Uproar in England following Parelli exhibition July 9 at 2010 Royal Festival of the Horse UPDATE!

Pat Parelli with Dennis at the 2008 Festival of the Horse.

The British are famous for their great love of animals, particularly dogs and horses, and it's not surprising that they are among the most progressive countries in the world with regards to animal welfare. Many equestrians in Great Britain have embraced the natural horsemanship movement which puts the horse's needs first and foremost.

But last Friday at the 2010 Royal Festival of the Horse, British students of natural horsemanship were left speechless and uncomfortable, if not downright angry, by a demonstration conducted by Pat Parelli, with some assistance from his wife Linda Parelli.

Generally when a natural horsemanship show comes to town, they solicit in advance for 'problem horses' to use in their demos. One of the problem horses selected for the 2010 Royal Festival of the Horse Parelli demo was a young stallion named Catwalk, owned by British show jumper Robert Whitaker. Catwalk's 'problem' was that he was nearly impossible to bridle. Apparantly Robert Whitaker owned Catwalk for only two months before the Parelli demo, and it's not clear what possible mishandling or abuse he may have endured in the past. Most trainers would not have attempted to rehabilitate such a horse to accept the bridle in an afternoon's time. A horse exhibiting extreme distrust and fear needs time and space to be rehabilitated, and certainly no one should be in a hurry to ride a horse with an obvious fear related to being handled by humans until the trust issues can be resovled.

But, for whatever reason, Parelli Natural Horsemanship chose this particular problem horse for their demo, and it seems clear from spectator's comments and the video that Pat Parelli was in way over his head, and desperate to resolve the problem then and there, regardless of the means required to accomplish his goals, which included the perceived abandonment of his own principles of natural horsemanship!

This serves to remind us of several things:

1. Even Pat Parelli is only human

2. Fast-paced training exhibitions, like the popular colt-starting and mustang-starting competitions, are conducted for human ego and not for the horse's benefit

3. Putting pressure on a horse can result in a dangerous situation for both trainer and horse

UPDATE: This video contains a letter written by Pat Parelli in response to the July 9 incident at Royal Festival of the Horse.

Here is a video taken by an observer using her cell phone and posted July 12:

And the account written by another eyewitness, 'Oldred of Norfolk', and posted July 13:

I was there Friday evening and would like to report what I experienced. From the point in the evening that PP ‘led’ the horse round by its tongue (he also had a halter on Catwalk and this was prior to the gumline and leg tie up) I started to feel uncomfortable. I have been interested in PP's methods and was in no way 'anti'. I have seen him at several other demos and not seen anything like this. I have heard many of his sayings.....'dignity of the horse, love, language, leadership, its about the relationship, what would the horse's mother think if she could see how it was being treated' etc so was doubly very uncomfortable with how things unfolded as I was not expecting what I saw.

I think PP started working with the horse about 7.30 pm and I walked out at 9.30 pm being unable to stand any more. Other people had left before me. After a period of trying to desensitise the horse to hands up near his head, using the pad to mimic something going back and forward across his ears PP tied up his leg and continued to try to get the bridle on. I was surprised at this and started to be concerned that the horse may fall over and hurt itself (bearing in mind it was in an arena with temporary railing and other obstacles in a strange environment so feeling even more unconfident that it might have done elsewhere).

PP was still unable to get the bridle on and kept pushing it up to its head whereupon Catwalk kept just shaking his head and the bridle would fall off. After about 20 mins of this he produced a thin black rope from his pocket and put that on by attaching it to one side of the Parelli halter, through the upper lip resting on the gum, out the other side and through the halter. PP then pulled Catwalk’s head down with the line, made him back up, led him round and repeated this for a while. (I was in a front row seat by the way). After some time doing this he started to try to put the bridle on holding Catwalk’s head in place with the gum line. Catwalk still raised his head away from the bridle though at no point in the whole demo was Catwalk ever aggressive. At this point I began to worry about the effect of all this hauling, pushing and pulling on Catwalk’s gum as it had been going on for seemingly a very long time.

As there was no improvement in Catwalk’s acceptance of bridling, PP then tied his leg up again and continued to hold the gum line and the rope on his leg and try to get the bridle on. Catwalk went down on his knees at one point, and later did indeed rear up and run away. LP came into the arena and she pulled on the rope round Catwalk’s foreleg while PP held the gum line and tried to get the bridle on. Still Catwalk attempted to avoid the bridle and I could bear no more as nearly two hours had elapsed in total and I would guess heading for an hour with the gumline on. I walked out and joined another audience member, and then two more who asked a Parelli official to intervene. He of course refused, said we didn’t understand what was going on, and asked us to step outside. We moved to outside the arena and remonstrated with the official again.

We then decided to speak to PP and ask him why he was doing this to Catwalk. We went to the back of the arena and when PP came out asked to see inside Catwalk’s mouth. He peeled back his top lip and there was bright red lesion. After putting forward our views for 10 to 15 minutes (!) and yes, we were now incensed, PP apologised for upsetting us and asked what could he do? We all said, please, just never do this to another horse ever again. The reports of the other posters who were there with PP are correct. We were then given our money back.

The next day we went to the BHS stand and asked if a vet could look at Catwalk as he was due to be used again in a demo and we wanted him checked. The BHS phoned the organisers (Festival of the Horse) who arranged for a vet to look at Catwalk. Within a hour or so the vet reported back via the BHS rep that he had examined Catwalk, yes, there was a lesion and that Catwalk would not be used in the demo the next day. (Alice Bell, Festival of the Horse 02476 858276 and Andrea Jackman, BHS 01686 627050).

Seems the world falls into two camps....you either think this is all okay or you don't. I didn't.

This is the official Parelli Natural Horsemanship video posted July 11:

And the event as described by Parelli member in Elizabeth & Riot's Blog posted July 9:

Our challenging horse lived up to its billing tonight at the Royal Featival of The Horse demo. Catwalk, an extremely Left-Brain stallion showed us his wonderful spirit and demonstrated that his unwillingness to bridle hasn't been created during the 8 weeks that Robert Whitaker has owned him but is clearly due to many years of fear of being bridled due to the lack of a basic foundation training.

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.

Tomorrow morning we meet again with Robert to continue Catwalk's foundation training to enable him to begin to trust humans.

We'll keep you posted on Catwalk's progress over the next few weeks which will help those that don't understand see the fruits of passive persistence.

Another eyewitness account from Helen McCloud and posted on the Parelli website July 12:

Bravo on being brave enough to show the advanced techniques used with Robert Whitaker’s beautiful stallion. I know some of the audience were a ‘little’ shocked and emotional – they need a bit more savvy I think to understand the assertive without emotion principle. Also to look back through the savvy vaults as I’ve seen the rope round the leg technique on one of the dvds so was, I hope, a little more savvy myself. I think people may surround themselves with the level one and two techniques and not realise how much deeper those techniques go if you’ve the savvy to know they are there.

This is an eyewitness account by a Parelli gold member posted July 13:

So the weekend begins! Pat's challenging horse this evening is Catwalk, a stallion with a bridling issue - he has been owned by international SJ Robert Whittaker for only 8 weeks and the only way they have managed to bridle this horse has been through building the bridle on the horse's head whilst using force to hold the head as still as possible.....

It becomes evident very quickly that this is an extreme bridling issue and that Pat is going to have to use a lot of savvy to help this horse whilst preserving the horse's dignity and staying safe himself. Catwalk was an absolute 'pussycat' until it came to his head and ears, which made him very defensive in an extremely LB dominant manner.

I learned so much from this session. Pat showed true mastery, taking Catwalk 'to the limit, but not over the limit' and I saw a new level of meaning in 'passive persistence'. The best display I have ever seen of why being a horseman requires 'love, language and leadership' - not 'love, love and love' or even 'love, language and more love'. Educational, inspiring and truly magnificent session.

UPDATE: Some people have referred to 'the other Parelli video". It is posted below. This one features Linda training a one-eyed horse named Barney.

Robert Whitaker

Many people have asked about Catwalk's owner
and why he did not intercede. It is this Examiner's
understanding from reports on British forums that
 Robert Whitaker dropped off the horse and did not 
stay to participate or observe. At this time no
statement has been issued by Robert Whitaker.

Who is Robert Whitaker? Wikipedia bio:

Robert Whitaker is an international show jumper who rides for the British Team. Robert is the son of the John Whitaker, nephew of Michael Whitaker and cousin of both Ellen and William Whitaker. Robert was born on January 26, 1983 and lives in Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

Robert has represented the British Team many times from junior pony level to the senior ranks. He is a prospect for both the next Olympics and other international show jumping classes. One of Robert's career highlights to date was becoming the British Open Champion at the inaugural British Open Show Jumping Championships in 2003. He has since been crowned champion again in 2008 and 2009. He has now won the title a total of 3 times.

Robert has ridden many horses at the highest level. Some of his many horses include Lacroix, his winner at the British Open, and Finbarr, a very successful puissance specialist. He has also previously ridden the horse Arko, now competing successfully with Nick Skelton.

Parelli Fan Robert Whitaker to Catch Up with Pat

Photo credits: Festival of the Horse logo; Pat Parelli & Dennis at 2008 FofH; Robert Whitaker (on the ground); Robert Whitaker (smiling)

Due to a glitch at Examiner.com not all the comments are visible - they are reposted here:

Posted/Updated: 07/16/2010 12:06 PM
Patricia K - Pat and Linda chin up anyone that has every truley "played" with a horse(meaning trained) knows that sometimes you win and sometimes you don't but theres always tomorrow. Maybe to some you were more persistant considering the circumstance we all make mistakes to err is human not horse. So to those of you who have never pushed to hard to those of you who have never made a mistake training a horse continue this blog. But to the snide mean spirited please shut up no one really cares. PP and LP have have done more than you to change the way we see horses I have seen many put down the chains and 2X4's I have heard all the the remarks you can imagine I started naturalhorsemanship on an english jumping barn snooty tooties they make me giggle. But without preaching I saw changes when they saw results. I study PP,Craig Cammeron,Chris Cox,Clinton Anderson, Ryan Gingrich and anyone else I can can find Its the horse that deciedes what I will do next and with persistance we meet in the middle.

Posted/Updated: 07/16/2010 03:59 AM
Robin Westenra - Very sad because it is a unfortunate lesson in human nature when greed and hubris take over. Far better to admit failure and recognise that "it takes as long as it takes" (Pat Parelli). The people who eulogise Parelli are equally to blame.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 07:20 PM
Tass - The more I hear and see of Parelli and his students the more I dislike it! I recently went to pick up a horse from a "parelli instructor" who was teaching this method to kids what I saw them do to an unhandled terrified horse still horrifies me and will continue to. A perfectly good horse was rueined. I find more and more that Parelli followers seem to be, for lack of a better word "brain washed" I have my favourite trainers who I support and follow but my method is my method, I do what works for me and more importantly my horses, I would NEVER cause pain, discomfort yes PAIN NO! I hate the term "natural horsemanship" because by using it people misunderstand what it means. A horse kept in a paddock by fences IS NOT NATURAL, and so nothing we do with our horses is. There are some out there who use Parellis methods and are loving gentle horse owners, but I just keep seeing terrible things produced by this method/idea.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 04:09 PM
GoingForBroken - You think that's bad? Check out multiple AQHA World Champion horse trainer Cleve Wells in videos at youtube (dot) com/goingforbroken . He was suspended by the AQHA after pressure from the public, and remains under suspension at this time. However, he still trains horses, but has his protege Shane Dowdy, or other friends, ride them in the AQHA classes. The National Snaffle Bit Association conveniently found a loophole in its rules so it could avoid honoring its mutual suspension agreement with the AQHA. One of the NSBA officers who made that decision is a member of a facebook group I Support Cleve Wells. Can you say, "conflict of interest?" So, Wells still personally shows in NSBA classes for his, as he called them, "loyal and wealthy clients." Google for Slow Lopin Scotch abuse.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 11:39 AM
Sting Ray - I'm not unfamiliar with the extreme that Pat Parelli went to in this video. The idea is that you have to interrupt a pattern. Sometimes it takes a lot to interrupt a pattern. As for the video released by Parelli. A lot of editing went into that piece to make them look good. Pat has a saying that the process does not look like the product...they should have shown more of the process. Students have a right to know what happened behind closed doors. I guess at the end of it we need to decide what natural horsemanship is for us and then follow that road. Parelli works for some, but not all. It's just the journey.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 11:01 AM
UK - 2 of my best friends sat through almost 2 hours of the demo in utter disbelief and walked out when one of their daughters was getting hugely upset. All the proof i need and not judged on a highly edited video... My friends aren't 'fluffy bunnies' either so for them to get upset along with the young daughter, tells me it wasn't nice viewing. There are a fair few unbiased eye witness accounts on the net too.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 10:26 AM
Shannon - Whenever someone is successful they become a target for people to shoot down. How can you judge anyone based on a heavily edited short clip from a 2 hour session? Sort of like railing against a piece of legislation you haven’t even read yet (sound familiar?). Let’s see the WHOLE session, listen to what’s being said and then let people have an opinion based on the TRUTH. You can make anyone out to be an idiot if you follow them around with a video camera 24/7...guess that’s the price of celebrity. I, however, refuse to react to malicious attempts to ruin someone without researching the evidence THOROUGHLY.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 09:13 AM
another uk - oh sorry Horsewoman, I thought Pat was American ? I have only ever seen cowboys on telly at things such as rodeos and lassoing small bullocks ect and my blood boils .Sorry if most cowboys are kind and ethical in their training .

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 06:13 AM
Horsewoman - Dear Another UK: He's not "ours." Pat and Linda Parelli are officially people without a country. There are only two kinds of people: horse people, and frauds. And this is not an example of how cowboys train horses. Any cowboy I'd ever known would have choice words for the Parellis.

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 06:10 AM
Horsewoman - IndependentThinker, you are neither independent nor a thinker. This video was all the evidence I needed---plus the BHS pulling the horse due to a gum lesion. If you know FOUR people who had horses killed for behavioral issues, then you know at least THREE idiots who didn't have the sense to call a trainer. I've been in the horse industry for 45 years, and have not known 4 horses whose behavior was bad enough it couldn't be easily retrained. But thanks for once again proving how delusional Parelli Pod People are. Even in the face of hard evidence and expert horsemens' and veterinary testimony. You are a brainwash victim, not an "independent thinker."

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 05:25 AM
another Uk - For those people who truely believe this was the only way to deal with this horse , please please look into positive reinforcement and clicker training. Independant thinker , I would be the first to stand up and say I will try and help this horse over his problems but I can assure you I wouldnt start the training away from home infront of thousands.There was nothing that PP did that was good horsemanship , nothing ! His ego needs bursting with a big sharp pin.Hopefully this finally will get him out of the uk.You can have your cowboy back USA , we dont want him!

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 04:16 AM
UK - Independentthinker you sicken me. Absolutely sicken me. Patronising, thoughtless and brainwashed are just 3 simple words that come to mind when i read your replies. Pretty much the same 3 words i think of whenever i read things written by 'hardcore' PNH followers, or cult followers should i say. 'Fabricated by people that don't understand horses'. Pardon? You're kidding me, right? ANYONE that can't see the distress in that video shouldn't own a horse, never mind be allowed to preach about it. Yes, many, if not all the people commenting on it COULD solve the bridling issue, but noone would dumb down the poor horse and do it in a demo in an alloted time slot. It takes weeks of repetitive patience and kindness. I had a TB that would throw herself on the floor at the sight of a bridle, vets could find no pain related issues. 10weeks of 15mins a day work and she was perfect. No force, no ego inflating, and most of all, no pain or confusion. Simple common sense horsemanship....

Posted/Updated: 07/15/2010 01:19 AM
BlackJaq - I think it's pretty cool of them to say those who don't like these methods are not 'savvy enough' Is that a nice way of saying we are too dumb to get it?

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 11:32 PM
Tracy B Ann - To the "independent thinker". It drives me mad when people justify abusing an animal by saying it would otherwise have to be euthanized. I think there are worse things than death. Euthanize the animal if needed but don't continually abuse it and for sure don't do it in the name of training.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 10:17 PM
Liesl - brilliant article...well balanced and well written Once you inflict pain, you FAIL as a horseman... very disappointing again PP...again no grounding or establishment for a horse with major issues... once you force, you create fight and flight...it should never get to that point...

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 09:58 PM
Bystander - As a general note, although the vet did not clear Catwalk for use for the next two days of presentations due to the lesion on his gums, he was indeed used by the Parellis regardless.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 07:54 PM
Independentthinker - And Eva - please don't speak for us - we don't need this kind of spokesmanship "British students of natural horsemanship were left speechless and uncomfortable, if not downright angry...." I didn't feel any of that. You don't speak for me and you don't speak for many other students who DO understand what Pat was dealing with. The people I am REALLY angry with are those who trained this horse to resist being bridled in the first place. They put his whole life at risk - horses like this regularly get euthanised for being crazy. Go research the reasons why physically fit horses get euthanised in the UK, write an article on that and then ask yourself who the bad guys are. I know at least 4 people who had horses killed for behavioural problems before they found Parelli and wept when they realised that if they'd known then what they learned from Pat, their horses would still be alive today. Get off the sensationalising something you don't get and do some real journalism.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 07:41 PM
Independentthinker - I was there and I saw the entire thing and spoke to Pat's assistant who helped to retrain the horse on the Saturday. Most of what has been said has been imagined or fabricated by people who do not understand horses and who were anthropomorphising about what the horse was experiencing. I didn't see a stressed horse. I saw a determined, athletic and very very smart horse. He wasn't sweating, he wasn't afraid and he didn't get hurt. I have a solution for the people who don't like what Pat did. Ask them to form a queue to see if they can get a bridle on this horse their way. I'd buy front row tickets to see what the horse had to teach them about ego.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 06:49 PM
Mindy W - I'm so proud of my state now! Thank you for an even, fairly objective article. You even went so far as to express your own opinion openly, without trying to pretend you didn't care. As for Shannon-- Dear, isn't there a horse somewhere you can put a lip chain on and love? Oh, I'm sorry. It's a savvy string, right? What a cute name for a tool like that.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 06:47 PM
Honor Hannon - Poor, poor Catwalk!!!!!! What did he learn from this encounter with human(?) beings?

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 06:43 PM
louise w - Lets hope after the furore caused by the Parelli's latest horse abuse, they will never come back to the UK. Catwalk was examined after the 'act' and found to be unfit for the next days 'performance'. The man is a nutcase.And his leather clad wife.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 05:45 PM
Piper's friend - One bad demo you say. Well, in my mind, one is one too many. Natural Horsemanship: that could be natural to twitch and rope if one were that way inclined, or, could mean mint treats and hugs to another. The ends do not justify the means. If I had handled a horse like that I would be ashamed of myself. How many impressionable people will now think this 'technique' is acceptable? I don't give a fig if someone has reached level 1, 2, 3, or whatever on the Parelli scale, or have never met a horse... the video tells you all you need to know. Would appear there are grounds for the RSPCA to investigate the treatment this poor horse received. Hiding behind so-called 'training' or 'experience' is nonsense. Use your own mind to decide - allowing others to say 'I am more knowledgeable than you' to justify their tratment is poor reasoning. Shouting someone down for their opinion and using insults does nothing for anyone's understanding. Parelli's should admit their error.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 05:08 PM
Angelananda - I was interested in this largely because of the reputation of the Parellis, and also being an ex-pat from the UK, and a casual horseman, but one who's encountered many difficult and beautiful horses over the years. I understand assertion; I get persistent patience. But I do not understand the purpose of the gum line except to "prove a point" in this case, in an allotted time slot. I think Eve did a good job, balancing the different perspectives of the same event. Even those who disagreed about the way it was handled have a right to be heard.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 02:41 PM
Mac - The Parelli's should be ashamed of themselves for duping their cult followers into thinking that bridling problems are hard to fix. This horse was difficult to bridle because of a previous scary/unpleasant/painful episode involving his head and/or ears. This is resolved with patience, not additional trauma to reinforce the negative experience....what competent horseman does't know this to be a fact?

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 01:56 PM
Eve Alexander - Animal Training Examiner - I still believe the good done by the Parelli system far outweighs the little bit of harm from one bad demo last week in England. Honestly, I'm as perplexed about this as anyone, however, there was a recent controversy about how Linda trained a one-eyed horse named Barney in this video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF2QqP29DU Maybe Pat and Linda are under too much pressure to perform? Maybe fans like Shannon need to realize Pat and Linda are real people, and not gods?

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 01:33 PM
Tracy B Ann - Eve, you even list the Parrlli's as a source of natural horsemanship. Perhaps this needs to be revised?

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 01:26 PM
Eve Alexander - Animal Training Examiner - Shannon, please understand that I am a Level 2 Parelli student myself, and have written many positive articles about the Parellis and their immense contributions to natural horsemanship. In this article I presented both points of view as described by eyewitnesses as well as videos from both camps. To date there has not been a response to this event from the mouths of Pat or Linda. If you've ever tried to speak with the Parellis you'll find there are no direct lines of communication to them available. They are deeply cloistered, primarily by Neil Pye - as most cult celebrities are.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 12:49 PM
Thomas Cole - Eve, I read Ms. Bruce's absolutely moronic post after mine appeared and want to balance her stupid statement with my own stupid statement. Shannon you obviously do not know what libel is and you certainly do have a huge axe to grind. Is your last name Parelli, by any chance? Eve did a fine job - she did what any journalist would do in fairness to a contentious subject matter. She presented a video which makes a point made by someone who felt the Parellis were out of line. Then she, in fairness to Mr. Cowboy Bob, presented his "manufactured" video. That is journalism. Both sides were presented. If Cowboy Bob and Miss Kitty want to cut out the sound and try to smoke a fast ball by me with the old switcheroo, then I'd say they're the bad guys. Move a little closer, will you? I've got a muzzle here I'd like to put on you. Or as we old dog people say, stuff a sock in it!

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 12:40 PM
Thomas Cole - Ummmm... Eve, I think I can usually figure out which end of a horse the pooh comes out of, but I may not qualify as an "expert." But something is really wrong here. I watched Ellbells' phone video and then watched the official Parelli video. I'd like to think that after 60 years of watching tv commercials I've gotten pretty good at recognizing when I'm being had. There clearly is something amiss. I believe the British say "the game's afoot." There is no way that official video was filmed at the same event as Ellsbells' video. I strongly believe that little progress will ever be made if the subject is not "encouraged" (and I do not mean to imply any force is to be used) to push at the problem a bit. Whether with humans, horses, or dogs, progress comes from dealing with issues. Clearly, 2 hours is waaaaaaaaaaaay too long to "push at the envelope." My goodness but this guy must be a thick-headed idiot. Has he never heard of the Law of Diminishing Returns?

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 12:23 PM
Shannon Bruce - This is an absolutely libelous article. The writer has included video taken out of context, neglected to interview the person they are criticizing (there are no quotes from Parelli in this story!) and is spreading unsubstantiated allegations designed to ruin someone. This is not journalism...it is gossip and slander. I've been a Parelli student for many years and have seen Pat & Linda Parelli with hundreds of horses and their integrity and character are unquestionable. Sleazy work here.

Posted/Updated: 07/14/2010 12:14 PM
Tracy B Ann - Wow! There are a lot of awful things here, one being that people think they learned something from this demonstration other than "this is NOT the way to treat a horse". Where was the owner and why did he let this continue? I work very hard to teach my clients to be assertive and take control when anyone is mishandling their animals, whether it's a trainer or a vet. That can be hard to do when you think you are dealing with an expert.