In 1998 shortly after my move to Rock City,
Illinois I started a horse feed and equipment business, so that I would be
around as many horse enthusiasts as possible on a daily basis. The more time I
spent around horse enthusiasts, the more I realized and appreciated the need for
horse training and people training on
horses. While there are many capable
horse trainers in the area, the need for a different approach or an additional
approach to the horse training mix most definitely existed.
It is my sincere opinion, that when a horse is trained to ride versus broken to ride, the horse will not only be a better ride, but it will be a safer ride. The horse and human relationship will be that of respect and education, versus the often dangerous alternative.
As a professional horse trainer, it is my objective to educate the horse and horse owner. Both horse and rider should be equal if not more calm after the ride than either was prior to the ride. This is accomplished by the teaching of all the horses’ primary body parts. This includes the hips, feet, shoulders, head and nose. To not educate one or all of these critical parts of a horse is cause for great concern. It is important for both horse and rider to be equally educated in the techniques.
When I agree to train a horse the requirement that the horse owner be part of the education is necessary. I require that the horse owner learn many of the “building blocks” exercises used when I train their horse. When the owner takes the horse home, he or she can continue the education process and thus further educate their horse.
I have created the The National Trail Riding Academy because I believe in the “Conditional Response” methods for training a horse and the outstanding effects it has on the horses performance.