“A demonstration by Pat Parelli caused upset when Robert Whitaker’s showjumping stallion Catwalk was worked on for two hours in front of a confused and upset audience. The stallion, who is renowned for being very difficult to bridle appeared to become upset during the demonstration. Some onlookers left the arena in difiance to Pat Parelli’s methods as the horse tried to run back to the collecting ring.” Link: Full H&C article
The Parelli blog responded to the situation with a post titled “challenging horse lived up to its billing”:
“We ran 45 minutes over and a couple of folks were upset at what they think they saw, saying they may post on YouTube. We all have nothing to worry about except misunderstanding. Pat stopped at an appropriate time in the training process when he saw a breakthrough and preserved Catwalk’s dignity, which is more important than getting the bridle on tonight.” Link: Parelli Blog
The Horse and Hound, which is of course the second best place for UK news behind lec, didn’t mention the incident in their Express Eventing report, but the Horse and Hound’s Forum does have a lengthy discussion that includes this reportedly first-hand account from ‘elsbells’:
“It started well and Pat continued his talk as he led the stallion around the areana on a long rope. He talked of relationships, perceptions and of course the principles of love, language and leadership. Then he pulled it’s head down as his is the Parrelli thing I guess? He then tried to touch Catwalks head and ears unsuccessfuly I might add and so became a little more forceful in his approach and asked to be brought in a saddle pad which he then slid up and down a distrssed Catwalks neck and over his face. This went on for a while and then he asked for music. The room went silent, all viewers went dumb as they watched him use a gum line as a twitch and a 22ft rope wrapped around the fetlock to the knee to haul Catwalks leg off the floor to render him unable to move while he tried to force the bride onto a now very distressed and frightened horses face!!
Catwalk hopped away and went down on his remaining knee and backed into the jump and the fence rails. Linda who’d had her face in hr hands up to this point, then raced around from her chair at the side of the areana and joined him in the fight, pulling at the rope while Pat continued to force on the bridle. The distressed horse managed to break away momentairily and run for the exit and safety. They caught him and started the whole process again where the horse stood.
I have to confess that at this point, we were unable to watch any more and had to walk out.”
The Parellis obviously understand the importance of getting ahead of a story, and posted this heavily edited video on their Youtube account.
