What is the Parelli Levels Program?
The Parelli Levels Program is a horsemanship training system developed by Pat Parelli, the founder of Parelli Natural Horsemanship. The Program consists of Four Levels, and is designed to help horse owners develop a strong bond and communicate effectively with their horse through at-home learning. Your cumulative skills and knowledge will increase level by level as you learn additional Parelli Savvys: our four areas of learning, both on the ground and in the saddle. Join thousands of successful students who are achieving excellence, riding with confidence and enjoying their life with horses.
This learn-at-home program is housed inside of The Parelli Network: our online community. What's most powerful about our Network is that not only can you gain access to the proven Parelli Levels Program, but you also can take the iOS and Android app to the barn for easy on-the-go studying, share your successes with other Parelli students, connect with Parelli Professionals around the world, and lean on fellow community members when facing challenges with your horsemanship.
Progressively develop into a well-rounded horseman.
Level 1 teaches all of the essential Parelli groundwork tasks and techniques and is the first step in developing the habits and skills you need to become a true horseman.
Once you've completed Level One, you will continue your development into a well-rounded horseman by following the Parelli Program into Level 2, Level 3, and finally Level 4. Each Level builds by adding additional Savvys (ways we play with our horses on the ground and riding) while also expanding on the skills you've previously learned by increasing their speed and complexity and improving your level of communication and strength of bond.
Once you reach Level 4, you will have built a solid foundation both on the ground and riding that leads to the highest level of refinement, precision, and competition. Our Level 4 graduates are on their way to true mastery with horses.
You will learn how to:
- Communicate effectively with your horse.
- Stay safe by developing groundwork skills using a horseman’s halter and 12-foot training line.
- Understand the way horses are naturally programmed to think, act, and play with each other.
- Help your horse understand you and develop a language together using the revolutionary Parelli Seven Games.
- Bond with your horse to help strengthen (or build) a relationship.
You will learn how to:
- Expand the groundwork skills you learned in Level One.
- Have more fun and challenge yourself by playing On Line from further distances (22-feet) and with more obstacles.
- Begin playing at Liberty and stay connected with your horse without a halter or lead rope.
- Learn the second Parelli Savvy, FreeStyle, to begin riding confidently on a loose rein.
- Ride the Parelli Patterns so your horse learns confidence and responsiveness undersaddle.
You will learn how to:
- Introduce the 45-foot line and play at higher gaits from further distances with a stronger connection On Line.
- Play all of the Seven Games at Liberty developing a strong bond inside and outside the round pen.
- Improve your horse’s self-carriage and self-confidence under saddle.
- Ride with the Parelli Carrot Stick and learn to use your body effectively in the saddle.
- Bond with your horse undersaddle as you improve your independent seat and natural power of focus.
- Take the first steps to precision riding in the final Parelli Savvy: Finesse.
You will learn how to:
- Deepen your partnership so that your horse stays connected—and you stay confident—in any situation.
- Refine your cues and communication On Line from even further distances and learn to ground-drive your horse from Zone 5.
- Play with obstacles at Liberty and stay connected outside the round pen.
- Enjoy riding out on trails and in wide open spaces.
- Develop positive patterns in all gaits.
- Create a strong bond and willing yields in your horse so that you can confidently ride bridle-less.
- Deepen your understanding of precision riding, and learn how to develop a “feel” while riding.
- Ride precision patterns with elegance and refinement—laying the foundation for any area of performance.
- Achieve your horsemanship dreams!