hour and two to three students is $45 per hour per student.For more information about the clinic or about horses in need of adopting at Alaqua, contact Samantha Graves at Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-855-4119 or info@aarflorida.com, or search "Dancing Pete Rodda" on Facebook.
There was a time when taming horses came as naturally to horse owners as breathing. Native Americans lacked fences and were often living a nomadic lifestyle, which meant they needed their horses to be their partners: they needed them to come at a whistle, to stay close to camp, and to be ridden at a moment's notice with no saddle and no more than a rawhide string in the horse's mouth for control.
Cowboys had a similar need from their partners, and often a similar way of communicating with them. But the industrial revolution changed everything: horses were now used as a transportation commodity in a busy and hectic lifestyle, and then, eventually, used for entertainment more than for survival.With this change, the old ways were lost. People didn't have the time to spend with their horses, and became less and less connected with them. They lost their connection with animals and nature in general, and these days, many people are taught to treat their horses like they are big dogs, dominating and man-handling them, often with disastrous results for both horse and rider. Enter Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
Founded more than 20 years ago by Pat Parelli, PNH creates a new approach to horsemanship, using ancient techniques. Based on the principal that horses are prey animals and that we humans are actually predators, horse owners who study PNH and other natural horsemanship techniques now have a completely different perspective about why their horses behave the way they do. "Horses and other prey animals, like zebras and deer, are born skeptics," says certified Parelli instructor, Pete Rodda.
"While we humans think in a direct line, focused on where we are headed and what we want to accomplish, horses zigzag, stop, pause, and even turn around before they get where they are going. They feel like everything is a possible ambush, and are constantly on the lookout for lions, wolves, or anything that could be a possible threat.”
This "prey animal point of view" can cause horses to be frightened and nervous, which in turn can cause them to not respond to commands, or to even spook or run away, according to Rodda. Owners often interpret this behavior as willful disrespect and disobedience, and that's where trouble starts. "The Parelli philosophy is based on 'Love, Language, and Leadership' in equal proportions. You have to treat your horse with kindness and understanding, that's the 'Love' part. But if you don't have a way to communicate, a language that the horse understands, you are dead in the water.
Finally, in a herd, there's a lead mare and a stallion, both filling leadership roles. This creates strength and unity in the herd. PNH basically teaches the human how to create a herd of "two" with their horse." Pete's "herd of two" is with his Cutting-bred Quarter Horse mare, "River." Pete is able to ride and control River with no bridle, saddle, lead rope or halter. His nickname, "Dancing Pete" is based on his smooth moves on the ground, in which his halterless horse appears to dance with Pete in choreographed moves around the arena, using a language that is so subtle that it appears that the two can read each other's minds.
However, Pete points out that this level of partnership comes with years of experience and study, and isn't something to expect to achieve in two days. "We hope to accomplish two things at Alaqua Animal Refuge in January," says Rodda. "First, we'd like to educate as many local owners as possible on the techniques and philosophy of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, helping them to create a relationship with their horse that is fun, fulfilling and most of all, safe.
Second, we also plan to empower the staff and volunteers at Alaqua Animal Refuge with resources to help them to rehabilitate and safely handle abused horses so they can get them ready to go to new homes." The Natural Horsemanship Clinic is Jan. 21-22, 2012, at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Fla. Private lessons of all levels and audit seats are also available. For more information about the clinic or about horses in need of adopting at Alaqua, contact Samantha Graves at Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-855-4119 or info@aarflorida.com. Or search "Dancing Pete Rodda" on Facebook. This article was written by Tonia Shatzel, DVM. Shatzel is a veterinarian and pet photographer and founder/photographer for "The Dogs of 30A," a photojournal celebrating the beloved canine companions on Florida's Emerald Coast.
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