Parelli Natural Horsemanship - Northland

About Us

We are a group of students of Parelli Natural Horsemanship (PNH) who live in Northland.  Recently numbers have grown fast and there are almost 40 of us. We are quite widespread, radiating out from Whangarei - Waipu, Matapouri, Maungatapere, Kaiwaka, Hikurangi, Tangiteroria, Warkworth, Ruakaka. Also some students are in Keri Keri and Kaitaia. We have one level 3 and one Level 4 student and the rest of us are Level 1 and 2 students. Some of us have been doing Parelli for years and others are very new to it.

We like to get together with other students whenever we can, to play and learn together with our horses and to be a support for each other in the learning process. We attend clinics with our North Island Parelli professional instructor, Russell Higgins as often as possible.

Below you can read about some of us and our experiences with the Parelli system, but first !

                                                                           Meet our instructor Russell Higgins

Russell Higgins is a professional Parelli instructor.

He teaches clinics and courses throughout NZ and the UK.

 

 

                                                      

His other services include Starting Young Horses Under Saddle, Trailer Loading problems solved, and the sale of Parelli equipment and educational products.

Russell jumping 3 of his horses at liberty.  

 

Meet the students

 

 

Ronnie and her new horse Silver

playing at liberty.
 

At the age of 59 I decided it was time I found out how to have a relationship with a horse. I have always been envious of other people who could do anything with their horse.

I got me a horse, a pretty old one, but one that I could build my confidence on. Oh boy I didn’t realise that I could go as far as I have. 

I am a very slow learner, so I was able to go at my own pace. Once you have got the 7 games under your belt, the world is your oyster.

I recently got another big boy who has had problems all his life standing while trying to mount.  As I am very short person, it posed lots of problems for me.  I took him thru the 7 games and once I had got his confidence started on his little problem. It took me a couple of hours but I am so proud of the fact that he now stands while I mount.

Who says you can’t teach old horses new tricks!!!

Ronnie      ( Level 2 Harmony student)

 

                                                                                                   

Ngaio and Rangi jumping barrels

together at liberty.

My name is Ngaio and I have a thoroughbred gelding called Rangi. I have been working with him since I was nine and we are now working towards our Level 2.

He has a very sweet nature but tends to get grumpy if he doesn't understand what is being asked of him. Parelli is really good in situations like that as it teaches you to give clear signals that your horse can naturally understand.

I also like working with the Parelli system as it enforces such a

strong, positive relationship between you and your horse. Plus, it's LOTS of fun and the horses think so too!

 

Ngaio    ( Level 2 Harmony student)

Porcupine Game: Pat asking Zambezi to back up.

I desperately wanted a horse when I was young , but I was 50 when I was given my first horse, Dancer. We had 10 years together using the PNH method. She died just 3 weeks ago (as of time of writing this - April 09). She was over 30.

 

Learning the psychology of the horse and specifically learning about the different "horsenalities" has been so helpful. I have had Zambezi for 18 months and she is a totally different horsenality to Dancer. I have been able to see a problem arise between us and think "How interesting!" rather than feel frustrated.

I am learning that if I look at a problem or puzzle or a new excercise from my horse's point of view, she is willing to explore with me. I've learned how to appreciate her feedback and she respects mine. The trust between us is building daily.

Love, language and leadership are all  important. I have a bucket load of love for my sweet horse. My language skills (in horse body language) are pretty primitive by horse standards. She usually does what I ask, but sometimes that isn't what I want. I have learned to never allow her to feel wrong if it was my fault I was speaking "pidgin".

And leadership? well that has been the most challenging of all for me, but I am getting there! Yay! Often Zambezi seems to indicate these days that if it's ok by me then it's ok by her. We are both part of the same team.

We are working on the ground at the Harmony level and I think I speak for her too when I say most of time we love it and have heaps of fun!

Pat (Level 2 Harmony student)

  

 

Debby and Banjo - Sideways game over the pole.

Debby meets Pat Parelli in Sydney  May 2010

"An ode to Shimmer"
I started out with Parelli 12-years ago with a standardbred mare I thought was going to kill me.  She took two days to load into a float having had an accident previously and was dribbling with sweat and tension just looking at it.  By the end of level 1 (structured a bit different then) I could sit on the fender of the trailer and point her in, she couldn't wait to see where we would go next and loved to go trekking.  She became the most relaxing ride on a trek.  She gave me more than I ever asked her for and was my perfect partner with flying lead changes and the lot!  She just got it!
 

 


Banjo (LBI) and I are working on Parelli now.  He turned up as a sorry looking yearling with a timid curiosity that I couldn't resist back in 2001.  I started him and sold him on at 3yo.  He did 4-years of western in the local club and I begged for him back (fortunately the lovely man who had him recognised on my irregular visits how excited Banjo was to see me and knew the horse liked me).  The lovely thing is that Banjo remembered everything we had ever done in the way that we had communicated when he was a baby - and more!  We started Parelli again in February 2009 and Banjo is waiting for his human to become good, better, best.    

Debby (Level 3 Refinement student in Online and Freestyle and Level 2 Harmony student in Liberty and Finesse)

 

Vicki Robson of Whangarei and two other students at the 5 day Harmony camp playing "Merry-go-round" with their three horses circling around them. This is no mean feat! Three ropes being passed around the three women and three horses on the end of the ropes all keeping going at the same pace and direction. Well done!

 

 

 

 

Kim Robson of Maungatapere "sidewaysing" her horse across the paddock.

                                   

 

 

 

 

Rob Reti and his horse attempting to solve a puzzle around the green obstacles. If either of them step over the poles the horse wins the game! Good luck Rob.

                     Vicki with Jazz

 

 

 

 

 

 

My horse's name is Jazz. She is a 15yo Anglo Arab I have had for about 4 years. She is an honest girl and a great jumper but has a lot more "go than whoa". I hunted her last season and she jumped everything I aimed her at, just all at great speed.

I re-joined the Parelli programme late last year with a view to building a Partnership with her. I am thoroughly enjoying the journey and am thrilled with the changes in her behaviour (and hopefully she is happy with the changes in my savvy!?) I hope to complete the Level Two auditions this winter with her.

Vicki (Level 2 Harmony student)

   
This website exists by courtesy www.animalherbs.co.nz

and Pat's Healing Centre, Waipu