By Neil Pye
It's been more than 33 years since I stumbled upon my first Parelli 2-day introductory clinic. In fact, so long ago, it was presented by Pat himself in his now famous and, as some say, infamous evangelical style.
Certainly, Pat challenged the status quo of the traditional approach to horse training that prevailed in Australia in the early 1990’s.
His blending of knowledge, nature, and humor and, most importantly, his practical way of educating us to better understand this wonderful creature, the horse.
At that time, generally speaking, very little groundwork was done. Lunging was the only nod to ground preparation, and the outcome was mostly to tire the horse, so he was less likely to play up.
Most education was in the form of riding lessons, which began and ended when a foot stepped into OR out of a stirrup.
The prevailing attitude in Australia, by and large, was that the horse was the issue at hand. Unfortunately for the horse, he was often labeled as the problem that needed rectifying.
This assumption to put the horse as the transgressor proved rather comfortable for us humans.
It was a world that had not heard much of the term “unconscious bias. “Either way, it was easier for us humans to subtly or otherwise put the blame on the horse and happily receive any plaudits, ribbons, or trophies on offer.
In those days, despite the ever-growing newcomers, the horse world was predominantly geared towards the show and performance rings.
Even beginners who “really didn’t know which end of the horse drank out of the trough” were quickly funneled towards low-level classes to perhaps receive an award for “the best of the worst that was there that day.”
I’m sure by now you’re getting my drift. With the help of some of Pat’s now famous sayings peppered in, it was apparent years ago that the system was that the horse was often the bad guy and we humans were the good guys.
Fast forward to late 2024; now, it is a different world.
Social change and upheavals have all contributed to a much more understanding, empathetic, and less chauvinistic approach to all relationships, and certainly, and thankfully, the horse world has not been immune.
Today, we have many voices speaking up on behalf of the horse, with and for his ethical treatment.
The recent Paris Olympics was another example of how the general horse-owning public has shifted dramatically. Training methods that were and should have always been considered unacceptable are rightly now being called out.
Today, the dignity and welfare of the horse are becoming more and more paramount.
Anyway, enough of my review of the last thirty-some years and the changes we have seen. What it means to you is simple!
Keep on keeping on, and congratulations to you for every day, putting in the effort, laughter, and tears to keep turning up as the most improved version of yourself….. for your horse.
Your ability to recognize and, importantly, accept that your progress in horsemanship is predicated mainly by YOUR ability to evolve and grow and a lot less about the horse.
At our heart, we are and have always been a people then horse training program.
Kudos and thanks to you for being such dedicated students and recognising that we are the cause that effects our horses.
When we change…. they change.
The end.
