Testimonials

While there are many "natural" horsemanship trainers throughout Texas, Christi's students have found her approach to teaching unique. She uses patience, encouragement, and a supportive attitude to help build confidence in both the horse and human. her students go home with the tools they need to reach whatever horsemanship goals they may have, be that personal or professional. Christi is a Licensed 3-Star Parelli Instructor with 20 years experience teaching Parelli Natural Horsemanship. Learn more about Parelli Natural Horsemanship and natural horsemanship clinics offered by Christi.

"I wanted to say that the course Level 1 class taught by Christi was more than I expected. Christi is so informative and so helpful. She takes the time for each class member and has such patience and highest knowledge about the horse. She and her husband made me feel so welcome into their home. Pat and Linda are very fortunate to have Christi Rains as an instructor under their name. She is amazing! I would suggest to anyone to take a course from Christi. I know I plan to take as many as I possibly can. I saw an immediate response from my horse and learned so much about myself. Thank you Christi and C.R., you are both wonderful people!!! Blessings to you both."

Mary Sawyer
Tyler, Texas

Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this weekend at the Partnership clinic, and how much I look forward to class #2. Thanks for helping me realize that Denny lacks confidence rather than just being stubborn. I really want to help him develop his confidence and skills. I know he can learn; he is smart AND sweet. I also want to overcome my own lack of confidence in my ability to help him. Your classes this weekend really helped me see many things I need to work on to help Denny. Your method of instructing is really clear.

"I would like to express my gratefulness to Pat and Linda for this wonderful program. I have had the pleasure of a journey for several years due to an abused little mare.

My husband and granddaughter have both become interested in this program this year and I felt the timing to involve a local instructor would spur them on to success. Wow! Who could have known that it would have done that and so much more. Christi Rains has to be one of your crown jewels in this organization. She is a true professional with the kindness and emotional fitness to handle every issue that your program encourages. Not only was the clinic handled well, but Christ and her husband opened their home to the group.....she nourished our minds and he nourished our bodies.

Thank you for PNH and Christi Rains."

Diane Robertson
Rockn R Curlies
Nacogdoches, Texas

"Thanks Christi for teaching me the skills and knowledge to be in harmony with Patty. I do feel a new confidence in where, when and how to be with her. It is exciting to think how refining all this will feel. I am looking forward to continue to grow our relationship. Thanks again not only for your teaching but your friendship!"

Yvonne Cash

"Thank you Christi for the Level 2 Trail Clinic! We had such a wonderful time. You helped each one of us set up our trail rides for success by your kind and compassionate teaching. Calm, responsive horses, on a beautiful day, with spectacular scenery--what more could you ask for?!"

"I would like to make some comments about Christi Rains, who has been my clinic trainer since my start in the Parelli program. I have gone to probably 6-8 clinics with her. She is such an incredible teacher!! She always has a plan and a focus. She is always sensitive to the overall level of the classes, in other words, she generally doesn't ask more than everyone in the class is able to do and then she will do some things to stretch us. she is patient with all, including the ones, like me, who don't have a clue when they first get started and sometimes still don't have a clue even after being in the program for several years. She also exhibits the what I call "true teacher" factor, which is the concern for each students progress in the program."

"I just wanted to send a quick note thanking you for such great instructors. I recently participated in a Christi Rains Liberty clinic and had a wonderful time. The participants ranged from those just beginning their Liberty to those currently studying level three Liberty and Christi was wonderful with each of us. She pointed out some things to me that seem so small, but are actually HUGE, such as body position, and knowing when to be, where to be, why to be, and what to do when you get there... and what a difference it makes when communicating with my horse! She is so knowledgeable and such a good teacher, and we all learned so much from her. I'm so excited to continue my journey through the program."

"I recently went in a Level 2 riding clinic with my 15 year old Swedish Warmblood. Over the course of the three-day clinic, I saw changes in him that I would never have thought possible. The clinic began with looking at our horses' musculature, confirmation, and posture. Then, we talked about saddle fit and looked at lots of different saddles. Christi had her fusion saddle there and we compared the width of that saddle to many others. I never realized how narrow my saddle was, and still refused to see it until I experienced Merlin's dissatisfaction with my idea to saddle and ride him the first day. He was playing with me nicely on the ground and I thought I had his attention and a good attitude until I went to put my saddle on him. When I got on him, he did not seem happy or comfortable. Christi suggested it might be his saddle, so I switched over to my bareback pad. He and I were both much more comfortable immediately, but in the process of all the switching, we didn't get a lot of riding in that day. While I was a little bit disappointed, I knew that an Oh Boy! moment had to come from it, so I went to bed, eager to find out what would happen the next day.

The following day was freezing cold and windy, and I thought there wouldn't be much chance of me getting Merlin's mind in a frame to ride. Fortunately, I was able to borrow a Balance saddle from a very kind woman. I rode Merlin in that saddle the second day and saw such immediate changes I just knew that I could attribute poor saddle fit to many of the undesirable behaviors he had displayed in the past, as well as to the loss of muscle along his topline. He stood quietly amongst other horses during the instruction time (usually he can't hold still). He rounded his back nicely under me and stretched long at the walk. When I asked him to canter using the fluidity method, he picked it right up and offered me the canter many many times when I didn't think I was asking (I think cantering must have felt good to him for a change!). He has always been more go than whoa, but I didn't feel as if he was running off with me, I just think he felt good; I know I did! Christi really did a great job showing us what a difference the saddle can make for our horses. She loaned her Fusion saddle to a woman whose horse was usually more whoa than go and that little horse really started moving along nicely; as a matter of fact, they cantered together for the first time at that clinic!

After researching a bit more on saddles, I decided to buy the Fluidity saddle. Christi along with the kind people at Parelli saddle support helped me greatly in deciding what width to get for Merlin. I ordered my saddle today and would like to give Christi credit for helping me make the decision to purchase the Fluidity saddle. I look forward to seeing Merlin be as happy under saddle as he was that day at the clinic."

Regards,
Liane MacMillan and Merlin

"My daughter and I just finished our third weekend seminar with Christi Rains in Glen Rose, Texas. It was an exceptional event. The weather was glorious, the students were all pleasant, the horses appeared to glow, and Christi was her absolutely wonderful self.

I put on presentations of various types and have taught sales and products for over twenty-five years and feel that I am qualified to say that Christi is one of the most professional and effective instructors I have had the pleasure to know in my entire career. I have seen her handle recalcitrant horses (and students) without ever being flustered or emotional. She is knowledgeable beyond belief and has a method or technique for everyone and every horse. She is the perfect model of what I feel PNH is about.

My family feels so fortunate to have met Christi. She has made our life with horses so very much more pleasant than we could have dreamed. We only wish we could some day approach her level of knowledge and professionalism.

Thank you for your program and for making people like Christi available to us. "

Nonie Orosco, CLU, ChFC, CFP

"Thank you for the great experience of the Level One Camp. I feel so much more in tune with my Koda, my horse, and I know this is only the beginning of the new journey with him.

I was very impressed with the whole atmosphere of the camp and instruction. There is a calmness and unstressful feeling from the moment you arrive there. The instruction is well set up and executed and although I would have loved to have more one on one time with you and instruction for my horse I do not feel short changed at all.