"My stories are largely based on my own and/or my riding students' experiences.Throughout my entire life I've been blessed to learn from top horsemen and horsewomen in various fields, including reining, jumping, colt-starting, three-day eventing, and timed events. There are some things that seem to be common across all the disciplines: * The more you learn, the more you will realize you need to learn.* The goal is to develop your horse into your partner. Listen to him/her and always communicate in a way that the horse can understand. A scared or upset horse (or student) cannot learn.* Individuals learn differently, and if the method you're using is upsetting your horse or student, it's on you to figure out a way to make things clear to them.* Along with fair, clear communication, there must also be time for the horse and student to think and understand.Learning is, indeed, a lifelong commitment, and I continue to learn as I continue to teach and to write.- When some bull riders started ragging my husband (actually, fiancé in those days) and me about our ""sissy English saddles,"" we stepped off our horses, walked over to their mechanical bucking bull, then rode it, each of us for the full eight seconds. The guys were a good deal more respectful after that."