About Mike Stacy
Mike is a native Arizona horseman who believes there is an alternative approach to horse training.
He began working and training horses at 16, as a cowboy on Arizona ranches. He used the old cowboy breaking methods, but as time went on he felt there was a better and kinder approach to training colts and horses. The older methods seemed to increase bad behavior and only added to the problems. Mike started to experiment with a more spiritual way.
Mike's discovered you could, with a little patience, ask a horse to try behaviors rather than trying to force him into it. Through these methods he discovered techniques that work with each and every horse. He truly believes he can fix any horse problem as long as the horse is sound.
He has developed 3 basic principles he instills in every horse: trust, confidence and respect.
To establish trust he starts with gentling techniques, such as sacking with rhythm, sending in the round pen, coddling the horse when necessary, and encouragement.
Confidence is established through teaching the horse "rate". Rate is cruise control. The horse is taught to trot at a steady pace, neither speeding up nor slowing down so when in 'time of flight' mode he will automatically self manage his emotions.
Respect is a by-product achieved from instilling the trust and confidence principles. The horse stays out of your space, does not exhibit bad behaviors, and has no confusion about what he is to do.
Because of Mike's training and his hours in the saddle and on the trail, he feels arena work can only go so far. Each and every horse should go out on the trail and be exposed to the real world. Through all these lessons the horses learn to be wonderful companions and great riding horses for their owners.
Mike's ambition is to help as many horses and people achieve their dreams.