Pat Parelli Honored with Induction into Hall of Fame
Equestrian News Release
“It’s always a tough decision to make each year,” states Miki Cohen, President of the Western States Horse Expo. “There are always so many good nominations for our Hall of Fame. And certainly the three previous inductees, Frank Vessels, Ray Hunt, and Dr. Robert Miller, are exemplary figures in our industry.
“But this year one name leaped out from the pile of nominations that were being judged by our committee. The packet nominating Pat Parelli pointed out so many important things about what Pat has contributed to the horse industry.
“We all know that Pat’s a fabulous showman, but above that, he has developed a system of education for people of all skill levels --- and he was one of the very first to ever create anything like that. What he’s developed is something extraordinary that people can learn at home or from Parelli instructors or at the Parelli ranches. Plain and simple, Pat’s system teaches safety and invites people to have fun with their horses in a progressive manner, from ground work to riding.
“What I don’t think people understand, though, is that so many folks get out of the horse world because they become afraid and don’t know what to do, or horses are no longer fun for them. Typically that person gets rid of their horses, and the horse industry really suffers because of that kind of situation. That’s where Pat Parelli’s system has made such a difference ---- it’s filled in that big blank in the industry. In my opinion Pat’s helped keep people connected to their horses, and keep them from leaving the horse world. And it’s not as though Pat’s system is just for beginners, either; he’s developed his program so that everyone, from first-time owners to Olympic riders, can benefit from his teaching.”
Pat Parelli couldn’t attend his induction ceremony at the 2006 Western States Horse Expo in June in Sacramento, California. His acceptance speech, however, was broadcast on a huge video screen during the event’s Saturday Evening Showcase. The crowd cheered when they heard Pat’s name, and continued clapping until after his speech concluded.
“Pat was one of our very first clinicians here at the Expo,” Miki Cohen continues. “One of the things that impressed me about Pat was how he got people really excited. People came away from his demonstrations reinvigorated and hopeful about their lives with horses. Pat can really get people enthused like no one else I’ve ever seen, and he filled the stands at the Horse Expo more than any clinician ever has in our eight years.
“Pat has his own tour schedule now, but it’s our highest hope that sometime in the near future we can convince him to come back to the Horse Expo. Stay tuned!”
The Western States Horse Expo is accepting Hall of Fame nominations for the 2007 award. To submit, send your nomination to Western States Horse Expo, Post Office Box 517, Coloma, CA 95613. For more information about the Western States Horse Expo, visit http://www.horsexpo.com or call 800/352-2411.
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