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Clinician
Matt Sheridan has paid his dues and done his homework. He speaks well and
with depth, and he handles horses as though he's been doing it all his
life, which he has. When Matt teaches, people learn. This
likable
California
horseman would make a valuable addition to any
event.
Rick
Lamb
Radio/TV
Host and Author
www.thehorseshow.com
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I
first met Matt at the Western States Wild Horse & Burro Expo as one of
our clinicians. I was impressed with Matt's knowledge and gentleness
when working with the mustangs. I watched as he worked with Mojave, one of
our rescued mustangs that had some real trust issues. He had been known to
buck and flee when frightened. Matt helped Mojave go from being scared and
unsure to his first safe ride. Mojave was adopted that weekend and has a
wonderful home. I don't invite many trainers to our ranch. After meeting
Matt and watching how he worked with both horses and people I knew I would
host a clinic.
Lynda
Sanford
Program Director
"Save a Life" Wild Horse Training Program
Western States Wild Horse & Burro Expo
www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com
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My story starts out as many others you hear about in the horse-world. I
went from trainer to trainer looking for a solution to my horses (or what I
perceived as their problem) behavioral problems.
Yes, the trainers could get them to behave while they were handling them
but as soon as they left I was in the same situation.
I have a paint, quarter, 2 minis and a pony. I have had the large horses since the were babies
and have shown them for five years. I hate to admit how dangerous it was
both for myself and anyone else who chose to come and help me get them
ready for show. Still I went ahead and showed, placed, but never felt that
my horse was in sync with me. I knew I needed help when I became
frustrated and angry at my animals for what I perceived as their lack of
respect for me.
Then I heard about Matt Sheridan from the person who was feeding my horses
for me in the evening. I was skeptical at first so I asked him to come
over and meet me and my band of renegades to see what he thought.
I did not tell Matt anything about their behavior, I just thought I would
see what he had to say. After all I wasn't about to tell him they acted
like lunatics and then have them behave in front of him. All of my horses
were challenges in their own way, but my gelding Tardee was the most
difficult. You could not get near his head much and to clip him we would
have to have him sedated. I accepted that this was the way the horse was.
After all I had paid good money to trainers who could twitch him when they
needed to clip him.
Although I was still skeptical, I asked Matt if he could work with me. To
this day, I don't know how I ever handled my horses on a daily basis let
alone haul them to shows without Matt's help.
Within the first lesson I saw immediate improvement in my horses behavior.
More importantly I saw them looking to develop a 50/50 partnership with a
human. I was amazed by this change in attitude not only because they were
acting differently but because they were actually searching for the
relationship. Over time my horses who would normally charge out of their
stalls (usually right over me) started to walk quietly out and be
completely respectful of my space.
I had friends come over that had not been around my horses for awhile and
they could not believe that these were the same animals! some asked if I
had sedated them, others if I had a lobotomy done! Slowly, I began to
realize that my horses did not have a behavioral problem but that I had set
the expectations for their behavior so low that that was all they gave me.
Over the year I was still struggling with my behavior and how the horses
perceived me. I was becoming content to let Matt handle them for the rest
of all our lives. Matt was patient with me and encouraged me to continue
using the methods even when he was not around.
"My job is to not have you as a student for the rest of your life" was
what he kept telling me. Slowly my confidence grew stronger. especially
when I began to be able to clip my geldings ears without drugs or twitches.
When I could load them in a trailer without a one hour fight, pick their
feet without getting my back pulled out, have them come to me rather than
chasing them. I was amazed and so was my family.
The biggest tribute I can pay to Matt's methods is when Tardee became ill
and needed stomach surgery. The vet did not think he would make it through
the first night, still I followed his instructions and gave hourly enigmas
and shots every two hours. If this had happened two years ago I can
guarantee that I would not have been able to treat my horse and would have
probably lost him. Because of Matt I was able to provide treatment without
twitches and even without a halter.
I have since developed the best relationships with my animals, where they
have peace (no stud chains, twitches, tie downs, etc) and I have peace of
mind. Before Tardee's illness I took him into our first showmanship class,
although we took the blue more important to me was that we actually worked
as a team. I usually practice his showmanship pattern without a halter and
lead rope just to reinforce the methods that Matt has taught me. I can say
this truly paid off in the class because I was not dragging on my horse but
almost dancing as a partner with him.
For the record, I work full time, go to school and have family obligations.
So I feel that I am proof that these results can be achieved even if you
are not a full time horse professional.
My heartfelt thanks to Matt who has shown me the true beauty of these
majestic animals and given me the roadmap to a safer and happier
relationship with them.
Linda Arquieta-Herrera/Painted Dreams Ranch
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