Mark Lyon has been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and wore out the t-shirt. I really enjoy getting to talk with fellow horsemen/women that specialize in colt starting. Especially, when they also start a variety of breeds for a variety of disciplines, like I do. When Mark and I had our feeling each other out pre-call, I knew immediately that we were going to have a cool conversation. Mark's been out there in the trenches for most of his life. He's been a traveling colt starter and makes his rounds across the country, going back to the same places, because once you've seen him do his thing ..read more

Once you listen to this one, the title will make sense. I was encouraged to talk with Colton by a mutual friend, and I feel like I owe that friend a bottle of something. Colton is a very thoughtful guy with a heart for helping people, but in pragmatic ways. He's ambitious and driven, but he's clear on what that ambition and drive is for. His business is there to help him serve others and to provide for his family and their future. It is for sure the case that horse trainers don't tend to be good at the business side of their business. We get engrossed in the horses, and often only do the thing ..read more

Welcome to Season 2! Here are some answers to questions and situations of late. Please, take a moment and rate, comment, or share our podcast with friends or on whichever directory you're listening on. It's much appreciated and helps make the time we put into this podcast worth it. Here's the facebook group where I get most of the questions for the podcast from, Bits, Spurs, and Good Sense: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795178083941287 https://www.facebook.com/ddauphin77/ https://www.instagram.com/dauphin_horsemanship/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU7PYYaPkTOE2D5kF7OxdRA http://dauphinho ..read more

We start this one off by discussing some things to keep in mind when choosing a riding instructor or a boarding facility.  Racing often gets a bad reputation, but is it all bad? Daniel talks about the importance in the Equine Industry that Racing has and how it actually does benefit all horse owners.  Most clinicians have colt starting videos out there. Why? Do those of us who start colts for a living think everyone is well qualified to start their own after watching a video or two? No, but those videos do provide necessary information that all horse owners/riders should know. Next w ..read more

Wilson Capron has been on my radar as a custom bit maker for years now. His stuff truly takes function and blends into it artistry and craftsmanship that is second to none. I really admire his eye for balance and style. He's also pretty good at explaining and showing how he goes about what he does. When I finished up the video on bits and bitting, I reached out to him to see if he wouldn't mind giving it a look. We  hit it off on that phone call and I think you'll enjoy the type of banter that he and I have in this interview. If you ever use a bit or a spur, or have any interest in cool t ..read more

It was my pleasure to chat with one of my favorite people in the horse world in this episode of Adult Onset Horsemanship Podcast.  Dr. Joe Gotti spent his career as a Prof. of Animal Science at Stephen F. Austin State University. He founded their Equine Sciences program, as well as the Intercollegiate Equestrian Team and the Intercollegiate Stockhorse Team. Dr. Gotti is one of those rare individuals that is responsible for molding the future generations of the Equine Industry. He's also quite the character, as you'll see. Listen in as we discuss what decades of learning about horses has p ..read more

For our Feb Q & A, Daniel answers a couple of questions from our Facebook Group, "Bits, Spurs, and Good Sense". We talk about the hackamore vs the snaffle and refute a couple of criticisms about Dr. Robert M. Miller's Foal Imprinting ideas with the importance of context. Daniel answers another question about a book on the horse's brain which leads us down a rabbit hole. He gets deep into what Science and the Scientific Method is. He talks about some personal experiences he's had with the people behind the research and how their experiences, or lack of experiences can affect the outcomes. H ..read more

Bruce Sandifer is one of the most knowledgeable guys going teaching the ways of the Californio Traditions and about making Traditional Bridlehorses. He's also a realist and we have a very candid conversation about ideals vs realities. I learned a lot from him and find this approach to be a very attractive one, with a resulting bridlehorse that is as much a work of art as a trained animal. If you're the least bit interested in the why's and how's of jaquima to freno, you really need to give this one a listen. Bruce is also a founder of the International Association for the Preservation of Early ..read more

In this episode we talk with Amy Skinner. Amy strives to blend horsemanship and classical dressage for a relaxed partnership based in feel.  She has a background in Classical Dressage, having spent formative years with Theresa Doherty and now bills herself as a Postural Rehabilitator. She still works with lots of dressage horses, but she's also studied horsemanship principles under Brent Graef and you'll know she understands feel by the frustration that oozes from her voice when talking about those horses needing rehabilitation because of those riders without feel. Amy offers lessons, bot ..read more

For this episode, Daniel delves into several interesting topics. He discusses his views on Nurture vs Nature and some of the interesting genetics that he's encountered. He offers some tips on setting goals and resolutions and better habits to advance your horsemanship in the new year. Then, we get into a horse's intuition and discuss what straightness is and isn't. He discusses different rein types and sidepulls vs riding in a halter or a hackamore. Lastly, he gives some tips for novices facing frustration and pecking order disputes with their pony, and then finishes up with teaching your hors ..read more