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Dale’s clinic changed my life!
Two years ago I was thrown from my horse. After riding all my life I was now terrified to get on a horse. I have ridden since the accident, on a different horse, but my husband and I would go only a short distance and I would dismount and walk the horse home. I knew the horse had done nothing wrong, she was just doing what horses do, it was me, I was terrified and my confidence was gone. I started riding with a local trainer in her arena hoping to regain my comfort level and confidence; all I did was spend a lot of money. With Dale’s help at this clinic by the end of the trail ride I was riding with confidence again. I was trotting and loping and having a wonderful time doing it, I was back in control. We met a lot of great people at this clinic and my husband and I came away with many skills, including bit less riding, which is incredible. But more important to me than any horsemanship skill I could have gained was I came away with a major attitude adjustment. Dale helped me to reevaluate the values and beliefs that have always guided me in my life. I have written down this statement, pinned it to my wall, and will read it everyday as a reminder of how I want to live my life.
What Happened In The Past Is The Past And Those Events Only Affect You Now If You Let Them, I Will Focus On My Goals For The Future And The Good Things To Come.
Thank you Dale and God Bless you for all you do.
Penny Moore (pennytx@hotmail.com)
Milford, Texas
10-2-2006
Leann Phenix
Bertram, Texas, US
Hi folks. Just wanted to pass on the info from this weekend's Aussie Logic clinic with Dale. I hardly know what to say except: WOW! It was the best clinic I have ever been to, and I have been to a lot of clinics. It's similar to natural horsemanship in many ways. It's an effective way to get what you want from the horse using gentle methods. Actually it is the most gentle type of training I have seen to date. In short, we rode the beautiful Parrie Haines ranch for two days straight with the horses only wearing their halters and saddles. Nothing but great scenery, great people, an incredible horseman named Dale, wide open spaces and absolutely no bits on the horses. No bits, no corrals, no round pens, no arenas, no spurs, no tie downs . . . We walked, trotted, loped, galloped, all in halters. We went racing up hills, racing down hills (and at other times we walked up and down the hills), played in a river, rode next to bridges with large trucks passing overhead, rode next to someone shooting a rifle over and over again, rode with strong winds and no winds and intense heat. We rode through just about anything that can happen on the trail. We rode for hours and would probably still be riding if the heat hadn't made us so tired. We had green riders and we very experienced riders. We had several horses on their first trail ride ever, including a 2 year old Arab gelding and that little Arab looked like a seasoned trail horse in short order. It's really hard to believe how easy it was, looking back on it. I will definitely let you know when Dale has another clinic. He kinda blows your mind, but it in a very positive way. Thanks so much to the Brock family for telling us about Dale and putting together the clinic. Now I have to come down from the stratosphere and try to comprehend that I can ride my horse in a halter anywhere we want to go.
Happy (bitless) trails, Leann
10-2-2006
Rheetah Pritchard
www.mainstreet-stores.com/CreativeCageDesigns
Cedar Park, TX, US
I almost gave up my 1500 lb. Clydesdale/T. Walker cross because I was convinced that she was "too much" horse for me, being such a novice rider. The longer I kept her, the less I rode her, because the more out of control I felt. Someone ( TJ Rogers-Wierenga) recommended that I call Dale before I gave up. So I felt like I owed at least that to my horse, who came to me better behaved than now ( means my fault, right?). So, long story short, I went on Dale's training trail ride with a great group of people and after jumping off my horse because she kept wanting to bolt, I was horrified that I'd be the only one there that didn't complete the ride. Dale worked with me and my horse for about 5 minutes making sure I followed through on the fine details of what he'd been showing us about controlling our horse's speed. I hopped back on and finished the ride on my wild girl. Oh, did I say, that we did all this without a bridle and bit. I'm still laughing about that! The horse that I couldn't ride in an arena with a bridle and bit, I just finished riding out on the open trail in Dale's training halter! I cried on the way home, because I almost gave up that big wonderful horse, who ended up leading the group through most of the rest of the clinic! Thank you Dale for helping me regain control and not ride in fear!
I keep thinking of people I wish could have been at the workshop at Parrie Haynes. After years of making my living working with livestock and then a few years of not riding horses at all, my faith is restored in the pleasure to be had in being around horses and horse people. And all because of a four knot halter and a funny talking fella who makes more sense than anyone I have heard in years! If anyone has a horse with "issues", at least listen to Dale - he can literally save you lots of time and even more heartache. When Dale said, 'trust me" and I took the snaffle bit off a 4 year old, sale barn gelding and replaced it with a halter, I thought "well, at least my will is current." And the sweetest riding adventure I have ever had began in 100 degree weather. Not to be too serious, but it was a totally attitude changing weekend. I find myself rethinking actions that have become habits over the years and saying to myself, " is there an easier way of getting a better result?" and not just with horses! Thanks to all who participated in the "awakening". It was a blast!
Sharon Phenix Hehr
Bertram TX
I heard of Aussie Logic from a friend at the Ft Sam Houston Equestrian Center in San Antonio, Jill Avila, who invited me and some other friends to a horse-power ride at Parrie Haynes and to attend the Clinic on 2 OCT 06 . I agreed to go, but, I was experiencing some challenges loading my horse into a trailer. Jill mentioned she was experiencing similar difficulties with her horse as well, so we both decide to take a few days to focus on this action. The week prior to the clinic, Jill and I positioned a trailer to begin practicing loading our horses. Of course, prior to this, we searched the internet and other materials for positive calm obedience methods to teach our horses to load easily and safely. Jill began first with her horse "Tobi" and tried several different methods of loading her horse into the trailer. We spent some considerable time working with Tobi, until patience began to run thin, and Tobi would not advance more than half way into the trailer. We decided to try a lunge rope behind Tobi, as he was half way into the trailer, to see if he would step completely into the trailer. Something all of a sudden caused Tobi to spook, and all Tobi wanted at this point was to get the heck out of the trailer! As he aggressively exited the trailer, he hit himself just over his right eye. Needless to say, this occurrence completely changed the focus of trailer loading to the health and well being of Tobi, to ensure he was not seriously injured. As result of this unfortunate situation, Jill would not be able to attend the clinic, but I still maintained an interest in participating. The following day, I began to work with my horse "Zydeco" to see if I could load him into the trailer. As I was working with Zydeco, I had about five different individuals, who saw the slow progress I was making with him, stop by to explain their theory of what would work to get my horse into the trailer. To keep a long story short, I heard just about every possible method and tried most of the theories of which none worked effectively. It took me 8 hours to get Zydeco completely into the trailer once. The next day, I was able to get Zydeco into the trailer three times in an 8 hour period. The morning of the clinic, it took me over an hour to get Zydeco into the trailer. Once I arrived at Parrie Haynes, and signed up for the clinic, I mentioned that my major issue with Zydeco was trailer loading. Once Dale came up to help me with Zydeco's trailer issues, he began to apply his knowledge and expertise in loading Zydeco into the trailer. Shortly after, by applying Aussie logic methods, Dale had Zydeco going into the trailer. Once I saw this happen, I felt totally relieved and satisfied. It made the trip from San Antonio to Killeen totally worthwhile. Of course, meeting all the nice folks and riding the beautiful trails at Parrie Haynes was a wonderful experience as well. I want to personally send thanks to Jill, Erin, Terry & Anne for all their support and friendship, as well as, to Dale for sharing his vast knowledge in horsemanship.
LTC Axel Martinez
San Antonio, TX
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW! WHAT A BLAST AND A REFRESHING CHANGE HOW TO BE TRULY FREE AND IN TUNE WITH YOUR HORSE. AFTER NEARLY 30 YRS RIDING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE FOUND SOMEONE WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE FREE AND TRUSTING WITH MY HORSE, TO UNDERSTAND THEM MORE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FORCE THEM THROUGH HARSH DEVICES. BUT WORK WITH AND UNDERSTAND THEM AND THEIR FEELINGS. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN AND EDUCATIONAL, A MUST FOR SEASONED OR BEGINNING RIDERS.
SHAUNYA TUCKNESS
NATIVE EQUINE DREAMS RANCH AND RESCUE
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