Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services

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Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services

Evan Bonner can help you discover a trusting and willing partnership with your horse! It is based on principles of effectiveness.

I have spent the last decade studying the principles of horsemanship and have worked hard to share what I have learned with others. I have been influenced by dozens of brilliant horsemen and horsewomen and I've had the privilege to have ridden with some of the best in the world including: Peter Campbell, Pat Parelli and Dennis Reis. My goal in both my horse training program and my clinics is to le

ave the horse more at peace around people, around his environment and within himself and to leave you with a better understanding of how to communicate, how to build confidence and how to have purpose. I don't teach a specific "discipline", but rather encourage students to develop problem-solving skills, consider the horse's point of view and take his expression and feelings into consideration. To me"Horsemanship" is the habits that humans and horses need to become partners. We define a habit as the crossroads between knowledge (the what and the why), skill (the how to do) and desire (the want for a change). When you value the principles of good horsemanship you will develop the ability to know where the horse is at and the skill to do what needs to be done. Good horsemanship is not about breaking or training horses, it's about working on yourself and playing with horses nature. You have to allow the horse the time it takes to learn something and when that happens you'll never have to redo it - because you didn't take the horse hostage.

19/09/2025

My main focus in my horsemanship program is helping horses to understand a job—starting from the ground up. You often hear the phrase, “that horse needs a job to do.” But too often, that just translates into moving their feet or chasing them around.

What I’m really looking for is a horse that takes ownership of the job I’ve asked them to do. For example, if I send a horse out on a circle, am I sending them? Or are they truly taking responsibility for maintaining the pattern? How do you do this? By not thinking of it as a job but rather as a game. Horses learn to understand things through games. This is where they ultimately learn to make the choice and learn to want to do the things we want them to do.

Whether you’re a recreational rider or a serious competitor, the more responsibility your horse can learn to carry on their own through this process the stronger and more rewarding your partnership will become.

15/09/2025

We wrapped up our very first barefoot trimming clinic this weekend, and it was a great success! Both the students and the horses did really well, and it was inspiring to see everyone dive in with such focus and enthusiasm.

Learning how to trim your own horse can be a truly valuable and empowering experience. It gives you a sense of ownership over an important part of your horse’s care and helps deepen the bond you share with them. That said, it’s also a gradual learning process—developing the knowledge, skill, and confidence takes time and practice.

We’re proud of everyone who took part in this first clinic and excited to see how their skills continue to grow.

We will post as soon as our next barefoot clinics are scheduled. Be sure to follow Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services to look for the next one!

25/08/2025

✨ $200 Off Horse Training – Limited Time Offer! ✨

Fall is right around the corner, and my training calendar is starting to fill up! 🍂🐴

If you’ve been thinking about getting your horse into a training program to help build those foundational building blocks that will allow you to be successful, now is the perfect time—book before September 1st and receive $200 off the full price of training.

My program is built on the foundation of solid rapport, mutual communication and leadership principles. I focus primarily on horse-man-ship which are the habits and skills horses and humans need to become partners—whether your goals are performance, pleasure, or simply creating a safer and more enjoyable partnership.

👉 Spots are limited, so reach out soon to secure your discounted rate before September 1st!

21/08/2025

Before & After: Negative Plantar Angle

This horse presented with a negative plantar angle—meaning the coffin bone was rotated backward more than it should be. Several factors can contribute to this condition, and left unaddressed, it may lead to additional issues throughout the horse’s body due to the way hind-end pathologies affect the entire system.

In this case, the horse was overdue for trimming. By following the live sole plane and removing excess toe, I was able to make significant improvements with the trim alone. With the addition of balanced shoeing, we can help maintain proper alignment and reduce the risk of this condition becoming a chronic problem.

18/08/2025

Confidence. Yielding. Patterns. Purpose.

These are the four pillars a horse needs in order to become an ideal partner.

It begins with confidence—in themselves, in their environment, and in you. Without it, nothing else will work.

Next is yielding. A horse must learn how to respond to pressure appropriately. True yielding isn’t about them giving to pressure when they’re uncomfortable. True yielding should feel like it weighs ounces, not pounds.

The third pillar is patterns. Patterns turn our goals into a game the horse can understand. They provide clarity, consistency, and rhythm. With patterns, we can do less and the horse does more.

Finally, we come to purpose. Too often, people start here before building the foundation of the first three pillars—or they skip it altogether. But a horse needs purpose—a WHY. A reason for what they’re doing, something that reaches beyond what exists between horse and rider.

Follow this formula for training horses and you will have a much better relationship and a stronger foundation.

16/08/2025

Check out my training horse Cole!

Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services, build more than just skills, build a partnership with your horse.

I offer c**t starting, behavior refinement, and personalized training programs focused on respect, communication, and confidence.

I am booking limited training horses for the fall now. As well as offering my offsite lesson and of course farrier services too. Pm me or text call to set something up.

Camano Island, WA
360-551-3736

**tStarting

12/08/2025

I recently had the opportunity to try the new EasyShoe One, and I’m impressed.

Polyurethane and composite shoes offer several advantages over traditional steel or aluminum. In this case, they provided better load sharing across the foot, increased shock absorption, and caudal (heel) support—factors that can improve circulation, encourage proper phalangeal alignment, and enhance proprioception.

The EasyShoe One also features a frog insert made from a different density material than the outer shoe, closely mimicking the structure of the natural hoof capsule. For this application, I chose to add dental impression material, which simulates the way dirt naturally packs into the commissures and further improves load distribution.

While steel shoes remain my go-to in many situations, I believe materials like this represent the future of farriery. Over time, I expect modern designs to play an increasingly important role in keeping horses comfortable, sound, and performing at their best.

07/08/2025

Many people feel overwhelmed when trying to improve their horsemanship or don’t know where to begin. I define horsemanship as a set of habits and skills that both horses and humans must develop in order to become true partners.

If you remember nothing else about building a better relationship with your horse—remember this: Do not allow your horse to be pushy. And second to that: Do not allow your horse to pull or lean on you.

I’ve lost count of how many horses have come through my barn with no concept of personal space or respect for the end of a lead rope. Many have simply never been taught these foundational lessons. They’ve learned to live without boundaries—and that lack of understanding can compromise both safety and long term success.

These are lessons that are easiest to teach when a horse is young. So take the time early on to instill good habits. They’ll pay off for a lifetime.

04/08/2025

Here’s another before and after shoeing example.

Proper shoe placement can make a big difference in long term soundness and comfort.

This off-track Thoroughbred was slightly overdue for shoeing and came in already out of balance—too much leverage up front and insufficient support behind. I applied a trim that followed the natural sole plane and placed the shoe to provide better mechanics throughout the full shoeing cycle.

Feel free to message me with any questions about hoofcare or to get on a regular schedule.

02/08/2025

One way to better understand what makes a truly educated—or “broke”—horse is by looking at how developed they are in three key areas: Respect, Impulsion, and Flexion.

Respect is where it all begins. I define respect as an appropriate response to pressure. It’s the cornerstone of your foundation, and without it, everything else is built on shaky ground.

Impulsion refers to how well your horse regulates their energy. Can we set the “RPMs” where we want them—and will the horse maintain that level without needing constant input? A horse with impulsion responds to our direction, not to the environment.

Flexion comes last, and it’s about much more than just headset. True flexion means your horse understands how to move in a way that promotes balance, soundness, and athleticism.

In a natural horsemanship approach, this forms the pyramid of horse development: Respect, Impulsion, Flexion—each building on the last to create a confident, capable, and connected partner.

31/07/2025

Before and After: Recent Shoeing Client

Here’s a quick look at some before and after photos from a recent shoeing session. This horse came in with relatively healthy feet, but there was some imbalance—particularly in how the ground-bearing surface was distributed around the widest point of the foot.

For this case, I chose to use an Avanti-style horseshoe. This design features a rolled toe with the breakover positioned just ahead of the tip of the coffin bone, helping to reduce leverage on the deep digital flexor tendon. Additionally, the shoe has lateral and medial rails that bring the ground surface slightly inside the footprint. This reduces side-to-side (medial/lateral) leverage and, in turn, strain on the joints.

The joints in a horse’s lower limbs are not built to handle excessive medial/lateral stress—like that experienced during frequent turning or circling. They’re anatomically designed for long, straight movement. This style of shoeing is one way to help manage off-axis loading and can also support horses with existing joint issues caused by long-term strain.

I am currently taking new hoofcare clients in Island, Skagit and Snohomish counties. PM for pricing and availability.

29/07/2025

Exciting News!

Starting next month, I’ll once again be offering off-site horsemanship lessons—something I haven’t provided in several years. These sessions are ideal for anyone looking to address specific challenges or strengthen their horse’s foundation. My focus includes:
• Problem solving
• Ground manners
• Foals, weanlings, and yearlings
• Pre-ride preparation
• C**t starting

Lessons are $100 per one-hour session, plus mileage.

With over 20 years of experience in the horse industry, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of a solid foundation—one built on confidence, respect, and mutual understanding. As horse owners, we share the responsibility of learning how to develop these qualities in our horses. While trainers can offer guidance, true progress comes from your own consistent and methodical work.

If you’re ready to build a stronger partnership with your horse from the ground up, I’d love to help.

Address

1013 N Mallard Lane
WA
98282

Telephone

+13605513736

Website

http://www.evanbonner.com/

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