Training Your Horse
Being raised on a dairy farm in Muenster, Texas has people wondering how I came to be so horse crazy. It's been said that my first word was horse-not Mommy or Daddy like most kids. I got my first horse for my third birthday. By the age of four, I was riding him in a lope around the houses standing up. (Until I got caught, of course!) By age ten, I had bought and trained my first pony. At age twelve, I was training for the public.
I have been blessed with a talent to ride and to understand the animals. This isn't just a hobby for me. it's a way of life. Several well known people that I have always admired have come to me and encouraged me to continue with my training. People like Matloc Rose, B.F. Yeates, and Richard Shrake have noticed this talent. When Richard Shrake first started his apprenticeship program, I was the first person that he asked to be his follower. But, I didn't want to be on the road and away from my critters, so I decided not to.
Richard and I became instant and very good friends. I have always looked up to him and appreciated the fact that he tries to teach people to understand the animal and how to communicate with them what you want from them, instead of using harsh or brutal ways of accomplishing what you want. That is what I think the biggest difference is between my way of training and what others call training. I have been told several times that I have trained an animal beyond it's potential, perhaps because they want to please me. That's the way it should be. Every animal, just like people (only better) has a different ability to learn. The trick is to get into each animal's mind and see how they think and teach them in a way that is easy for them to learn and understand. Also, lots of praise has to happen, so they know that they did what you wanted. Like us, they all like to know that they have done a good job.
So far, I have trained Quarter Horses, Paints, Arabs, Palominos, Thoroughbreds, gaited horses, mules, donkeys, mini's, and even a buffalo. Some have been for show, others for pleasure, buggy, trail riding or speed events. But most of all, I get to train the animals that are special to their owners. The people who bring me an animal to train are usually the ones who want to be sure their animal won't be abused. All of the animals are special to me. Each and every one has their own way of being special.
I feel so lucky to be blessed with a talent that lets me meet so many animals of all different breeds. And I get to make a living at it! It is always a learning experience because each animal has something new to teach me. So, we learn together, and become partners. That's what makes me a different kind of trainer. My animals are a part of my team.. and that's what riding is all about…..
My equine students learn these basics :
grooming, leading, accepting the saddle and bridle, accepting the rider
Training price : (All prices are monthly)
Horses: $600.00
Mules: $550.00
Donkeys: $500.00
your equine and your training needs are individually determined. All training must be paid in advance.
Jackaroo in Harness
Janet and Spook
Ozzie
Smokey-paint gelding in training
Apache-mule in dressage training
Foxy-mule in western pleasure training
Cody-Buffalo in training.