Horsenality

“Horsenality™” is the term that Pat Parelli coined to refer to his system of understanding horses through their basic personality types. A combination of the words “horse” and “personality,” Horsenality™ is a convenient way to talk about horse psychology in the Parelli Natural Horsemanship method of horse training. 

One of the main goals of the Parelli program is to help horse owners understand their horse's individual personality and to educate humans about how to teach their horses in the ways that are most effective for each personality type. 

The Parelli natural horse training Horsenality™ system helps students quickly identify a horse's innate character. Students can then create instant rapport and achieve great results by knowing what's uniquely important to that individual horse. This approach to understanding horses helps horses – and their humans – become more balanced, centered and confident.

Understanding Horses

The journey starts with understanding the basic nature of your horse. Horses are prey animals, hunted in nature. Safety is their primary concern and fear is their primary reaction. They are herd animals who look to their “alpha” for leadership. Understanding even these basics can transform your frustration with a horse as you learn to step into his shoes and see the world from his point of view as well as become his trusted leader.

The next step in the journey to understanding your horse is to determine his or her individual personality type. Within the Parelli method of horse training, horse personality – or “Horsenality™” is divided into these main categories:

> Extroverted

> Introverted

> Left-Brain

> Right-Brain

Extroverted horses tend to:

• have high energy
• have more “go”
• be quick
• have a tendency to run

The Introverted horse exhibits these qualities:

• low energy
• more “whoa”
• slow
• has a tendency to stop

Right-Brain horses tend to be:

• submissive
• fearful
• not confident
• nervous
• reactive

The Left-Brain horse tends to be:

• dominant
• brave
• confident
• calm
• tolerant

Horse personalities come in these combinations:

• Right-Brain Extrovert
• Right-Brain Introvert
• Left-Brain Extrovert
• Left-Brain Introvert

Each Horsenality™ and its unique characteristics, motivators, needs, wants, desires, behaviors, etc. have been studied in depth, including the leadership strategies that streamline the training of each horse personality.

For more information about this natural horsemanship method of understanding horses, click on the links above, study the Parelli Horsenality™ Chart (PDF), or learn more from our Horsenality™ DVD.  We also invite you to join the Parelli International Savvy Horse Club if you’re interested in becoming truly “savvy” about horse psychology and how to work with even the most challenging and difficult horse personalities.