An Overview of Parelli Natural Horsemanship Levels

May 7, 2020

“There are a lot of horses that want divorces, that’s why their owners need to come to my courses!”
Pat Parelli

When it comes to developing horses the problems and limitations most people run into are due to either having the wrong program for their horse or having no program at all. We have set out each level to comprise a number of tasks which form a naturally progressive development program for you and your horse.

This is the program Pat developed by looking back on his path, and its the program he uses to develop his own horses.

This program Pat uses and now its here for you to use. The following is an outline of the levels.

Level 1 Partnership
Level 2 Harmony
Level 3 Refinement
Level 4 Versatility
Level 5 Unity
Level 6. True Unity
Level 7,8&9 Mastering True Unity
Level 10 Ultimate Unity

Level 1 through 3 can be taught totally by DVD’s and booklets and of course by our recognised instructors. After that things become much more specialised and intense and require some personal study with Pat Parelli.

Ultimately there is no one to judge you but the horse himself. By Level 3 we are truly listening to his opinion!

Level 1,2 & 3 can be taught by videos(DVD), books & Licensed Instructors.
Above this you need to invest time personally with Pat Parelli.

LEVEL 1 – Partnership

Most people keep just this side of trouble with their horses because they don’t really ask them to do very much. Once you start asking is when you find out just how much respect your horse has or doesn’t have for you.

Think like a horse.

Level 1 therefore is about earning a horse’s respect. The word respect has synonyms like admiration, esteem , curtesy, service, honour reverence, love and consideration.

The question is how to earn this respect. Pat teaches us firstly to think like a horse, to break down the prey-predator barrier and to learn to communicate much like another horse. This first part involves the use of body language and learning to play the same games horses play with each other to establish leadership in their pecking order.

Break down the prey predator barrier.

The second part involves transferring the communication and respect earned on the ground to the horse’s back. The foundation of natural riding dynamics are formed where you learn to be in the right position to cause the horse to understand and respond.

Level 1 helps you to overcome opposition reflex, both in yourself and in the horse. Compliance and ease become a natural part of your relationship. Now you are ready to ask for more from yourself and from you horse.

Opposition reflex is a self defensive reaction. In horses it elicits the flight or flight mechanism and in humans it causes them to fight or to retreat into the fetal position!

Level 2 – Harmony

Imagine being able to send your horse around a round yard at liberty, command his gaits, elicit flying changes and call him to you. What about being able to ride bareback, execute simple and flying lead changes as you change directions, and not have to use your reins to stop and back up?

Level 2 is about achieving harmony through impulsion and positive reflexes.

Level 2 is called “harmony” because this is what it develops. It takes you to a place of more feel, better timing, harmony with your horse’s movement and rhythm. It also brings your horse into harmony with your request. You ask more but you ask better and your horse becomes increasingly softer and more willing because he now has positive reflexes.

Its the level for exploring liberty, the canter, lead changes and beginnings of a soft feel.

This level explores impulsion which is why you’ll feel less and less need to use the reins for control, they become more valuable for communication.

Level 3 – Refinement

At Level 3 you step through the horseman’s doorway.

Finesse is the goal. It means that your cues are virtually imperceptible to the observer, your connection with your horse is now so strong and yet so subtle.

Level 3 is about finesse and exploring vertical flexion and the soft feel.

Level 3 is about flexion. While the previous two levels work with lateral flexion, this level now explores the development of vertical flexion for increased power in the hindquarter. You’ll be asked to perform tasks with more accuracy and finesse, at liberty and on line at distances up to 45ft.

By level 3 you’ll have enough savvy to qualify your entry into the horseman’s doorway. Your skills are significant. Your horse will appreciate very much the way you handle him.

To progress beyond Level 3 requires a great deal of dedication and application. its is for someone with professional aims to work with other horses, to teach or who wishes to pursue horsemanship purely as an art. (reminder this level 3 is equivalent to level 4 now)

Level 4 – Versatility

Level 4 is about versatility: different horses, different subjects, problem horses, young horses, western and English. etc.

Various horses, young horses, colts starting, difficult horses, English and Western disciplines and sports, driving horses, ect. This level is for those with professional goals or the extremely focused individual pursuing horsemanship as an area. Each of these is a deep subject and involves greater study time and personal tuition with Pat and his top instructors.

Level 4 is not something you accomplish in a year! It will take at least three to four years and a lot of exposure to many different types of horses and situations.

Levels 5 & 6 – Unity and True Unity

Level 5&6 are about unity and true unity. You keep taking one horse to more and more advanced levels and develop your versatility expertise.

These levels continue the expansion of the versatility of Level 4 while developing the relationship with one special horse to greater heights. While you will look to Pat for direction along the pathway, now its more time, experience and the horse that will be teaching you all the while your savvy will be deepening.

Levels 7,8,&9 – Mastering True Unity

Levels 7,8 & 9 are all about mastering true unity.
When you’ve achieved it with one horse, now you’ll do it with another and another and another.

Its what you learn after you know it all that counts. This is the study of what it takes to develop True Unity with more horses.

Here is where natural horsemanship starts to become an art form. Pat is rated around Level 8 which gives you an idea of the level of excellence with horses that these parameters represent.

True unity with horses is what compels the most dedicated of horsemen. To have the mental, emotional and physical unity with a horse is something very special. its not the result so much as what you have to become in order to achieve it.

This is a lifetime study.

Level 10 – Ultimate Unity

Level 10 Only the horse can be your judge.

A lifetime study. There is no one to judge you but the horse himself. The ultimate in natural horsemanship is to become one with nature, and the horse is nature in its finest form.

The Parelli Levels Program helps you to achieve personal excellence with horses.