For two years I worked with Katie gaining her trust, made some big mistakes and let the wrong person handle her. It all backfired. Not only was she extremely head shy, she would blow under saddle. I couldn't trust her, therefore she didn't trust me.
When a friend and trainer told me to have her destroyed, I refused. How could I destroy this horse I loved with all my heart? So I put out the word, who would take this dangerous mare and turn our lives around? My fairer heard of this wonderful horse trainer.. "Larry Levrets 'Where training comes from the heart.'" Then Larry came into our lives... "Round Pen Training is what I do, I wouldn't work without one" he told me. And then began the miracle.
On the second day of Katie's training Larry could halter her. I had brought her on Saturday and returned the following week to see my mare. "Why don't you go out there and halter your horse?" Larry asked of me. So with much trepidation, halter in hand, and imagining I'd done this for years, I did! She actually dropped her nose into the halter when I held it out to her! I remember fits of crying and screaming in my room when attempts to halter her had failed!
Tears welled in my eyes and emotions rushed in. Wrapping my arms around Katie's neck, I cried. She stood there neck down with acceptance. "A lot of emotion there", Larry commented. I replied, "She's never allowed me to hug her like this."
The next Saturday was even better. How could that be? Well I got on her of course! She was sporting a bridle with a nifty black saddle, how did he do that?
Then began my training, I became the trainer trainee. Larry pointed out the things I did wrong and showed me the right way to work with my horse. I was so excited that I went home to practice what I had learned on another green horse.
Larry continued to work with my horse on a daily basis, concentrating on each issue she had no matter how hard, and overcame her fears. From haltering, saddling, trailering, strangers and fear of anything new. Katie had lots of fear based issues and Larry could read her and understand her motives.
I continued my weekly trips also coming on Fridays to learn to work with my horse under Larry's guidance. Time spent there was worth the reward to finally ride my horse. Before I left with Katie, I learned to work her in a round pen, play with her on a line, saddle her safely, put on her bridle without a fight, trailer her and so much more. The confidence that I had lost was found again through Larry. And Katie became the gentle, well mannered, calm and sweet horse I knew she could be.
"I think we found the horse in her" Larry told me. Now I ride her safely at home and boy is she a dream!
If someone should ask me who's the best horse trainer? I'd say.. "Larry Levrets, why go anywhere else."
-Kerry Waller
A note from Larry: the halter had been on the horse for a year and a half because you couldn't get it back on the horse. In two sessions i was able to take it on and off in the roundpen. Also the day they brought her it took a hour and a half to load her. In a very short time she loaded with me setting on the fender with a twelve foot line attached to her halter.
-Larry