Equestrian Vacations at the Equine Research Foundation

"I can't say that I was too excited about leaving the Equine Research Foundation at the end of my vacation. I felt very sad. It was as if I had been there much longer and knew all of you for a very long time. I had such an incredible experience! The both of you do an outstanding job to help build confidence and create a feeling of partnership. The horses were amazing and being a part of the research was both interesting and eye opening. I loved being around the horses, learning their stories, and seeing what they are capable of doing with patience and kindness. No one will ever believe I played tag on horseback! I feel blessed that I was able to experience real horsemanship. I have kept in touch with the Equine Research Foundation, asking about a million questions, and I know that I will have their continued support. As dramatic as this sounds, I do believe my time there was a life changing experience. I can't wait until next year!!!" -- Kate, New Jersey

"I had a really great time with you guys and I just wanted to say 'Thank You Again!' You have taught me so much about these wonderful animals. I am really looking forward to the Mustang trip and I feel much more ready for it. Thanks again for everything!" -- Cheryl, California

"I came to the Equine Research Foundtion for two weeks - it should have been a month! Forget what you think you know about natural horsemanship, horse training, and horse intelligence, the myths, and the self-help books. This place will blow you away! Never has a vacation been so rewarding or so much fun. Evelyn and Jerry know what they are talking about. The influence of this place in just two weeks has been amazing and Evelyn and Jerry's humor has kept me from feeling that I know nothing! Learn, have fun, and change - I did and I feel I'm a better person around horses than I was before I came here." -- Sonya, England

"The positive reinforcement horse training clinic has made a big difference in my relationship with my horse. My endurance riding buddies noticed it too. My horse and I are definitely more connected and this makes riding all the more enjoyable. I have had some change in viewpoints in my daily veterinary practice, too. I try to look at things more now from the horse's point of view. I now know that horses learn quickly and do remember from prior experiences better than I thought. Thanks again to both of you for traveling to Oregon to present your clinic to us. I really believe in what you are teaching." -- Kim, Oregon

"My horses and I use positive reinforcement and we teach others. Your article in Perfect Horse magazine is perfect for people interested in learning positive reinforcement - I would love copies to hand out to students. I also saw you talk last year at the American Association for Equine Practitioners (AAEP) conference and was so pleasantly surprised that it was offered in that format - you are truly a pioneer. Kudos to you!" -- Lisa, New Hampshire

"I have had a truly fascinating and rewarding vacation - a vacation that has proved to me that there are no bad horses, just people who have bad relationships with their horses. So many problems with horses could be solved if owners and trainers knew how to look at things from their horses' point of view. I hope that horses will always be a part of my life and the past two weeks have given me an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how horses think and perceive the world around them. The Equine Research Foundation has changed my views and my way of thinking about horses and how to ride and care for them. I would recommend these learning and horseback riding vacations to anyone who wants to have a happy and fulfilling relationship with their horse." — Jane, England

"I was blessed to have been able to spend a week at your ranch and learn new things about horses. These are wonderful, powerful, and spirtual animals and I appreciate their true beauty, spirit and intelligence and am blessed to have been a part of their continuing growth and learning process. I am thankful to have been a part of the research and want you both to know that I learned a lot from you. I hope to one day own my own horse and want to be assured that I can give them the same love, respect and true compassion that you show your horses. I want you to know that I had a wonderful time and am proud to have learned new things about horses from you both. I hope to one day again visit your ranch and continue to learn more about these truly wonderful creatures. Anyway, thanks again for making my trip fun, worthwhile, rewarding and educational." — Gabrielle, Ohio

"Thanks for all your help with the articles and a HUGE thank you for the kinds of research you're doing at the Foundation. It's exactly what this industry needs." -- Betsy, Editor - John Lyons' Perfect Horse, Colorado

"I am thinking of all of you, as I know I will be for a long time to come. Thanks to each and every one of you for all that you did to make my time there so wonderful. I will have memories to last a lifetime and something on which to build a foundation for my future work with horses. There WILL be horses in my future, and I have you to thank for the lessons I will carry with me." — Heidi, Colorado

"Just wanted to thank you both again for the wonderful week at ERF. To watch the horses during the testing sessions was extremely amazing. It shows they've been around as long as they have because of how intelligent they are. I also feel calmer about riding after our work in the arena and on the trails and the beach last week. Through your eyes, I found some better techniques to help communicate better with horses to achieve the results I would strive for. I've decided I'd like to add the Foundation to my charity contributions. What you do for the equines everywhere needs to be recognized and I would be proud to help fund your future efforts. I also am planning to come back next year for two weeks. I will stay in touch." — Cyndi, Washington

"I had a fantastic six weeks in America, I enjoyed the Mustang trip very much and it was a 'deep end' introduction to Americans and I appreciated the time and effort you both took to make me feel at ease. The research was very interesting and I found myself paying more attention to how the horses were doing as the weeks went by and I'm glad to hear that is progressing well. The afternoon sessions were the best and I felt that I achieved my objective, which was to know how I could put last year's theory into practice and I felt I did that, with loads of help from both of you. I've come back with so much confidence that I'm going to start my horse on my own." — Val, England

"Looking back I can say that it was an excellent decision coming to Aptos and going back with so many new and different impressions. Once again I would like to thank you. It helped me a lot to get a deeper understanding of horses and human behaviour/interaction I will use for further study and work." — Elke, Germany

"I wanted to thank you for one of the best holidays I have ever had! Since I got home, we've been working on a bit of ground work... discovered my horse's feet are a whole lot lighter when you double-check to make certain he can actually lift his foot before asking him to do so. Two weeks of western riding did my sit trot a world of good. I'm definitely coming back. Way too much still to learn!" — Susan, Canada

"The Equine Research Foundation was one of the best experiences I've ever had and I want to thank you for giving it to me. You have something amazing and you're doing so much by sharing it. I'd love to come back and see you again." — Ashley, Florida

"It was one of the best vacations I have ever spent; the two weeks just flew by and the learning gained has helped me in my relationships with horses as well as with other people." — Corinne, California

"Thank you for the wonderful week I spent at the Equine Research Foundation. I can wholeheartedly appreciate your research efforts to enhance (and sometimes correct!) contemporary understandings of the equine mind. Thanks again for sharing your time and knowledge." — Megan, Pennsylvania

"This has been an unforgettable experience and I shall carry home many happy and enjoyable memories. I'm glad to have been a party to a project that someday may generate a change in the way people view horses - that their lot in life will eventually improve." — Barb, New Hampshire

"Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity you gave me working with you. Thank you for all your kindness, your mountains of patience, generosity and humor. I had an amazing time, which I'll never forget." — Sarah, England

"I came to the ERF because I wanted to know more about how horses think and learn and to gain some experience in research. I came away from the program with not only a better understanding of how horses think and learn, but how I can change the way I think in order to improve the relationship between my horse and I. My time at the ERF gave me valuable insights into the mind of the horse and how their actions are influenced by herd dynamics. I would recommend the ERF program to anyone who suspects that there is more to the mind of a horse than is currently thought, and wishes to learn more." — Kai, California

"My only complaint is that I don't have more time to stay at the ERF longer. The contented working partnership you've developed with your horses speaks volumes for your training methods." — Carol, Virginia

"These past few weeks were excellent! I had such a wonderful time working with you and I was so fascinated by the horses' performances that I thought about all of you during the many hours I sat on the plane. This project is an inspiration for all of us who plan to continue working with and enjoying the company of horses." — Sarah, New York

"For me, it was quite a revelation in terms of beginning to see through those two weeks the potential brain power of the horse. It was also absolutely humbling to see that under the right conditions of NO STRESS, reward for approximations, etc., that the horse can process information and respond to stimuli to an outstanding degree. It is the investigation and research under scientific conditions like that of the ERF that will lead to long overdue changes in training and management." — Robyn, Australia

"Thank you for everything. I am leaving here truly inspired not only for the work that is being done but also for the enthusiasm and dedication brought to it. Also, for rounding out our stay with information, laughter, patience and overall good times." — Kelly, Connecticut

"I could not be more grateful for my experience at the Equine Research Foundation. It has contributed to my work with children with autism as it has taught me how important it is to consider my own behavior and approach when interacting with another, be it an animal or a child. Most importantly, it has taught me how critical it is to understand the communication system of the individual because it is through an attempt to communicate in their way that the interaction can be effective and worthwhile." — Nicky, California

"I can't put one of the best times of my life into words so I'll keep it short. Be prepared for the chance of a lifetime and treasure every minute of your stay here." — Charlie, United Kingdom

Copyright Notice: All literature and photographs on this website are the exclusive property of the Equine Research Foundation or the scientific journals in which articles appear. The literature and photographs may not be downloaded or reproduced, copied, used or altered in any way without the written permission of the Equine Research Foundation.

Our Equestrian Programs past and present (What People Say About Them)

Our Equestrian Programs past and present
(What People Say About Them)