The Top 3 Horse Trainers Who Inspire My Training Style

I’ve been training horse and teaching horseback riding lessons for 4 years now here in Las Vegas. Over the years people have asked me who inspires my teaching style. I’ve always looked up to Pat Parelli, and in the past few years learned more from Sam VanFleet and Mustang Maddy. Each of them inspire me for different reasons, so I made this video (click the photo) explaining the top 3 horse trainers who inspire my training style and why:

Pat Parelli

Pat Parelli's revolutionary approach to horsemanship introduces two crucial games – the Friendly Game and the Porcupine Game – to build trust and communication with wild horses. The Friendly Game establishes a bond through gentle touch and non-threatening gestures, creating a foundation of mutual understanding.

On the other hand, the Porcupine Game refines responsiveness, teaching horses to yield to pressure and fostering respect. Together, these games form a dynamic framework, transforming the untamed into willing partners.

Parelli's philosophy goes beyond training; it's a language of connection that empowers both human and horse, forging a lifelong partnership built on trust and harmony. I see it as an easy, step by step process for mustang owners especially to be able to follow along and train their horse safely.

Sam VanFleet

Sam VanFleet uses different techniques and is always creative with how she approaches horsemanship. Along with the “Parelli-type” back up, Sam has 2 other back up methods as well that I really love. She teaches you how to do things with your horse at a basic level, but those skills and activities can be built on to create something really cool!

For example, the other back up methods can be used at liberty, when your horse has no rope or halter attached. Sam mostly uses YouTube (see her videos here) to teach her skills, but she does travel around the country doing clinics and she also hosts virtual learning groups! I myself have taken her tricks course, advanced tricks course, liberty and advanced liberty courses! They’ve all been absolutely amazing and have taught my horse some pretty amazing things!! Sam has a down to Earth approach and always thinks out of the box when it comes to horses!

Mustang Maddy

I started watching Mustang Maddy videos when she released the Mystic series! (See that series here) Watching Mustang Maddy with this horse was absolutely mind-blowing and I couldn’t believe the transformation!! This horse she was working with jumped out of the pen into the field and she had to find a way to train it in a giant field. She had spent time at SeaWorld and learned some “positive reinforcement” techniques with the animals there and she wondered if it could work the same with horses.

She went back to her herd, and to Mystic to try it, and it most certainly worked. I know others have done a lot with treat rewards and positive reinforcement training, but until then I had not seen another horse trainer explain it better than Maddy does in her Mystic videos. She explains exactly why she’s doing what she’s doing and how it helps the horse learn. 

At the time, I was trying to get some first touches on a very scared Mustang mare, so after watching the Mystic series, I went out and started the positive reinforcement training. It was a completely different approach than anything I was used to before that, but after 26 days of trying other ways, within 2 days of working on “R+” the mare let me halter her finally! I was shocked and decided to jump in the deep end with this type of training. I now use R+ with almost every single horse I come in contact with.

These 3 trainers have set me up with a great foundation (Pat Parelli), a creative thinking mindset (Sam VanFleet), and a will to explore more with what rewards the horse naturally, food (Mustang Maddy). I am so thankful to these 3 trainers for being my biggest inspirations in my career and would not be where I am without them for sure. I highly recommend their videos and programs if you get a mustang, or even a domestic horse!

Let me know your thoughts. Have you heard of these trainers before? Who do you look up to when it comes to training horses? I’d love to hear!