Philosophy
The horse is as individual as you and I. When we start to listen and respect the horse as we do our human peers then we get amazing results, the horse gives us the same respect and honor. We as humans have learned to communicate verbally therefore taking out the non-verbal side of communication, this is Body Language & Energy. Body language is spoken among all of God’s creatures and tells of our true beliefs and feelings. We can all communicate verbally to cover up our true thoughts but inevitably our actions and the way we carry ourselves will tell the true story. Animals having a non-verbal (as we know it) language cannot misrepresent their true thoughts.
When we learn to speak this language we break down all barriers to our inner-selves as well as to the animals we are working with. In accordance, our social lives tend to improve due to us being able to be less threatening towards others and the ability to get along well with others and try new approaches. Learning body language will set at ease your natural predator instincts and you will have a harmonious balance with your horse. This will affect your whole life in a positive fashion.
Understanding how to achieve this status with our four legged friends takes us learning “Horse Psychology” only once we truly understand how to communicate with our horses then we can take down all barriers and start to have amazing results. Knowing what the horse is thinking will help us understand what techniques we need to use for training and at what speeds we need to teach at so we don’t build resentment and mistrust.
Mastering Horse Communication and Trust
My Journey
Learning to work with horses didn’t come to me until a little later in my youth. During my summers as a kid I was always involved with sports camps and summer leagues while my sisters were the ones who really enjoyed the companionship of the equine. I was always around but not involved with horses because of my skiing career but it took befriending a cowboy in Jackson Hole, Wyoming before I would take the lifestyle into my heart. I had many different trainers that showed me tools and techniques, but ultimately the horse showed me what methods work best for them. I have many aspects to my business, but I really enjoy starting and educating young horses as well as teaching or re-educating older horses which have not had the best start or foundation laid down for them. I really enjoy teaching true communication through body language and energy and that these are the most natural, safest and quickest keys to a successful partnership based on Leadership through the horse’s eyes, not as domination through the rider’s eyes. Regaining trust and leadership in troubled horses and developing positive safe relationships between owners and horses are some of the other aspects that make up a majority of my business, in addition to clinics and seminars.
I have worked with thousands of horses. I was the head trainer at the world’s largest Rocky Mountain Horse ranch (over 250 head). It was one of the largest horse ranches in the U.S. at the time. I have worked many breeds, including but not limited to Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Warm Bloods, Rocky Mountain Horses, Tennessee Walkers, Missouri Fox Trotters, Paso Finos, American Quarter Horses, Brazilian Mangaloras, Percherons, Saddlebreds and too many more to list. I have had the incredible opportunities to learn from some of the best Horsemen in the world like Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt, Monty Roberts, Chris Cox, Clinton Anderson, Pat Parrelli amongst many others and I have had the honor of working with Richard Winters, Dr. Robert Miller, Eitan Beth-Halachmy, Jack Brainard, Lester Buckley, Jon Ensign and others, I have been a Light Hands Horsemanship Staff Member since 2008. These Horsemen define lightness and softness not only with their horses but also in how they carry out their lives and interactions with other humans. Just because I know these people this does not qualify me to be a great Horseman. Only the horses can do that. I have found that a horse is still a horse no matter where you go in the world, and kindness is always the best tool that you can have!
Join Our Clinics
So come on out to one of my clinics and learn about Horse Psychology & Herd Behaviorisms and how to have a true partnership with the horse on a level that is natural to the horse using techniques based on herd dynamics and body language! Learn how to stop dominating your horse and learn how to be a leader.
Be Safe & Have Fun,
Joe Turner