Jonathan Field’s love of horses began early in his life, competing in horse shows in both English and Western. Equine VIP met the impressive trainer at a clinic he gave at The Horse Expo called “Inspired By Horses”. Jonathan and his horse “Hal” are the stars of a commercial you won’t want to miss!
To see the commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hMYeCdQKyE
Horses have been a part of your life since an early age. At nineteen you suffered an industrial accident and horses were instrumental in your recovery. In fact, your trademark is “Inspired by Horses”. Can you tell us what lead you to a career with horses?
I did have a terrible accident on a drilling rig. My whole life was turned upside down. For awhile it was questionable as to whether or not I would get to keep my left hand. The long recovery, and what I went through to fully heal, changed how I thought about everything. Before this, I was a working cowboy. I would do anything to be out on the range on horseback. As a very young man I would trade off family holidays and even left school early so I could be a part of the big events at a ranch like brandings, spring turn-out or fall-gather. During all of this, horses were a part of my job but I never really realized how much more there was to these creatures. I would often be frustrated by horses that wouldn’t perform the way I wanted them to…or be scared and frustrated with the broncos when I was out on a hillside by myself 10 miles from home.
During my recovery horses played a different role in my life. Horses were an escape, both recreationally and personally, a place where I could get away from all the anxiety about what my future had to hold. I became deeply inspired to understand them more…especially as I met true horsemen, the type that understood horses and could develop a partnership and still get the job done, only in a better and more enjoyable way for both horse and human. This is where it started for me.
You studied under some great horsemen including Ronnie Willis, Ray Hunt and Craig Johnson. However, you often talk about your mentor Pat Parelli and how the dignity of the horse must always come first. What does that mean to you?
My main mentors always spoke about dignity and choice for the horse. If you deal with the horse in a certain manner, the horse can actually engage with you in a positive way to become an active part of what you are doing. These mentors always talked about how you set up situations for the horse to think about…give it a choice. ‘Think’ and ‘choice’ when it came to horses is not something I understood or had the mindset to let sink in, but through the years, this has become much more important to me. I want the horse to get a good deal out of our time together and to be my partner in the process. This is what I strive for. I called my program ‘Inspired by Horses’ – First because I am personally inspired by them. And second because I try to only do things that fit with the nature of the horse.
Taking what you’ve learned from these horsemen, you’ve formulated your own four step program that gets people from the ground to the saddle – safely. Can you tell us more about that?
During my intense obsession period to discover more and follow a different path, I learned some great and really exciting truths from these rare horsemen. I couldn’t believe that this information wasn’t common knowledge. I wondered why I hadn’t been told this! It’s that wonder and excitement that led me to want to share what I had learned from these amazing people.
I set out to develop a program that came from the thoughts and experiences I had with my teachers and horses. The goal was to first give people the tools to be safe by understanding the nature of the horse, and then build incrementally from there to more advanced riding skills that provide a foundational element, no matter the discipline. I wanted the information to be results oriented so everybody could pick it up and apply it to their situation. Because I had to travel so far and wide to get this information and learn what I did, I wanted my program to be simple and as progressive as possible. The four step ‘Inspired by Horses’ program is the result.
We met you at The Horse Expo where you gave a clinic. It was clear to many that you are a gifted teacher. One of the fundamentals you teach is about being the “leader your horse needs you to be”. Can you share your thoughts on what it takes to become a leader?
Thank you. Every time I envision a great leader for a horse I see a mare and foal I once watched cross a deep and fast river. As the mare approached the edge of the bank with this little foal, I was amazed at the trust they shared as she stepped into the water. Without hesitation, the foal went right after her. All of us watched in awe as they came out of the water about 300 yards down stream. While we may never achieve that level of trust, we can strive to become the leader our horse needs us to be. Just like that mare is for her foal.
The reason our horses need us to be one is because we are taking them away from their herd, their environment and out into new situations. The nature of the horse doesn’t want to allow this without the herd. This is why so many horses that are fine at home freak out in new areas – they don’t feel their human is a worthy leader. This leads to calling, prancing, and the worst case scenario, bucking and bolting for home. Becoming friends with a horse is one thing, but becoming the true leader is another. This is why I teach these clinics. I want to help people to understand, and not blame their horse, but focus on what is going to work.
You and your wife travel over 200 days a year to clinics all over the country. “Be firm, fair, and friendly” is something you communicate at your clinics. Can you explain?
This is a statement that I have heard over and over from many horsemen. It’s about balance in the relationship with your horse. If any one of these three things is out of proportion, it will not be right for your horse. In regards to my wife and I traveling a lot: this is true, we do, and we also bring our two boys along, Weston (31/2 years-old) and Mason (1 year-old). Angie is very good at balancing me in regards to “firm, fair and friendly”!
One of your DVD’s is about developing a great riding horse from the ground. In fact you tell us “If it won’t happen on the ground, it won’t happen on the horse”. Can you share a few tips?
This is a very old and well used concept at the highest levels of horsemanship. Start on the ground first to develop key skills. In the majority of horse training nowadays this experience is often over-looked. This step is skipped all the time and people go forward with horses, however I find huge value in teaching the horse many things before I mount. I focus on exercises directly linking ground skills to riding skills. This helps horses learn almost all the moves they will need to become a good riding horse without the interference of a rider. It is also good for new riders, or people with limited time, because in a few minutes you can do these exercises and develop a better riding horse.
You have quite a special partnership with all your horses. You’ve even jumped your horse, “Hal”, over a four and a half foot jump bareback and bridle-less – quite an accomplishment! Is the ultimate goal of your training methods to become a good partner with your horse?
Absolutely! I ask myself on a regular basis: what do I want to do with the time I have left? After my family, I want to put time into my horses to see how far I can take our relationship. When I’m 80, I want to proudly reflect on what we did together. Hal is special to me because he was a ‘problem’ horse that was given to me. That picture you see captured a moment in time that means a lot to me because it truly represents the amazing potential of a horse even if they have been labeled as difficult. Hal was not easy…and he caused me more reflection and learning than I originally thought I was in for… it was also worth every second of it. That photo is a great reminder.
Balance is also a big part of your philosophy and training. Can you tell us more?
Balance is such a difficult achievement because nothing, especially when it comes to horses, is static. It is often easier to swing the pendulum fully one way or the other than it is to remain in balance. I talk a lot about balance as a rider, but in how I think you are asking me about balance, I would say that balance causes us to look at ourselves constantly.
You have many DVD’s that cover various aspects of horsemanship and connection with your horse. Since we all need to continue learning about horses at any level of riding, is there 1-2 DVD’s that you can recommend to everyone?
When I made my DVD set, my first thought was ‘does the world really need another DVD set?’ Then I decided to pursue it vigorously because my son Weston was born. I wondered, ‘where will he get all of this accumulated knowledge from, and in a usable order, that I spent a great deal of time learning and debating over, and all in on spot?’ That’s how it began. This turned into an eighteen hour ground and riding set that is broken down into individual DVD’s that you can use separately. I would recommend the first DVD on the ground as well as the first riding one. I often hear back from people that they wish they learned what is offered in these first two DVD’s 25 years ago. Plus, if someone buys them individually, they will never pay more than the whole price of the full set as we will send the rest of the set as they get to that dollar number.
If our readers want to learn more about you and your upcoming clinics, is there a website we can send them too?
Just visit our website at http://www.jonathanfield.net Thanks again for this interview. Safe and happy trails.
