>>> I read a bit and was turned off too. I got the impression that he didn't >>> like horses >>> much and people less. I really want to read how to be successful not how >>> hard it is to >>> get anything right at all. He obviously hasn't met any ponies like my two >>> angels <;D >>> or people like us. Sue Coombes
I thought about this overnight Sue, and I had to come back and answer you. I think my very different reaction to this blurb from this book stems from the many clinics I've attended in the past - many "natural", some dressage, many "basic horsemanship", and one "traditional Icelandic." I've only had an issue with a couple of the clicicians themselves that I've encountered, but I DO see a strong tendency in many attendees to "join the cult", or to even jump from cult to cult. Some of the clinicians actively try to discourage people from finding a "one size fits all" solution - Liz Graves is a fine example of a clinician who won't discourage her attendees from taking good basic riding lessons locally, and who neither promotes nor discourages "natural horsemanship" - she's a supporter of ALL good, gentle horsemanship methods, and she's very supportive of my "natural" methods...and she even encouraged me to use more "Parelli methods" once for a particular horse for a particular issue he came to me with. But, there are clinicians - some good and some horrible - who try to make you believe that their way is the only way. More often than not though, I think the fans are the ones who elevate many clinicians to cult status. Of course, many of us can go to clinics without drinking the koolaid so to speak, but what this Smokie Branaman said on this topic just hit my funny bone as truth. I'm still not sure about buying his book though! I'm passing on it for now. :) Karen Thomas, NC
