Testimonials

"Sept. 2009 – I just spent two days at Robert and Janet’s beautiful home in Dayton, WA. They have created a wonderful setting to be with horses up in the hills. The views from the arena alone are breath taking. It had been 4 years since I last saw the two of them and I went there with two of my horses. The reason I went was for help with a new mare who came to me with a rearing and pull back problem. I had lost confidence in managing this issue and was looking for answers. I did get answers and gained new confidence, however, while that is the reason I drove the 6 hours to Dayton, I came home with something much more important … Four years ago I purchased a little paint mare who Robert had been working with. At that time, she was a troubled lesson horse who clearly didn’t like her job, so he was helping her along for the owner so that she could be sold. I took her along for the ride when I went to Dayton. I wanted to show Robert and Janet some of the issues I am having with her, which are really the same as they were four years ago. I explained how frustrating it is to me that as soon as I think I am making some progress with her, I hit the same braces and she throws me her same old “school horse” tricks. Robert asked me, “Do you feel like you should be farther along?” I pointed out to him that we were having the same conversation today that we were 4 years ago and that I kept finding myself back at the beginning with her. With an empathetic expression on his face and title to his head, Robert responded with, “Well, the beginning is not such a bad place to be”. He went on to explain that if I stay in the beginning and get really good at it, that I’ll be surprised at just how far I get. “The beginning is not such a bad place to be” – I may have gone to Dayton in search of specific answers, but what I came away with was a life lesson. "

"I have always had a dream to start my own horse. I was looking for a young horse and I found a 2 1/2 year old filly. She was wild and her only contact with humans was to be roped and pulled into a trailer and hauled for 10 hours. I fell in love with her curiosity and her personality. After working with her for a year she became trustful, and now likes people allot. I knew some of the basics of ground work, and spent much time teaching Sadie manners. Thinking about the next level of going under saddle and riding I became nervous and was stuck not knowing if she was ready. So I called the Phinney's at Coyote Mountain Ranch and they came to my rescue. Robert spent a few sessions with Sadie and got her prepared to go under saddle. Then, up in the saddle I went. There is no better felling than putting the first ride on your own horse yourself. Robert worked on my confidence, kept telling me to trust her. My first ride was walk and trot. My second ride we added the canter, what fun. Robert is so horse savvy, he gets into their heads. Every few weeks I have a lesson with Robert getting little pointers on how to teach the basics. The little things that you learn from the Phinney's soon become the big things as you teach them to your horse. As Robert says "It's a journey training a horse." With Robert and Janet's help I am just starting my journey. I look forward to many wonderful days of training ahead. Thank You both so much for your help."

"My quarter horse mare and I were lucky enough to find Robert in 2005. We were kind of "stuck" because I had a routine and wasn't listening or leading very effectively. Robert worked with us patiently and improved both our attitudes and our partnership. What you see is what you get with Robert: a gentle, intuitive and intelligent man who loves horses and communicates well with us two-leggeds."

"I started with no experience, with a horse who had little idea of how to work under halter or saddle, and whose attitude was poor due mainly to fear and mistrust. With Janet's help, both my horse and I have learned to work together with confidence, and his attitude is absolutely great now. He is a whole different horse and I have learned how to ride."

"One of the difficult concepts to understand within horsemanship is that of softness. So much is written about softness and clinician spend plenty of time talking about it, but it is hard to really understand how to actually apply it. This is especially true with the horses that I work with, many having some issue or another. Robert has really helped me understand the difference - and the when - of applying "pounds" then "ounces", with timing and release. The progress horses and I have made with this one bit of understand has been fantastic - thanks Robert."

“Having Robert Phinney as an instructor has been a great experience for me – he’s got a great combination of patience, humor and understanding of both people and horses. If there were more instructors like Robert, there definitely would be more riders! I’d recommend him to anyone who wants to learn or improve on their western riding – experienced rider or not."

Robert is getting a horse comfortable with the rope, which is needed for roping, moving forward freely, staying hooked on, soft and willing.