Training Philosophy
Our Training Philosophy:
The days of training animals with force, intimidation, and brutality are over (thank God!). The methods used at Elkanah Ranch involve feel, timing, and balance. We stress understanding the thought processes of the species and individual animal you are dealing with. We understand the importance of the individual relationship with your animal and strive to help you understand it. Consistency, patience, reinforcement, and timing are explained and stressed. We help you to understand the animal’s body language so you can understand what he is desperately trying to tell you.
The days of training animals with force, intimidation, and brutality are over (thank God!). The methods used at Elkanah Ranch involve feel, timing, and balance. We stress understanding the thought processes of the species and individual animal you are dealing with. We understand the importance of the individual relationship with your animal and strive to help you understand it. Consistency, patience, reinforcement, and timing are explained and stressed. We help you to understand the animal’s body language so you can understand what he is desperately trying to tell you.
Concept formerly known as "Unnatural Horsemanship"
(Due to copywrite law we can no longer call this "Unnatural Horsemanship") There is a movement and way of training horses called “natural horsemanship”. While we practice these methods, we feel that this way of thinking stops way short of what is really happening. Horses are purely, one hundred percent, prey animals. Man is a predator. The horse is keenly aware of this and we cannot hide this from the horse. The fact that despite our mistakes, horses find a way to overcome more than five thousand years of instinct, fear, and intuition and allow us to ride them is amazing. There is nothing natural about it. We firmly believe that a partnership with a horse is a God given blessing. We strive to treat our animals as such.
A Special "Thank You"
We would like to express a special thank you to a number of kindred spirits. First and foremost is Jesus Christ. Next is Kitt and Marko - two dogs that taught us so much. Kitt taught Spooner an encyclopedia of knowledge of dogs and Marko polished that and helped Spooner to pass it on. Levi and Hootie - two horses. Levi was that special first horse that God placed in Spooner's hands to teach him the basics and Hootie 'The Man' that put on a first and second coat of polish on that knowledge to bring him along. Misty - a loving companion in Spooner's formative years that taught him unconditional love and absorbed more secrets and tears than he will admit to. Gary -A special thanks to Gary for allowing Spoon to marry his daughter. And finally - Jesus Christ. (and if you wonder why He was mentioned first and last then I encourage you to study and/or ask.)
We would like to express a special thank you to a number of kindred spirits. First and foremost is Jesus Christ. Next is Kitt and Marko - two dogs that taught us so much. Kitt taught Spooner an encyclopedia of knowledge of dogs and Marko polished that and helped Spooner to pass it on. Levi and Hootie - two horses. Levi was that special first horse that God placed in Spooner's hands to teach him the basics and Hootie 'The Man' that put on a first and second coat of polish on that knowledge to bring him along. Misty - a loving companion in Spooner's formative years that taught him unconditional love and absorbed more secrets and tears than he will admit to. Gary -A special thanks to Gary for allowing Spoon to marry his daughter. And finally - Jesus Christ. (and if you wonder why He was mentioned first and last then I encourage you to study and/or ask.)
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