KAYE THOMAS 3 STAR PARELLI INSTRUCTOR SENIOR HORSE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : I S S U E 1 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 1 2011 EVENTS THE NEW HYBRID CRUISER SADDLE PARELLI CONNECT I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Kaye s 1 Update Parelli Saddles &The & 2 New Hybrid 3 Cruiser Saddle Trial Days Student Grading & 4 & Instructor 5 Star Rating Explained Photo 6, Gallery 7 &8 Events 2011 9 Parelli 10 Connect Kaye s Update: What s New The first newsletter for 2011 and I write this from my office looking out across the lush green pastures where the horses are grazing happily. What a blessing the rain has been for us all down in the Riverina. So green! We have already completed the foundation training which included foals, older horses that needed more training and some unstarted horses. One of the great things I love about Parelli is the brilliance of allowing each one of us to become our own trainer for our horses. The simple sequential learning order for developing our horses provided in Levels One through to Level Four provides outstanding results. Within that scope we have the understanding of Horsenalities, the correct tools, the Parelli Patterns and of course the Parelli Levels Pathways. As an instructor it is so satisfying to be involved with and to understand in great depth the Parelli Program. I have been involved with it since it first started here in Australia where I too was a student and met both Pat & Linda as separate identities. I then began in helping Linda set up an educational program that was deeply based and Kaye on Meika during the 5 day 2010 Parelli Camp still is, in horse psychology, meaning understanding life from the horse s point of view. To be good with horses, a big part of their development is also the self development of the human. As the leader of our herd of two we need to become good enough for our horses. Before I started in the office, I was at the point where I was mixed up and confused with all the conflicting information taught in the horse world. My horses were not improving, nor was I because I was constantly giving them mixed messages and had no consistency at all & not giving my horses any responsibilities nor was l allowing them to learn how to learn. I didn t know what to believe and I didn t know how to improve. So when l met Pat Parelli and learnt that he was prepared to develop students who had a high level of dedication and I jumped at the opportunity. Now, after all these years, the Parelli Program isn t limited to Australia but it is a highly acclaimed and recognised educational equine program with international study centres with alliances and affiliates which all help to raise the level of horsemanship globally. Pat s dream was to make the world a better place for horses and this dream is well under way to becoming a reality, touching people and their horses in all areas of the horse industry. For those of you that are interested I will be bringing the Cruiser saddle to the Easter Camp in Howlong and also for a day in
P A G E 2 Inset Photo: Cruiser saddle as it would sit on the horse.photo from parellisaddles.com The New Hybrid Cruiser Saddle Mid Victoria (location TBC) for a day of saddle trialling. This means that you can come along with your own horse and trial the natural performer super wide or standard gullet and the new hybrid Parelli Cruiser. The Parelli saddles have made an amazing difference to my horses, my students horses and will greatly assist with your horse s comfort and with their posture as you advance in your horsemanship. I see way too often, especially in young horses, that have under-developed soft muscle backs that are already damaged by cheap or poor fitting saddles. These saddles can be too narrow for the horse and are often shaped to fit a stationary horse. This means that the rider has to sit more forward on their crotch or alternatively they are forced to sit back with the riders legs too far forward and not in alignment. Neither of these scenarios are beneficial to you as a rider or for your horse. The bars of a conventional tree can block the shoulder of a horse, causing the horse to have atrophied muscles around the withers, frozen shoulders or Many of you have told us that you would like to enjoy the benefits that our saddles provide for long distance and long-time period riding with a saddle that WEIGHS LESS than our 28 pound Natural performer Westernstyle saddle rotated shoulders which can look like a round ball behind the scapula or cause the horse to just become sore, sour and irritated. Horses can start protecting their bodies creating an unhealthy posture and in turn the weight is often not distributed correctly as the horse defends himself from any pain he may be feeling. It is important to keep in mind that while some people, after fitting the Parelli saddles, see immediate improvement in their horses due to freedom of movement and relief from pain. Other horses with past back issues may take more time to develop a more fluid way of moving. Keeping in mind if the rider is not independent of the horse s movement, or not balanced or fluid it can aggravate the back issues. Can you see how important it is to not only have good saddle fit but knowledge on our riding dynamics within our horsemanship. For more information on the saddle fit days just contact me via email. Email: moonrider@dragnet.com.au
I S S U E 1 FOR MORE information on the new Cruiser please visit P A G E 3 www.parellisaddles.com For TRAIL RIDING & Below Diagram and detail has been taken from the www.parellisaddles.com website LONG HOURS
P A G E 4 THE PARELLI LEVELS PROGRAM Student Grading & Instructor Star Rating Explained For some of you, l may be stating the obvious, but often l get asked the questions: What does the Parelli star ratings mean and what is the difference between horsemanship and horse development? Within Parelli there are many facets to the company. So to make it simple for us, l will focus on understanding just two main areas of development. There is our student "horsemanship levels" and also after the horsemanship comes the "horse development" part of our education. We have a star rating system based on things like: experience and skill level both for students and then for Parelli Professionals. The grading system (or Levels) for students starts at Level One & goes Left Page: Here Kaye allows the horse to be curious and then get confident. Nose, neck, maybe the feet!! Hmmmm. Have we heard that before? Right Page: Can you accept the saddle, soft and relaxed. Can you accept the rider? through to Level Four. Level Four being the highest people training or foundation training level for students to date. The star rating system for selected Parelli Professionals is a "One star to a Six star" giving the customer an understanding of what experience level they can expect and therefore which Parelli Instructor would be the most appropriate for the task being undertaken. In regards to the star rating l will give you an example. A One Star Parelli Instructor is an Instructor that is just at the beginning of their career & is now in training with a minimum of 50 hours to complete before going back to the USA for further training. Within this rating they have guidelines to follow which helps them build experience confidently. They are not licensed or endorsed to teach the higher levels of Parelli or to handle, foundation train or to start horses.
I S S U E 1 P A G E 5 A 5 or 6 Star Parelli Instructor is extremely experienced with over a decade of training, can teach large numbers of students and has been personally handpicked by Pat Parelli himself to teach internationally. This does not mean they are qualified to develop horses as this is a separate area to instructing students, but some are experienced in that area as well. We do a lot of horse training within the Parelli company and it comes into our education after chosen students have completed our highest level of horsemanship, Level Four, & get chosen to study horse development under the auspicion of Pat Parelli himself, or a high level Senior Horse Development Specialists at one of the many Parelli Campus s. Within this area there is: Parelli Horse Development Specialists or Parelli Senior Horses Development Specialists. The words horse breaking is called horse starting and then further education is called foundation training or developing. The words "make and break" are excluded and replaced with start and develop. The Parelli Method has been used very successfully all around the world for decades now with all types of horses, whether for the competition arena, recreational, breeding, harness or even ground skills with foals, yearlings, pre-training or re-training etc. etc. So in conclusion: A Level One to Level Four Parelli student is not licensed to teach other students unless they have been selected and have successfully completed training at a Parelli Campus and has fulfilled the Licensing Agreement for the appropriate star rating. The Star Rating goes hand in hand with the Licensing Agreement and Insurance. So, be careful...ask questions before committing to a lesson! Does the person have Insurance, are they trained and experienced in the sequential learning order, do they use equine psychology and have a solid awareness of Horsenalities? So if you were approached by persons, clinicians or trainers that mentioned that they have done Parelli then you now know how to access whether they are qualified or Licensed within the Parelli program. Pat and Linda Parelli are very particular about putting out a high level of expertise in the horse community, so feel free to ask questions, phone the Parelli Office, check the Australian Instructor Listing on www.parelli.com and look for the Parelli Logo. So, it s your choice! Will you softly lower your head in response to a light touch.? Will you accept the bit? Cruiser saddle as
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P A G E 9 Kaye Thomas 3 Star Licensed Parelli Instructor Senior Horse Development Specialist www.kayethomas.com.au moonrider@dragnet.com.au 2011 EVENTS February 2011 Private Group Lessons Rutherglen VIC 26th & 27th February Contact: Kaye at moonrider@dragnet.com.au March 2011 Private & Group Lessons 18,19,20th March Bega, NSW Contact: Corinne at corinne@fernmark.com.au 02 64927136 Fun Day & Parelli Lessons 26th - 27th March Narrandera NSW Contact Emma Smith at: emma.smith25@hotmail.co m April 2011 All Levels 5 Day Camp 1st - 5th April 2011 Jugiong NSW PH: 02 6924 5568 Contact: Fiona Darling: darling@dragnet.com.au Parelli Workshops Level 1 & 2 8th - 11th April Blackheath, Blue Mountains NSW Contact Aggi at: eyriekanimbla@cirruscomms.com.au Mb: 0427 270 258 Easter Workshops & Cruiser Saddle Trials All Levels 22nd - 24th April Howlong, NSW Contact Bonnie McIntryre at: bonniejanemcintyre@gmail.com Adv Level 2 & Adv Level 3 Clinic 28th April - 2nd May Kojanup WA Contact Sam Caporn at: scaporn@gmail.com May 2011 Parelli Partnership Course 7th & 8th May Narrandera NSW Contact Emma Smith at: emma.smith25@hotmail.com Mb: 0488 511 195 KEEP AN EYE ON KAYE S WEBSITE FOR ANY UPDATES OR CLINIC CHANGES Parelli Workshops Adv Level 2 & Adv Level 3 13th 15th May Burong Winchelsea Contact: Felicity Felicity.ridgeway@bigpond.com Mb: 0408 527 054 LINDA PARELLI, SYDNEY Game Of Contact 27TH 29TH MAY 2011 June Level 2 & level 3 Workshops 3rd 5th June Albury, NSW Contact: Kaye moonrider@dragnet.com.au Mid June & Mid July 2011 Kaye will be in Colorado at the Parelli Ranch July Level 2 & 3 Clinic 29th 31st July Albury NSW Contact Kaye: moonrider@dragnet.com.au August All Level Workshops 26th 29th August Bega, NSW Contact: Corinne: corinne@fernmark.com.au Ph: 02 64927136 September 2011 All Levels Camp & Private Lessons, 16th 20th Sept Burong, Winchelsea Contact: felicity.ridgeway@bigpond.com October Liberty & Horse Behaviour Course 3rd 14th October Parelli Centre (ASC) Wilton NSW australia@parelli.com.au Fun Day 22nd 23rd October Howlong,NSW Contact Kaye: moonrider@dragnet.com.au November 2011 Equitana 10th 13th November Sydney, NSW All Levels 7 Day Parelli Camp Instructors TBC 17th 22nd November Contact: Megan Hill megan.hill54@yahoo.com.au
PARELLI CONNECT & YOU WWW.PARELLICONNECT.COM P A G E 10 Progress tracking & Interactive training suggestions Support & encouragement from like-minded friends Specials & members only discounts for merchandise & event admission Interact directly on www.parelliconnect.com with staff, instructors and even Pat & Linda Parelli. Best of all... It s FREE to Savvy Club Members!! If you are not a member, Log On Now for a Free One Month Trial Often I hear that Parelli isn t in the more isolated places but thinking outside the box, Parelli is anywhere that you are! We are constantly building different websites and links online to help people progress and stay positive through the ups and downs of the learning process, allowing people to relate to like-minded people. I have a student who was feeling isolated who has decided to think outside the box and has made the commitment to come all the way down from North West of Queensland and study with me for a month. Now that s progressive!! Australian Parelli Office 1800 460 988 02 4630 9677 australia@parelli.com www.parelli.com