Pat Parelli is the one who started it all. Watching him play with his black stallion Casper is what first filled me with a love for Liberty and made me see the value of the program. At 10 years old to see a horse run to his human or watch them communicate at distances of 100 feet or more was pure magic. When I saw Pat work with a horse, I was hooked.
Pat has spent his entire life learning all there is to know in the horse industry. Shoeing, doctoring, packing teams, rodeoing, team and cart driving, racing, roping, cutting, and so much more. This man is a horseman in the truest sense of the word. His passion and commitment to changing the horse industry has inspired millions. He coined the term Natural Horse-Man-Ship and revolutionized the way humans interact with equines of all shapes and sizes.
When you meet a man with so much knowledge and experience, it’s easy to get intimidated. Though once you get past the loud spurs and short chaps you soon find Pat to be very wise and amiable. He’s quick with a joke and is willing to share his experiences so that others can learn through him. He’s also an incredibly generous man, sharing his facilities with thousands of students. Letting them use his personal Super-horses, to learn the basics of his program and to feel high-level maneuvers and responses. When you spend time with Pat, you walk away with a bigger education than you could’ve dreamed of. He helps you become well-rounded and prepared for not only a horse career, but any career with interpersonal interactions.
Over the many months I’ve spent with him, I’ve seen Pat do amazing things. Cantering down scooch mountain, taming wild horses, starting colts, and single handedly moving over 200 head of cattle with ease. But what surprises me the most is how big his heart is for sharing knowledge and his dedication to preserving real horsemanship.
Pat taught me to put the foundation and connection with the horse above all else. To have a strong focus, and exceed expectations. There’s nothing you can’t do when the horse becomes a part of you.
Few Professionals can say they’ve spent more than a year under Pat, but I’m one of the fortunate few. I can’t repay him for the time he’s spent teaching me, his generosity, or for creating the program that changed my life.