|
Philosophy and Concept
A few words from Linda Parelli about SADDLES… from the Horse’s point of view: "Aahh, how simple life was when we didn't know how much horses suffered from saddles that trap them, and stiff riders who sit in the wrong place!!! It's thoughts like this that drive me to continue my research and bring the results to you and your horses. I love to hear the stories about how their saddles and riders are no longer causing discomfort...and even pain. I love it even more when you get it right, and how immediate the results can be. I even love helping solve frustrating problems like dry spots and ruffled hairs! The FluidityTM method of riding has been developed by Linda Parelli using horses as the judges of what is comfortable and effective. The Parellis realized that many behavioral problems when riding can be attributed to a saddle that is restrictive or even painful, and Linda began to focus on this issue in 2001 with a passion that led to the development of a revolutionary line of saddle tools that are re-defining horse/rider interface. Your HORSE is the ONLY one who can tell you when your saddle is RIGHT! Natural Horseman Saddles – The PARELLI Concept
We are constantly engaged in the process of gathering data and further explaining things that will help you and your horse enjoy riding more than ever. Don't forget to read about HOW TO CHOOSE your saddle and saddle size in the sections describing each of our basic saddles. We currently offer: English Fluidity General Purpose and Dressage saddles, plus the saddles for Western style riding and equitation: The Natural Performer and the Ranch Roper. Now, ALL of our saddle models are available with Parelli standard wide or Parelli superwide gullet. Brief descriptions of the form and function of our various saddle models currently available are listed below. More information including features, benefits, fitting instructions, etc. is available on separate pages of this website specific to each saddle type. NOTE: we are also developing new saddle models specialized for sports comptetion: Cutting, Reining and Jumping, along with a lighter-weight saddle that is a CROSSOVER saddle (looks like an English saddle, but performs more like a Western saddle). Information about other Parelli Saddle System equipment: The Theraflex pad and shims, girths, cinches, stirrups, irons, leathers,etc. is available on separate pages on this website.
The family of revolutionary Parelli Saddles currently includes both Western and English styles. All of them feature proprietary principles of internal construction that foster extraordinary comfort , balance and performance for both horse and rider. All of them are built to accommodate the horse in motion, so they are wider underneath than normal saddles, with tree bars set at angles/attitudes that are unique to Parelli, based on our years of principled research and testing. After several years of producing our original saddles, we experimented with developing saddles with Superwide gullets, and found that many broad horses (all sorts of breeds, ranging from Icelandic horses to rib-sprung Arabians to Warmbloods and Drafts) enjoy the superwide fit, which feels more like a "hug" and sits at a lower profile on the horse. All current Parelli models are now available in Standard or Superwide sizes. A measurement chart to help you determine which would be best for your horse is available in the DOWNLOADS section of this website (see button at bottom of the Home Page). PARELLI WESTERN SADDLE MODELS: All handcrafted in Germany, utilizing the finest saddle leather available in the world, which comes from the best tanneries in the USA. Our special Parelli-shaped Equiflex saddle trees are also manufactured in the USA, by Steele Saddle Tree.
There are 2 basic RANCH ROPER models: 1. A standard model, (pictured elsewhere on this site) production team handcrafted by Pullman Saddlery in roughout leather. 2. A luxury model, (pictured above) handcrafted by 1 or 2 Pullman saddle makers, in roughout leather with floral carving on fork and back jockey, and custom-crafted brass hardware with stylized Parelli horseheads in bas relief. Our saddlemakers can craft only one of these at a time. Pat Parelli currently rides both models of these handcrafted Ropers for roping and heavy work. The Equiflex TREE is exactly the same in both saddles, and the bars and groundseat are the same as in the Natural Performer saddles. Roper saddles have much heavier/thicker wooden forks and cantles. FUTURE WESTERN saddles currently under development: 1. a Parelli CROSSOVER English/Western lighter weight saddle for such sports as Endurance and Competitive Trail riding (It actually LOOKS more like an English saddle than a Western saddle); 2. a Parelli REINER for specialized Reining-oriented competitive sports ...and stay tuned for more! Now that we know that the Parelli Saddle concept is performing so well for horses and their human partners, we're working hard to help them enjoy their sports at higher and higher levels of performance in the most comfort and balance possible! PARELLI ENGLISH SADDLE MODELS: The Parelli ENGLISH FLUIDITY:
A General-Purpose English style saddle with form and function to suit a variety of pursuits. It has been in production in England since November, 2006, and is delivering Linda's promise even beyond her dreams! The Parelli DRESSAGE Saddle:
Introduced to rave reviews in September, 2009 after extensive prototype testing by Linda and her team, this saddle offers the familiar comfort and balance for horse and rider to which you've become accustomed with our Fluidity saddles. It has a longer, straighter flap and knee roll, which allow for more traditionally vertical allignment of shoulder, hip and leg. Walter Zettl gave Linda a lesson in front of the crowd of thousands of people attending the UK Parelli Celebration in Birmingham, and proclaimed it a VERY nice saddle! Click on ENGLISH SADDLES/Dressage Saddle, and then on DETAILS for more information. FUTURE ENGLISH SADDLE MODEL currently under development: We have received many requests for a JUMPER, and are having our first prototype built in England now. We hope to begin testing it in late January. * The Parelli FUSION: The first of our concept saddles, in production since 2004, was so named because it "fuses" the very best of what is good about a fine English saddle (the promotion of collection and flexion in the horse) with the best about a good western saddle (the distribution of the rider's weight, and the comfort of the rider). Both the original Fusion and the new NATURAL PERFORMER weigh about 15 pounds less than the average western saddle, and are the excellent choice for pursuing Fluidity as taught in the Parelli Natural Horsemanship learning systems. You may read more about the features and benefits of the Parelli Fusion saddle within the DETAILS on the Natural Performer pages on this website. |
(This saddle is the one you'll want for developing your natural horsemanship and is also useful for high levels of athletic activity, including fast moves made in cutting and reining. NOTE: we are also now developing 2 more saddle models specifically designed as CUTTERS and REINERS for use in competition ). Pat rides the Natural Performer for most of his maneuvers, including all the fancy stuff he does in demos on Tour. He's currently having fun in his prototype CUTTER in some competitive events, and calls it his "secret weapon". We're almost ready to offer these specialized Cutting saddles as custom-order models. It should be available for purchase as of end of January, 2010. Prototype REINERS will be ready for Pat to test in Spring, 2010.
