Jim Thomas understands horses AND people

Many years ago, Jim Thomas had a moment. He was trailer loading a young horse, a Christmas gift for his daughter, Emily. He tried every trick in the book to get this six-month filly loaded: “The more we pushed, the more she resisted,” recalled Thomas. […]

Eclectic Horseman for your continuing education

For 13 years, Eclectic Horseman Communications has brought us regular, vital doses of straight talk and continuing education. Eclectic Horseman, the magazine, has some 3,000 subscribers, including several hundred in Australia, United Kingdom, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The Horseman’s Gazette, an adjunct DVD subscription […]

Evidence-Based Horsemanship opens to raves

An eager and engaged crowd attended the opening session of the Evidence-Based Horsemanship seminar Friday evening at Parker Stables in Sherwood, Oregon. Dressage riders, barn managers, ranchers, and trail riders gathered to hear neuropsychologist Dr. Steve Peters and horseman Martin Black open the door to […]

Parker Stables welcomes Evidence-Based Horsemanship

This weekend, the Evidence-Based Horsemanship seminar is lucky to call Parker Stables home. Owners Cindy and Duffy Parker bought their bucolic, 15-acre property more in Sherwood, Oregon, 11 years ago. Back then, it was not so pretty. But over the years, they’ve turned […]

Finding the Ideal Learning Environment

When I was a kid, there was no such thing as ‘learning disabilities” or “learning styles.” You learned or you didn’t. I wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until teetering on the verge of not graduating from college. Up until then, I just assumed I wasn’t as […]

Comeback Challenge Beats All

For years, I’ve been reporting on colt-starting events and saying to myself: Amazing stuff, but rescued horses are way more challenging than these untouched two-year olds. They’ve got baggage by the bucketful, troubled pasts, bad habits, and even horsey PTSD sometimes. Why not work with […]

Evidence-Based Horsemanship moves forward

Great news for those interested in Evidence-Based Horsemanship: Horseman Martin Black and neuroscientist Dr. Steve Peters have a DVD in the works and a May seminar planned. The DVD will be an introduction to concepts articulated in the book, Evidence-Based Horsemanship, published in 2012. Producer […]

This Colt Starting recipe has better ingredients

The Road to the Horse has become one of the most popular horse training events in the world. It offers spectators flashy performances along with shopping experiences in the horse-rich community of Lexington, Kentucky. But what does it offer the horse? More and more horsemen […]

First Trail Ride, Part II

The first trail ride with the mule proceeded after she gave me a few bucks and raced towards trees and our fence. (Thank you, trees and fence for stopping us.) Read Part I. Steve and Comet were crucial riding partners. They rode ahead and blocked […]

Evidence-Based Horsemanship returns to Northeast

Lois Dietrich will host neuropsychologist Dr. Steve Peters and horseman Martin Black at their first seminar of Evidence-Based Horsemanship on the East Coast, November 15-17. The pair will conduct lectures, demonstrations, and Dr. Peters will dissect a horse brain at the Mountain Springs Arena facilities […]