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Starting & Breaking

Dutchess has turned into an amazingly willing mount considering her past.  You have amazing talent and skill.  We also want to thank you for your kindness and willingness to know us personally.  You are a blessing in our lives and a gift to the horse world.

- Denise Bunker
  Desert Hot Springs, CA


You are doing a great job with Journey.  She was so pushy and rude, biting me when I tried to ride her.  I am so happy to see how well she is working with you.  She is like a different horse.  She leads without pushing and I was excited to ride her and she was so good.  Thank you.

- Allison Kisse
  Camp Pendleton, CA



Riding & Ground Work

I graduated farrier school back in 1977, and in the intervening thirty years I have seen a lot of people who called themselves trainers come and go. This story happened a few years back when I was just getting to know Jodi...  She told me that she had picked up a couple of P.M.U. babies, both just a few months old.  she wondered when I could come out and trim them up.  As some of us know these P.M.U. babies come barely halter broke.  So I told her I'll be happy to stop by and work on those youngsters just as soon as they learn to stand for the farrier.


A week and a half went by when I got a call from Jodi saying that her babies were ready to be trimmed.  I must admit that I argued with her...  I told her there is no way, they can't be ready this soon.  She assured me that she thought they would stand just fine...  and in fact that is exactly what they did.  Those two stood perfect, no pulling, no pushing, no jumping, no nothing, and that's the way they have stood ever since.

You need a trainer? Jodi Wilson is the real deal!

- Kevin Boyer, CF
  Joshua Tree, CA

 
 


I just wanted to thank you for all your expert advice and helpful training with Doc and Rusty.
 
I believe it isn't all the horse (DOC) it was partially that I had lost my self confidence and I'm not really sure why. Perhaps its because in my younger years I was bitten by a horse, or perhaps its because his is so big and powerful and the nipping thing he does has made me over cautious. With my other horses, I never had to deal with the nipping or pulling away when bridling. I feel my confidence level has increased but I still have a way to go.  I will be calling to set an appointment time for you to further Doc's training and give my self-confidence a boost, after all I've has horses all my life.

- Gretchen Ruiz
  Flamingo Heights, CA

 

You are a great trainer in my eyes for several reasons:

You return calls  -  You listen well  -  You helped me set goals for the limited amount of time we spent together  -  You were great with my horse, he felt so much better after you came and worked with him  -  I felt so much better, too. You were not aggressive; you were assertive  -  You seem to be genuine and honest. I am looking forward to working with you again.  Thank you again for a great experience, Jodi.

- Claudia Swanson
  Morongo Valley, CA

 

I rode JD today and he was great.  I decided to ride him to the point he usually gets upset, but he was so good we keep going.  He never got upset and we had a wonderful ride.  Thank you for doing such a great job with him.

- Jeannine Hurn
  Yucca Valley, CA

 

Just wanted to let you know that I took Fancy on a night trail ride and she was awesome.  She kept her head down for almost the entire ride and when she did raise it I only had to lift the reins and she put it right down.  She also stands quiet for mounting where I use to get worn out just trying to get on.  It may not sound like a big thing, but she now lets me hose off her face, too.  Thank you for all your hard work, she learned a lot.

- Belinda Hines
  Gavilin Hills, CA

 

It has been a real blessing getting to know Jodi.  I bought a young horse, 5yrs old, not really knowing what I was getting myself into.  Well, needless to say, I needed some help.  My husband watched Jodi's demonstration at the Cowboy Corral Feed Store and was impressed with her skill.  Jodi took Jake for 3wks in the summer and got him started real well.  I did not realize how much hard work and time goes into training a horse.  My horse Jake and I have come a long way.  Jodi has a big heart and loves what she is doing.  She works well with each horse and rider together; her goal is to see them as a team.  I look forward to more lessons with her, my goal for my horse being a good all around arena and trail horse.

- Cathy Brown
  Morongo Valley, CA



Reining

Just to let you know Toby is spinning really nice and beginning to stop, and boy he is doing some nice lead changes.  Thanx for all the exercises... 

I find that your instruction and training has made me more proficient in my training and learning reining, thanx so much for your time and help.  Look forward for more lessons. 

- Steve Holt 
  Lake Matthews, CA


Jodi is the best around. From Problem solving to performance reining and everything in between she is great. She makes it fun and easy for both horse and handler to understand and communicate.

Mary Whitney
   



Head Shy & Fear Control

I want to thank Jodi for the awesome training she did with my horse, Harley.  Before he went to her ranch it would take me at least 20 minutes to catch him and that involved locking him up in a 21x12 stall and getting a rope over his back which I eventually worked up to his neck and then caught the other end and made a lasso around his neck, then I could get a halter on his head with lots of problems latching the crown piece.

Once caught he usually became much more confident until something frightened him, then he would pretty much freak out.  I could never leave him out in the arena without leaving the halter on and the same for bridling.  Out on the trail he always had a willingness but lacked confidence.  I have a 4 year old granddaughter that loves Harley and just being in the barn.  I was always afraid to let her get too close to him, I never knew how he would react to her.

Sooooo...I found Jodi and sent Harley off to "camp" at her ranch.  Harley was there for about 2 1/2 months.  I didn't get out there as much as I wanted to but the times I did were always VERY worthwhile.  Not only does Jodi train your horse but she works with you as well and teaches (with LOTS of patience and kindness) how to use the training techniques she uses so you can take that home and work further with your horse.

As a result of her wonderful work with Harley, I can now walk out to the barn and have Harley greet me with his head over the stall door.  His head will remain out there as I can now put on a fly mask, halter or bridle in that position without him being afraid at all.  The best is my granddaughter can now go out to the barn and pet him, and be around him and he's interested in her, not scared.  We have gone trail riding several times riding double and he has never been afraid at all.  I am very pleased, proud and thankful to have met Jodi and her family and hope to continue to be friends....thank you again Jodi.

- Denise Snyder
  Norco, CA

 

When you were with us I thought you  were quite helpful.  You were very clear  on giving  instructions and very patient  with both  people and horses.   You have  the ability to  work with people well.

 - Denise Hockings
   Riverside, CA

 



Clinics & Classes

Indeed, I would like to thank you for all of your care and concern for me and my horse...

Your example of focus and repetition, only comes from hard work and long hours in the saddle.  Your ability to communicate the consistency of it all was how we were able to make things happen.

Thank you for all your help.  I took it and ran with it, I hope others will too.
 
- Juanita Chambers
  Mira Loma, CA



You were very helpful and I really appreciated it. You explained new concepts well and you put me at ease. You never made me feel small or stupid for not understanding an idea or  exercise. You were encouraging but not  overwhelming. You let me learn at my  own speed, but you were ready to help  when I needed it.  You helped me to be  successful with my horse.

You are also good with the horses.  You work around them with confidence and kindness.  You are a good rider - quiet and athletic, with good hands and a good  seat. Plus, I just enjoyed getting to know  you as a person.

I would recommend you to anyone who wants to learn John & Josh Lyons training techniques.

- Karen Ahlquist
  Orange, CA

 



Jodi is a very good teacher, explains things as many times as it takes for my brain to understand and always spends as much time
as it takes to get the training technique across.  I usually have to tell her the hour is up!  She not only is a good trainer, she
became a good friend, always there to give her advice on any question I have.  Jodi has a big heart and loves what she is doing.  She works well with each horse and rider together; her goal is to see them as a team. I look forward to more lessons with her, my
goal for my horse being a good all around arena and trail horse.

- Cathy Brown
  Morongo Valley, CA



Trailer Loading

My four year old thoroughbred gelding, Prince, was very much in control of me when I tried to load him into my horse trailer.  It was a battle of wills that I usually lost, as you well know.  Last weekend, we went off to a riding event and he loaded and unloaded each time - on the first try!

So, I am writing this note of appreciation to you for spending almost six hours training Prince on the process of loading and unloading.  Having had some exposure to John Lyons and his approach to training, I watched with a great deal of interest as you repeatedly and gently taught him about loading.  Your patience with Prince was incredible - I know I would have lost it quite a few times.  In the end, however, he lost his fear of the trailer and the confined spaces. 

In addition to his new-found skill of loading, I believe that your training also helped him to settle down and relax in a number of other circumstances as well.  He is much better around other horses, he doesn't spook as much when he hears strange noises on the trail, and he is more calm while being tacked up.

Thank you again and again for your help.  I know that you will be able to help many other people with your skills and patience.  I would be happy to recommend you to anyone who has similar problems with loading and training horses.

-Kenneth P. Stoub
  Orange, CA



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