Helmets and Parellis

[MOVOS]

UPDATE ON POST #96

Got this from someone in my driving group today. I am guessing you will all find this of interest.


<<<I am sending this to a couple different groups as I feel it is important to get the word out to potential Parelli followers. As many of you know, I am currently recovering from a brain injury from a fall from a horse this summer. This was a green horse but he spooked while I was getting off, something any horse could do and the odds of a serious accident on a horse finally caught up with me. One thing I have noticed is an ad for Parelli and Linda is jumping a horse bareback and no helmet. Also while I was bedridden I watch a couple of his episodes and he had a a young person who was physically disabled riding without a helmet and it was obvious her balance was not good. I sent a letter to Parellis asking them to please advocate the use of helmets. This is their reply, which I think is totally STUPID coming from professionals.

Patti - w.wa

Hi Patti,

Thank you for taking the time to write us. We understand your views and
concerns. As quoted by the faculty at our ranch:

"You are quite right - helmets are fabulous things and they save many lives. Tragically
though, people who ARE wearing helmets also die or suffer serious
head injuries in accidents with horses.?

Our program is intended to address the safety problem at its root - which is
behavioral - rather than address the symptoms of it. Our message is about
developing the relationship with the horse, and the savvy level of the rider,
so that unsafe behavior is addressed long before the rider gets on the horse -
rather than allowing the unsafe situations to continue to occur and hope that
the helmet, body protector, etc, will protect us from the consequences.

The reason you do not see our people wearing helmets is because we try to teach people
that rather than be brave because they are wearing a a helmet to protect
them, they would be better off not riding until their horse is behaving safely.

People have called us brave for not wearing helmets, but we say they are a lot
braver than we are. We would not get on their horse until we had addressed the
issues that cause it to behave in unsafe ways.

We hope this helps,

From the Faculty, Parelli Centers" >>>

[rhapsody]

That's asinine, IMO! I was at a show a couple years ago - junior rider class. One horse started running away, crashed into another, etc. End result was a series of ugly wrecks and 3 kids taken to the hospital. Thank God all were wearing helmets!

These were youth horses, most were safe. It only takes one horse bolting from an overactive flight instinct to wreck more than one life.

I'm shaking my head in disbelief and disgust. If they want to risk their own heads, that's one thing but they need to stress safety for their riders, especially if those riders are minors!

[BlackburnGirl]

hmmmm

I'm not a helmet person. And I agree on the rodeos etc. And a lot of people here look up to Stacey Westfall, Clinton Anderson etc.. who dont wear helmets AND stand on horses. All things that otherwise are ridiculed if the "Average" person does the same thing.

HOWEVER...

I wonder if that letter IS real.. grammatically it seems off. And I can't imagine people of that popularity and caliber wouldn't have a better response than that to a question. It almost seems as if their farm hands did it. If you notice it repeats "faculty" not themselves directly.

[MOVOS]

I do not care if you check Debra. I thought it an odd reply.

[BlackburnGirl]

Originally Posted by MOVOS

I do not care if you check Debra. I thought it an odd reply.

I'm just assuming they have people who write back on their behalf..

And I think the response is ridiculous to an extent. We were at a show a weekend or two ago and a perfectly well mannered horse slipped and fell and flipped over his rider. Fortunately both were ok.

Does he also teach them yoga, kung fu and gift them with the power of flight and self spawning bubble wrap?

[RRDRanch]

Of course it was someone in the faculty that wrote that. If it was Linda or Pat they would have ended the letter as so.

They do think this way. I have heard them discuss wearing helmets before and it was along those lines. They believe the horse should be safe before you get on it. And teach you to get off if you feel at all unsafe. Of course they know things happen even with a safe horse.....but they prefer not to wear helmets. They do not tell others NOT to wear them.......

Whatever.......I'm not even getting in another helmet (or Parelli) debate!

[debra1625]

Renee next time you see SLAP me for even responding LOLLOLLL

Originally Posted by RRDRanch

Of course it was someone in the faculty that wrote that. If it was Linda or Pat they would have ended the letter as so.

They do think this way. I have heard them discuss wearing helmets before and it was along those lines. They believe the horse should be safe before you get on it. And teach you to get off if you feel at all unsafe. Of course they know things happen even with a safe horse.....but they prefer not to wear helmets. They do not tell others NOT to wear them.......

Whatever.......I'm not even getting in another helmet (or Parelli) debate!

[BlackburnGirl]

Originally Posted by RRDRanch

Of course it was someone in the faculty that wrote that. If it was Linda or Pat they would have ended the letter as so.

They do think this way. I have heard them discuss wearing helmets before and it was along those lines. They believe the horse should be safe before you get on it. And teach you to get off if you feel at all unsafe. Of course they know things happen even with a safe horse.....but they prefer not to wear helmets. They do not tell others NOT to wear them.......

Whatever.......I'm not even getting in another helmet (or Parelli) debate!

lol I dont blame you. I came in early. Now I'm running for the hills.

[debra1625]

The brain cells stop functioning , the paint fumes got to me , I lost my memory, my fingers started without my control, I was sleep typing.....
all the stupid excuses I posted to this thread OLOLOL

Originally Posted by MOVOS

I do not care if you check Debra. I thought it an odd reply.

[Kellye]

Just more evidence of their ignorance about the true nature of horses. Any horse can become dangerous, if only by tripping and falling down with their rider....

My opinion of them is confirmed yet again. They are promoting ignorance, dangerous choices and lack professionalism when telling people that if the horse is "P" trained, the rider will not fall off, therefore they don't need a helmet. How can anyone defend such nonsense??

This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard, other than the quote from Linda's mouth when she said helmets are a "distraction" and shouldn't be worn. And don't ask me to tell you where I read it....it was in a nationally published magazine, like Horse and Rider or something like that a few years ago. It was the beginning of my dislike and contempt for them as professionals who are supposed to uphold certain ethics and set certain examples for all of the rookies they promote themselves to. Just irresponsible. Period.

Thanks for sharing.