Clinic and Workshop Descriptions

General Clinic Information: Clinics are limited to approximately 10 people in any one clinic, so individual attention will be assured.; Please, show your horse's negative coggins prior to unloading.; Please, no stallions will be permitted in any clinic.; Please, no un-started horses will be permitted in any clinic.; Please, no participants under the age of 14 years.; Please, choose the clinic level that is commensurate with your current knowledge and abilities.; The facilities at the Rafter C Ranch include a 100' X 200' covered lighted arena, a 60' round pen, a 40' round pen, an insulated barn with a wash area (hot and cold water), and 10 12' X 12' stalls, each with a fan. A full bath is adjacent to the barn office.; One stall, with shavings, will be available for each clinic participant. Please bring your own feed and grooming supplies. Stall fee is applicable.; Be sure to bring pen and paper to take notes. Video taping of the clinic is welcome.; The clinic day begins at 9 AM, and consists of a 3 hour morning session, an hour and a half lunch break, and a 3 hour afternoon session.; Each clinic participant is expected to have their own tack and PNH equipment. See below for the specific PNH equipment needed for each clinic.; See the "Educational Investment" page for clinic fees and stall fees. A 50% non-refundable deposit will be required to reserve your space in the clinic. The balance of the clinic fee is due 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date of the clinic.; Each participant for clinics held at the Rafter C will receive a complementary audit ticket.; There are several motels and restaurants in Denton, which are just 8 miles east of the Rafter C Ranch. Please contact Devvy, our events coordinator, at (817) 999-1600 for the telephone number of local motels. Please make your own motel reservations.
Beginning Level 1, Partnership Clinic:: This clinic is an introduction to Parelli Natural HorseManShip and the understanding of the prey/predator relationship. You will learn how to build rapport with your horse and gain acceptance from your horse. You will be introduced to the 7 Games and learn how to apply them to your daily interactions with your horse. These games will help to establish you as the "alpha" partner with your horse. The results you get depend on how good your communication skills become and how confident and trustworthy you are as a leader. Some of the subjects that could be covered are: safety around horses, the 6 Keys to Success; the 7 Games; Zonology; how to recognize and effectively deal with "Opposition Reflex"; the psychology of the prey/predator relationship; de-sensitizing the horse to sticks, ropes and other human toys through methods of Approach and Retreat; re-sensitizing the dull or disrespectful horse; getting your horse to respect your space and stand still; handling the horse's hooves.; To optimize your learning: This class is primarily devoted to ground skills and no prerequisite study is required. However, the study of the Level 1 Partnership Savvy System prior to the clinic will multiply the effectiveness of class time.; Parelli Equipment Needed: Rope halter, 12' lead rope, carrot stick, savvy string
Level 1 Advancing, Partnership Clinic:: This clinic takes all the savvy you learned on the ground and applies it when you’re riding. Now you can k for the Safe respectful partnership you’ve been looking for. Some of the subjects that could be covered are: improving and habituating the 7 Games; the savvy way to saddle and mount safely; halter and one rein riding; beginning the development of an independent seat; the 8 Responsibilities; the three rein positions (Neutral Lateral rein, Direct rein, Indirect rein); the Trotting Passenger game.; To optimize your learning: Prior study of the Level 1 Partnership Savvy System will multiply the effectiveness of class time. All participants are expected to already have a familiarity with the 7 Games on the ground, and should be comfortable at the walk and trot.; Parelli Equipment Needed: rope halter, 12’ lead rope, carrot stick, savvy string, saddle, pad
Beginning Level 2, Harmony Clinic:: Level 2 is where the fun and magic of horsemanship begins. With Level 1 accomplished, you are ready to explore higher, more meaningful communication and added understanding of your horse. This is where you discover the power of psychology to motivate horses. This level is about impulsion, emotional control, and positive reflexes for both horse and human. Some of the subjects that could be covered are: the 8 Principles of Natural HorseManShip; learning how to put purpose to the 7 Games; positive reflexes on line; introduction of the 22’ line; introduction to Liberty in the round corral; playing the 7 Games in the saddle; developing natural riding dynamics; improving your independent seat, advancing free-style riding, sideways in the saddle, the 9-Step Back Up; introduction to the Impulsion Programs; trailer loading preparation.; To optimize your learning: Prior study of the Level 2 Harmony Savvy System will multiply the effectiveness of class time. Participants should achieved Level 1 competence, and be comfortable at the walk, trot and canter.; Parelli Equipment Needed: rope halter, 12’ lead, 22’ lead, carrot stick, savvy string, saddle, pad, natural hackamore
Level 2 Advancing, Harmony Clinic:: The fun continues in this clinic with more challenging communication situations. It is at this level that you and your horse begin to habituate impulsion and come into harmony. Once in harmony, more sophisticated maneuvers like lead changes can occur. Pat has said that the person who completes Level 2 will know more about horses than most people who “have been around horses their whole life”. Some of the subjects that could be covered are: advanced Friendly game; playing the 7 Games at liberty; continuation of developing your independent seat, using your body to obtain canter, trot, walk, halt transitions; a more in-depth study of the Impulsion Programs; advancing your Freestyle riding skills; learning to trot the proper diagonals; trailer loading; introduction of the Cherokee Bridle; simple lead changes.; To optimize your learning: Prior study of the Level 2 Harmony Savvy System will multiply the effectiveness of class time. Participants should have achieved Level 1 competence, and be comfortable at the walk, trot and canter.; Parelli Equipment Needed: rope halter, 12’ lead, 22’ lead, carrot stick, savvy string, saddle, pad, natural hackamore, Parelli snaffle bridle
Beginning Level 3, Refinement Clinic:: In this clinic you are refining your communication with your horse so that the conversation flows with smoothness and grace. Some of the subjects that could be covered are: 45’ rope handling skills, flying lead changes on the 45’ line, advanced ground skills, improving draw, use of flank rope, transitions at liberty, flying lead changes at liberty, introduction of the bridle, hind quarter isolation, riding with a carrot stick, introduction to bareback riding.; To optimize your learning: Prior study of the Level 3 Refinement Savvy System will multiply the effectiveness of class time. Participants should have achieved Level 2 competence, and be comfortable at the walk, trot and canter.; Parelli Equipment Needed: Parelli equipment needed: rope halter, 12’ line, 22’ line, 45’ line, carrot stick, savvy string, saddle, pad, natural hackamore, Parelli snaffle bridle, bareback pad optional.
Level 3 Advancing, Refinement Clinic:: In this clinic your communication begins to become so subtle it becomes almost imperceptible to an observer. Some of the subjects that will be covered are: asking the horse to follow the feel no matter where you put the feel; zone 5 driving; game 5 with long reins; jumping with carrot sticks; using the bridle to obtain vertical flexion in riding maneuvers such as trot/canter with soft feel; lateral movements; collected half pass at trot and canter; collected flying lead changes; bare back and bridless canter; three speeds within a gait.; To optimize your learning: The study of the Level 3 Refinement Savvy System is required.; Parelli Equipment Needed: Rope halter, 12' lead rope, 22' lead rope, 45' rope, 2 carrot sticks, savvy string, saddle, saddle pad, natural hackamore, Parelli snaffle bridle, bareback pad is optional
Specialty Clinic:: An in-depth study of a given Savvy or element of the Parelli Program. The workshop may be a one or two day format depending on the complexity of the skill being studied. Examples of some subjects that may be covered are the impulsion programs, lead changes, bareback riding, Natural riding dynamics, free-style riding, finesse, 45' rope-handling skills, trailer loading.; Parelli Equipment Needed: Depending on the given specialty clinic, the following equipment would be useful; rope halter, 12' lead rope, 22' lead rope, 45' rope, 2 carrot sticks, savvy string, saddle, saddle pad, natural hackamore, Parelli snaffle bridle, bareback pad is optional.