What is Practical Horsemanship?

Safety and common sense in horsemanship is Practical Horsemanship. Learning how to control your horse on the trail and in the arena is Practical Horsemanship. Leaning how to handle Bad Habits in a satisfactory manner is Practical Horsemanship. Respect, compassion, constancy and knowledge are Practical Horsemanship.What are those naughty dangerous things your horse does when all you are trying to do is lead or ride your horse. Maybe you just want to feed your horse or clean your horse's stall. "Bad Habits" are what they are; biting, rearing, balking, halter pulling, bucking, etc. Rushed or improper training, inconsistent handling, uncertainty, insecurity, or resentment of humans causes this most often. A horse that is confused or insecure can exhibit some pretty poor behavior and a resentful horse can be uncooperative and resistant. Confusion, fear, disrespect, fatigue, or just high spirits might cause a horse's resistance and there seems to be a number of ways your horse will let us know about it. I'm in business to try and prevent bad habits from developing. I teach you ways of handling and training your horse properly and consistently to eliminate bad habits so you and your horse can become confident in yourselves. (EACH OTHER?) instead of yourselves maybe???

I have been riding horses most of my life. I started like most horse-hungry young girls; I cleaned stalls and tack for Leisure World Stables in Laguna Hills, and in exchange I was allowed to ride. After the summer and working with Charisma, the trainer there, I learned how to ride, also gaining further knowledge about different bits and tack. I got very good at cleaning the stalls too. The following summer they asked me to come back working as an extra trail guide. I worked my way up and met many owners of the privately stabled horses. I started to exercise the private horses and giving lessons. Just prior to moving I was giving lessons to beginners and exercising some of the finest horses for their owners. I rode for them for three summers until I moved. I leased my own horse soon after and started this road that I'm now still on. I would always do anything I could to be around horses; clean stalls, wash horses at the barn, go to clinics, read books… whatever I could just to be near them.

Over the years I have seen horses punished for things they didn't understand, riders that just lost their tempers, horses that were starved and abused and decided that I would always treat them with respect and understanding. I have ridden with many trainers trying to reach this goal: Doug Williams (NRCHA Champion, AQHA Champion and World's Greatest Horseman Champion}, Ted Robinson [AQHA World Champion, NRCHA Champion), Ron Rolls (current World's Greatest Horseman Champion), and Lorrie Lynn of Lynn's Performance Horses (Finalist in AQHA World Shows). I've learned many things from each of them and have been able to put it all together to start my own training program. Putting a horse and its rider together is most rewarding! I love to watch a trusting partnership grow between them. I started by riding young horses and training them in the hills for 30 days before they were sent to a formal trainer for finishing. While in Stockton, I worked at Dollar Sign Ranch exercising and grooming race horses daily. The horses were readied for the track by swimming them daily.

It was a better way to get them ready to race, working more muscle groups with no jarring impact on their joints I had to get a Groom's license so I could go with them to the track. I hated seeing horses try their hardest when it was 110 degrees outside and I didn't like the way they were treated so only lasted two years. My life became very varied at that point …riding others horses, giving lessons, etc. In 1994 I moved out to horse country and bought a 3 year old to train for showing. We did everything together and won a lot of awards. I now live in Big Pine California. I work as a wrangler for Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit and ride the young horses for the seasonal horse ride, driving them from Mammoth Lakes to Independence and back and giving lessons as we go to those that need them. I work at the Pack station during the season riding day rides and working with the horses that need to be trained. I now have my own clients that I train for and I start young colts as they come in. I have ridden for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Posse and have worked as a proficiency evaluator for them. I have worked with Quarter Horses, Mustangs, Arabs and mixed breeds helping both horses and riders with learning about and stopping bad habits.