The Natural Dressage Forum

I am looking for a natural dressage trainer located in Raleigh or nearby OR in North Carolina that will travel to the Raleigh area. I am an official level 3 parelli graduate studing in level 4. I would love to find a parelli friendly dressage trainer to help me develop in dressage.

Hi! It sure has been quiet on this forum lately. I guess everyone's out riding.

I can't help you find a natural trainer, but I'd think your Parelli connections could help.

Personally, (not Parelli but trying a more natural way of schooling) I've just kept watching dressage instructors until I found someone who wouldn't go "against my rules" (like, flash nosebands.) Trouble with Parelli system, from my understanding, he expects you to do most everything without tack, totally natural, BEFORE starting things like rein contact. That's already opposite to what I feel dressage is all about: getting a rein contact, and influencing the balance and way of going, even in the young horse, so that one can develop his communication with you, movement, balance, etc. I don't think it's beneficial for a horse to go for too long in a long, strung out, perhaps hollow-backed frame. Naturally, if you have a NICE horse you don't have to do so much, but in my case, the sooner my horses learn to round their backs and become supple the better.

I know Karen Rohlf has given numerous clinics in that area, so if you can find the contact info for the woman who hosted the clinics I bet she could help you find someone.

I also agree with searching through close dressaqge triners. Most are far better than naturalists give them credit for. Just let them know what your goals are... if they smile and say "that's great" sign up for a lesson- if they go on and on about why natural horsemanship is stupid, go elsewhere.

I have taken lessons with VERY non natural people, but because my horse is easy to get along with, quiet and confident, we had no problems at all during the lessons.