I think that it is important to note that Harry
Whitney still does the clinics himself. The Parelli's have turned all the
lower Levels program to their "disciples" or via their DVD home instruction
package. I think that leaves a lot of room for people to misintepret the
PNH program. And a lot of people starting PNH have a very little
horsemanship skills to begin with and really need more direct instruction than a
lot of them are getting.
The PNH program has actually been "dumbed down" a
few times to accommodate totally new horse owners. My first exposure to
PNH was when it was difficult to pass Level 1, and I really didnt' "need" to
pass Level 1 and dropped PNH for awhile to do endurance. Having Drako
pushed me back into the fold and I passed Level One with Cezanne, who is now on
tour with the Parellis, without a whole lot of extra effort. All of this
is due to PNH being readily available at Lightfoot, otherwise I'm not sure that
I would be exposed to the program to the level that I can actually appreciate
the program as I do now. I probably would be like everyone else laughing
at people chasing their horses with carrot sticks.
I have never been to a Harry Whitney clinic.
I had been at the barn where this instructor teaches for about a year. I
admired this instructor and would not hesitate to recommend her. The Harry
Whitney methods are unique but close enough to the Parelli methods that I
decided I would be too confused and wouldn't be able to either of them well if I
took lessons from her. (Besides - I was in a vacuum where I wasn't in the
mood to do anything with my horses except just get on and ride.)
I moved from that barn to a bigger barn with a big
pro-Parelli contingency, and just as many poo-pooing PNH. And half the PNH
people there are totally inept yet in their horsemanship. They are the
ones that are in the round pen with an orange stick. The few that are
higher level PNH students are out riding their horses elsewhere, so
you hardly ever see good examples of PNH horsemanship at my
barn. Since I've got 2 out of 3 just plain good
ridin' horses, I don't spend a lot of time with PNH stuff at the
barn but I do take Drako to every BASP playday possible because they
are excellent desensitizing and engaging events for him. The resident
non-recognized PNH instructor does not ride trail, therefore I will never take a
lesson from her because of that major gaping hole in her
horsemanship.
There are no "Levels" that I know of with Harry
Whitney. Like you said, the "real deal." Diana Thompson wrote
an article about Harry Whitney a long time ago in the now defunct
Whole Horse Journal which is in my book a high endorsement.
kathy.mayeda@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: She's now taking
lessons from a non-Parelli (but NH ala Harry Whitney) trainer right now who is
absolutely fabulous. >>>>
Harry Whitney is one of the best horsemen I have ever
seen. It was like being at the feet of the master....all the while
enjoying humility and a sense of humor. His keen eye and innate
understanding of the horse is just amazing. His ability to explain and
teach is excellent.
He comes to Rogersville, TN, in June & July each year
for a few weeks and his clinics fill up quickly. I went as an
auditor. On one occasion he worked with a mare that had just been given
to him. She did not know much communication but had not been abused or
anything. She was across the round pen, and he showed how he got her
attention and got her to come to him and consider it a safe place to be.
It was firm, gentle, and very clear communication. That evening in our
talks, someone commented, "I just don't know if I will ever have the patience
to do what you did with the mare today, Harry."
Harry thought a minute and then said, "No. No, that isn't
what it is. It isn't patience. That is where people misquote Job.
Job did not have patience, he had faith. I had the faith that she would
come to me...I just had to figure out what I had to do to help
her."
