Don West: Horsemanship Clinics & Workshops

"Come Ride With Me!"
Learning, Training, and Trail Riding
Paso-Pleasure Naturally Gaited Horses
and, for the truly adventurous,
there's "Go Right-Go Lite"
Low-Impact Wilderness Horse Camping
for discriminating trail riders
"Born to Ride"
with
Horseman - "Equine Success Coach"
Specializing in Paso and Naturally Gaited Horses
"Your Learning Leader for Equine Adventure"
DON WEST
"The candle of life burns brightest in the winds of adventure" D.W.
so,
"Saddle Up -- Let's Ride!"

Old Chinese Proverb says:
"When students are ready -- master appears.
When master is ready -- students appear."
Well friends, I'm ready, but, I ain't gettin' no younger,
so don't wait too long!
"Come Ride With Me!" D.W.

Don is an internationally known and respected professional horseman. Not just a lecturer or teacher, he thinks of himself more as an "equine success coach", "your learning leader for equine adventure". Don teaches students how to handle and train paso and naturally gaited horses for trail riding, back country travel, and low impact horse camping. For twenty years he bred pure blood, registered Peruvian Pasos, and for the past ten years he has been producing his own breed called Paso-Pleasure Horses, a cross between Peruvian Pasos (on the bottom) and Mountain Pleasure (on the top side). His saying: "A comfortable horse is a happy horse, and a happy horse makes for a happy rider", describes his approach to training and riding. As Don says, "If you're a rider, you're a trainer! Every time you touch your horse, you teach your horse. Every time you rein your horse, you train your horse. You can learn to think like a horse, but a horse can't learn to think like you. In this man-horse relationship, you are the brains, and your horse is the brawn. Under my supervision you'll learn how to use patience and perseverance instead of pain and punishment, and finesse instead of force to achieve your training goals. Using my techniques, you can become the benevolent master, while your horse enjoys being your willing servant. Remember, your job as a rider-trainer isn't to make each horse the best, it's to make the best of each horse." Want to learn Don's "sit-down equitation" and "synergistic-synchronistic riding", in balance and harmony with your gaited trail horse? Well, come ride with Don, and "Saddle Up-Let's Ride!"

Many new horse owners, (and not so new horse owners) are finding that enthusiasm alone isn't enough to bring them the relationship they envisioned when they entered the wonderful world of horses. Don's down to earth, no nonsense, straight forward, hands on, experiential approach to basic horsemanship is as refreshing as it is rewarding. If you ride with Don you'll learn what he calls "horse handling-horse sense", "sit-down equitation" and "synergistic-synchronistic riding", a style of riding best suited to today's pleasure-trail riders, especially those riding paso and naturally gaited horses. To get the best results, where you can enjoy the thrill of being the benevolent master, and your horse is your willing servant, you must learn to use finesse instead of force, and patience and perseverance instead of pain and punishment. That philosophy applied with right repetition will develop the "dance partner" kind of relationship you're looking for with your horse.

If you are a member of the equine industry's fastest growing group, pleasure-trail riders, have an interest in paso or naturally gaited horses, love trail riding and/or horse camping in the backcountry, or have thought about taking your horse on an overnight outing, you'll find common ground and workable methods working with Don and his Paso-Pleasure Horses, under his personal supervision.

So, don't wait! Come ride with Don at West Gait Equine Learning Center, near Fruita, Colorado.

"Saddle Up --- Let's Ride!!!"

For information or reservations, call Maria or Don West (970)858-3607 -- fax: 970-858-7861

donwest@wic.net -- maria@wic.net -- info@havesaddlewilltravel.com

Come Ride With Me!
Learn how to handle, train, ride, and go trail riding under Don's supervision at West Gait Equine Learning Center. We provide the horses, saddles and tack, lessons, trail rides, and lunch (on full days). You take care of your own transportation, lodging, and other meals. $50.00/ hour, $100.00/ half day, or $200.00/day (with lunch).

Maximum 3 participants at any time. Bookings are done on a first come, first serve basis, so be sure to sign up early!

This is your chance to learn how to work with, ground train, and train under saddle at all stages, form starting in bosal, to riding in four reins, to straight up in the bit. You'll learn the specifics about how to ride naturally gaited horses, including Paso Fino, Peruvian Pasos, and other breeds of Spanish gaited horses. You'll be under the guidance and supervision of the nationally known and respected master horseman, Don West, your "equine success coach "and "Learning Leader for Equine Adventure". Work with his own breed of naturally gaited Paso-Pleasure Gaited Horses, and polish your horse-handling and training skills while enjoying some fantastic trail riding in the canyons, deserts, and mountains of spectacular Western Colorado. Ride out into the slick rock canyon wilderness, or into the towering Bookcliffs where you can visit the wild horse herd! Work with our Paso-Pleasure Horses at every level of training, or you can bring your own Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino, or any other breed of naturally gaited horse, and your own tack.

"Go Right-Go Light!"
Low-Impact Backcountry Horse Camping Learning Adventure

Individual $2,000.00

Couple $3,800.00

Three, when signed up together $5,500.00

Call Don for details 970-858-7739.

The Experience of a Lifetime!
Five adventure filled days learning, training, trail riding, and low-impact horse camping, all hands-on. You'll spend one or two days at West Gait Equine Learning Center getting acquainted with your horse and gear, and three or four days of riding, walking, and resting, and backpack style camping on horseback in some of the wildest mountain back country in Western Colorado. You'll be learning by doing, all under Don's personal instruction and supervision. Make no mistake; this ain't no waltz in the park. This is a rugged program! It's not for the mentally or physically weak. But, if you're looking to learn wilderness low-impact horse camping skills, while having a real riding adventure, this is your program. Pick a date, and come ride with Don! From July through Mid September. "The candle of life burns brightest in the winds of adventure", so "Saddle Up- Let's Ride!"D.W.

"MY PONY AND ME"

I WAS FILLED WITH CONFUSION
HAD BAD FEELINGS INSIDE
SO I SADDLED MY PONY
AND I WENT FOR A RIDE

WE COVERED THE GROUND
LIKE A BIRD ON THE WING
AS THE MILES FELL BEHIND ME
I STARTED TO SING

I SANG TO THE COYOTES
I SANG TO THE SKY
I SANG TO MY PONY...
AND I STARTED TO CRY

I FELT THE EMOTIONS
LETTING GO FROM INSIDE
LETTING CARES FALL AWAY
AS AHEAD I DID RIDE

THE TEARS KEEP ON COMING
TO THE TOP OF THE HILL
WHERE I REINED IN MY PONY
AND SAT THERE... REAL STILL

WE LOOKED OUT TOGETHER
ON THE COUNTRY BELOW
AS I STROKED HIS LONG MANE
NICE AND EASY AND SLOW

FROM THE BACK OF MY PONY
MY PROBLEMS SEEMED FEW
AND I GATHERED THE COURAGE
TO START LIFE ANEW

YES I RELISHED THE MOMENT
SAT THERE TAKING IT IN
BUILDING STRENGTH FOR THE FUTURE
TO START LIVING AGAIN

AS FINALLY THE SUN PASSED
BEHIND A TALL HILL
THE LONG RAYS OF TWILIGHT
GAVE US BOTH A COLD CHILL

IT WAS TIME TO BE GOING
IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON
'CAUSE THE TIME IT IS PASSING
AND THE PAST IT IS GONE

SO I CLUCKED TO MY PONY
AND HE MOVED DOWN THE HILL
FATHER TIME WILL NOT LINGER
BUT THE MEMORY WILL

NOW I CHERISH THOSE MOMENTS
THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
MILES OF WILD OPEN COUNTRY
AND MY PONY.... AND ME

Last Updated: July, 2010

West Gait Equine Learning Center

P O Box 700

Fruita CO 81521-0700

phone: 970-858-7739 -- fax: 970-858-7861 -- e-mail: donwest@wic.net or westgait@wic.net