St Lawrence Magnet, November 2007

Before Magnet came to Dan he was a very insecure horse who couldn't cope (and certainly wouldn't load) at an event without his companion with him. He would always loose marks in the dressage for being tense and spooky, his jumping was also never fluent or comfortable. On the road he would jump up hedges to avoid tractors and shy away from the slightest rustle or even a puddle.
 
Dan identified many problems that were contributing to his behaviour and movement. His eyes were not alligned properly which made his eyesight jumpy, increasing his anxiety and tendency to spook. There were knots of muscle in his shoulders and back, meaning that something was causing him pain and making it incredibly difficult for him to engage his hindquarters. To add to this, his saddle had a twisted tree which was definitely affecting the way he moved and causing him discomfort.
 
Within two weeks of Dan training Magnet, you could see his movement becoming more free and supple. Along with the physio's help, long lining and a new saddle his muscles had improved enormously - he now frequently gets compliments about his new topline. Dan worked on Magnet's spookyness using certain exercises; by the end of his stay I could sit on top of Magnet with a huge bundle of plastic bags which he allowed me to wave all over him. He had learnt how to stand still rather than run off when things frightened him, making him a much safer ride.  
 
Dan also taught me a lot, such as how to use Magnets own inbuilt language (Equus) to communicate with him, and to long line, so I am able to continue Magnet's training at home. Our relationship has grown so much, Dan has helped us learn how to listen to each other creating a much happier, calmer relationship. Recently Magnet did a Pre Novice dressage test and got a score of 35, his best yet! He is now easier to handle and load at events, making it more enjoyable for everyone. And the other day a massive tractor drove past him and he stood perfectly still!
 
I would recommend Dan to anyone who wants to improve their horses performance and their own horsemanship. Dan's training methods, his love of horses and his amazing ability to bond with them is something to be admired.
 
Anna Robinson
Event Rider

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Solly's Story

 

I first met Dan in 2005 at a Monty Roberts demonstration at The Grange, Okehampton, where he was riding for Monty. It transpired he lived only 20 minutes from me, so I took his number in case I ever needed his help with a horse.

In October 2006 I bought an extremely green 7 year old thoroughbred, who had only been in work properly for a couple of weeks. He was spooky, frightened of absolutely everything, and had no confidence whatsoever. He would regularly rear and spin at gates, manhole covers, drains, plastic bags and anything else man made. He was very wary of strangers, particularly men, but fortunately for me, he decided the one person to trust was me, so we spent our first twelve months together building his confidence and teaching him that life really could be fun.

Things were going really well and, whilst still spooky, he was gaining in confidence day by day. The field he was in at the time was 100 yards up the hill from my house, and one day he refused to go in it. He reared, galloped circles around me, ran backwards and was absolutely beside himself. When I did manage to get him in the field, he galloped flat out to his field shelter and stood there shaking until it was time to come in again. This continued for a couple of weeks, with his symptoms becoming increasingly worse, not better. However his behaviour in all other aspects of his life was unchanged, as soon as we came out of the field he would breathe a sigh of relief and become ‘Solly’ again.

 

Dan came to visit him at home and felt that something had scared him in the field to the point that he just couldn’t cope any more, and suggested Solly should go to his yard for some confidence building work.

I was in the fortunate position that living so close, I could visit every day and work with Dan and Solly. The change in my horse over those few weeks was amazing. The first time Dan tried to pick out his feet Solly practically sat down and shook. Now, even my husband can do it!

 

Dan has to be seen in action to be believed, he has such a natural, quiet way with horses that cannot be put into words. Horses respect him, and more importantly, trust him. No horse can learn a better behaviour if they haven’t a role model to follow. Dan provides that for each and every horse he works with.

Solly is now back at home and his new found confidence has spread into every aspect of his life. We are now competing in unaffiliated dressage, where on only his third time out he won one class and came second in the other. We are show jumping and having cross country lessons, and he is taking absolutely everything in his stride and loving every minute of it. With his increased confidence, mine has grown accordingly, so roll on the eventing season of 2009!

 

Dan has made all of this possible for us, without his wonderful gift and his insight into the best possible ways of communicating with horses, Solly and I would still be hacking around the lanes and struggling with our confidence issues.

 

I could not recommend a better person to introduce a young horse into the life and behaviour we expect from them, or to help a confused or frightened older horse that has maybe lost its way. Most horses want to please, for some it just takes a person like Dan to help them understand how to do just that. Thank you Dan!

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Misty's Story - 29^th June 2008

 

When Dan came to visit my six year old pony Misty, I was unsure what to expect. I knew that I needed help - and fast!

As soon as I met Dan and saw him with Misty it became clear that he has something special – a fundamental understanding of and connection with horses.

Immediately I knew that he was the man for me – so to speak! I was told that I could come and see Misty as often as I wanted to and that was incredibly important. Watching Dan work with her was wonderful, each time I visited I could see her growing in confidence. Misty had always been very head shy, clearly she had suffered some trauma when very young, leaving her mistrustful and frightened of human beings. However thanks to Dan’s patience, kindness and skill Misty is now happy to have a head rub.

 

 

To watch her being tacked up and ridden by Dan was amazing.  It was so great to see the progress they were making - and not a whip in sight!

 

The most incredible day for me was when Misty was led around the round pen with me on board – something I never dreamed would happen. Since coming home Misty is much calmer and respectful of my boundaries.

I know that I can always call Dan or Tracey if I have any questions or problems.

I can highly recommend Dan Wilson  and have complete confidence in him as a professional who has real intelligence and a deep desire and commitment to working compassionately with horses.

 

Julie May

Devon

29^th June 2008

 

 

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Bailey's Story

 

Dear Dan, 

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank-you for achieving a much more balanced and forward thinking horse.

Having had Bailey for 6 months, I do feel since he has been with you he is able to cope with every day occurrences, as being in the police force for 4 years I believe he was very institutionalised (but was probably good at his job).Give him a red bus or London smog and he could cope with this, but living on dartmoor he wasn't able to understand why the odd sheep and moorland pony would scare him half to death having not experienced them before.

Your care and knowledge has helped myself and Bailey tremendously,we can't thank-you enough.

All the best

 

Tina Rowe

Devon

 

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Coby's Story

 

Coby has been back here a fortnight and we wanted to say that all is going well! As you will see from the photos Elizabeth bought all the recommended gear. Mechaela has started regular visits to work Coby out properly until Elizabeth gets up to speed. She has been very nice and is helping Eliz gain confidence. We hope she will be able to keep on coming round.

 

Incidentally we have attached picture to the right because we guess it will make you laugh, Coby looks as though he is asleep as he is walking, exactly as you folks said he had the inclination to do if he wasn't pushed. He's more lively in the other photo and Mechaela gets him to canter when she's here, so hopefully he won't get too lazy.

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't have time to thank you properly for all that you have done for Coby while he was with you, he certainly is now a better mannered and useful pony.

 

We would say your training is the best value for money that we have encountered in the 6 years we have been living down here, thanks again for all that you did.

 

With best wishes,

 

Elizabeth and Alan Prince

 

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THANKS TO DAN WILSON

I first saw Dan Wilson work at a demo on Practical Horsemanship and took his details (as you do), I thought I would keep his details in case the need arose in the future.  Little did I know that some nine months later I would buy the horse that needed his help.

Polo was a six year old pure bred Arab gelding who had apparently not been broken, and seemed to be quiet by nervous.  Both my daughter and I fell in love with him.  However, once we got him home we found he was extremely fretful and nervous of anything and everything.  We had him checked over and the vet said that she thought someone had tried to break him, but in the process hurt his back and caused him extreme pain which had brought his fright and flight instinct to the fore.

I knew straight away that this could be a project for Dan and made contact with him.  To give an example when Polo arrived at Dan’s yard you could hardly see him in the trailer for steam from him sweating for the short half an hour journey.  Polo was one very insecure horse, this was not going to be easy, but I had to give this practical horsemanship a try.  Within a few days Dan was starting to work his magic, as I call it.  Dan said that Polo’s flight instinct was immense, but I could not help Dan as to what had happened to Polo.  I was worried that when Polo was broken if he was frightened would he bolt with me?!!

Dan assured me that with the methods he used if Polo became frightened him would see his reassurance from the rider, and this method would be beneficial for Polo and also in the long run for me.

Well Dan was certainly was right there, twelve months after Polo’s time with Dan, Polo is an advanced endurance horse, and an absolute pleasure to ride, polite and responsive, and listening to his rider.  Within a short time of Polo’s return from Dan I even allowed my fourteen year old daughter (Carri Ann) to ride him on several endurance rides throughout the season, and Polo is now her second endurance horse.

A year later Polo is her main endurance horse and she qualified him to FEI level at 120km Young Rider endurance ride in October 2006 over the undulating terrain of Builth Wells, Wales in very wet and testing weather conditions.  In 2007 Polo and Carri Ann were selected to ride as part of the Endurance Young Rider Squad in August 2007 at Kreuth, Germany representing Great Britain,  where as one of the four members of the team they obtained a Silver Medal.

Who would have thought that this frightened and nervous horse would obtain such high levels.  My faith and belief in this method has strengthened more and more and I have now had my own home bred horse ‘broken’ by this method, and will now always choose practical horsemanship in the future.

If you have a horse that is or has a ‘problem’ now matter how big, or small, this is time and money well spent for both you and your horses’ future.  I recommend and support Dan, and have complete confidence in Dan and Grant and their expertise.

The Dark Family & Horses

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Harlequin’s Story