2011 Road to the Horse Will Feature a Triumvirate of “Legends”
03. Jul, 2010 
4 Comments
From AQHA.com: Pat Parelli, Chris Cox and Clinton Anderson to compete in the 2011 ROAD TO THE HORSE in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Though Parelli has never competed, both Anderson and Cox have each won twice. Needless to say, there will be a frenzy for tickets to this festival of horse breaking.
According to AQHA.com,
Road to the Horse World Championship of Colt-Starting is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. The two-day sold-out event matches three of the country’s best horse trainers and clinicians against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras. By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today’s horsemanship heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow’s hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a catalyst for the advancement of natural horsemanship. Hosted by Rick Lamb, of RFD-TV’s “The Horse Show With Rick Lamb,” spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses. The event is supported by title sponsor Western Horseman and in association with AQHA.
I’ve heard terrible things about how the horses are treated during and after this competition. Simply put, humane gentling and training for under saddle work cannot be done in a weekend. I fear for the horses in this particularly amped up show with Pat Parelli participating.
I hold out some hope that Chris Cox will bring a little sanity to the proceedings. In general, I respect his attitudes and some of his methods. On occasion, I have been really moved watching his show on RFD TV. It’s a pleasure to watch a big name NH trainer who doesn’t use props or special equipment or gimmicks of any kind. For Cox, it’s all about the body. I hope he uses his kindly with his colt.
7/13/10 Edited to add: Apparently the folks at Chris Cox’s website liked my post. I made it to his press room.
blogposts
I rented and watched the In A Whisper DVD last spring. Frankly, I was disgusted.
(My review is here:http://stalecheerios.com/blog/horse-training/in-a-whisper-horse-training-dvd/)
Of course, in that competition they had about 3 hours, rather than 2 days, but still, I think competitions like this put WAY too much pressure on the trainer, who in turn puts way to much pressure on the horse.
The aim seems more about getting things done, rather than getting the training done well or right. It’s more entertainment than training, and at the expense of the horse.
Mary
.-= Mary Hunter´s last blog ..What’s Different =-.
I can’t wait to Sink my teeth into this one. It’s a great opportunity for learning what not to do and why.
My Dream Road to the Horse:
Two competitors are doing same ole same ole. One competitor sits on the ground the entire time. Competitor one finishes just second before competitor two. ANd then, the one on the ground, mounts his horse with no tack, and rides off into the sunset.
bonnie
Bonnie,
Brilliant! This is how I imagine Linda competing in the event. Only she takes a minute to rub on the horses before she mounts.
I have a secret wish that she would be invited to participate, and stuff their faces in it. Even though I no longer work for her, I have the utmost respect for anyone who starts horses with kindness.