I
was working at a stable when I first saw Cathie’s business card
tacked on the wall. Somehow I knew I would meet up with her
someday. I didn’t have a horse of my own, but was working on
finishing my barn and getting one very soon. Sure enough I met
Cathie when she came to work with some horses at the stable and even
though she didn’t know me from Adam, after talking briefly she
offered to let me come over and ride her horse. I thought that was
pretty cool. Shortly thereafter, at 41 years of age, I finally got
my first horse. Danny Boy was 9 years old at the time and I didn’t
have much history on him, except that he was a slow poke and was
described to be a “jerk” (not my choice of words) in a ring. But he
was advertised as a beginner’s horse. Right away I knew that he was
a little more than testing me with his domineering behaviors. From
refusing to pick up his feet, and then “falling” while I was
cleaning his hooves and pulling his back feet away and kicking out
at me, to swinging his head aggressively at me and practically
running me over. I could handle him o.k., but did not know how to
go about changing his behavior. I had no training experience and
did not even know how to lunge him. I also did not know what his
aggressiveness potential was. I called Cathie to come work with
us. She has helped me tremendously in so many ways. She doesn’t
just train my horse, but she trains me with patience (most of the
time) J
and is very affirming and encouraging. We have gone from groundwork
with the lead, to now free lunging and she has started teaching me
how to deal with behaviors while in the saddle. I knew that there
was a good horse in Danny Boy, and who knows what he has been
through…. He is not the cuddliest horse, but sometimes he forgets
the tough guy exterior and extends his head to me gently to let me
kiss his eyelid. I am so grateful that God put Cathie in my life
just at the right time. She is an excellent horse and people
trainer! Teddianne Parent
I
was working at a stable when I first saw Cathie’s business card
tacked on the wall. Somehow I knew I would meet up with her
someday. I didn’t have a horse of my own, but was working on
finishing my barn and getting one very soon. Sure enough I met
Cathie when she came to work with some horses at the stable and even
though she didn’t know me from Adam, after talking briefly she
offered to let me come over and ride her horse. I thought that was
pretty cool. Shortly thereafter, at 41 years of age, I finally got
my first horse. Danny Boy was 9 years old at the time and I didn’t
have much history on him, except that he was a slow poke and was
described to be a “jerk” (not my choice of words) in a ring. But he
was advertised as a beginner’s horse. Right away I knew that he was
a little more than testing me with his domineering behaviors. From
refusing to pick up his feet, and then “falling” while I was
cleaning his hooves and pulling his back feet away and kicking out
at me, to swinging his head aggressively at me and practically
running me over. I could handle him o.k., but did not know how to
go about changing his behavior. I had no training experience and
did not even know how to lunge him. I also did not know what his
aggressiveness potential was. I called Cathie to come work with
us. She has helped me tremendously in so many ways. She doesn’t
just train my horse, but she trains me with patience (most of the
time)