"Our Cover-All is really cool," says Pat Parelli.

Okay. So he likes it.

"No really, when it's hot outside, it's cool inside the Cover-All!"

This world-renowned natural horseman has traveled all over the globe and has the resources to build any kind of arena covering he'd ever want on his magnificent ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. After careful consideration, he chose Cover-All.

"I saw their booth at some horse expo," explains Pat. "And I thought, wow, that's a great innovation. I like it when people take a good theory and put it to practical application. I've always disliked metal and wood coverings for arenas. There's nothing worse than the rat-a-tat-tat sounds during a rainstorm and metal clanking noises, especially when you're either training or trying to conduct a seminar. Horses can get used to anything, but it's the human that gets annoyed and distracted!

"And I meant it when I said they're cool in the summer - the Cover-All is also warm in the winter. This ability to adapt to temperatures is really important, especially when we get great variances in seasons like here in Colorado. The snow just slides off the Cover-All in the winter, so there's nothing to worry about. It also provides perfect protection from the wind, and you don't get any whistling noises."

Design is critical in making a decision as important as an arena, and the Parellis considered all aspects of architectural appeal before deciding on the Cover-All. "My wife Linda and I really like the way it looks when you drive into the ranch. The Cover-All is really an icon, almost a beacon, for everyone. It always looks clean, too, which is important to us," comments Pat.

The 110'x170' Cover-All at the Parelli International Savvy Center (ISC) plays an important role in the Parelli business. During spring, summer and early fall, people from all over the world pack the courses at the ISC, and on any typical afternoon or morning two courses may be held simultaneously inside the Arena Grande (as the large Cover-All is fondly referred to). "Did I mention how great the acoustics are?" asks Pat. "It's amazing how the shape and material allow the sound to be clear and crisp - and of course communication is something that we're all about - human to horse and human to human."

In September each year, the inside of the Cover-All is festooned with bleacher seating. Some 2,300 people scurry to their seats as they are entertained by Pat and Linda Parelli and their top students and endorsed instructors. The Cover-All is home to these people for three days. "We actually stacked 3,000 people in there the first year we had the Cover-All," laughs Pat, "but the bleachers were a little too high for some people, so we limited the attendance the next year."

Coco, the world-class photographer employed by the Parellis, is equally fond of the Cover-All. "The lighting is fantastic. There are no 'hot spots,' nor is there any need for additional overhead lighting or expensive 'can' lights. The white material of the Cover-All gives a soft glow that is flattering to people and horses." Videographers who film inside the Cover-All share Coco's enthusiasm, and when necessary, simply hang additional lighting from the building's trusses.

Parelli Natural Horsemanship President Mark Weiler is the force behind the actual purchase and construction of the Cover-All. "The people at Cover-All were wonderful to work with, and very courteous, which I appreciated. Once the foundation was poured and finished, the construction went pretty quickly, which is also important to us since we have definite schedules to meet with our courses and university classes." (The Parelli ISC has been accredited by the State of Colorado.)

When asked about getting approval from the county, Mark commented, "Well, working with any county officials can be taxing, and they wanted us to change the foundation which was a bit of a headache, but all in all it was pretty painless."

One of the most pleasant surprises for Mark was that Cover-All supplied all the professional support needed, from engineers to architects to designers, to help facilitate the process. "What a relief that was; getting qualified people in this remote section of Colorado could have been a nightmare."

And price? Since Mark is responsible for the company's bottom line, cost was of utmost importance to him. "Surprisingly, the Cover-All was about half the price of any other structure that size - wood or metal. We had already decided on the Cover-All, so the price factor was like a bonus. Plus we didn't have to install any expensive lighting, since the illumination quality of the Cover-All is so effective."

When asked about maintenance costs, Mark simply replied, "There aren't any."

It's fairly plain to see that everyone directly and indirectly involved with the Arena Grande Cover-All project at the Parelli ranch is happy with the results.

So much so, in fact, that they've just ordered two others: an 80'x100' for Colorado and a 100'x200' Cover-All for their ISC facility in Ocala, Florida. Can't get much better recommendation than that!

Written by Kate Riordon
Parelli Natural Horsemanship