It seems universally acknowledged across all equine disciplines and all manner of horse folks that Tom Dorrance, a rather humble hand from California, possessed a most extraordinary way with horses. Aside from the tales of Tom that still are told today by those who learned directly from him, there are but a precious handful of […]
Directing the Feet
One of Tom’s many talents; being able to teach people how to direct the horses feet and know where the horses feet are. Video by Tom Johnson Margaret Dorrance riding
One of Tom’s Favorite Poems
One of Tom’s Favorite Sayings
I think Tom used that on cattle also, while riding with Tom on a cattle drive this particular bunch of cattle seemed to always want to go in the opposite direction that was wanted of them to go. Tom started moving them in the direction they wanted to go. Then turned them in the direction Tom […]
Memories of Stick By Julie Mattox
Pictured: Julie Mattox and Stick Everyone has heard stories of a horse rescued from the slaughterhouse that goes on to be a champion. This is a true story and this horse named Stick became the champion. It was because Tom Dorrance was able to introduce a different way of breaking through his fears and anxieties; proving that the mental part […]
HORSE’S HIND FOOT FIRST – Some thoughts on this idea…
Tom worked with me starting the horse’s hind foot first. I will say, it is not easy to get the feel and timing that goes with it. Tom and I rode the same horses, and once a horse learns this it is easier to get them to start from behind. I am sure most of my success was […]
Tom Put Cotton in Pup’s Ears
Tom took ‘Pete and Jack’ the pups with him out on the ranch each day when it was fit for the pups to go with him and with the grass and all they would get stickers in their ears. Then it was off to the veterinarian to get the stickers out. So Tom put cotton in […]
A TEACHER CAN’T DO EVERYTHING
I was over to Randy Leighton’s and I will say Randy has a great way of helping people ride their cutting horses, also other types of horses. He goes through the horse to the person and in turn the horse becomes better very soon. A friend was cutting on my horse, the horse kept coming […]
Remembering Tom’s ways… What Happens Before it Happens
I have been thinking about what I had learned from Tom about seeing what is going to “Happen Before it Happens.” It can be used in different ways for recognizing something before it happens, and, naturally, there is a “Feel, Timing, & Balance” that enters into this. I remember I rode a colt out to gather the brood mares […]
TOM NEVER OWNED ANY HORSES WHEN I KNEW HIM
In the 37 years that Tom and I were married he never owned a horse. Neither did he own one for some time before we were married, he said he didn’t need a horse as there were horses everywhere he went. I owned some horses myself but never needed to send them out as I […]