Clinton Anderson stands next to a horse trailer that promotes his Downunder Horsemanship

Who Is Clinton Anderson?

I’ve received several requests to write about my impressions of Clinton Anderson and his Down Under Horsemanship… but the truth is that if I were asked to give my impression about every clinician out there my blog would be full of the same repetitious posts warning of salesmen. In my mind, not only Clinton Anderson but, almost every clinician out there is little more than a salesman working away to sell a product and turn a buck.
Don’t get me wrong, there are many who are good-hearted and honestly believe in what they are selling, and then there are others who know that what they are selling is a pile of rubbish but continue selling it anyhow.

Piles of Salted Horse Skins at Canadian Horse Slaughter Plant

American Horses Are Still Being Slaughtered

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Yes, American-based slaughter plants have been closed and horse slaughter ruled illegal in the states. But… horses are still being sold to kill buyers in the US and then transported across the border to both Canada and Mexico where horse slaughter continues. And… the same issues exist in those plants as did American plants of inhumane slaughter practices.

Rollkur at World Equestrian Games - Isabell Werth and Parzival
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2010 WEG Demonstrates Hyperflexion

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Despite the FEI’s ruling that Rollkur is a banned practice, and instead has favored the use of LDR (Low, Deep, Round), there is plenty of evidence to the contrary that hyperflexion is a norm for competitors. The World Equestrian Games, hosted in Kentucky this year is already proving the perfect grounds to spot the practice in person.

Horse walking over tarp at Pat Parelli Natural Horsemanship Demo

Parelli Woes Continue

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Pat Parelli recently ruffled feathers when he presented a demonstration at the Royal Festival of the Horse in England while working with the eventer Robert Whittaker’s horse Catwalk. Apparently it was offensive enough to cause people to walk out in disgust, as well as confront Parelli directly and post video on Youtube. That isn’t the whole of the problems Parelli may be facing however.

Yearling Thoroughbred being sold at New Zealand auction

Selling Yourself to the Horse

Have you ever been pitched by a sales person who lacked all elements of confidence and charm? Who seemed nervous and uncertain about just what it was they were selling and the reasons you ought to be buying it? I know I have plenty of times. And then there are the salesmen who are so confident and smooth that you almost want to beg them to sell you whatever it is they are peddling.