Linda Parelli's Game of Contact

[@chick1726]

whatch the video in front of you and see the horse as it is relaxed calm and you saw all movement come from the horse great work! Parelli

[@Whinny11791]

I'm glad you like it! This was at the Parelli Horse and Soul Tour in Harrisburg, PA :) It was well worth the drive!

[@AmbiCahira]

There are many great comments but I just want to add that this is a quick demonstration what this game can do for you and your horse, it is still something that both rider and horse needs help with to build a better wholeness. You can't quick fix it in an hour or however long this demonstration/seminar was, but it does show the game of getting a more comfortable horse. Tension, muscle weakness and all that will with the right long term trainer help them beyond what they have currently. This is basically a "day one" showcase.

[@FeatherRoze]

i remember being there in the stands and watching this, almost brought me to tears watching that bond :')

[@MysticWoods]

I have now bought the Game of Contact DVD, and everyone should own it, even top dressage trainers. I have had many lessons from high level dressage instructors and the one thing no-one has ever been able to explain is contact. Linda has not only explained it, but the simulations of the horse are amazing. Walter Zetl told Linda, she has explained the unexplainable. And trust me, this video does her no justice, the DVD does.

[@jrberry63]

And they've probably never experienced the joy we have when our horses run to us in the field, want to be caught, willingly do what we ask from the softest suggestion... I feel sorry for them, that they've never had that. Having endured the frustration of my horse life Before Parelli, I'm SO glad to be Parelli now!

[@Whinny11791]

Thank you! Glad to know that there are other Parelli supporters out there! :)

[@pegasus1747]

Not the approach I would have used but, she did correctly identify problem of inconsistent contact; then used an age old technique "doubling the horse

[@hannjenn]

You're free to think that, although you'd be wrong.

[@raphaellepelissier264]

Oh! What négatives answers! Who are you to judge like this? Have you try Parelli before? If not, you should. Who are you? Kind of persone that force your horse. Linda is focusing on one problem at the time. One piece at the time and then combine. It could be anyone. It's not because it's Parelli. They are very good. They listen to the horse, what people generally don't do.

[@helenechambert2037]

M. Parelliest un charlatan, le mal en personne

[@jrberry63]

You're missing the point. The rider's position is only one piece of the equation. It is more effective to focus on one piece at a time, not try to correct everything at once. That's just asking for a train wreck, LOL, by overwhelming the rider with too much information at once. This lesson focuses on getting the horse over his lack of confidence with bit contact. Notice how his frame improved dramatically? Next step: work on rider's position. Then pull it all together.

[@Whinny11791]

Please refrain from posting abrasive comments. Remember that the horse is the best judge of what works for him -in this case, the horse seemed pretty happy and relaxed. Thank you :)

[@artOfSamira]

People, I just can say that Parelli is AWESOME! Try it! If you got any kind of problems with your horse, try it! If you just want to learn how to ride in the most comfortable and natural way with your horse, try it! If you want to have a great connection and trust with your horse, try it! TRY IT before you comment something stupid about parelli. I do parelli with my horse and it's the best thing that ever happened to us!

[@MysticWoods]

Actually, I have had horses since I was 10 and I was first trained by Professional and accomplished Dressage Coach. I have been trail riding for years, I showed for over 10 years and my bedroom wall was covered with ribbons I won. I no longer show, but I am an accomplished rider, but Parelli teaches more than just riding, they teach about having a relationship with the horse, so that I don't need to lead my horse, they follow me even without a lead rope, that is called Liberty.

[@DjuraVH]

A bit isn't a bad thing if used correctly. Everything you have for a horse can be bad if it is used the wrong way. From seeing a part of this video my finding are, change the bit for a softer one (a rubber or a bit thinker dubble broken snaffle bit), check if the bit is in the right place in the mouth (if it's to high the horse will open it's mouth because it's uncomfortable), let a vet check his teeth and molars. And keeping him looking outside will help for a while but keeping it there isn't that good. I always learned to keep contact with the reins and not letting it flop around, because then the contact is lost.

[@Whinny11791]

There are varying opinions about how to get a horse to accept contact. Ultimately the horse is the best judge of what works best -they let you know with relaxation, stretch (not shortening the neck),not getting above the bit or behind the vertical, stepping under themselves, and a happy mouth (not chewing a lot). I agree that it's not good to hang on a horse's mouth; However, this is not pulling, it's softly holding without letting the reins to go slack until the horse stretches forward/down/out

[@lily_daisy5165]

The persons stirrups need to go up more

[@MinockerSpanichle]

Please help spread the word of Liberty Dressage/Dressage at Liberty. Simply the practice of interacting with your horse, with minimal or no equipment, allowing the horse the highest degree of freedom possible. Klause Hempfling, the "Flying Frenchman" Lorenzo, Art of Natural Dressage, and many others are good examples of this movement. No gimmicks, no nonsense.

[@Whinny11791]

It is still on their facebook page.

[@perseaeblin653]

Can't you guys see how amazing it is??? Linda and Pat are just wonderful with horses!!!

[@queenofthering10]

If you are watching this video because you are struggling to create a contact with your horse in dressage I learned some wonderful things from a Grand Prix dressage trainer who actually rode Thoroughbreds to GP level. However, it's slightly contrary to Linda's information. With my hot TB mare who easily gets tense, I do a lot of "give and release" methods of contact. I remind her to keep a connection by being supple. For example, if I am tracking right and I want her to be more supple I will take with my right rein until she gives and immediately let go when she does. I often scratch her on the neck with that same hand. This creates confidence and enjoyment for the horse as they learn to carry themselves correctly.

[@cynthiajohnson411]

that's exactly what Linda does later down the road. She calls it, "It's not a trap."

[@Whinny11791]

You have to click on "more recent stories" and it comes up

[@hannjenn]

The problem is that this Parelli woman focuses solely on the horse's mouth, which is why she gets nowhere with this nice horse. She's apparently unaware, despite holding herself out as an expert, that contact with the horse's mouth only happens when the horse willingly comes forward in response to the rider's legs. It's frustrating to watch this rider race around and never get her horse to accept contact with the bit.

[@Spiritofequis]

I have to add though, if I ever needed a business model I would follow the Parelli method. They are raking in the dough!

[@ShaunlaraGirl]

Linda ist eine wunderbare Lehrerin!

[@odie023]

Teaching a horse to pull on the reins by hurting it's mouth constantly and to go in an "outline" drastically on the forehand. Well done Parelli...

[@yunekowolf]

BTW, i'm not cracking on Pat. I'm cracking on his 'know-it-all' wife that doesnt know what she is doing.

[@hannjenn]

Pat and Linda Parelli are such frauds, aren't they. On one of Parelli's posts, titled "Linda Parelli Q &A: Circling Game Question," my following comment was disallowed, so I put it here because I get sick of the two of them silencing their critics: "Who knew? Put a bridle on a horse that you can't control in a halter. Add a curb strap if the horse is really strong. Wow! Pure genius! Will the Parelli innovation never end?"

[@TreasureOne]

Lifelong successful horsewoman here, who has never forced a horse to do anything. If you can still say the Parellis treat horses with dignity and kindness after seeing what Pat did to Catwalk and how Linda brutally abused half blind Barney AND the cover of that UK magazine with these two fools yanking on bits like rollkur acolytes---you're just another member of the Parelli cult. A newbie middleaged woman who probably can't even lead her horse properly, and screams if she has to go on a trail.

[@Spiritofequis]

Nope, just scrolled back all the way to the beginning of April and it's not there. It reminds me of what happened to other videos they've disappeared. For instance, what happened to the video of Pat being bucked off the colt? And for the record, I actually like Parelli for ground work and have studied and practice up to level 3. However, I agree with the man on the missing video who commented that he didn't like what he saw. Parelli's riding modalities do not fit with classical high schooling

[@BloodRaven131]

Ah! she used it to lol Jello Fingers!! :D I love her!! xD

[@arabdressage1]

This is not correct dressage. The horse was still bracy with a tense jaw and stiff poll at the end, just with his head down instead of up. I don't even know why they're trying to work on contact with a tense, horrendously crooked horse that's not forward and has a really weak topline. He needs to go back on the longe for awhile, then get ridden in a light seat by someone who knows how to drive a horse forward and is capable of not thunk, thunk, thunking him in the mouth every stride.

[@gladysarauz2023]

Y

[@tiaashwell3765]

Honestly.. There wasn't much change, that horse is still (OBVIOUSLY) at a very low level and if this was an "accomplished rider" they wouldn't be stupid enough to start trying to get this horse to collect when obviously it looks like a pretty green horse to me. This horse has no rhythm, Its lazy, It's not supple and honestly that horse either needs a dentist or a different bit. 1st: Rhythm 2nd: Suppleness 3rd: Contact 4th: Impulsion 5th: Straightness 6th: Collection I think Linda has contact and collection confused.

[@heartshapedd1]

Tia Ashwell I totally agree with you. The horse looks very green and has no muscle to collect himself.

[@jrberry63]

And I'm not "mega-rich" by any means. I'm just SMART.

[@jrberry63]

Yes, the horse IS fighting-the BIT, because he's unconfident about it. But as it progresses, the horse learns to accept contact, and he RELAXES. How could you miss that? I wonder if we watched the same video, because I saw a horse transform from stiff and bracey to relaxed and accepting.

[@Spiritofequis]

Why did Parelli take this video off of their Facebook page? There was some great comments from knowledgable riders. They specifically asked for opinions on this video. I guess they thought they would all be positive. It speaks volumes when a company is quick to hide opposing views. It also ruins their credibility.

[@cadenced]

NEVER act backwards against the horses mouth. IF the rider just softy holds the mouth (Upwards) the horse will not toss the head and it will learn to 'chew the reins from the hand' forward/down/out. THis is a very misbegotten form of 'combing the reins'.

[@sedona16able]

DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT UR HORSE THAN PARELLI IS THE ABSOLUTE WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jrberry63]

I haven't seen it yet but I'm looking forward to adding it to my collection. Re: DVD serving Linda better than this "soundbite mashup" does-it's just like the current presidential campaign, where each side tries to degrade, dismiss and demean the opposition by mashing together statements taken wildly out of context and presenting them as " 'factual' evidence against the opponent (*gasp, shock*)".

[@BeautyfulRain]

I don't know if this horse a little bit lame or if I'm just seeing a slight lack in rhythm. If I'm wrong please correct me, but I can't help but think this horse is a bit off.

[@truthwillwin3]

LOOOOOVE IT! Where was that?

[@jrberry63]

Less money, less time = bandaid results. Gimmicks and gadgets. No thanks! I'd much rather work on my relationship with my horse, and take the time it takes so it takes less time. I've looked at all the training options out there, and I chose Parelli BECAUSE it's the best. It's the only group of people who look like they're enjoying themselves, who aren't frustrated with their horses, and whose horses are equally happy. I'm doing things with my horse I never thought possible because of it.

[@TreasureOne]

This rider wasn't giving to the horse's mouth any better at the end, than at the beginning. The horse simply warmed up and flexed a bit more. Ridiculous.

[@jrberry63]

Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I'm glad mine is different.

[@jrberry63]

LOL! "A newbie middleaged woman who probably can't even lead her horse properly, and screams if she has to go on a trail." You know, criticism is really about the person giving the criticism. It's you, talking about yourself. ;-)

[@alainaj.archibald4226]

It's not Natural Horsemanship that we don't like; it's people who do it to make money. "You NEED to buy this ____________ to do this exercise", etc.

[@ninak2012]

It bothers me when someone is called an "accomplished rider" when all they've done is won ribbons but have learned nothing about horsemanship. I'm not the hugest Parrelli fan, but at least they pointed out the stiffness in the horse that is common in most "dressage horses" today caused by slapping on a pair of side reins and making the horse look pretty. Parrelli looks like she's driving a car while riding that thing.

[@sage4587]

OMG...there is no difference before and after. The horse is being ridden "UP side down. And hollow backed. Deffinately check out Art2ride if you want intelligent solution to a horse seeking the bit. This is horrible to watch. This horse is "breaking" at the wrong vertebra in the neck instead of releasing at the poll.

[@nadanumber1]

If you teach the horse to pull on your hands your teaching it to be heavy on the bit.

[@jrberry63]

And you know for certain the reason the video was removed was due to this? You have it on absolute authority?

[@alainaj.archibald4226]

Goodness me, I hope no one tries this at home.

[@jaspertapen]

All NATURAL way to rake money

[@helenechambert2037]

you ve seen the light, just a wandering quack, actually a couple of quacks...

[@MysticWoods]

It is still on their FB page, you have to scroll down since there has been new posts. Perhaps you should do your homework and check the page before saying such comments about their credibilty.

[@Pompeed]

Why would anyone follow the advice of a chair seated rider sitting behind the horse's center of gravity? And the rider's claim that she has made some great discovery in the field of equitation while the entire substance of her instruction to the rider and her own work on that horse is focused on the hand riding. What a mess.

[@o0Affinity0o]

I think all the riders bashing this video and Linda should really assess how much they care about their horses. Newsflash, but sawing on a horse's mouth to make it round is cruel. High level riders seem to develop this strange tolerance for inflicting pain upon their animals and being okay with it. True 'connection' sure as hell doesn't come from sitting heavy with strong contact, and maybe it's not so bad to give the horse a loose rein sometimes! How narrow minded could you be!

[@hannjenn]

Linda Parelli doesn't know what she's talking about. Her riding is terrible, which is truly astonishing given the time and money she's invested in it.

[@hannjenn]

On one of Parelli's posts, titled "Linda Parelli Q &A: Circling Game Question," my following comment was disallowed, so I put it here because I get sick of the two of them silencing their critics: "Who knew? Put a bridle on a horse that you can't control in a halter. Add a curb strap if the horse is really strong. Wow! Pure genius! Will the Parelli innovation never end?"

[@jrberry63]

Well, who says "classical high schooling" is the right way to ride? Just because it's widely accepted as "the way" and has been done for years doesn't make it right. Or best. Or good for the horse or rider.

[@Pferdecoach]

Sorry, but this is not truly new created method by this woman , even in dressage one has to try firstly to get the connection with the outside rein so then you can truly bent the horse inside and give but never forget to ride forward,cause the steady connection depends on the power of hind legs then when you give rein...but you need a balanced seat and not too long stirrups as i see here in the beginning or the rider will get stiff and uncomfortable for the horse

[@jrberry63]

Please cite the source of your data regarding the amount of Parelli students who have injured their horses' backs. Or are you just making a broad assumption? Opinions are one thing; facts are another. All I see here is an opinion/assumption.

[@HorseLover3111]

alot of the things that she mentioned in this video is what i've been told by my instructor, who rides at Prix St George level, not to do...especially letting him go on a free rein. If you want him to accept the bit you dont let him do what he wants. Thats just my opinion..i do like some aspects of natural horsemanship but find alot of parelli stuff is stupid..especially a carrot stick.. lol

[@yunekowolf]

She pretends that she knows things about horses because shes married to Pat. Complete BS. Take that bit out of the mouth, please. I cannot believe that people actually think this is good.

[@calsportsclub]

Your just obviously jealous Lisa.

[@Spiritofequis]

They ride with and without bits. Let's be clear, they sell their own bridles and support the use of Myler bits. You can bullshit your way through many things but you simply cannot fake riding. Now they're coming out with a new DVD set based on rider biomechanics and I had to laugh! They truly are marketing to the ignorant. Centuries of riding knowledge have gone into classical techniques. I'm pretty sure the Spanish school has worked out most of the bugs by now. Think I'll stick with the classi

[@jrberry63]

LOL! I doubt that.

[@appylover5283]

Wow after reading all these nasty comments is the reason I hate the stuckup horsey world we all have our own journey and the way we do things while you all sit behind your keyboards, let’s put a video up of your perfect selves and see how you like being critically judged and doesn’t matter how perfect you think you are believe me their will plenty that will tear you to shreds

[@Tashakat]

She may have trained with Zettl but she hasn't learned much. This is NOT classical dressage. She is concentrating on the contact ie head and neck and completely ignoring the poor interaction of the rider and poor position in the saddle. She's trying to reinvent the wheel in the name of profit. Some USPs just aren't worth having.

[@MysticWoods]

. My horse does amazing things I never would have been able to do without learning Parelli. I already knew how to ride, I know I am learning to ride bridleless, your comment about the Parellis pulling on a bit to Rolkur makes no sense, when these are the people teaching to go bitless and bridleless. I take it you have not seen the Parellis ride without bridles.

[@russellforgham]

Hmmmm. Good rider on wrong diagonal and never changed rein.

[@artchik925]

Yeah I was confused as to how she was an "accomplished rider" when she doesn't even have a good connection....can you see the reins when she rides in the beginning? They're going *thump, thump. thump* against the horse's mouth. That MIGHT have been the poor guy's problem...

[@TheBeautyonHorseback]

This gal could invest in a pair of running reins and a longe line. Get a better result from her horse and actually start building his topline which is why he is having trouble. He has no muscle to support her weight.

[@hannjenn]

Their program is ridiculous. I don't need to try eating arsenic to know it's toxic.

[@ninak2012]

You are incredibly misinformed. Contact is created using steady, constant pressure. Nobody said anything about sea-sawing. In fact, this acclaimed horse expert here isn't even releasing the horse when he gives to her inconsistent pressure and messy hands. He's being very forgiving of her and he only looks good to some of you because he has been trained excessively with gadgets to force his head down. The goal is to achieve a horse that is collected through out his body, not just his head.

[@horsemania2667]

Just an observation but this lady is a dressage rider, she sure looks down a lot and she seems to be reaching down for her stirrups, they are so long.

[@ShamuTrainer2be]

How do they get idiots to come to these seminars? Once you get to a high enough level of dressage you have to have your hands raised. And having your elbows behind your body? That's the number one rule for new riders- NO CHICKEN WINGS!

[@megancleary5794]

Her leg is to far forward and to long, there is no reall wait in the heels, and the rider leans forward, these should have been fix first, even Linda's legs are to far forward, why is every one worried about the horse when the riders need to fix a few of there own problems, then things will come together, much better.

[@hannjenn]

Her riding is awful, and her horses pay a price for he inability to ride well, or even adequately for that matter.

[@jamieduggan4297]

To me what I see is the horse constantly in pain with the bit.....if you have bit problems how about removing the bit in the first place. By the way don't come crying to me defending the bit....I hate the bit and it's the worst thing to ever be invented

[@fraupompeed6493]

I doubt that kind of groundless admiration will convince others to drink the same Parelli cult cool aid. But one never knows. As Mr. Barnam said: there's one born every minute.

[@drkidphd1979]

No...it's not.

[@ElectricImp]

OK, horse can only offer back what rider is offering and this rider is not offering what she is asking for and johnny come lately LP with her limited understanding of riding with contact is teaching the world. Recreating the wheel in her own image -Go figure!!! Nice chair seat LP. Swinging through the back and way on the forehand. Okee Dokee. Kink in neck -hmmm interesting choice of words. Do we want any kinks conceptual or otherwise in our horse's body when riding in any style? Need I go on...

[@sonjahoffmann6167]

You are not youre husbend

[@hannjenn]

Exactly! Linda Parelli undermines good horsemanship by failing to understand that resistance in the horse is solved by gaining control over the horse's hind legs, not its mouth. Her approach is one used by uninformed horsemen and women every day of the week. She's nothing special, except she makes a fortune as the purveyor of such dangerous misinformation.

[@hannjenn]

Linda Parelli doesn't have a clue as to what she's doing with horses. Considering how much access she has to them, she must be about the least talented equestrian in the world. Her riding is terrible. She sits on the poor horse's kidneys and never gets him to come forward, which is essential to establishing meaningful contact with the horse. In fact, the horse in the above video never makes smooth contact with his rider. Anyone not blinded by Linda Parelli's nonsense can see that.

[@danielthomas3333]

Linda Parelli is clueless and dangerous to good teaching.

[@hannjenn]

Linda Parelli's riding is awful. She sits poorly and never gets any better.

[@ashleighrauen]

I wish I could unwatch that :/

[@jessica-walt]

I can't believe people are bitching about the horse having a bit in its mouth. Like wtf?

[@caballuscollecting]

why would we not bitch about it?

[@fraupompeed6493]

If one watches the piece, one will see Ms. Parelli. On the ground with the reins in her hands. Making an already crooked horse more crooked. Instead of straighter. And then chair-seated in the saddle. Sitting well behind the horse's center of gravity. Flying elbows, collapsed torso too. Teaching the horse, among other things, how to pull, spouting meaningless jargon and promoting her work to the owner and the audience as good work. Complete nonsense bungle.

[@ninak2012]

Linda never released that horse after he gave to her pressure. All she is doing is lowering his head. She has no leg pressure on him what so ever to keep the constant pressure that is needed to create "collection" and encourage the horse to push from behind. It is really bad riding by an acclaimed horse expert. Side reins and draw reins create even more stiffness. All you numbskulls are just trying to make the horse's head look pretty, you aren't achieving real collection by doing this.

[@TheGoldpony]

die sitzt aber auch furchtbar!!!!

[@KaraJakey]

*facepalm* what am i watching......

[@drkidphd1979]

This video is ridiculous. Clearly she has no idea how to ride proper dressage.