About Team Y
Dan and Kathy Yriarte are a Christian husband and wife team pursuing their dream helping people achieve a true partnership with their horse. Dan’s passion is c**t and wild horse development, cow horse events and trail riding. Kathy enjoys liberty work, trails, and is looking forward to exploring working equitation and both Cowboy and traditional dressage. Our training is based primarily on the horsemanship style and teachings of Ray Hunt, Bill and Tom Dorrance, and Bryan Neubert.
We believe in PARTNERSHIP before showmanship. This means we will not sacrifice the relationship with the horse to achieve a short term goal, whether it be a show ribbon, a specific maneuver, or a timeline the human has set. We firmly believe the horse must be allowed the dignity of participating in the process of developing communication and trust. By allowing the horse to express themselves, the willingness comes naturally and horse and human become a team, working in unison toward a mutual goal. To quote Charles de Kunffy:
“Classical horsemanship is based on love for the horse; it is not practiced for the glorification of the rider.”
In order for this relationship to develop, we require that the primary owner (rider/handler) participate in the horse's education. We will tailor the program to suit both the goals and abilities of horse and human to ensure long term success.
Thank you for your support and being a part of our journey!