About Us

A Lifetime of Horsemanship Focused On Your Horse

Background:

Born in Paisley, Oregon and raised in the Willamette Valley, I learned at a very young age that horses would be my future. In my early adult life, I mentored under Floyd Rains. I took my knowledge from that experience and moved to Central Oregon from the Willamette Valley in August of 2000. I guess the turn of the century spurred me to reside in a drier climate and I have never looked back. I started out with very little clientel, but after a few years of building my training business, I started to show in the Oregon National Quarter Horse Foundation Club. I achieved high success in the early 2000’s, earning 1^st in the All-around nationally. I showed a stallion here locally named Command Finale, one of my favorites. Since that time, I have experienced participation in the local and regional sorting and penning competitions. I have seen the pay window at times, and have had a lot of fun along the way.

More recently, I have started showing at the American Stock Horse Association competitions. In 2017, I ended up 10^th in the All –around green horse nationally, with a little paint horse named, Playin in Color. I also ended up 2^nd in Reined Cow Horse and 4^th in Green Horse Reining, nationally.

Training Philosophy:

If asked if there was a particular horse trainer that I tried to model my program after, I guess the answer would be, Clinton Anderson. I believe that the whole horse needs to be broke, and I mean broke. The head, the shoulder, ribs, and hip, all should be able to move on cue. I believe that not all horses are the same, and don’t try to fit each horse into the same box. Each horse is an individual and learns at their own pace. What will work for one horse doesn’t always work for the next one, and I adapt my training accordingly.

I stick to the western disciplines. I like working cow, reining, ranch sorting, and trail. I take on colt starting, problem horses, and tune-ups. I spend time in the fall on horseback packing into elk camp and enjoy getting horses to do that also. If it seems like a horse doesn’t have a niche in life, I will find him one.

Training Facility:

I am housed at the beautiful Skyhawk Ranch, located at 6287 NE 33rd St, Redmond, OR 97756. We had to relocate there after the prior barn which I leased for training collapsed under the weight of the snow of 2017. I have been a little quiet about it, as I didn’t want to seem like I was taking over the facilities there as there is another trainer onsite. We have a mutual respect for each other and it is working out well with no “rubbing elbows”.