I've started horses since I was 12 years old and have been bit, kicked, bucked off and run over. I've tried every physical means to contain my horse in an effort to keep from getting myself killed. I started to realize that things would come much easier for me once I learned why a horse does what he does.

You can't make something happen with a horse, but you can fix things up and let it happen.

That absolute pure honesty of the horse, man that's just the greatest thing there is

There are things that change all through your life the way you deal with people, the way you approach problems.

On a horse there is a perfect position of balance where he doesn't feel like he's pushing you along with him or dragging you along with him. It's like two converging currents in a river, where those currents converge, there is a point where there is no movement, no energy; and that's what you're thinking when you're on the back of a horse.

I'm still on the move, I'm getting better because I'm still studying. I still want to be a better horseman.

Theoretically the human is supposed to be the smart one so as you get acquainted with the horse, you explore what it's going to take for him to understand what you would like him do, with as little trouble as possible. You're trying to avoid conflict, not trying to create it.