walter Zettle .. what a great master in his field. I had the pleasure of being in one of his training videos with one of my mares. He has a sequal of course and I was training at one of the farms here in florida and he is such a wonderful man.. He is always looking out for the horses wellbeing and I would certainly recommend him to any dressage enthusiast if you get the opportunity to ride with him. or just meet him.. Hes a kind soul.. and heart...of gold.

Glad to see this topic! I enjoy and have ridden with Harry Whitney and Mark Rashid. I have a lot of respect for Ray Hunt, and Walter Zettl. There is also a very good horseman out there named Mark Russell, have met him but never been to his clinics. Some of these guys i listed sell books, but no colorful sticks and they come from working ranches. Ok, that is my 02 cents. K

This will be my 3rd Road to the Horse upcoming. I've enjoyed all the clinicians,but Clinton Anderson explains things the same way over and over and he tells you exactly what he is doing.Stacey Westfall does it with love and a lot of people can't understand that.But it sure hits home for me. I can't wait to see Chris Cox in person as I really like the way he does things on TV. I've been riding horse all my life and started breaking them when I was 12. But Clinton Anderson has done more for me than another clinician. But I appreciate them all(that I have seen) I ride ranch horses and Clinton Anderson says ranch horses are broke, broke, broke and stiff as a board. LOL and guess what, he is right. LOL So I have been bending my 12 year old grandson of Doc O lena, who thinks that is all a bunch of bull.(ok if I have to bend, I'll do it) I was thrown a few years back. And somehow ended up riding this same perfect mare forever after that. Well she is getting old and I realized I had lost my confidence on other horses. Clinton's techniques helped me get that back. But shoot I am never too old to learn a thing or two. RFDTV,clinician DVD's,and Clinics are such a great way to improve a few things. I think it is great to have all these folks to give us ideas and techniques we can use. I started with an old cowboy telling me "if you never let him buck,he will never learn how." and him sending me around a section heifer pasture one way to check heifers and him going the other way. All his life that horse never minded leaving other horses.I started riding that horse bareback with a horsehair hackamore. The colt was just 6 months old because the old cowboy thought I could handle him better then. By the age of two when I finally saddled him ,he was broke so well you could do anything on him. That horse lived till he was 37 years. He was half shetland/half quarter. Wet saddle blankets do help. But these guys have some ideas beyond that. How lucky are we to have them! Patsy

It is true that it takes your own effort and time to learn, and to train. But like anything else, you can save yourself a lot of time wasted and painful lessons if you watch and learn from others who have already traveled those miles. You'll still take your own lumps and bumps, and cause your poor horse some distress along the way - but some time at the foot of the masters makes that trip all the easier. No, you don't need all the gimmicks and fancy equipment either. Just a good heart and a good head, and the ability to really learn from your horse too.

trained I agree about all that. I also agree that the "ill sell you a magic lead, whip etc.. is not going to achieve anything.. Maybe for a brief moment but that is it. I do know you have to gain respect, and control.. from the ground.. first and foremost . and time and patience .. also a wet blanket.. riding and schooling on the horse. even at a walk there is so many things to accomplish.. a horse and rider could also benefit from lunge line lessons from a trainer. they achieve good seat, balance and harmony and learn to use their seat and not their hands so much . ok off my soap box i got a little bit of the subject..OOPS and Im 100% sure it isnt in a cowboys way but for the other 45 % of riders it would help.I think it depends on what your going after in your riding . I like clinton too. karen

Wet saddle blankets and miles only make a horse if the rider understands what his goals are and knows how to attain them.Knowledge to understand the horses behavior is the key,ie.respect/control/pressure/release.ROAD TO THE HORSE?....LAST ONE MOUNTED FIRST TO WIN, TWICE MATE...CLINTONS THE BEST

I vote for Julie Goodright. I saw her at Equine Affaire in KY a few years back and she doesn't go into all that sales junk and try to sell you their products. Julie just teaches. Double

Hoss... well said ! and so true..

Well heck folks all this talk about clinicians,some of them are just sales men, and as Mark Rashid said in one of his books, wounder how long it will take to wear out that MAGIC lead rope? Folks any of these fellers can show ya lots of neat things,But it takes wet saddle blankets to train those horse. I have had the honer of working for some of the best horsemen out there I have know and worked fer Loyns off and on for 20 odd years, heck I used to shoe Zip for him in TX when he first started. Still see john from time to time, Josh is better than John and about ready to take the reins. John just got those knees fixed. Folks ya can go and watch these clinicians all ya want but miles and wet saddle blankets are what make the horse. When I say some of the best horsemen I'm talking every day folks that make these showmen look stupid, Rashid is not a showman and probly the best on the circet.Mark has 4 very good books and some awsome vidieos. ck him out at mark rashid@yahoo.com

I've seen and trained with quite a few of those who are popular today. Of all of them, I think Mark Rashid is the best. It's such a wonder to watch him work with a horse and/or rider. He is gentle, clearly caring, patient, and can diagnose the essence of a problem quickly and accurately. I am also fond of John Lyons, and find him to an amazing horse person; but it is more difficult to follow his explanations and instructions. The best thing about both of these people is their attitude toward the horse and toward people. They find every moment a new learning opportunity, not just a teaching opportunity.