Rockdale Citizen

In addition to being a horse trainer, Parelli is also an accomplished rider and will demonstrate riding techniques during the Horse and Soul Tour.

Love, language, leadership

Internationally-known horse trainer Linda Parelli to offer equine education program at Horse Park

Horse riders take note -- you don't have to use brute force to train a horse, at least not according to the Parellis, a husband and wife team internationally known for their natural horsemanship training techniques.

Linda and Pat Parelli run Parelli Natural Horsemanship, a horse training education program that they offer in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Pat Parelli, a former rodeo bronc rider and horse trainer, developed his form of the natural horsemanship method in 1981 after realizing that in order to train a horse, people had to think like a horse.

The idea is that if a person learns the behavior of a horse and how a horse relates to other horses, he can tap into that knowledge to form a relationship of trust and respect with the animal.

Once the horse and trainer understand each other, the trainer can make headway in getting a horse to accomplish what he wants.

Linda Parelli will share the techniques of natural horsemanship at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Feb. 25 and 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the Horse and Soul Tour. The weekend features Linda Parelli demonstrating how her training methods can alter a horse's behavior.

"Most people train horses through submission and obedience and often by overpowering them in some way," Parelli said.

"The natural horsemanship approach is more about using equine psychology so that the way we think about it is when we are in horseville, we think the way the horses do. What we try to do is to try and become more like an alpha herd member.

"What we gain is trust and respect and so this whole approach is based on love, language and leadership rather than mechanics, fear and intimidation."

Parelli said she'll work with several horses from the local community that are considered difficult horses and demonstrate to the crowd, who will be seated in the arena, how to resolve the problems the horses are having.

"You'll see behavioral issues turned around in real life," Parelli said.

There will also be horse riding demonstrations and ground work, featuring several horses that have been through the program. Audience members should come ready to be educated and entertained, said Parelli.

"It's a fun weekend. There's a lot of activities and it's never boring," she said, adding that about 3,000 people are expected to attend the Horse and Soul Tour in Conyers.

Parelli said horses can present with all types of behavior problems, including kicking, biting, bucking, rearing and riding issues. She wants to show people who are dealing with difficult horses that there is potential for the horses to become successful.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the time people turn to us because they've tried everything else and they are at their wit's end," said Parelli. "We don't want people to get to their wit's end, don't even go down that road."

To purchase tickets for the Horse and Soul Tour, which cost $25 for the weekend, visit www.parelli.com.