Denver Equestrians

I can’t remember a time when horses were not a part of my life. Even though I come from a family where no one else was interested in riding,my parents knew that they had to find some way and someone to teach me about horses.  So, after several months of our neighbors complaining that there was an unruly five-year-old that kept climbing into their horses’ stalls, my parents decided it was time to get me involved with horses.

It wasn’t easy. My mother and father were separated most of my life,and neither one of them could afford to buy a horse. As a result, Ilearned to ride, thanks to the kindness and generosity of others at the boarding stable I frequented.

I have been lucky enough to work for many very talented trainers.Often times, these trainers were not well known, nor did they have famous cliental, many had forsaken the horse-show world all together.The professionals most willing to give me free lessons were typically those that had given up the big bucks so that they could devote themselves to their own philosophies and beliefs on training and riding.  These wonderful people taught me not to compromise my values to get results. They taught me that there are no shortcuts. Most importantly, they taught me that riders must use communication and trust with their horses, not control and force, in order to find success.

When you grow up riding the horses that no one else has time for,the horses that no one else is willing to ride, and the horses that are catch-ridden by a different person at each show; you learn a lot. Believe me, you learn quite a bit about many of different horses. You learn compassion, because often times, these horses have been through the ringer, this is what makes them my favorites. A abused horses capacity for forgiveness and love never failto astonish me.

When training a horse or training a rider, I begin by creatinga safe place that the horse or rider can be drawn back into for reassurance when needed. My methods are gentle, but effective. I do not use tricks or training devises to speedup the training process. I address issues proactively rather thanreactively. Setting horse and rider teams up for success is far more effective than trying to repair mistakes after failures. Horses like to succeed as much as we do and their riders need to do what they can to give their horses the best chance possible. I focus on teaching horses and riders trust and confidence. Riding is a cooperative partnership, by helping riders address and work through problems rather than avoid them, the horses become much more manageable, a happy horses and happy riders are my goals.

I devote my time; effort and love to training horses that desperately need another chance. The most difficult struggles I’ve faced in my own life have been surmounted, in part, thanks to the lessons I’ve learned from these amazing animals. The minimum I can do is give these horses what they so naturally, kindly and altruistically have given me.