2011 Road to the Horse Will Feature a Triumvirate of “Legends”
03. Jul, 2010 
23 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.
© 2010, hurric@nekim. All rights reserved.
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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.
This will be an awesome event; Great trainers and a true “horseman”, Pat Parelli.
In former years the old cowboys use to throw a rope on the wild horse, hog tie them saddle, jump on and hold on for dear life. Now the trainers are saying you don’t need to do that. They are much kinder on the horse. So why are you people rat dopping them. I have had horses for 45 years and have seen a lot of stuff going on. These new trainers are the best, all of them.
I agree with Connie, these colts will take every bit of what they learned in two days. Not only will they respect their trainers, but they will have a solid foundation of what a broke horse should have when they go home to their new owner. Remember people this is livestock they are training, not your domesticated pets.
Connie
I see only little difference between the “old way” you describe and the “new way” of the natural horsemanship as performed at these large events. The only difference is that the result is faster and more dramatic.
The horse doesn’t learn, because he is under an enormous amount of stress. Real learning takes time and communication, not pressure and release.
I applaud each and everyone of the trainers. Being willing to present their ideas and methods to the public and standing open for criticism by individuals who forgets that horse’s like people have differant personalities and learn by using differant strategies, 55 years of working with horses I am thankful for the new style trainers sharing their new methods and thoughts bringing me from the old school and behind the barn methods. Absorb what each trainer places on the table and then take from them what actualy works for that horse. It’s not about you and your heroes it’s about what makes the horse understands and preforms for your pleasure. Oh! If anyone throwing their tickets away for the 2011 road to the horse I know an old man that will take them he he.
WE ALL SHOULD LEARN FROM OUR ELDERS AND MOST OLDER HORSEMAN ,THEY KNOW BOTH WAYS AND THE HARD OLD WAYS, MOST OF THEM PREFER THE NEW NATURAL WAY,IN A SENSE,THEY ARE GTIVING UP ALOT OF WHAT IT TOOK THEM YEARS TO LEARN,THAT TAKES GUTS,I BELIEVE THE NATURAL WAYS ARE BETTER AND MOST PEOPLE DONT REALIZE THAT PEOPLE LIKE CHRIS COX, CLINTON ANDERSON , AND PARELLI HAVE BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN DO IT IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN ONLY DREAM OF.IT IS EASIER ON THE HORSES COMPARED TO AS LITTLE AS TEN YEARS AGO, THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE PARELLI ,ANDERSON AND COX,MANY THANKS TO RFD TV FOR AIRING ALL OF THIS GREAT INFORMATION.
How does anyone imagine that what Chris Cox does is ANY different that what Parelli and Anderson do? They all use basically the same methods.
Wow. That’s the first time I have ever heard someone state that pressure and its release does not train a horse. What do you do put a tape in the stall when they sleep at night. You are a nice horsey, you are a nice horsey, you are a nice horsey.
All three of these competitors have been sucessful.(and are known to be kind to their horses) I will watch and learn things TO DO from each of them.
Hi David,
If you read my post and the subsequent comments carefully, you will notice that I do not say that pressure and its release do not train a horse.
Of course these competitors have been successful at getting a horse to do what they want it to do in the moment. Best of luck in learning from them.
Yea those comments did make you look pretty bad.
Ive been trying to read the above comments carefully so I can. I will say this basically every body is right.These guys are good at what they do and we should be thankful that they are sharing years of knowledge. However they all have business managers behind them,if they didnt i believe they would be even better than what we see. This contest is not about the horse or horsemanship. It will be about who can put on the best show. Lets go back and get some true horsemen in this. Try Martin Black,Curt Pate & Bryan Nuebert. All 3 (in my opinion are better) Because ,while they do make a living doing clinics,and working with horses, they still try and do what is best for the horse, not themselves. If there colt couldnt handle something in the contest, they wouldnt push it. Then go home ,think about it, work it out in thier head,and go on.And youd never see a dvd about it.
If you have commented here recently and find that your post has been removed, here’s why: I don’t tolerate rudeness in any way here at Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch.
If you want to make a point that others get to read, please check your tone before hitting “post comment” and save me the trouble of deleting you.
I believe all these trainers are great at what they do. I also believe that you can only teach a horse so much in a short amount of time. Lets not forget that all 3 trainers stress repetition in their training methods and that it takes some amount of time for horses to digest this. Lets also not forget about the man who turned horse training around from the old cowboy ways and that trainer is Monty Roberts. Remember Nevada Joe?
Since this is Parelli’s first time to take part in this event and, as I’ve read that he had turned down invitations in the past, to list him in a critical manner concerning his methods is rather unfair don’t you think? I have also read in an article about him, that he turned down the first invitation this year out of concern for the horse. So I say give this true Horseman a chance!
Anna,
No, I don’t think it’s unfair to criticize his methods based solely on the fact that this is his first time in the contest. He has a long history of horse training and clinics to base any criticism on. That’s a lot of chances. I applaud his concern for the horse in this concentrated and frenzied event. I only hope that he is able to compete without falling victim to the hype, resulting in yet another horse being stressed and injured.
I like watching Pat Parelli teach horsemanship. I like his idea of horseonalities. Not all people are the same, so why should all horses be? Parelli also stresses trust alot more whereas the others concentrate on respect. Both are important in a human/horse relationship. But if your horse truly trusts you, he/she will do anything to please you.
JAnn,
I like his idea of horseanalities, too.
The horseanalities you mention – am I right in thinking they came out in Parelli marketing a while after Klaus Hempfling had already noted and written about horse characterisation and personality traits?
Sam, that is a very good question. I will have to look into it. In the meantime, if you find out, please let us know. All horsemanship is ultimately derivative. There is nothing new under the sun.