TESTIMONIALS
This first testimonial is an article written about Dennis by a Client.
October reminds me of the first clinic I attended, 3 years ago, with Dennis Auslam at his stable in Morton, MN, Redwood Stables. I had bought a mule in May of '07 at Timberlakes Mules in Illinois. I had stayed there for a week doing my homework on observing this mule, watching the owner catch her, brush and tack her up, and finally ride her. I then rode Ruby, that was her name, with my own tack. We went up and down the hills to see if i could get along with this mule. There was never a problem. She was what I had always wanted, so I bought her.
But that brings us back to the fall and the clinic with Dennis. By the time August rolled around Ruby's attitude and demeaner started to change. She was not trusting me and she was becoming more defiant, to the point that she finally refused to go downhills. She never bucked and never gave me any of the red flag signals, but she started turning her head when I wanted to bridle her up and she was always in a hurry to go home, even when the rest of the group headed a different way. She started pinning her ears back at the other animals and was, in general, displaying an ornery attitude.
My farrier suggested a clinic at Redwood Stables with Dennis Auslam and so I registered for the next clinic that was coming up. That is when I met the Auslam family. Dennis, Michele and their daughter, Emma. They made me feel very welcome and offered to help in anyway. The clinic was a Desensitizing and Confidence Clinic and in those two days Ruby and I learned what respect is, the mechanics of the horse, timing and positioning and balance of the equine.
We started out with saddle fitting. Larry Norton, a saddle-maker, was present to show us the importance of having your saddle fit properly. He went through parts of the saddle, where and how the saddle should fit, how the bars of a saddle shouldn't hit the scapula bone (shoulder) of the animal and bridging, which occurs when their is space between the bars of the saddle tree and the horses back. It should lie flat and be supported from tip to tip. He also showed how you should turn you saddle over to the sheepskin side, looking for nails poking through and checking the latigo straps for leather rot and how to do basic cleaning. Then Dennis showed us were some areas on the horse that can cause trouble, locating and showing us the pressure point locations for teeth, sand colic, ribs being out at the shoulders, and checking the ribs on the rib cage for sensation (palpating ).
After this demonstration we headed to the arena for ground work. When we felt comfortable with our horses showing us respect on the ground, putting their feet and shoulders where we wanted, getting them to stop with one word (whoa), having them respect our space going through gates, desensitizing and a number of other techniques we practiced, we then advanced to the trail course for more obstacles and more groundwork.
The 2nd day we had our tack laid out for Dennis and Larry to check. They would put the saddle on the horse without the pad, and paying close attention, check the fit. We were taught to check and how to feel with our hands to see if the bar of the saddle tree was hitting or on top of the shoulder bone. Then they looked for bridging and showed how you would know if their was a problem and if the saddle you had wasn't a good fit, they, with honesty, told us how to find a different saddle and why we needed a different saddle (because physical and mental problems would eventually show up). If their was a problem Dennis would offered his tack to the client, for the day.
When everyone was tacked up we started with more groundwork with tarps, flags, leaf-blowers. We guided our horses through barrels that were stacked up to be knocked over, flexing them through and around the barrels getting forward motion. stopping on our cue and backing up.
At this point we mounted for bridle work. Dennis demonstrated, on his horse, how to get your horse soft through flexing laterally, and release the pressure (reward the horse) once the horse gave to the bit. He taught us how to use the barrels to get them to bend with inside rein and outside leg pressure. Dennis also showed us how to achieve vertical flexion to facilitate a stop, getting the horse to flex at the poll, using your legs to lift the ribcage and backing up.
Our last lesson was to put this all in motion on the trail course and, at the end, with cattle in the arena.
Dennis, through all of the two days of training, which was for not only the horse but the rider, always reminded us about saftey. He acclimated the horses on the ground 1st for those of us that had not been around cattle. The calves were then turned loose and we were divided into teams and given tasks to do as a team. This taught us to not only communicate with our horses, but as riders we had to communicate with each other and learn how to work together in moving the cattle to get the task accomplished.
After the clinic I tried to apply the new concepts I had learned, but Ruby still didn't seem happy. Dennis offered to have me come back and work on my skills, he never turned me away once. When I would call, he would say "When are you coming up?" He always made time for me and seemed to set his busy schedule aside to help me. There were things Dennis picked up on that I have never even known about. I am not going to candy coat anything here either, Dennis is very honest about what he sees happening and it may not be what you want to hear. He doesn't judge you, but you might anticipate the possibility of some heartaches or disappointments. He is willing to show you the things you ask about, and if you are willing to learn and open your mind to different ideas, you can get to the next level.
So, I decided to get Ruby to bond with me. That meant I started coming back to his clinics over the years, putting in extra time with her and learning patience. The problem wasn't all the mules fault, but mine as well. Dennis said people create alot of horse problems and usually there is a reason horses act cranky. What I ended up finding out was that Ruby was trying to tell me that my bad back was a problem, not a bad saddle fit, which is what I thought.
I had no idea my muscle memory was so off, so after I had her teeth floated, chrio treatments done on a daily basis for 2 years, so many saddles that I lost track of them, leg problems, which my farrier went above and beyond from his normal routine, the only other thing left was me. I was so flexed and rotated at the pelvis and shoulders that this caused my back to hurt and I was doing a death grip on my stirrups, plus I always felt like i was leaning forward, over her shoulders, so I started over compensating by leaning back to far, causing her loin area to hurt. Because I was always worried about my body position I never relaxed and that made Ruby feel nervous, which caused her to to keep moving faster and be so distracted that she would not pay attention to my cues. Alas, the vicious circle kept going around and around. It was through working with Dennis that he saw the problem was me.
Dennis taught me how to ride relaxed and use my seat and legs more than my hands. When you use your hands to much the horse, or mule in my case, will get hard mouthed, stiff-necked and hollow out their backs. So Dennis' verbal cues to me were: stay in the middle of the saddle, stop looking down, look where you want to go, stop micro managing her mouth, breath and relax.
Now I am trying to take better care of my back with different methods of treatment and Ruby has started to respond better. With lots of hard work from both of us she has started to trust me and has relaxed more when getting ready to ride. My hand cues are softer and we are concentrating on having fun again. I feel very guilty now that I realize the problem was me, Many times I have come close to quitting but my life has always revolved around riding, from young on it is my passion. What I would like to say to Dennis is THANK-YOU. Without your understanding and patience, your knowledge and help, telling me to keep riding, keep working at it, "hang in there cowgirl", stop leaning, "you don't know what you don't know", all of your tolerance of me coming to your stable for days on end, NOT telling me, literally, how sick of us hanging around you are, and telling us over and over that persistence and hardwork will pay off I know I wouldn't have made it this far. You could of given up on us a long time ago, but you care enough about the animals and people that you don't.
Marie Kuehn
The clinic really reInforced the fact that you have to keep up on your ground work. I had done so much of that with him, but not for a couple of years, and could see that he lost his confidence on some things. Also, I didn't realize how much Tatanka didn't like things to touch his back legs.
Loved doing the extreme course!! Thats always my favorite! Have fun with the cows too, and would like to do more clinics to teach me to let my horse have a chance before I tell him! Am looking forward to doing another clinic next year with Dennis!
Vicky Henderson and Tatanka.
Regaining Confidence and the Ability to Enjoy Riding again
I had heard of persons loosing their confidence and developing a fear of horseback riding, but I have to admit I never thought it would happen to me. Nothing terrible happened, I simply had a horse spook on a very windy day and when I went to bring him around the saddle slid so I just kicked free and fell to the ground. This is what started my problem. I felt I had no balance and would start shaking and be scared to death when I attempted to ride. It wasn’t just with the horse that I came off of; it was with all my horses. I fought this myself for close to a year and came very close to giving up all together.
Horses have been a part of my life for many years and I have always enjoyed working with them and learning how and what I could do better. This was why when I saw an advertisement for a saddle fitting clinic I decided to check it out. As part of the clinic there was a trainer from Redwood Falls answering questions regarding training and working with horses. I have to admit I was skeptical as I had heard this trainer was into roping and cattle work and from what I had heard more of a rodeo type. I spent some time talking with him and he told me about women’s clinics that he held to help women regain their confidence and be more effective riders. I was intrigued, but hadn’t bought into it yet. I asked if I could watch or audit a clinic to see what it was all about. I was told ABSOLUTELY…come on out. The first thing that I really appreciated was the friendliness and welcome I received. I was never given the impression I was stupid or that because I had developed this fear I was looked down upon.
Safely and respect from the horse were the key points. These were demonstrated and each horse and handler went through the process individually before they were to work on their own. In addition there were other helpers there ready to assist in working through any tough spots that either the horse or handler were experiencing. Class size was small and Dennis made certain he was giving praise at accomplishments and prompting on how to make things better. One point that Dennis made and I have seen followed through more than once is, “I will tell it like it is”. If a horse is not a good partner for a person, he doesn’t hesitate to say so. It is then up to the person to decide what they want to do. But on the other hand if a horse and handler do have potential, he also doesn’t hesitate to say so and what they can do to improve.
Following watching a clinic, I decided to give it a try with my horse. I had a lot of apprehension and asked a ton of questions. As an adult and a professional I am very impressed with the way Dennis is able to communicate with a wide variety of people as well as horses. My first clinic went very well, but I remained fearful when it came to the riding. I couldn’t handle the riding around cattle for very long before I was becoming anxious and had to get off. I was not made to feel failure over this and was encouraged to just walk my horse around and do what I was comfortable with.
Dennis worked with my horse and rode him at times when he was not able to understand what I was wanting. This helped me to see that he was able to do what was being asked and I needed to communicate better with him.
Since Jan/Feb of 2009 when I came to my first clinic to watch I can not believe how far I have progressed. I have hauled my horse back and done lessons with trail course and inside arena. Dennis allowed me to proceed at the pace I felt comfortable with. He is good at encouraging and helping a person to feel confident in what they are attempting to accomplish. I am finding my horse is developing more of a partnership with me and accepting me as the leader. Time and patience has been the key. I would be the first to admit that had I felt stupid, or this was not something I could overcome, I wouldn’t have gone back. I have attended several clinics and each time gotten more confidence in my own as well as my horse’s ability. This would not have happened if Dennis had not kept encouraging me and pointing out the successes I was making even when I didn’t see them. Dennis is very good at breaking down problems into steps that are obtainable. He definitely is a clinician as well as a trainer. In my own case, time and persistence has been the key. I have moved along slowly and it has taken a lot of persistence to get where I am today. Dennis has been very willing to work with me and take the time that it has taken. I would highly recommend him for training of horses as well as their riders. Over the course of the summer I have seen horses of all types come in for training. The points that have been repeated consistently are fairness, reward or praise, and consistency. I have asked questions about problems and how he would deal with them. He has not hesitated to explain how and why he would follow a certain plan. I can say I will be very comfortable bringing my own horses for training as well as recommending Dennis to other persons looking at working with their horses to accomplish whatever goals they are working toward.
LOIS BOERBOON
I have only known Dennis for maybe a year and a half , but I have to say a few things about him. Me and my girlfrined Lisa could call him up with a "issue" and it could be 6 or 7 o'clock at night, he says come on out here, let's get it fixed. If someone called me then, it wouldn't happen . But not Dennis, he is a awsome person, he has helped us out so much words cant describe. My girlfriend had a bad summer last year on her mare, and Dennis has been nothing but the best towards her, helping her out with whatever he can to help her. He had a clinic last weekend and I heard him offer his featherlite to a couple so they could sleep there and not at the hotel. I mean what a great man!!!!!! Dennis all I have to say is thank you so much for what you have done for us . I look forward to many years of good times with you.
Andrew Schriener "Big daddy"
Everyone enjoyed the clinic! I really liked the obstacle course as did everyone else. I liked doing the course individually after working each obstacle on the ground. Max didn't seem to mind it much once we went through it on the ground; only to get better with more time. Would love to do it more next summer. The desensitizing is always a great thing and I really need to do it more! Was interesting to have the saddle fitter there - glad I got my saddle corrected! You had great help there and everyone was so helpful and gave us alot of individual attention, including yourself! We appreciated all the extra help and attention!! Hope all is well with you all!! I always enjoy my time there with you guys!!
Thanks again! Lorri
Dennis:
I want to thank you for helping me find my confidence again, I honestly didn't expect it to come back so quickly, its been fading for many years.
When I showed up last Friday, I was so scared about the clinic. I literally had to force myself to drive the 5.5 hours there, but I knew it was necessary. I was not worried about the ground work, but the riding part had me sick to my stomach. A few bad spills and my recent knee injury were the problem, and I had to get over my paralyzing fear.
I don't know what happened, maybe it was how my horse did so well, maybe it was your positive attitude and diligence about safety, but when it came time to ride, I was ready and I was happy. The little cows were the icing on the cake and I'm looking forward to a great trip to the Bitterroot Wilderness this July with Spice! We might even start "gaited" team penning~
It was perfect having all the extra help; your apprentices and assistants were fantastic and it seemed like they were always there when I needed one. All of them were upbeat, positive and encouraging. The whole atmosphere was productive.
Having Larry the saddle fitter there was another bonus - especially since I plan on learning how to make saddles from him and what a sweatheart! Loved learning about the Ralco Nutrition products as well as being able to purchase some nice rope reins from Dianna!
Thanks to you, your "can do" attitude and your staff, I have the courage to go ride my horse again, alone and with friends. I really thought that road was going to be a long one. I got lucky! And I will be back!
Cindy Chase
Phillips WI
I wanted to send a big THANK YOU to Dennis, and everyone at Redwood Stables that worked with me & Heza. The out come was a tough one, but it needed to be said. I have Heza up for sale and looking for a new horse to fit me. You will see me at another clinic and a new horse. Everyone working with the clinic was professional and very informative. Even though my horse did not do well, I came away with some great tools. I cannot thank you enough for the learning experience. Please let all the gals know that there hard work with us did not go unnoticed.
Thank you!!
Rachel Kimball
R&R Cattle Company
Hi Dennis,
I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you. I attended your confidence clinic last weekend (August 14 & 15), with my horse, Star. Before your clinic I was pretty sure I had a good horse but I had some issues with loading ( it would sometimes take 2 hours to load her in the trailer) and was having a hard time establishing leadership with her. Your clinic really provided a lot of answers to the challenges Star was giving me. I can load her now without problems, I was able to rider her alone yesterday without having any of her "buddies" with her, and with the desensitizing techniques I learned at the clinic she's becoming a much calmer horse. I don't know who has benefited more from the clinic me or Star. Actually it was a great experience for both of us and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I really appreciated all of the help you and your associates provided. Everyone was wonderful to work with. Thanks again for all the help and the wonderful experience.
Regards, Renee Kickhafer & Star
Cottage Grove, MN
Dennis, Michelle, Emma
I finally got my dream horse. Dezi was 4 months old, and I thought where do I start now. I had been out of the saddle for 20 yrs, and out of shape, balance and you name it. I thought well I have to 2 yrs. to make a decision. I looked, and looked and just could not find what I really wanted. Dezi was so quiet, and very smart as a baby, and I knew right then and there she was very special.
One day someone said to me to try Dennis Auslam. I said who is he, and where is he at? They said he trains all breeds, at all stages, and all ages. He has Redwood Stables at Redwood Falls, Mn. Soooooooooo decided to take a rode trip one day with a friend and check this super hero out. He IS everything that they say. Dennis, wife Michelle, and daughter Emma are a god sent to me. He is from Idaho and does the natural horsemanship training. Thats what I had been looking for, but everything was 7-8 hrs away from me. Got over there, and I was very impressed.
I booked Dezi with him at the age of 2, for 60 days. Three weeks later he was having a two day clinic, which I attended. Remember, I had not ridden for 20 yrs. I get to the clinic, which I thought I was riding one of his horses. Forget that. He put me on Dezi with 3 weeks riding. I said Oh My God! Dennis said to me, "trust me you will do fine", and she is very trusting, quiet, and smart. OK, if you say so. I had the best time of my life, and all my fun is continuing. Since then I have attended 4 other clinics.
I can not say enough about this family. They are considerate, caring, and HONEST.
If your horse has a hole in it, Dennis will find it, and fix it, if it is fixable. You need to remember,if there is a problem you need to do something about it. You can't think it is going to get better, as it won't. If your horse is not doing what you ask, you keep asking until they have accepted what you are asking. Dennis has an excellent respect issue, and he wants you to follow it and carry through with it. Repetition is what it takes. I know if I have questions, or any problems, he is there to answer them or take care of them himself.
Safety is the first issue, as your horse weighs a lot more then you do and believe me you can get hurt instantly, and ususally it is because they have no respect for you.
I would recommend Dennis and the Redwood Stables for any of your training needs. If the horse has a bad attitude and is not safe to be around, Dennis will tell you too look for another one. Why? Because he always has safety on his mind for you and your horse. He wants everyone to have fun with their horse.
This family has helped me so much, and I will always have questions for them. I never feel stupid asking any questions, as that is what Dennis wants from you. Let him know what you are looking for, and what you want to do, and he will be there for you.
Continue your great work Dennis, as I am very happy and very satisified. I will recommend you to anyone, as all I can say is: You can not argue wilth results, and I have had nothing but good results with Dezi. Keep it up Cowboy! You and your family are the most wonderful people I have ever met. Your love for people and horses shows through your work.
You are lifetime friends to Dezi and I.
Always Diann & Dezi
Hi Dennis, Michelle, and Emmy;
I just wanted to write you a quick note telling you what a great job you did on Jessie! Her response time to the queues I am giving her are great! When I queue her to do something, her response is immediate! She doesn’t pussyfoot around trying to decide herself is that is truly what she wants to do! If I ask her to move a different direction, her response is immediate! What you did with her is tremendous! She was a very good mare before I sent her to you, now she is a totally awesome mare! I can’t believe you had her actually cutting cattle also. When I was riding her, she was actually doing some of the moves herself without me telling her what to do.
Not only did you train her, but you also gave me lessons on what I should be doing and how I should be doing it. On both Saturday and Sunday, you gave me lessons on how I should be riding her versus what I shouldn’t do. You never once talked down to me or at me, you always made me feel that any question I had was very important! Instead of only getting a couple hours of lessons, you let me work both on Saturday and Sunday and I appreciate it very much! I understand that training horses is your job, but you make it very personable for both the horse and the customer. I felt you truly wanted to make me a better horseperson along with making my horse a better horse! I was always made to feel I was welcome whether it was 10:00 in the morning or 6:00 in the evening!
When we were in the chicken barn and you were working on other horses, Michelle was giving me tips on how to come out of the corner to chase the cattle for roping! Even when I didn’t quite know what she was talking about, she tried explaining the directions in a different way. She never made me feel like I had absolutely no clue as to what I was doing. (Even though, I didn’t know what I was doing) She is very nice! I would definitely recommend anybody that needs training for their horse to send it to you!
Tracey Nelson
Attended my first Dennis Auslam clinic last weekend (3/29/08) at his Redwood Stables and barely got back home before signing up for another clinic of his in May!!! Whether you are an experienced rider or a first-time horse owner Dennis has something to offer and I believe EVERYONE should bring their horse to his "Desensitizing and Confidence Building" clinic...trust me your horse will thank you for it and you will be amazed with the results you see. I was impressed with the individual attention Dennis and his "crew" gave each and every attendee. I look forward to future clinics/lessons and participating in his future extreme trail and ranch horse competitions!!! Thanks Dennis, Michelle and all your "hands"! Jan Dunkelberger & Pestee (grey QH mare)
Lamberton, MN
I took a clinic with Dennis this past weekend (3/29/08) and it was amazing. He is a wealth of information and all his staff is just as knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone at any level of riding, his patience is amazing. He really opened my eyes to how much there is to learn. I've worked with trainers that you can tell are just filling your head with a bunch of junk. Dennis knows what he is talking about, and he is very good at explaining it. Thank you Dennis, Michelle, Blayne, Addie and all others!!
Becky King
I was having problems in getting my 4-year old gelding, Mickey, to get on the bit, work off his hindquarters and transitioning to the lope -- Mickey would throw himself into the lope instead of using his hindquarters to propel himself into it. Mickey also had tying issues and had some respect issues on the ground. So I decided to take Mickey over for 30 days with Dennis. After his 30 days, Mickey now neckreins, works much better off his hindquarters, ties great, and his ground manners are much improved. Even his work ethic is better. Mickey also had the opportunity to chase some cows while he was there which was also a great experience for him. I consider the training fee to be money well spent. Dennis is very helpful in suggesting exercises to do with your horse and is really willing to do follow-up lessons with you and your horse to you keep progressing. Dennis is a great teacher, for both people and horses.
Andrea Wichmann
We’re not sure you could meet more dedicated and sincere people than Dennis and Michelle. We were introduced to them when looking for therapeutic horseback riding for our now 3-year-old son, Bradley, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We started therapy in late spring, 2005 and at the time, Bradley could not sit without support. Dennis listens to feedback from all angles, whether from the parents or OT or PT. He then puts together a plan for incorporating riding positions to address those issues. Within 6 months, our son not only sits without support, but stands unassisted, crawls up and down stairs and has just begun walking unassisted. We firmly believe this wouldn’t have been possible in this short of timeframe without the riding sessions.
One key thing we have noticed in working with Dennis and Michelle is our happiness in the progress our son has made is also theirs. This is not just a business for them. They truly enjoy what they do and want people to succeed, from the biggest adult to the smallest child. We can’t thank them enough for helping Bradley.
David and Susan Gosmire
Hi Dennis: Diann has spoke so highly of you and your training expertise and how well you like training Dezi. AM glad that you are helping Diann as this is her dreamhorse and so deserves having her dream come true. This is so wonderful to have her riding her dream horse and working with you. Wanted to just say thank you for your good training on one of my girls. They are showing and winning world wide in everything and get lots of emails from clients of how they all are winning and so nice to work with and novices training their own at two for the first time as can just get on them and start riding basically. Will keep in touch with your site and enjoyed it a lot.
Best of success...
Wendy Malone
spottedfawnpaints.com
montanamalonequarterhorses.com
Every parents wish is for their children’s dreams to come true, for us our children are living their dreams right now at the ages of 13, 10 and 8. All of this was made possible with the help of Dennis and Michelle, they have so much to offer! I can’t thank Dennis enough for what he has done for our family both in the competitive world and for us enjoying trail riding safely as a family. Blayne was a member of the Minnesota Rodeo Association this past year for the first time at age 10. He entered four rodeos for the year and he placed in one of those. He was so excited and immediately asked if he could call Dennis to tell him he caught his calf. For two of the rodeos Dennis was also entered for competition but before Blayne entered the arena you would look up and there was Dennis…. sitting on the fence of the roping box coaching Blayne and making him feel right at home. Bryler our 8 year old son has also taken interest and competed at a junior rodeo and a couple fun shows, with the guidance and the skills learned he brought home several trophies’s and ribbons this past year. The horsemanship skills that Dennis teaches have proven to be a rewarding outcome and the respect he has instilled in my boys both in and out of the arena will be something they will carry with them forever. Dennis truly has a passion and that passion also extends to the physically challenged. When our 13 year old son Brayden, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy is along Dennis goes above and beyond to involve him in as much as he can. We have been taking our children to clinics and lessons at Redwood Stables for almost 4 years and now as parents have decided to take part in clinics and some lessons. I learned so much from a two day clinic and had so much fun I am looking forward to attending more. I recommend getting involved with Redwood Stables in any way possible, whether it is stopping by to visit and observe, trail riding, roping or just “brushing up” on your horsemanship skills you will leave with a smile on your face planning your next visit to Redwood Stables.
Al, Kristy, Brayden, Blayne and Bryler Meier, Hanley Falls, MN
I would like to thank Dennis and Michelle Auslam for a lot of things. They have both taught me valuable horsemanship skills. Michelle has always been there for me when I needed to talk with somebody. She and I like the same things, like barrel racing and breakaway roping, so we can both talk aboutthat and help each other out. She taught me the beggining skills of training a barrel horse, and she has helped me a lot when I was confused with things. She is a great person to talk to and I am glad I met her. Dennis has taught me a lot about roping and riding in general. He always has patience with me when I am doing something incorrectly. Right now he is training my horse, Sadie, to be a roping horse and is doing an excellent job with her. He has loads of patience and knowledge. If Dennis and Michelle wouldn't have moved here, things would be a lot different for me and I am very glad that they moved here and I met them. They let me ride their horses and use their tack because right now I don't have a saddle. They are very generous and nice people.
Thank you so much! ;Addie O'Neil
A friend of mine called me one day to tell me about this cowboy from Idaho who moved into the area. He said "he trains horses". Well, I have a few that needed work so I gave Dennis a call and brought one over. I didn't know what to expect, but found a very good trainer who has the ability to read a horse and match the rider with the horse. He will ask what you intend to use the horse for, and take it from there. Both Dennis and Michelle are good with kids with riding lessons, roping, putting on fun days, benefits, reining clinics, or whatever you ask for. I've been bringing horses to Dennis since they moved to Minnesota and I even started roping myself, just for fun! He has made great horses for me which makes them more valuable. He puts a good handle on the horse and when you get on you feel so much safer and confident.
;A satisfied customer, Linda Lerud
This first testimonial is an article written about Dennis by a Client.
October reminds me of the first clinic I attended, 3 years ago, with Dennis Auslam at his stable in Morton, MN, Redwood Stables. I had bought a mule in May of '07 at Timberlakes Mules in Illinois. I had stayed there for a week doing my homework on observing this mule, watching the owner catch her, brush and tack her up, and finally ride her. I then rode Ruby, that was her name, with my own tack. We went up and down the hills to see if i could get along with this mule. There was never a problem. She was what I had always wanted, so I bought her.
But that brings us back to the fall and the clinic with Dennis. By the time August rolled around Ruby's attitude and demeaner started to change. She was not trusting me and she was becoming more defiant, to the point that she finally refused to go downhills. She never bucked and never gave me any of the red flag signals, but she started turning her head when I wanted to bridle her up and she was always in a hurry to go home, even when the rest of the group headed a different way. She started pinning her ears back at the other animals and was, in general, displaying an ornery attitude.
My farrier suggested a clinic at Redwood Stables with Dennis Auslam and so I registered for the next clinic that was coming up. That is when I met the Auslam family. Dennis, Michele and their daughter, Emma. They made me feel very welcome and offered to help in anyway. The clinic was a Desensitizing and Confidence Clinic and in those two days Ruby and I learned what respect is, the mechanics of the horse, timing and positioning and balance of the equine.
We started out with saddle fitting. Larry Norton, a saddle-maker, was present to show us the importance of having your saddle fit properly. He went through parts of the saddle, where and how the saddle should fit, how the bars of a saddle shouldn't hit the scapula bone (shoulder) of the animal and bridging, which occurs when their is space between the bars of the saddle tree and the horses back. It should lie flat and be supported from tip to tip. He also showed how you should turn you saddle over to the sheepskin side, looking for nails poking through and checking the latigo straps for leather rot and how to do basic cleaning. Then Dennis showed us were some areas on the horse that can cause trouble, locating and showing us the pressure point locations for teeth, sand colic, ribs being out at the shoulders, and checking the ribs on the rib cage for sensation (palpating ).
After this demonstration we headed to the arena for ground work. When we felt comfortable with our horses showing us respect on the ground, putting their feet and shoulders where we wanted, getting them to stop with one word (whoa), having them respect our space going through gates, desensitizing and a number of other techniques we practiced, we then advanced to the trail course for more obstacles and more groundwork.
The 2nd day we had our tack laid out for Dennis and Larry to check. They would put the saddle on the horse without the pad, and paying close attention, check the fit. We were taught to check and how to feel with our hands to see if the bar of the saddle tree was hitting or on top of the shoulder bone. Then they looked for bridging and showed how you would know if their was a problem and if the saddle you had wasn't a good fit, they, with honesty, told us how to find a different saddle and why we needed a different saddle (because physical and mental problems would eventually show up). If their was a problem Dennis would offered his tack to the client, for the day.
When everyone was tacked up we started with more groundwork with tarps, flags, leaf-blowers. We guided our horses through barrels that were stacked up to be knocked over, flexing them through and around the barrels getting forward motion. stopping on our cue and backing up.
At this point we mounted for bridle work. Dennis demonstrated, on his horse, how to get your horse soft through flexing laterally, and release the pressure (reward the horse) once the horse gave to the bit. He taught us how to use the barrels to get them to bend with inside rein and outside leg pressure. Dennis also showed us how to achieve vertical flexion to facilitate a stop, getting the horse to flex at the poll, using your legs to lift the ribcage and backing up.
Our last lesson was to put this all in motion on the trail course and, at the end, with cattle in the arena.
Dennis, through all of the two days of training, which was for not only the horse but the rider, always reminded us about saftey. He acclimated the horses on the ground 1st for those of us that had not been around cattle. The calves were then turned loose and we were divided into teams and given tasks to do as a team. This taught us to not only communicate with our horses, but as riders we had to communicate with each other and learn how to work together in moving the cattle to get the task accomplished.
After the clinic I tried to apply the new concepts I had learned, but Ruby still didn't seem happy. Dennis offered to have me come back and work on my skills, he never turned me away once. When I would call, he would say "When are you coming up?" He always made time for me and seemed to set his busy schedule aside to help me. There were things Dennis picked up on that I have never even known about. I am not going to candy coat anything here either, Dennis is very honest about what he sees happening and it may not be what you want to hear. He doesn't judge you, but you might anticipate the possibility of some heartaches or disappointments. He is willing to show you the things you ask about, and if you are willing to learn and open your mind to different ideas, you can get to the next level.
So, I decided to get Ruby to bond with me. That meant I started coming back to his clinics over the years, putting in extra time with her and learning patience. The problem wasn't all the mules fault, but mine as well. Dennis said people create alot of horse problems and usually there is a reason horses act cranky. What I ended up finding out was that Ruby was trying to tell me that my bad back was a problem, not a bad saddle fit, which is what I thought.
I had no idea my muscle memory was so off, so after I had her teeth floated, chrio treatments done on a daily basis for 2 years, so many saddles that I lost track of them, leg problems, which my farrier went above and beyond from his normal routine, the only other thing left was me. I was so flexed and rotated at the pelvis and shoulders that this caused my back to hurt and I was doing a death grip on my stirrups, plus I always felt like i was leaning forward, over her shoulders, so I started over compensating by leaning back to far, causing her loin area to hurt. Because I was always worried about my body position I never relaxed and that made Ruby feel nervous, which caused her to to keep moving faster and be so distracted that she would not pay attention to my cues. Alas, the vicious circle kept going around and around. It was through working with Dennis that he saw the problem was me.
Dennis taught me how to ride relaxed and use my seat and legs more than my hands. When you use your hands to much the horse, or mule in my case, will get hard mouthed, stiff-necked and hollow out their backs. So Dennis' verbal cues to me were: stay in the middle of the saddle, stop looking down, look where you want to go, stop micro managing her mouth, breath and relax.
Now I am trying to take better care of my back with different methods of treatment and Ruby has started to respond better. With lots of hard work from both of us she has started to trust me and has relaxed more when getting ready to ride. My hand cues are softer and we are concentrating on having fun again. I feel very guilty now that I realize the problem was me, Many times I have come close to quitting but my life has always revolved around riding, from young on it is my passion. What I would like to say to Dennis is THANK-YOU. Without your understanding and patience, your knowledge and help, telling me to keep riding, keep working at it, "hang in there cowgirl", stop leaning, "you don't know what you don't know", all of your tolerance of me coming to your stable for days on end, NOT telling me, literally, how sick of us hanging around you are, and telling us over and over that persistence and hardwork will pay off I know I wouldn't have made it this far. You could of given up on us a long time ago, but you care enough about the animals and people that you don't.
Marie Kuehn
The clinic really reInforced the fact that you have to keep up on your ground work. I had done so much of that with him, but not for a couple of years, and could see that he lost his confidence on some things. Also, I didn't realize how much Tatanka didn't like things to touch his back legs.
Loved doing the extreme course!! Thats always my favorite! Have fun with the cows too, and would like to do more clinics to teach me to let my horse have a chance before I tell him! Am looking forward to doing another clinic next year with Dennis!
Vicky Henderson and Tatanka.
Regaining Confidence and the Ability to Enjoy Riding again
I had heard of persons loosing their confidence and developing a fear of horseback riding, but I have to admit I never thought it would happen to me. Nothing terrible happened, I simply had a horse spook on a very windy day and when I went to bring him around the saddle slid so I just kicked free and fell to the ground. This is what started my problem. I felt I had no balance and would start shaking and be scared to death when I attempted to ride. It wasn’t just with the horse that I came off of; it was with all my horses. I fought this myself for close to a year and came very close to giving up all together.
Horses have been a part of my life for many years and I have always enjoyed working with them and learning how and what I could do better. This was why when I saw an advertisement for a saddle fitting clinic I decided to check it out. As part of the clinic there was a trainer from Redwood Falls answering questions regarding training and working with horses. I have to admit I was skeptical as I had heard this trainer was into roping and cattle work and from what I had heard more of a rodeo type. I spent some time talking with him and he told me about women’s clinics that he held to help women regain their confidence and be more effective riders. I was intrigued, but hadn’t bought into it yet. I asked if I could watch or audit a clinic to see what it was all about. I was told ABSOLUTELY…come on out. The first thing that I really appreciated was the friendliness and welcome I received. I was never given the impression I was stupid or that because I had developed this fear I was looked down upon.
Safely and respect from the horse were the key points. These were demonstrated and each horse and handler went through the process individually before they were to work on their own. In addition there were other helpers there ready to assist in working through any tough spots that either the horse or handler were experiencing. Class size was small and Dennis made certain he was giving praise at accomplishments and prompting on how to make things better. One point that Dennis made and I have seen followed through more than once is, “I will tell it like it is”. If a horse is not a good partner for a person, he doesn’t hesitate to say so. It is then up to the person to decide what they want to do. But on the other hand if a horse and handler do have potential, he also doesn’t hesitate to say so and what they can do to improve.
Following watching a clinic, I decided to give it a try with my horse. I had a lot of apprehension and asked a ton of questions. As an adult and a professional I am very impressed with the way Dennis is able to communicate with a wide variety of people as well as horses. My first clinic went very well, but I remained fearful when it came to the riding. I couldn’t handle the riding around cattle for very long before I was becoming anxious and had to get off. I was not made to feel failure over this and was encouraged to just walk my horse around and do what I was comfortable with.
Dennis worked with my horse and rode him at times when he was not able to understand what I was wanting. This helped me to see that he was able to do what was being asked and I needed to communicate better with him.
Since Jan/Feb of 2009 when I came to my first clinic to watch I can not believe how far I have progressed. I have hauled my horse back and done lessons with trail course and inside arena. Dennis allowed me to proceed at the pace I felt comfortable with. He is good at encouraging and helping a person to feel confident in what they are attempting to accomplish. I am finding my horse is developing more of a partnership with me and accepting me as the leader. Time and patience has been the key. I would be the first to admit that had I felt stupid, or this was not something I could overcome, I wouldn’t have gone back. I have attended several clinics and each time gotten more confidence in my own as well as my horse’s ability. This would not have happened if Dennis had not kept encouraging me and pointing out the successes I was making even when I didn’t see them. Dennis is very good at breaking down problems into steps that are obtainable. He definitely is a clinician as well as a trainer. In my own case, time and persistence has been the key. I have moved along slowly and it has taken a lot of persistence to get where I am today. Dennis has been very willing to work with me and take the time that it has taken. I would highly recommend him for training of horses as well as their riders. Over the course of the summer I have seen horses of all types come in for training. The points that have been repeated consistently are fairness, reward or praise, and consistency. I have asked questions about problems and how he would deal with them. He has not hesitated to explain how and why he would follow a certain plan. I can say I will be very comfortable bringing my own horses for training as well as recommending Dennis to other persons looking at working with their horses to accomplish whatever goals they are working toward.
LOIS BOERBOON
I have only known Dennis for maybe a year and a half , but I have to say a few things about him. Me and my girlfrined Lisa could call him up with a "issue" and it could be 6 or 7 o'clock at night, he says come on out here, let's get it fixed. If someone called me then, it wouldn't happen . But not Dennis, he is a awsome person, he has helped us out so much words cant describe. My girlfriend had a bad summer last year on her mare, and Dennis has been nothing but the best towards her, helping her out with whatever he can to help her. He had a clinic last weekend and I heard him offer his featherlite to a couple so they could sleep there and not at the hotel. I mean what a great man!!!!!! Dennis all I have to say is thank you so much for what you have done for us . I look forward to many years of good times with you.
Andrew Schriener "Big daddy"
Everyone enjoyed the clinic! I really liked the obstacle course as did everyone else. I liked doing the course individually after working each obstacle on the ground. Max didn't seem to mind it much once we went through it on the ground; only to get better with more time. Would love to do it more next summer. The desensitizing is always a great thing and I really need to do it more! Was interesting to have the saddle fitter there - glad I got my saddle corrected! You had great help there and everyone was so helpful and gave us alot of individual attention, including yourself! We appreciated all the extra help and attention!! Hope all is well with you all!! I always enjoy my time there with you guys!!
Thanks again! Lorri
Dennis:
I want to thank you for helping me find my confidence again, I honestly didn't expect it to come back so quickly, its been fading for many years.
When I showed up last Friday, I was so scared about the clinic. I literally had to force myself to drive the 5.5 hours there, but I knew it was necessary. I was not worried about the ground work, but the riding part had me sick to my stomach. A few bad spills and my recent knee injury were the problem, and I had to get over my paralyzing fear.
I don't know what happened, maybe it was how my horse did so well, maybe it was your positive attitude and diligence about safety, but when it came time to ride, I was ready and I was happy. The little cows were the icing on the cake and I'm looking forward to a great trip to the Bitterroot Wilderness this July with Spice! We might even start "gaited" team penning~
It was perfect having all the extra help; your apprentices and assistants were fantastic and it seemed like they were always there when I needed one. All of them were upbeat, positive and encouraging. The whole atmosphere was productive.
Having Larry the saddle fitter there was another bonus - especially since I plan on learning how to make saddles from him and what a sweatheart! Loved learning about the Ralco Nutrition products as well as being able to purchase some nice rope reins from Dianna!
Thanks to you, your "can do" attitude and your staff, I have the courage to go ride my horse again, alone and with friends. I really thought that road was going to be a long one. I got lucky! And I will be back!
Cindy Chase
Phillips WI
I wanted to send a big THANK YOU to Dennis, and everyone at Redwood Stables that worked with me & Heza. The out come was a tough one, but it needed to be said. I have Heza up for sale and looking for a new horse to fit me. You will see me at another clinic and a new horse. Everyone working with the clinic was professional and very informative. Even though my horse did not do well, I came away with some great tools. I cannot thank you enough for the learning experience. Please let all the gals know that there hard work with us did not go unnoticed.
Thank you!!
Rachel Kimball
R&R Cattle Company
Hi Dennis,
I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you. I attended your confidence clinic last weekend (August 14 & 15), with my horse, Star. Before your clinic I was pretty sure I had a good horse but I had some issues with loading ( it would sometimes take 2 hours to load her in the trailer) and was having a hard time establishing leadership with her. Your clinic really provided a lot of answers to the challenges Star was giving me. I can load her now without problems, I was able to rider her alone yesterday without having any of her "buddies" with her, and with the desensitizing techniques I learned at the clinic she's becoming a much calmer horse. I don't know who has benefited more from the clinic me or Star. Actually it was a great experience for both of us and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I really appreciated all of the help you and your associates provided. Everyone was wonderful to work with. Thanks again for all the help and the wonderful experience.
Regards, Renee Kickhafer & Star
Cottage Grove, MN
Dennis, Michelle, Emma
I finally got my dream horse. Dezi was 4 months old, and I thought where do I start now. I had been out of the saddle for 20 yrs, and out of shape, balance and you name it. I thought well I have to 2 yrs. to make a decision. I looked, and looked and just could not find what I really wanted. Dezi was so quiet, and very smart as a baby, and I knew right then and there she was very special.
One day someone said to me to try Dennis Auslam. I said who is he, and where is he at? They said he trains all breeds, at all stages, and all ages. He has Redwood Stables at Redwood Falls, Mn. Soooooooooo decided to take a rode trip one day with a friend and check this super hero out. He IS everything that they say. Dennis, wife Michelle, and daughter Emma are a god sent to me. He is from Idaho and does the natural horsemanship training. Thats what I had been looking for, but everything was 7-8 hrs away from me. Got over there, and I was very impressed.
I booked Dezi with him at the age of 2, for 60 days. Three weeks later he was having a two day clinic, which I attended. Remember, I had not ridden for 20 yrs. I get to the clinic, which I thought I was riding one of his horses. Forget that. He put me on Dezi with 3 weeks riding. I said Oh My God! Dennis said to me, "trust me you will do fine", and she is very trusting, quiet, and smart. OK, if you say so. I had the best time of my life, and all my fun is continuing. Since then I have attended 4 other clinics.
I can not say enough about this family. They are considerate, caring, and HONEST.
If your horse has a hole in it, Dennis will find it, and fix it, if it is fixable. You need to remember,if there is a problem you need to do something about it. You can't think it is going to get better, as it won't. If your horse is not doing what you ask, you keep asking until they have accepted what you are asking. Dennis has an excellent respect issue, and he wants you to follow it and carry through with it. Repetition is what it takes. I know if I have questions, or any problems, he is there to answer them or take care of them himself.
Safety is the first issue, as your horse weighs a lot more then you do and believe me you can get hurt instantly, and ususally it is because they have no respect for you.
I would recommend Dennis and the Redwood Stables for any of your training needs. If the horse has a bad attitude and is not safe to be around, Dennis will tell you too look for another one. Why? Because he always has safety on his mind for you and your horse. He wants everyone to have fun with their horse.
This family has helped me so much, and I will always have questions for them. I never feel stupid asking any questions, as that is what Dennis wants from you. Let him know what you are looking for, and what you want to do, and he will be there for you.
Continue your great work Dennis, as I am very happy and very satisified. I will recommend you to anyone, as all I can say is: You can not argue wilth results, and I have had nothing but good results with Dezi. Keep it up Cowboy! You and your family are the most wonderful people I have ever met. Your love for people and horses shows through your work.
You are lifetime friends to Dezi and I.
Always Diann & Dezi
Hi Dennis, Michelle, and Emmy;
I just wanted to write you a quick note telling you what a great job you did on Jessie! Her response time to the queues I am giving her are great! When I queue her to do something, her response is immediate! She doesn’t pussyfoot around trying to decide herself is that is truly what she wants to do! If I ask her to move a different direction, her response is immediate! What you did with her is tremendous! She was a very good mare before I sent her to you, now she is a totally awesome mare! I can’t believe you had her actually cutting cattle also. When I was riding her, she was actually doing some of the moves herself without me telling her what to do.
Not only did you train her, but you also gave me lessons on what I should be doing and how I should be doing it. On both Saturday and Sunday, you gave me lessons on how I should be riding her versus what I shouldn’t do. You never once talked down to me or at me, you always made me feel that any question I had was very important! Instead of only getting a couple hours of lessons, you let me work both on Saturday and Sunday and I appreciate it very much! I understand that training horses is your job, but you make it very personable for both the horse and the customer. I felt you truly wanted to make me a better horseperson along with making my horse a better horse! I was always made to feel I was welcome whether it was 10:00 in the morning or 6:00 in the evening!
When we were in the chicken barn and you were working on other horses, Michelle was giving me tips on how to come out of the corner to chase the cattle for roping! Even when I didn’t quite know what she was talking about, she tried explaining the directions in a different way. She never made me feel like I had absolutely no clue as to what I was doing. (Even though, I didn’t know what I was doing) She is very nice! I would definitely recommend anybody that needs training for their horse to send it to you!
Tracey Nelson
Attended my first Dennis Auslam clinic last weekend (3/29/08) at his Redwood Stables and barely got back home before signing up for another clinic of his in May!!! Whether you are an experienced rider or a first-time horse owner Dennis has something to offer and I believe EVERYONE should bring their horse to his "Desensitizing and Confidence Building" clinic...trust me your horse will thank you for it and you will be amazed with the results you see. I was impressed with the individual attention Dennis and his "crew" gave each and every attendee. I look forward to future clinics/lessons and participating in his future extreme trail and ranch horse competitions!!! Thanks Dennis, Michelle and all your "hands"! Jan Dunkelberger & Pestee (grey QH mare)
Lamberton, MN
I took a clinic with Dennis this past weekend (3/29/08) and it was amazing. He is a wealth of information and all his staff is just as knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone at any level of riding, his patience is amazing. He really opened my eyes to how much there is to learn. I've worked with trainers that you can tell are just filling your head with a bunch of junk. Dennis knows what he is talking about, and he is very good at explaining it. Thank you Dennis, Michelle, Blayne, Addie and all others!!
Becky King
I was having problems in getting my 4-year old gelding, Mickey, to get on the bit, work off his hindquarters and transitioning to the lope -- Mickey would throw himself into the lope instead of using his hindquarters to propel himself into it. Mickey also had tying issues and had some respect issues on the ground. So I decided to take Mickey over for 30 days with Dennis. After his 30 days, Mickey now neckreins, works much better off his hindquarters, ties great, and his ground manners are much improved. Even his work ethic is better. Mickey also had the opportunity to chase some cows while he was there which was also a great experience for him. I consider the training fee to be money well spent. Dennis is very helpful in suggesting exercises to do with your horse and is really willing to do follow-up lessons with you and your horse to you keep progressing. Dennis is a great teacher, for both people and horses.
Andrea Wichmann
We’re not sure you could meet more dedicated and sincere people than Dennis and Michelle. We were introduced to them when looking for therapeutic horseback riding for our now 3-year-old son, Bradley, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We started therapy in late spring, 2005 and at the time, Bradley could not sit without support. Dennis listens to feedback from all angles, whether from the parents or OT or PT. He then puts together a plan for incorporating riding positions to address those issues. Within 6 months, our son not only sits without support, but stands unassisted, crawls up and down stairs and has just begun walking unassisted. We firmly believe this wouldn’t have been possible in this short of timeframe without the riding sessions.
One key thing we have noticed in working with Dennis and Michelle is our happiness in the progress our son has made is also theirs. This is not just a business for them. They truly enjoy what they do and want people to succeed, from the biggest adult to the smallest child. We can’t thank them enough for helping Bradley.
David and Susan Gosmire
Hi Dennis: Diann has spoke so highly of you and your training expertise and how well you like training Dezi. AM glad that you are helping Diann as this is her dreamhorse and so deserves having her dream come true. This is so wonderful to have her riding her dream horse and working with you. Wanted to just say thank you for your good training on one of my girls. They are showing and winning world wide in everything and get lots of emails from clients of how they all are winning and so nice to work with and novices training their own at two for the first time as can just get on them and start riding basically. Will keep in touch with your site and enjoyed it a lot.
Best of success...
Wendy Malone
spottedfawnpaints.com
montanamalonequarterhorses.com
Every parents wish is for their children’s dreams to come true, for us our children are living their dreams right now at the ages of 13, 10 and 8. All of this was made possible with the help of Dennis and Michelle, they have so much to offer! I can’t thank Dennis enough for what he has done for our family both in the competitive world and for us enjoying trail riding safely as a family. Blayne was a member of the Minnesota Rodeo Association this past year for the first time at age 10. He entered four rodeos for the year and he placed in one of those. He was so excited and immediately asked if he could call Dennis to tell him he caught his calf. For two of the rodeos Dennis was also entered for competition but before Blayne entered the arena you would look up and there was Dennis…. sitting on the fence of the roping box coaching Blayne and making him feel right at home. Bryler our 8 year old son has also taken interest and competed at a junior rodeo and a couple fun shows, with the guidance and the skills learned he brought home several trophies’s and ribbons this past year. The horsemanship skills that Dennis teaches have proven to be a rewarding outcome and the respect he has instilled in my boys both in and out of the arena will be something they will carry with them forever. Dennis truly has a passion and that passion also extends to the physically challenged. When our 13 year old son Brayden, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy is along Dennis goes above and beyond to involve him in as much as he can. We have been taking our children to clinics and lessons at Redwood Stables for almost 4 years and now as parents have decided to take part in clinics and some lessons. I learned so much from a two day clinic and had so much fun I am looking forward to attending more. I recommend getting involved with Redwood Stables in any way possible, whether it is stopping by to visit and observe, trail riding, roping or just “brushing up” on your horsemanship skills you will leave with a smile on your face planning your next visit to Redwood Stables.
Al, Kristy, Brayden, Blayne and Bryler Meier, Hanley Falls, MN
I would like to thank Dennis and Michelle Auslam for a lot of things. They have both taught me valuable horsemanship skills. Michelle has always been there for me when I needed to talk with somebody. She and I like the same things, like barrel racing and breakaway roping, so we can both talk aboutthat and help each other out. She taught me the beggining skills of training a barrel horse, and she has helped me a lot when I was confused with things. She is a great person to talk to and I am glad I met her. Dennis has taught me a lot about roping and riding in general. He always has patience with me when I am doing something incorrectly. Right now he is training my horse, Sadie, to be a roping horse and is doing an excellent job with her. He has loads of patience and knowledge. If Dennis and Michelle wouldn't have moved here, things would be a lot different for me and I am very glad that they moved here and I met them. They let me ride their horses and use their tack because right now I don't have a saddle. They are very generous and nice people.
Thank you so much! ;Addie O'Neil
A friend of mine called me one day to tell me about this cowboy from Idaho who moved into the area. He said "he trains horses". Well, I have a few that needed work so I gave Dennis a call and brought one over. I didn't know what to expect, but found a very good trainer who has the ability to read a horse and match the rider with the horse. He will ask what you intend to use the horse for, and take it from there. Both Dennis and Michelle are good with kids with riding lessons, roping, putting on fun days, benefits, reining clinics, or whatever you ask for. I've been bringing horses to Dennis since they moved to Minnesota and I even started roping myself, just for fun! He has made great horses for me which makes them more valuable. He puts a good handle on the horse and when you get on you feel so much safer and confident.
;A satisfied customer, Linda Lerud
