Parelli Pathways (Levels)
There are 10 Levels that lead to the mastery of natural horsemanship, but Levels 1 – 4 are the foundation for you and your horse. The things you’ll learn on your journey to Level 4 will give you the knowledge and the skills to resolve any problem and accomplish any goal with your horse.
- Level One – Our aim is to make the pathway to Level 1 is about safety and communication, and it focuses on developing a language and earning respect with your horse on the ground. Playing the Parelli Seven Games with your horse On Line – the first of the Four Savvys, or areas of study – teaches you how to read horses and build strong relationships based on love, language, and leadership.
- Level Two – Level 2 is about confidence and fun, and will introduce the second Savvy – FreeStyle riding. You’ll learn how riding without contact helps horses become more responsible, self-controlled, and relaxed, and you’ll take your On Line skills to another level of understanding. You’ll be surprised at how much fun you’ll be having playing on the ground. The first two Levels are offered together because we don’t want you to get trapped in Level 1. It’s easy to get caught up in the details when you’re first starting, but we want to make sure you keep moving forward…otherwise you’ll end up boring your horse, and yourself.
- Level Three – Level 3 is about skill and excellence. It delves into more advanced On Line and FreeStyle concepts, then introduces Liberty – the ultimate test of trust and bond. When you play with your horse on the ground without a halter or lead rope, the only thing left is the truth. The relationship, savvy and refinement you’ll learn in Level 3 will take you to a level of excellence that most people only dream about.
- Level Four – Level 4 is about the fundamentals of performance – developing all Four Savvys to a spectacular expression of expertise. The fourth Savvy is Finesse – the art of riding with contact and collection – and it is one of the hardest things to do well with horses. Learning to prepare your horse with a solid foundation of all Four Savvys will help you achieve high levels of performance without sacrificing the relationship you’ve built with your horse.
It’s up to you to decide how good you have to be to live your dream with horses. The Parelli Levels Pathway will show you where you can go, and show you how to get there. Along the way, you’ll find the solutions to everything that used to frustrate you about your horse.
Content from http://www.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com/levels-pathway, 2010
