testimonial

This page is dedicated to Wild Horse and Burro adopters. These comments and letters are from folks we have assisted with training and mentoring techniques. We hope you find the comments helpful and encouraging with your Wild Horse and Burro training.

From: "Lesliel Loveland" <lllovel@hotmail.com>
To: <grfield@wildhorsefoundation.org>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 2:03 PM
Subject: Reno Show!
Hi Ray:
We had an opportunity to watch you in the cutting pens at the Reno Show
(BLM) and really thought you were great! We just got a mustang from the
BLM in Sparks and love her! You really helped us out!
Leslie Loveland

I too had an opportunity to watch you in the round pen. I've never had the
opportunity before. You did good!

----- Original Message -----
From: <Mike_Nedd@es.blm.gov>
To: <grfield@wildhorsefoundation.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 1:16 PM
Subject: Thanks a Million for Making A Difference

> Ray, just wanted to drop you this thank-you note for the gentling session
> you did at the Jackson, MS, adoption last Saturday. Several individuals
> commented that you did an excellent job and the tips you passed on will
> help them with their adopted animal... Thanks for making a difference!
>
> Mike Nedd, ES Director

I just wanted to reserve my spot for this weekend's clinic. I can't wait!
I am so impressed with you and your training technique!! I am continually in awe of the rapport that is established between a wild animal and the trainer. I am new to the "horse world" but, have known from the start that, when I get one, I want my horse trained in a gentle, non violent way so that I will have a confident, trusting companion. I attended a BLM action to see what I was getting into, and I thought I may be getting in way over my head. After observing the first clinic at The Wild Horse Foundation, I was skeptical that I would never be able to do much training. I mean these were people who'd grown up with horses, horse trainers, and people with years of horse experience. My horse knowledge is limited to riding lessons and books. But, I thought, at least I'd have a good idea of what my horse would be learning and the methods of instruction that he would understand. After taking the the first gentling clinic I am hooked! Your method is not only gentle and as safe as possible for the horse, but also for a beginner like me! I am now confident that I will be able to instill confidence and trust in my horse, as soon as he "finds" me! In the meantime, I hope to learn and practice as much as possible.
See you this weekend,
Susan G.

I can not express what the day out there with the little roan meant to me. I dreamt of nothing else since. What a rush and an accomplishment. Thank you for that experience. I admire what you all do. It is quite amazing. I am not the best student in the world. I think that comes from always wanting to be in charge. You did a wonderful job of encouraging me when I needed it, giving me the space I needed to figure out my own solutions when I messed up and keeping up my courage when I wanted to give in to defeat. I couldn't have accomplished what I did that day with anyone else teaching me. I was never in any danger and I knew that. Most important the little roan was never in danger from a green hand in the pen with him, because you made sure he and I were safe. Incredible.

I will be there in July and hope you will have me out to the ranch before that. Thanks again.

While attending the two day clinic at the Horsedome, we, (my husband and I) were both amazed at the level of instruction and hands on training we received. We had seen the gentling demo at the BLM adoption and were intrigued at the method that was being used. Desiring to learn it for ourselves we contacted Wild Horse Foundation on the internet and discovered that there were indeed clinics given on the subject. As Parelli level one and two practitioners of "Natural Horsemanship," we realized that there was a need for this type of training prior to the training that is administered to domestic horses. It's like the difference between your common household dog and a wolf straight off the range. It's STUPID to think that one could just jump in the pen with the wolf and begin level one training on it. It simply is a good way to get your brains bashed out. This is definitely PRE-Level One. How can one play with the horse if hands can't even be laid on it?

Something that really got our attention was the fact that we were asked to meet certain safety requirements. Headgear was a major issue. Having been in the pen with domestic horses before, it didn't SEEM necessary. I can only say, trust me!!!! It is necessary. Thank you for insisting we use it. Next, we studied the method of "Polling." It kept us at a safe distance from the horse and was used as a tool to sooth and calm the horse without causing damage to him in any way. The horse was INTRODUCED to all items used during the process, PERMISSION GRANTED (BY THE HORSE) and thereby the horse became a WILLING PARTNER in the gentling process. He was neither physically nor mentally traumatized as we have so often seen exhibited. (We won't mention any names here.)

And the facility??? Wow! What a wonderful idea, doing the Horsedome. We are going to try to build one here. All pens opening to the 100' roundpen in the center. What a great set-up! That alone is worth seeing. We really enjoyed ourselves and plan to attend more clinics.

One other thing that stood out to us was the friendliness and graciousness which you and your family showed to us. We were strangers and you took us in. Gave us your extra bed and fed us. Ya'll went above and beyond what we actually paid for. We hope that someday we might do the same for you.

Good news, he got the halter back on, he tightened it up some so it wouldn't fall off her nose. We can loosen it up if need too. And led her around the pen. She was a good girl. I think we'll be fine. I'll go out in the afternoon when I get home and lead her around some. Then when Gene gets home he can work her. Nancy

Good Morning, We're leading Duchess around the pen. can pet her pretty easy along her cheek area but she moves her head away if you go farther than that . That's okay cause we know it's going to take more time with her. Just wanted to give you a little update on her. Have a good day. Nancy

Original Message -----
From: "Phillips, Mark"
To: <grfield@wildhorsefoundation.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 9:08 AM
Subject: Belton

> Ray and Susan,
> It was good to meet you in person at the Belton auction. I appreciate the
> willingness and ease with which you provided in the form of advice
> information and assistance as I choose my first horse. The clinic you put on
> was impressive and I am trying to mimic your techniques.
> I adopted a line-backed dun yearling colt that was a little excited in the
> trailer ride back home. I don't think he liked it but settled down as soon
> as he was in the pen. He is also taking to the humane penning 101
technique slowly as he gets nervous if the sides are to close but we will keep
trying on his schedule.
> Again, thank you for your help.
> Mark L. Phillips, Houston, Texas

Subject: Thanks Once Again!!!!

I would like to thank you and your husband for the help in getting me started with the mustangs at Lynn Marriott's. I am feeling more confident with the horses. The mare especially is getting more use to me handling her. She has come a long way in such a short time. I can now brush her like I can the geldings. I am enjoying spending time with them more each day. I loved them before now more so that I can get close to them. Calico will now eat out of my hand like Sundance and Pavo do. That is so amazing considering all that she has been through. George my 9 yr old is wanting to help with her. He loves animals as much as I do. Thanks Again. Wish there were more people as caring as you for the plight of the mustangs.

Mr. Field,
       I think of your gentling techniques every day since I went to the Amarillo, TX Auction, so I decided it's high time I contacted you. Unfortunately I couldn't get a mustang, because I already have 6 horses, but I wanted to see what went on.
       I saw your demonstration, and was especially interested in the way you introduced the halter and then haltering to the horse you were working. One of my horses is a two year old who isn't wild, but was the next thing to it when I got him. I finally got him gentle enough to let me approach him and halter him, but even though he stood for me, I still was more or less "chasing" his head before I could get the halter on him, and when I took the halter off, he always jerked his head away before I could get it off.
       After watching you, I decided to use your method with him, and guess what! It worked perfectly. After one lesson, he was 95% better. The next lesson, there was no problem at all.
       Thank you for sharing your techniques. I'm sure you have made the difference between a life of comfort and safety as opposed to a life of fear and mistreatment for many horses. And not just mustangs.
       I put my name, address, and e-mail on your contact list at the Auction, but It's repeated here just in case it got lost in the shuffle. I look forward to more training tips from you in the form of tapes, books, or whatever.
       Keep up the good work!

             Neta Fowler, Amarillo, Texas

"Thank You for your gentling demonstrations, they were easy to watch and learn. It gives us a chance to work with our new adopted horses". We don't have to buy fancy equipment to make this work. June 22, 2002 clinic

After watching you, I decided to use your method with him, and guess what! It worked perfectly. After one lesson, he was 95% better. The next lesson, there was no problem at all. Neta, May 17, 2002 BLM adoption demo

Thanks again for the help. I got more help from you than any other source. Rusty, August 2002, WHF Clinic

Ray,
I was fortunate enough to watch you and Steve on Saturday, 12 Oct 02, at Pauls Valley, OK. I would like to learn more about your training methods and would like to be able help other folks learn your training methods. In the central Oklahoma area, there is a great lack of resources for finding people like you that are interested in gentle training methods, and, especially, people who are willing to work with Mustangs or help others works with Mustangs. Most people I talk with have very poor conceptions about what Mustangs look like, their trainability and dispositions, their size, care, capabilities, etc. I would be interested in attending a "hands-on" clinic. It would not matter to me if the horse was my own, or someone else's. As long as the clinic was low-cost and within reasonable distance. My interest for quite a while has been to learn better methods of getting
horses to respond, to be able to help folks with their problem horses, and to be a point of contact for folks to help them gentle and train their adopted Mustangs. Although I have been helping others on occasion with horse problems for over twenty years, I am by no means an expert or a professional trainer. I consistently look for better methods and strive to learn them while treating each horse as an individual. I have watched John Lyons methods on video and also read and purchased his book. I found that in reading the book, some of his methods were methods that I have employed since I began riding at the age of 7. Most of them were common sense approaches to me - I never dreamed that some things I did "naturally" were things that someone would eventually pay money to learn. I try to learn something from every horse handler I know, which is basically everyone that owns a horse. Mostly I have learned to stay away from harsher methods and have probably (almost) learned more about how not to handle a horse from inappropriate handlers, which has been reinforced by handlers such as yourself that employ gentle methods. I would appreciate any information you could send me on learning these methods in order to pass them on to others. I do think people appreciated and were impressed by your gentle approach.
Thank you so much!
Monica Blankinship October 2002 Pauls Valley BLM