There are many ideas floating around the country about Natural Horsemanship and how it should be done. Peter’s philosophy is just one of them. His philosophy, as the riders and many of the spectators would attest to, is also a way of life. Peter’s method is effective because he works with the rider to have a positive outcome. What makes Peter unique is his loyalty to the horse. He sees the smallest of details in the horse and then sets things up so that both the rider and the horse have success. He helps the rider set things up so that they can get the slightest try from their horse and then, without going through trouble, come out on the other side. He never wants to see the rider have to go through trouble to get the job done. And that is what really sets him apart from all others. He cares and he’ll tell you so. I’ve seen Peter spend the extra time with both horses and riders to build the confidence in the individual and help them have success. I have never seen him use excuses or fail a horse or a rider. He is a person of high integrity.
“Living on Tulsa Time” was playing quietly in the background as the rider’s worked their horses from the ground. The music added a different element to the moment by putting more momentum into the horse’s feet. “Put more life in his feet so that he gets snappy” Peter said to the Horsemanship Class on the third day “be particular about how you want to see things done.” I found it most beneficial to watch whatever session I was not riding in, the horsemanship especially. In this class there were 16 riders of, once again, all disciplines from Western to Hunt Seat to Dressage and Pleasure and Endurance riders as well. We had riders of all different levels of experience, Katie with 30 or more years, Dave with five, Amy and Diane with less than two. This would be Amy and Diane’s first horsemanship class. Amy and Diane had ridden their horses with Peter in last fall’s Colt Starting class. Only nine months later and these young horses were looking like experience saddle horses, and how well they operated with their riders. Each horsemanship class started on the ground. Peter always had something interesting to give to his students. “When I put more life in my body, I should see more life in my horse’s feet.” He demonstrated with his horse as he quickly walked off his horse livened right up and followed behind. When the riders tried it, their horses were all slow to start. On horse reared up. “Why did her horse rear up?” Peter asked. He was always quick to ask questions so the riders could think things through and try to find the answers themselves. He repeated the question, when no one answered he responded, “The human hasn’t given him proper direction.” The rider’s tried again, this time many with success. “Let your horse work at the wrong thing. Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy. Don’t be in a hurry, practice it and then give him a little breather and maybe take a walk and come back to it.” Peter is always thinking of the horse.
I’ve seen it happen more than once. Peter is giving direction and someone is running into trouble. Maybe their horse isn’t responding or appears to be worried. If Peter believes that the rider can work it through, he will let them, but if it appears that they need help, he will step in. Many times the other riders will stop and watch. It’s a good time to learn. At the same time Peter accomplishes two things. He is able to help the horse or rider directly for one. And for the other, he is helping the other riders by setting up a moment of rest. Many times we could have success with our horses, but we drill the exercise into the horse over and over until there is no life left in the animal to even try. I find myself always anxiously waiting the moments when he spends time one-on-one with a participant.
Page 2