Mission Statement: To enable the human to ennoble the horse through education for better understanding and application of sound training techniques intended to improve communication along with physical and mental conditioning for the sake of the horse. Purpose: I will enable the horse and rider to acquire balance between themselves and achieve a state of grace through classical exercises without a
pplying fearful intimidation. More specifically, I want to give horses and humans a chance to develop their abilities in a trusting environment for achieving outcomes of well-conditioned horses with balanced postures, statically and dynamically, for performing as near nature intended while accepting the load and direction of a rider. No hasty gimmick training with leveraged bits, action devices, or applying heavy aids through the hands, legs, or spurs will be discussed or used. As a result of training with mainly classical and some natural horsemanship techniques, the horse will exhibit a magnificent, relaxed self-carriage developed to contribute to a healthy and long service life moving in a state of grace with its rider that anyone, with or without horse knowledge, may recognize and admire. Licensed in Illinois for physical therapy and massage therapy, post-graduate Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CERP) from the College of Veterinary Medicine University of Tennessee, Knoxville. With 23 years of experience in human rehabilitation and concurrent pursuit of horsemanship knowledge and skills, the ongoing continuing education for both humans and horses has emphasized common themes: anatomy/physiology, manual therapy techniques, stress reduction strategies, behavioral sciences, orthopedic rehabilitation, athletic conditioning, functional exercises, as well as more specific treatment strategies to improve humans’ and horses’ movement, function, and quality of life. My horsemanship path began with Western training styles including the Jeffery Method and Natural Horsemanship. As I continued to evolve my skillsets, some commonalities, but also huge differences, were seen while discovering historically proven successes from Classical Dressage methods. I have integrated into my horsemanship skillsets what I think is the best from Western styles combined with the Classical methods for the sake of conditioning horses. The immense amount of study, and required practice, will never cease as I am passionate about providing the best methods possible as a fair deal for the horse. The gymnastic exercises found in books written by Masters of dressage are excellent for application to every horse’s functional foundation for conditioning to athletic level, regardless of the riding discipline. I know that as a dedicated lifelong learner I am on a journey that has no destination, no finish line, and no measurable endpoint. I feel obligated to my horse to do right by what I can discover on this journey to be true.
“Retraction of a false notion and yielding to evidence denotes a man of honor,” Francois Baucher. I must possess this trait to change my ways when given a truly better way to present the best opportunities and education to my horse for her/his benefit.
