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Creating
Balance Between Horse and Rider
Through Quality Horsemanship™ |
ABOUT TOM CURTIN:
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Tom
Curtin grew up in the Big Sky State of Montana where his father
had an outfitting and packing business. Tom was extremely fortunate
to be around and work for some of the most famous ranches of the
west; among them being The King Ranch, The Four 6's , Johnson Ranch
and the 7D Ranch. Along with beneficial settings for horse training,
Tom also had the chance to learn from many inspirational men in
the horse world. Buster Welch, for example, had a significant influence
on how Tom now views and trains the horse. Ray Hunt and his wife,
Carolyn, also played an active role in the formation of Tom's horsemanship.
Ray showed Tom how to look at things from the horse's point of view,
an invaluable aspect of horse training that Tom still honors today.
Along the way, however, a constant figure in Tom's life was his
father who remains today an exceptional horseman and an accomplished
teamster.
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Throughout
his many years on various ranches and valuable lessons from motivational
horseman, Tom has cultivated a wide range of experience and understanding.
His rapport with the horse boasts a sensitive comprehension that
goes beyond basic training and, instead, deals with the true nature
of the horse. Dawn Dugan, from Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar, states
that "the roots of Tom's training philosophy are firmly planted
in understanding the way a horse thinks and why instinct makes him
behave the way he does." Tom is adamant about getting along
with the horse instead of punishing the animal for doing wrong.
He states simply that if you have a job for your horses to do, you
have to cooperate and if you fight against your horse it will eventually
sell out on you. "When I work with a horse, I want my ideas
to seem like good ones to the horse." he says "I approach
him in a manner that makes sense to him. I don't go against his
instinct. I work with him and not against him and I try to fix it
so that my ideas are his ideas." This communication between
horse and human is a key point for Tom and is easily seen in all
he does with his horses. Tom explains, "My main goal is to
have my horse want to help me, to want to be around me."
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Tom,
his wife, Trina, and their daughter Tana now live in North Florida.
Tom and Trina's home is open to those people who want to improve
their skills on general horsemanship (English or Western), colt
starting, ranch roping and cow work, in a working environment with
their own horse. Many see the opportunity to ride their own horse
in a working atmosphere under the guidance of two such gifted horse
people as the ideal horsemanship experience. However, Tom can also
be found traveling around the country on his mission to help the
horse through clinics and demonstrations. Through his travels he
hopes to aid individuals with their horse and spread his knowledge
and understanding of the balance between horse and rider through
quality horsemanship. |
| Naturally Speaking articles about Tom Curtin in the Pedlar (Used with permission) |
