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Who is Gord Searle?


Gord Searle has been working with horses for close to thirty years. Several years ago, when unable to solve a horse's behavioural issues, he began to explore the concepts of Natural Horsemanship. What he discovered was a better way to train for both horse and human.

Gord believes:
"When working with horses you have to have an open mind"

Although there are similarities in the various approaches to Natural Horsemanship, there are many differences too. Gord’s approach combines the best of several theories with the benefits of long-term experience. Like people, horses are individuals and Gord recognizes that what works for one will not work for all.

Gord travels across Canada, hosting demonstrations, clinics and one-on-one training sessions on everything from calming aggressive behaviours to effective trailer-loading techniques. When time allows, he donates hours to local pony and 4-H clubs. Gord strongly believes that if we do not spend quality time educating the younger generation, the future of the horse will suffer.

Cyber standing where Gord has placed her                 Sunshine & Gord

"A Horse Trainer combines the best qualities of a man and a woman"

What Gord means by this is simple... in dealing with their horses, women tend to mother, while men can be overly controlling. A good horse trainer requires the compassion and patience of a woman and the persistence of a man in order to get the job done. We have to learn to ask more of our horses, while understanding how to help them get there. There are times when you meet with resistance from a horse and you need to push through this. Other times fear is the motivator for negative behaviour and you have to back off and reassure.

Horses are highly complex creatures. They are so sensitive that they can move a single spot on their body to dislodge a fly. Yet people frequently complain their horse lacks the capability to learn and improve. If we do not take the time to discover how a horse learns, we will never achieve the relationship we desire. We want our horses to bond with us, not fear us. To succeed, we need to open up a two-way communication between human and animal. There is so much more that you can achieve with your horse than to sit on their back and ride.

I hope each of you will have a chance to experience the exquisite feeling when you make a training breakthrough -- the elation you feel when you see the recognition in your horse's eyes that it knows what you want. It’s a feeling of pride, love and accomplishment comparable only to the joys of being a parent.

I wish you all the very best with your horses and family, as they are as intertwined as life itself.

Thanks,
Gord Searle



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