Pat Parelli Combines En
(7) ‘, :` (b• i 4e. Pat Parelli combines `e:,(‘% centuries-old horse training c.''.eN c`b' -.• Sei N' techniques with modern ' 11' ei concepts of behavioral science. C').Q A New Look at Old Methods Part ONE of Three Parts By ROBERT M. MILLER, D.V.M. PAT PARELLI looks and sounds like two diffe- rent people. What you see is a lean, tall, tobacco- chewing cowboy. And, he is that. The 28-year-old Californian is an all-around hand who has done very well in rodeo competition, both intercollegiate and PRCA, especially in the bareback bronc riding event. What you hear is an articulate, energetic man who sounds like a college professor. His speech, when he talks about training horses, is sprinkled with terms like "bonding," "positive reinforcement," "con- ditioned response," and "transitional process." What amazes me is how much understanding of the mind of the horse Pat has accumulated so early in his life. I'm twice his age, and after working with horses all of my adult life, I feel that I am just beginning to understand the art of equine communication. (See my series on "Horse Psychology," Western Horseman, January, February, and March 1979.) It is pure pleasure to watch Parelli start a green colt and see the consistent and intricate responses he can elicit in a couple of hours, and witness the smoothness and relaxation with which his started horses work. In this introductory article Pm going to tell you about the man and his philosophy. Next month, I'll describe how those principles are used in his training techniques.
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