DRUM

My love of horses and wilderness as a child led me to study ecology and philosophy as a young adult. Following university I took a farm manager position at Slide Ranch—a demonstration farm on the Northern California coast. When I returned to British Columbia I unexpectedly crossed paths with a semi-feral thoroughbred colt who had earned a reputation for being dangerous. I couldn’t help but be drawn to this horse. I had un-pressured time to spare, so with no agenda other than to learn from him I built a round corral and began.

The farm was remote and the internet yet to exist. A book by a horseman passed on by my mother was a place to start; the horse filled in the rest.

While continuing to learn from the young thoroughbred (who had grown to 17.3 hands), I began training a mixed herd of Norwegian Fjord Horses at a breeding farm and horse camp on the other side of the mountain. Here I had the opportunity to start many young horses and restart older ones for a riding program for youth.

In my late 20’s, in the course of building a barn for the horses, a logging accident left my right leg crushed and shattered. While I was unable to work with horses through surgeries and a long recovery, the accident encouraged my study and practice of yoga.

In 1996, after many years in British Columbia, my horses and I relocated to San Juan Island, Washington. During this time I continued my study of yoga, including completing a residential teaching certification in Vedic yoga.  In 1999 I began rehabilitating a former sheep farm and established Free Horse Farm, where my work and philosophy with horses evolved into Essential Horsemanship.  Since then I have been committed to helping horses, and people with their horses, however I can.

Over many years of teaching workshops, presenting at horse expos and fairs, offering demonstrations, lessons, apprenticeships, and training with all kinds of horses, each horse and each person has been a teacher.  Always I have aspired to remain true to my venerable teacher and inspiration, Drum.

Visit Drum’s Memorial here.