What is Parellì? Parellì is Natural Horsemanship. What is Natural Horsemanship? Natural Horsemanship is interactive relationship building, integrating empathy, communication, and assertiveness, AKA Life Skills. And, since Life Skills need to be learned early, how about in the
classroom?!
We are proudly entering our 3rd year teaching Parellì Natural Horsemanship in a public charter
school. This school, Our Children's Academy, in Lake Wales, Florida, is a Special Needs School that focuses on education and therapy. Horses are an important part of our therapy program where I have been the PATH International Instructor (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship), for many years. A therapist commented that how I work with therapy horses is similar to behavioral modification used with students. Using clear communication, through trust and respect with predictable, consistent consequences is effective for both horses and students.
We brainstormed an idea to bring together the horse's natural ability to stimulate learning and
communication in students, and incorporate a structured curriculum to achieve an outcome of
relationship building skills. The Parelli Program already had a written step by step people training course that we could use immediately.
Students behavior could be tracked and documented. There was opportunity to address fine and gross motor skills, speech, attention to
task and psychology, all which benefit the student's esteem and confidence.
A lot of our students struggle with day to day life, and need help to feel like they belong in the world. In fact, our school motto is 'You Belong!’
Pat Parellì, the man who named Natural Horsemanship, has a special needs child, Caton, who has thrived because of the principles of Natural Horsemanship. His son rides and works many horses, even riding them bareback all day long! He is an accomplished competitor in cutting horse events, and has earned his Parelli Level 4 Graduate Black Savvy String. He is a very
confident individual who inspires many.
Our pilot program of middle school students with individual challenges, were chosen for the class because of behavior and/or social skills issues They focused to get the horses to do specific tasks on the ground with ropes and training sticks. The horses were natural teachers and the students learned things about themselves that only animals can coax out of us!
The students played 'Can You’ Challenges. A student upon learning the 7 Communication Games of Parelli, had to control the movements of the horse to complete certain tasks. They had to move the horse sideways over a barrel or place the horse's foot into a hoop from a distance, while remaining in their own hoop! They even learned how to get their horse to knock over a cone and set it back up again without touching the cone or the horse! Talk about communication, assertiveness, and tenacity!
The horses were the ones telling the students if
Horse Behavior Specialist
Licensed 2 Star Parelli Professional
www.nancyslater.com
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