The Story of Robert and Janet

When you meet Robert and Janet Phinney, it’s hard to imagine there was ever a time when one existed without the other. The two always seem to be engaged in a communication with one another even when they don’t say a word -- even when one is home tending to their ranch in Dayton, WA and the other is off teaching on the other side of the state.

As you might guess, a shared goal brought them together: their love of horses and their mutual aspiration to excel at a high level of horsemanship. But after hearing their story, one might believe their union was much more than a serendipitous meeting of two people with a shared hobby. At the risk of sounding overly sentimental, one might say it truly was fate that caused their lives to intersect and merge into one.

About Robert

“A bothered kid”

Robert Phinney was born in Seattle, but his life was shaped by the wide open spaces of eastern Washington,
where his family moved when he was a young boy. There he spent his childhood days in the Walla Walla Valley raising sheep, cattle, Welsh ponies and a few Quarter Horses.

About Janet

A horse-crazed city girl

Janet Phinney was also born in Seattle, and her story may sound familiar to those who grew up as “horse crazy” children living in the city. She says horses have been a big part of her life since was nine, around the time she started spending “every possible moment” at the Woodland Park Zoo pony ring.

When Robert met Janet

“I often would tease Buck about all the match-making that was going on at his clinics.”

Robert and Janet believe that when people start making changes with their horses, they often start making changes in their relationships with the people in their lives as well. They speak from experience.

A Partnership in Teaching

Robert and Janet believe that one of the benefits of a person improving their relationships with their horses is that
they have to deal with their own inner thoughts and emotions. “The horses are always honest, and that requires
us as humans to find the same honesty within us if we are to improve the communication channels,” says Robert.
“Without those channels being clear, we are missing out on some pretty good stuff.”

A Message from Us

We feel incredibly priviledged to be able to work with people and their horses.  We are thankful for the journey thus far and for folks in our lives who have supported and encouraged us. We are also thankful for each other and all of our students who have given us the opportunity to work with them.