Richard Winters
For nearly three decades Richard has dedicated himself to honing his horsemanship skills and to passing this knowledge onto others. His vast experience includes starting literally hundreds of horses that have gone onto almost every equine discipline imaginable. Richard’s credentials extend from the rodeo arena and high desert ranches of the west to being a highly sought after trainer and horsemanship clinician.
Richard considers himself a product of many great horsemen that he has had the privilege to ride with. The absence of a fixed destination fuels his passion. “The further I go in my horsemanship, the further there is to travel while on this journey!” From the weekend trail rider to the competitive world of three day eventing and reined cow horses, Richard makes it possible for people to realize their horsemanship dreams.
Richard’s credentials include World Championship titles in the National Reined Cow Horse Association along with being an A rated judge. In 2007 Richard was named champion of the West Coast Equine Experience “$10,000 Colt Starting Challenge.” He was also presented with the 2007 Monty Roberts Equitarian Award for outstanding achievements in Horse/Human relationships. Richard was also honored to be named champion in the 2009 Road to the Horse – Colt Starting Challenge in Nashville, TN. In July of 2009 Richard won the Super Cow Horse competition in Santa Ynez, CA.
Much of Richard’s work has been accomplished through the numerous clinics he conducts around the country. He also enjoys being a guest presenter at various Horse Expo’s.
A love for horses, knowledge developed through years of practice and study, and a willingness to continue learning, are the components that make Richard the “Masterful Equine Communicator” that he is today.
Richard, along with his wife Cheryl, reside in Ojai, California, at the historic Thacher School where he currently serves as artist-in-residence. You can view Richard Winters Horsemanship programming on Dish Network Channel 9411 on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s at 6:00 P. M. (PST). For more information about Richard Winters Horsemanship please go to www.wintersranch.com.
Tommie Turvey, Equine Extremist
Tommie Turvey is a life-long hands-on horseman. He travels the world performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people each year with his unique style of horsemanship. Tommie performs his signature acts to sold out crowds at hundreds of the biggest shows in North America. His bay and white American Paint Horse, “Pokerjoe” is the star of the outfit. He is well known for his comedy antics as the “upside-down horse” and is the most memorable and requested equine act in the business. In 2009, Pokerjoe was immortalized as a Breyer ® Horse model. Tommie’s black and white Paint Horse, Joker who is the work horse of the bunch was cast as the Breyer® Celebration Model Horse in 2006. Joker’s younger brother, Ace is the lover of the group who will steal your heart with his soft gentle eyes. “Blade” is a rescued red roan Mustang which Tommie has partnered with his faithful dog, Maverick a Queensland Red Heeler.
In addition to being a top entertainer, Tommie puts his methods into practice as an exciting and entertaining clinician with his no-nonsense training ideals. He is the most versatile horseman in the industry and you can see the results of his training every time he performs with his horses. He gets the most out of them through consistency, discipline and respect. Tommie says “The key in getting your horse to doing anything correctly is consistency in training and day to day contact. It’s not magic like most people want to believe. It is understanding and the quality, not quantity of training. People think I train my horse for hours on end and it’s quite the opposite. I train people to think in small steps and how to get on the horses level.” As a professional stuntman and stunt coordinator, Tommie has appears with his horses in the upcoming movies “Jonah Hex” and “the Greening of Whitney Brown” and the recent blockbusters “Batman: Dark Night”, Larry the Cable Guy’s “Witless Protection” and HBO’s mini-series “John Adams”.
As an owner of over 20 horses from Paints, Pintos, Quarter Horses, Haflingers, Trakehner, Rocky Mountain Horses, an American Cream Draft, and Mustangs, Tommie enjoys working with them all. He has dedicated his life to bringing the power and beauty of the horse to the forefront through entertainment and inspiring demonstrations. In addition, Tommie helps teach people how to create a special partnership with their horses with real world exercises and training programs. You can find the latest on training clinics, appearances, available horses and helpful training tips through the Equine Extremist website www.equineextremist.net. Follow Tommie on his blog at www.tommieturvey.com or on Facebook and Youtube.
Julie Goodnight
You know Julie Goodnight as The Horse Master on her award-winning RFD-TV television show. Through her varied background—riding and training horses in dressage, jumping, racing, reining, colt-starting, and versatility ranch work, and wilderness riding—Julie has discovered the underlying principles important to any type of riding. She teaches “Classic Skills for a Natural Ride” and communicates clearly with horses and riders in any discipline and at any level. Julie travels coast-to-coast—and beyond—throughout much of the year to help horses and riders at horse expos, conferences, clinics, and while filming for her television “makeover” show. Julie has been featured in the top equestrian publications, including The Trail Rider, Horse & Rider –where she’s a member of Team Horse & Rider– and America’s Horse. Her syndicated columns appear in over 15 regional publications throughout North America. Her interactive websites: juliegoodnight.com, horsemaster.tv, and her channel on youtube.com reaches an even wider audience. Julie is also the International Spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association—known as CHA. In 2008 she was named Equine Affaire’s Exceptional Equestrian Educator–one of only three awards ever given. Julie resides near Salida, Colorado, at her private horse ranch with her husband, Rich Moorhead, the CEO of Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area.
Matt McLaughlin
The Trainer:
Matt McLaughlin’s dedication to the training of horse and rider is based on his system of horsemanship that integrates classical principles of dressage, the requirements of today’s competitive dressage, and Natural Horsemanship techniques. This training philosophy emphasizes the values of respect, control, and fairness in the relationship between horse and rider. Matt’s focus is to teach people how to train horses. While his training methods are focused on dressage and haute école, these methods are applicable to all disciplines and breeds.
Matt studied primarily under Chuck Grant, USDF Hall of Fame member and recognized father of American dressage. As a working student he not only furthered his dressage riding skills, but also learned the art of training horses in haute école for exhibition performances. Matt spent the next seven years as the Principal Rider, Head Rider, and eventually Head Trainer for the Royal Lipizzaner Stallion Show where he trained as many as 16 stallions and riders at a time. This fast paced and high pressure environment forced Matt to create training and teaching methods that were effective and suited to riders of all abilities. Since 2001, Matt has continued to hone his skills as a trainer, clinician, and performer by learning and adapting techniques gleaned from training experiences as well as his work with industry notables in the dressage, western, and trick training disciplines.
Matt has successfully trained horses through Grand Prix Dressage that have gone on to compete nationally and internationally as well as multiple horses finished in haute école including Capriole, Courbette, and Levade. In 2006, he was the recipient of the USDF Bronze & Silver Medals. In addition to providing instruction at his Florida farm, Matt travels throughout North America and Europe as a clinician.
The Entertainer:
Matt lectures and performs at exhibition venues with his Andalusian haute école and dressage acts throughout the year. As an entertainer, Matt is a charismatic and exciting performer, whose professionalism and relationship with his horses has impressed audiences all over North America and Europe. Matt is also a popular clinician at exhibition venues as audiences relate to his use of humor, kindness, and frank speaking to instruct audiences in his training methods. Matt’s interactive style and focus on training allows individuals of any discipline to benefit from his sessions.