Young Rio, an old hand at his second Ranch Roping, Nov 2009

Learning what to offer a horse has presented some unique opportunities for me.  While many trainers were “born in the saddle” and learned things as kids without even thinking about it, I went through the process later in life.  Consequently I have never taken anything the horse has offered me for granted and what the horses did always mattered to me.  From the beginning I have always needed to know why they do what they do.  Why a horse behaves differently with different people.  What it feels like when both you AND the horse are having fun.  Even when I didn’t understand what they were doing I felt they were trying to express something inside and were often clearly misunderstood.  The “kick ‘em to go, pull ‘em to stop, show ‘em who’s boss” approach didn’t sit right with me and I just KNEW there was a better way.

My horse Victorio and I at a Buffalo Soldier Re-enactment at Festival of the American West in Utah

Chasing the Renegades that stole the Federal Payroll!

Fortunately I found the world of true horsemanship and dove in pretty hard.  Starting out with a five day clinic, I took every clinic I could afford and haul to and actually ended up on nationwide tour for a year and a half working and studying with a nationally known clinician.  I developed a strong conviction over that period observing the hundreds of problem horses and colts being saddled and ridden for the first time. 

Horses will do anything for you – willingly and with AMAZING ENTHUSIASM if:

They RESPECT YOU.
They TRUST THAT YOU MEAN THEM NO HARM.
They CLEARLY UNDERSTAND what it is that you are asking of them.
Horses with a JOB TO DO are the BEST HORSES.

Xenophon back in 400 B.C. figured it out and wrote about it. The Dorrances and Ray Hunt started to spread the word in this country a while back.  To me anyways those three components are critical.  One without the others won’t really get it done.  And when it comes right down to it, FEEL is fundamental.  You feeling of the horse, and the horse feeling of you.  That’s the elusive element that is so subtle and is different for each horse and person.

Getting Junior Straight and Soft at a Ray Hunt Clinic, Pasadena, CA 2006

Polo in my Western Boots and Chaps! SO MUCH FUN!

There are many techniques and systems available today.  Many are quite good and have something valuable to offer and I have worked with many people already in these systems that were “stuck” and just missing those key ingredients of Respect, Trust, and Clarity through feel.  Sometimes it’s difficult to get that from a video.  There is a lot of technique without feel practiced today by some very well intentioned folks.  A lot of good things are happening.  But those horse human relationships would blossom even more if True Feel were added to the mix.

Round Penning a Colt on the first Ride with Dennis, Burbank CA 2005

Victorio and I July 4 Parade in Sunland, CA 2003

At Leslie Desmond's Trainer's Clinic - Aguanga, CA 2007

Galloping in the Desert with Leslie

Well that’s what I try to help people and their horses with.  We have lots of fun.  We stay safe.  We move as fast or slow as the horse and person are comfortable with.  I am always learning from others that know a lot more that I do and constantly experiment with my own 7 horses, ranging from colts that I started to abandoned “problem” horses.

There are many ways to accomplish a particular task.  I try my best to pick the technique to fit a particular horse and their owner based on each one’s personality and style.  My wonderful horses have taught me a thing or two about one size does NOT fit all and about being flexible.  Sometimes having the right person observe and help out makes all the difference and I’ve been pretty lucky at being able to help out a few folks and their horses.

So if you’re ever in the area let me know and we can visit.  Stay safe and have fun!

Kevin Sadler