True Horsemanship — A Lifelong Journey

Q: Why does Richard Winters reject the "self-taught" label?

Per Richard Winters: every horseman accumulates knowledge from countless mentors, clinicians, authors, and working hands. Even informal teachers—like Clay the resident wrangler at his childhood rental stable—pass along durable lessons. Claiming to be self-taught dismisses everyone whose lessons are actually doing the teaching.

Q: What's a foundational lesson he still uses 35 years later?

Per Richard Winters: do up your latigo when unsaddling so it hangs straight and pulls smoothly when you saddle the next horse. Tiny habit, taught by Clay the wrangler decades ago, repeated thousands of times since. The best lessons are often the smallest.

Q: How can I learn from clinicians I'll never meet?

Per Richard Winters: training videos, DVDs, books, and articles all carry usable knowledge. Watch with attention, take notes, and try one technique at a time. You can't replicate a personal mentorship through media, but you can absorb specific techniques and add them to your toolkit.

Q: Should every horseman seek a single mentor?

Per Richard Winters: a primary mentor accelerates learning, but limiting yourself to one teacher narrows your toolkit. Most working horsemen have one or two deep influences plus dozens of secondary teachers—each contributing a piece.

Q: When does the learning ever stop?

Per Richard Winters: it shouldn't. Thirty years in, he's still learning from his daughter Sarah, from clinicians he watches at expos, from clients' horses that throw new puzzles at him. Horsemanship is a lifelong study—comfort with that fact separates working pros from frustrated dabblers.

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True Horsemanship – A Life Long Journey

A properly placed and adjusted nerve line.

After thirty years of full time horsemanship, I believe I am the product of many great horsemen and women I’ve had the privilege of learning from.

Performance Horsemanship with Richard Winters

Some trainers proclaim they are “self-taught.” Others credit one particular mentor who shaped their horsemanship philosophy and techniques. After thirty years of full time horsemanship, I believe I am the product of many great horsemen and women I’ve had the privilege of learning from. I have had the opportunity to work extensively with numerous amazing individuals. Some trainers only once or twice, while others it was through their training videos, DVD’s, or articles in which I gleaned training nuggets. The following is a glimpse of many who have been so generous with their horsemanship knowledge.

When I was just a boy, every Saturday morning I would help Clay, the resident wrangler, saddle twenty-five dude horses at the local rental stable. He taught me to do up my latigo when unsaddling so that it would hang straight, and pull smooth, when I saddled my next horse. I’ve been pleased to continue the routine for over thirty-five years.

This latigo has been put up correctly and is ready to go for next time!

While still in High School, Troy Henry taught me how to use a lariat rope as a nerve line. (What others might call a war bridle), I still recall how he would step up and loosen the rope to release the pressure when a horse attempted to yield rather than resist against the pressure.

Pat Parelli showed me how a round pen should be so much more than the place where you first stepped on broncs or just run horses around to get them tired. He demonstrated how the round pen could be a place to have a conversation with a horse and establish a relationship built on trust and respect.

This is a great way to carry your saddle in preparation for saddling.

Twenty-five years ago, I observed Joe Wolter at a clinic with a young horse to be saddled for the first time. Joe held the saddle with his left hand and had it propped on his left hip. When he put it up on the colt’s back, it was the smoothest technique I had ever observed. I vowed to go home and master that same method. I’m glad I was there that day!

Many years ago Tom Dorrance showed many of us how we could help a horse execute a flying lead change, using a pole on the ground. This is a great exercise for horses and riders, who have a pretty good foundation, yet lack the refinement of ultimate body control. I use this same exercise with students at many of my clinics today.

Observing Ray Hunt, in numerous Colt Starting clinics, convinced me that getting out of a colt’s way, and not pulling on them, would be the best policy for getting along and staying out of trouble. The objective is not “how I would get them stopped,” but rather, “how can I help them move out.”

Buck Branaman came to the Thacher School to conduct a clinic a few years ago. He demonstrated a simple yet meaningful technique for softening a horse on the ground, while backing. With his left hand at the base of the halter, thumb down, he firmly worked the halter laterally back and forth. As the horse softened his face and backed up, he softened his hold on the halter. This exercise removes a lot of braciness in a horse and helps the handler develop a lot of feel. I do this with all of my colts before I step on them for the first time.

I attended a Les Vogt clinic in Klamath Falls, Oregon, about ten years ago. That was a turning point in my own personal horsemanship journey. He showed us exercises and a plan to obtain control of each of our horses’ body parts. This body control opened doors for me to advance my own performance horsemanship. What I learned that weekend was invaluable.

Doug Williamson has shown me the advantage of shortening my stirrups when riding performance horses. If I want to be comfortable, on a long trail ride, I can let them down. Yet, if I want to help my horse do something athletic, I need to raise them up.

Ted Robinson suggested I might like the feel and results of a Billy Allen curb bit, versus a Tom Thumb or Argentine Snaffle. He was right! It was also Ted who helped me understand a horse’s proper body position when counter cantering. Without that guidance, I would just be loping around on the wrong lead!

Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list. These are just a few instances and individuals who have added value to my training program. As I’ve recounted a few of my “learning moments,” I hope it has reminded you of the teachers and mentors who have given you so much as well. Remember, the list is not all-inclusive and the learning is unending.

For more information about Richard Winters Horsemanship please go to wintersranch.com.

Key Article Takeaways

Per Richard Winters: "self-taught" is a myth—every horseman is the product of many teachers.
Saturday-morning rental-stable work taught lifelong basics like proper latigo handling.
Pat Parelli, Troy Henry, Clay the wrangler, and many others shaped Winters' approach.
Real horsemen learn from clinicians, books, videos, articles, and other working horsemen alike.
Thirty years in, the journey continues—the day you stop learning is the day you stop improving.

Questions readers commonly ask:

Why does Richard Winters reject the "self-taught" label?

Per Richard Winters: every horseman accumulates knowledge from countless mentors, clinicians, authors, and working hands. Even informal teachers—like Clay the resident wrangler at his childhood rental stable—pass along durable lessons. Claiming to be self-taught dismisses everyone whose lessons are actually doing the teaching.

What's a foundational lesson he still uses 35 years later?

Per Richard Winters: do up your latigo when unsaddling so it hangs straight and pulls smoothly when you saddle the next horse. Tiny habit, taught by Clay the wrangler decades ago, repeated thousands of times since. The best lessons are often the smallest.

How can I learn from clinicians I'll never meet?

Per Richard Winters: training videos, DVDs, books, and articles all carry usable knowledge. Watch with attention, take notes, and try one technique at a time. You can't replicate a personal mentorship through media, but you can absorb specific techniques and add them to your toolkit.

Should every horseman seek a single mentor?

Per Richard Winters: a primary mentor accelerates learning, but limiting yourself to one teacher narrows your toolkit. Most working horsemen have one or two deep influences plus dozens of secondary teachers—each contributing a piece.

When does the learning ever stop?

Per Richard Winters: it shouldn't. Thirty years in, he's still learning from his daughter Sarah, from clinicians he watches at expos, from clients' horses that throw new puzzles at him. Horsemanship is a lifelong study—comfort with that fact separates working pros from frustrated dabblers.