Testimonials
Hi There Don! I wanted to thank you so very much for all you taught me and my fox trotter mare, Aubrey
last Friday night. I learned heaps just watching and was thrilled at how well she responded to your gentle,
firm ways. She did so well, and I'm so proud of her. I have to admit the highlight for me was Saturday
morning and the liberty exercise with all the horses. You never would have made me believe such a thing
was possible if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. It was fabulous. I hope to have more free time after
October, and if so, would love to haul down there and just enjoy some time riding with you all. I'd love to
take a week's clinic too - just have to wait and see how the cards fall in the next month or so...
Thank you again for your wonderful, calm, professionalism. We "old horsewomen" can still happily learn new
ways to do old things!
Blessings to you and your family and horses.
Dr. Mimi S., - September 18, 2007
Hi Diana! Thank you so much for the pic. I love it when Fargo gives me a hug. I want to comment on
the wonderful clinic that Don gave. (Please pass this on to him. I sometimes have trouble trying to
send 2 messages!) As you remember, I attended a clinic about 2 years ago and did learn alot but this
clinic for me went way beyond that. I learned so much about timing, position, persistence and technique,
just to name a few, that my horsemanship grew by bounds. I feel so much more confident about my progress
so that I know I can and will keep on progressing. Don gave us so much individual attention that at times
I felt I was the only one in the arena and getting to watch him play with my horse....Wow! I never thought
he could do some of the stuff he did, good and bad, Hee Hee. And I did things with him that I didn't think
I could do...BACK DOWN a hill, change directions around a pole and following him all around a pasture. Thank
you again for a great time and you will be seeing me at future clinics!
Laurie C. - September 25, 2007
I want to thank Don for his most unique, kind and perceptive instruction in natural horsemanship.
He is amazing when it comes to "reading" the horse & student. This past week, I had the pleasure of
my second session with Don with my very young, very spooky, very claustrophobic horse, Lance. Lance
could not be tied: he had broken at least 3 snaps on lead ropes! Whenever, I got few feet away, or
"out of sight" he would back off and bust loose. I am proud to say, that after Don's instruction, I
was able to tie him up for hour, yesterday! I left him numerous times, and he just standing there
where I left him, when I checked. He was actually taking a nap part of the time! He taught me that
safety, respect and leadership were very important, not only to me, but also to my young horse.
Thank you, again for helping me be a better partner for my horse. I look forward to the next
opportunity to learn from you.
Linda D - Waleska, GA September 29, 2007
Dear Don and Diana,
Thank you SO much for the awesome learning experience you provided last
week at your ranch. You both were excellent and very gracious hosts.
Words really can't describe what last week meant to me and my horse.
Thanks to you, my young, inexperienced Arabian matured a great deal, and I
learned how my being a better leader really can make a difference. I
appreciated that you, Don, had no specific agenda. You evaluated where
our horses and we were and began there. I wasn't sure what to expect as I
drove to Sulphur. In fact, when asked what we would be doing, I really
had no idea, except to say improve my horsemanship. My only goal was to
canter by the end of the week. That goal was quickly attained on the
first ride, and from that point on, we seemed to improve significantly
every day. Yielding the shoulders, collection, and canter-departs were
all new to Moonlite. Although I had tried in the past to attempt these
exercises, I obviously wasn't succeeding. Moving cattle and taking an
extended trail ride with some technical challenges on Thursday allowed us
to put our new skills to use. By Friday, I was cantering in open fields,
totally comfortable. At this point, I think Moonlite has skills that my
10-year-old and my 20-year-old have not yet mastered. I eagerly
anticipate teaching them these skills.
Thank you again. I look forward to spending another week with you next
year!
Sheila - October 08, 2007
Don and Diana,
I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed my weeks stay with you and how welcome you made me feel. You truly made me feel like one of the family and that speaks volumes for you both. As for my horse, WOW! Like Sheila, I wasn't sure what to expect from our week and was happy to learn anything Don felt worthy to teach. My latest and most difficult challenge with my horse had been "sudden" bolting which resulted in me keeping him in the arena. I quickly learned how incredibly bored my horse was and, as usual, the issue was with me, not him. Don was able to finally get me to understand what it means to "engage his mind" when he starts to feel tight. His bolts weren't "sudden," I was ignoring the warning signs. By learning to recognize them, Don taught me lots of tricks to get his mind back on me. And it works!
When I left at the end of that week, I felt as though I could ride that horse anywhere and do it safely! Don really helped me to understand what it means to be a good leader for my horse and how to better understand him. Thank you, Don, for all that you have done for me and all that you continue to do for me. I wouldn't be able to be successful with my horse if I hadn't met you. I look forward to coming back to Oklahoma soon! My gratitude to you both,
Michelle M. - Fort Wayne, Indiana
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