Personal Training Philosophy
Our training philosophy is based upon the fact that every horse is different, and should be approached as a unique individual. Some horses may be easy to handle and train, others may be quite difficult. One may learn quickly, another may require much more time and patience. Almost every horse is trainable, and if given the chance will be a great horse for someone. However, training can only take a horse so far; the rest depends upon the horse's mental and physical ability. When we train, we ask ourselves "why is a horse doing this?" and try to understand things from their point of view. This way, we are on the same page most of the time. We believe there is no such thing as a bad horse, only horses who are misunderstood. However, as with every rule, there are exceptions such as a horse for whom the cost of training will greatly exceed the owner's financial means, or horses who are physically or mentally damaged beyond repair. There is a huge difference in what a horse plain just doesn't know or understand, and a aggressively mannered horse. While all horses can be trained to a certain point, training can only take a horse so far the rest depends upon the horse's physical and mental ability. We don't lean towards any one training method or ideal. We take from every trainer that we have watched, read, talked to or hear about. Many well-known trainers such as Clinton Anderson, Monty Roberts, Chris Cox, Craig Cameron, John Lyons, and many less well-known trainers and horsemen. By doing this, we have created my own unique style of training a mixture of the old and new school ways.
We do not believe in making a horse respond to fear a horse should do as asked, because they know that when they do, the pressure will be taken away. Everything a horse does, is a reaction to pressure. It's either Fight (into pressure), or Flight (away from pressure). Horses should not lose their spirit, but should want to and be willing to please people. Horses should not fear but respect people. Anytime they are in the presence of people, in tack, or being handled they should not do anything to endanger anyone or any other horse. No matter what the pecking order is out in the pasture, any person should be above them.
The more training you have on any horse, the better off the horse will be. The money you spend is not just dropping money into a horse it's an investment and insurance policy. The better trained and more miles a horse has on it, the safer and more reliable that horse will be. To us, horses are very much like people. They think and act just like people each horse has their own special personality, and that's what we love most about them no two horses are the same! Think about it this way people spend up to 25 years in school longer then a lot of horses live. But most people seem to want a horse to be fully trained in just a few months! Think about your riding ability, and what you are wanting to do with your horse when you take it home. If you have a company, you want to hire the best for the money and for the job. A high school drop-out has spent maybe 10 years in school, or 1/10th of their life in school if that person lives to be 100. Compare that to a horse with one month of training if that horse lives to be 20, they've only spent 1/240th of their life in "school". You are hiring this horse for yourself, make sure this horse is qualified for the job you are giving it.
--John & Jo Watlington
-Watlington Ranch
copyright 2007-2012
We do not believe in making a horse respond to fear a horse should do as asked, because they know that when they do, the pressure will be taken away. Everything a horse does, is a reaction to pressure. It's either Fight (into pressure), or Flight (away from pressure). Horses should not lose their spirit, but should want to and be willing to please people. Horses should not fear but respect people. Anytime they are in the presence of people, in tack, or being handled they should not do anything to endanger anyone or any other horse. No matter what the pecking order is out in the pasture, any person should be above them.
The more training you have on any horse, the better off the horse will be. The money you spend is not just dropping money into a horse it's an investment and insurance policy. The better trained and more miles a horse has on it, the safer and more reliable that horse will be. To us, horses are very much like people. They think and act just like people each horse has their own special personality, and that's what we love most about them no two horses are the same! Think about it this way people spend up to 25 years in school longer then a lot of horses live. But most people seem to want a horse to be fully trained in just a few months! Think about your riding ability, and what you are wanting to do with your horse when you take it home. If you have a company, you want to hire the best for the money and for the job. A high school drop-out has spent maybe 10 years in school, or 1/10th of their life in school if that person lives to be 100. Compare that to a horse with one month of training if that horse lives to be 20, they've only spent 1/240th of their life in "school". You are hiring this horse for yourself, make sure this horse is qualified for the job you are giving it.
--John & Jo Watlington
-Watlington Ranch
copyright 2007-2012
Jo on Tequila and John on Rusty on Yales Two Day Trail Ride, located in central Iowa. This saddle club is the club in which Jo grew up showing in and representing. Both her and John return every year for this trail ride.