Parelli Levels program
Officially achieving your Parelli Levels is a great way to progress in the Parelli program.
The Parelli program is a step-by-step human training program that focuses on building a good relationship with your horse, understanding horse behavior, and learning the horsemanship skills you need to become truly good with horses.
To know where you want to go, it's also important to know where you are now. Parelli "auditions" are therefore an ideal way to measure your progress. It often happens that someone starts a lesson program full of enthusiasm, but then feels like they're not making any progress; inspiration—and therefore motivation—disappears. The Parelli Levels program is so well-designed that you have a choice of countless different tasks and exercises to do with your horse. Even if you only have 5 minutes, there's always something you can do and learn. This primarily ensures that you continue to improve your horsemanship. Both on the ground and on horseback, there are four different learning domains, the so-called "Savvys," for which you can audition as a Parelli student.
2 ways to audition: record a video or "live" with an instructor
For years you could only audition through a video review ; see the countless "Parelli auditions " on YouTube. These auditions are assessed by an international team of Parelli instructors. In addition to an assessment, you will receive useful comments and possibly tips for further practice. For this you order a Official Audition Fee on the Parelli website and download the official Audition Details per Savvy:
Live Assessment (for Level 1 or Level 2)
Since 2023, Level 1 and Level 2 students can also take a "Live Assessment" with a Parelli instructor. Please note: the tasks you need to complete during the Live Assessment are not the same as those in the video auditions! You can find the exact tasks and the correct order in the Level 1 and Level 2 Official Assessment Packets below.
Download it Level 1 Live Assessment Packet or the Level 2 Live Assessment Packet .
You and your horse demonstrate these mandatory tasks to the instructor without using a video.
Live Assessments offer you a bit more flexibility, as you can showcase your skills without the 10-minute time pressure of video auditions.
Tip: Arrange to read the tasks aloud with a friend. Not only practicing together but also completing your Levels together will make your horsemanship journey even more fun!
If there are any tasks that need improvement during the Assessment, the Parelli instructor can, if desired, provide you with more targeted coaching in a subsequent lesson and support with specific questions or challenges.
Level 1 to Level 4
Regardless of how you gain Levels, it's important to start at the beginning.
That's why we start in Level 1 with “On Line”, ground work on a A rope approximately 4 meters long. You'll film a few mandatory tasks, and the rest of the 10-minute video is yours to fill with what you're good at and enjoy doing with your horse.
The Live Assessment focuses on a good knowledge of basic skills and safety when dealing with your horse.
To Level 2 To obtain the qualification you need to film two auditions: On Line (at the 22-foot line , so at a greater distance from your horse) and FreeStyle (riding without using your reins to stop and/or steer).
In Level 2 the emphasis is on safety especially on FUN! This means you'll put Pat's Long Body Logic into practice by playing with your horse at a greater distance, and you'll begin to understand the practical application of the 7 games more deeply. You'll use psychology to teach your horse something new and learn to become an even better rider for your horse!
For Level 3 Liberty (playing with your horse in freedom) is added.
For Level 4 Finally, 4 auditions are required, in addition to On Line, Liberty and FreeStyle also Finesse (dressage riding with rein contact).
Parelli Savvy Levels
Just like in martial arts, the colored Savvy Strings symbolize the level you and your horse have achieved after passing one or more auditions.
Level 1: On Line –> Red Savvy String
Level 2: On Line + FreeStyle –> Blue Savvy String
Level 3: On Line + FreeStyle + Liberty –> Green Savvy String
Level 4: On Line + FreeStyle + Liberty + Finesse –> Black Savvy Thong
Self Assessments (assess your own skills)
To give you an idea of what the different Parelli levels actually entail, you can take a look at the “self assessments” (click above on "What should you be able to do for an audition...").
This is a step-by-step overview of some exercises you'll learn to do together with your horse. Perhaps there are some tasks on the checklist you can already do, even if you've never taken a Parelli lesson—so much the better! But if you want to continue improving yourself and your horse, it's definitely worth following the Levels program. It's the best order to teach your horse (and yourself) something. Through small successes, you'll continue to make progress, and your horse will feel like the best student in the class. When you notice your bond with your horse strengthening, when you're making progress together and having fun, the Levels will naturally follow.
And what after Level 4?
Level 4 isn't a final goal; quite the opposite! For Pat, it's a good foundation for specializing in a discipline of his choice, either on the ground or on horseback.
In Flanders there are currently 3 Parelli instructors with whom you can book Live Assessments for Level 1 and Level 2: Kim Moeyersoms, Mieke Lannoo and Nic De Winne .
You can read additional information about the origins of the Parelli auditions in this blog by Kim Moeyersoms.