"Jeanne has taught the horse and rider team lessons that can change the dynamics for the life of the partnership."

I just started pleasure riding a few years ago and I found that the Jeanne Dial seminar struck just the right balance between theory and practice. Any coach will tell you that understanding both the rules of the game and the roles of the positions are prerequisite knowledge to effective teamwork. The knowledge and hands-on examples presented in this seminar allowed me to work with my horse at a higher level. After attending the seminar I had a better understanding of the horse’s mechanics and a better understanding of the complexity of the horse and rider working together. I’ve been able to use that knowledge not just to improve my riding techniques, but also to better adapt my self-corrections for new riding situations as they arise….now that’s learning something!
~ Neal Dunnigan, IBM Software Architect, Oklahoma

Jeanne,
I am coming to you for lessons because you are teaching true horsemanship instead of fads. You seem to truly love horses, yet you demand respect from them. That seems to be rare.
~ Sharon Melton

I could write pages of things that became clear to me from the two clinics.  I really learned, for the first time, a comprehensive method to separate the hind end from the front while riding.  These things should be no great mystery, but it never clicked before.  Star was baby green at the first clinic, and I was able to teach her everything asked via your instruction.  Not everything was perfect of course, but everything in due time.  I feel that with some more instruction and lots of riding time Star will become a very descent little riding horse.  I would say she goes as well as some horses I’ve seen (with similar temperaments) who have had more “professional training”.  I was able to teach Apryl the rudiments of everything in one session.  With your help I was able to pick up the lope and greatly reduce the tail switching and ear pinning, over a matter of 3 days.  I am a chicken and because of my experience with her, I tense up terribly (as you witnessed), but with your assistance I was able to gain confidence to keep trying – I rode her again after the clinic and had no trouble picking up the lope – at home, and was able to work on relaxing myself instead of worrying about what she was going to do. I haven’t ridden in 2 months.  I miss it but am planning to start training in February with my instructor as I am thinking of showing next year, a huge leap for me.  I am thinking of trail – thanks to you! You are a trainer of trainers, and there are a few “trainers” I know that could use some “Dial Difference” in their programs.

Brenda has gained much confidence with her horse, a biggie being that her horse can stand still and can listen to her.  We are hoping to take a trip the mountains with our horses in the not too distant future.

~ Leanne Pearson (on the right)

You've certainly worked hard and I think people would be very surprised to know just how much success the horses you've trained have had. People like you are rare, honest, talented, and without an ego.

~ Cora Goodwin, Firstcut Performance Horses

My daughter (age 8) and I have ridden with Jeanne for almost two years. I think two of the biggest challenges in life are working with animals and children (so did WC Fields) and Jeanne manages both with patience and tact. Jeanne has always strived to make lessons fun for Sarah, while infusing the basic riding principles into the activities.

Adult students are also a challenge to be sure. I have ridden most of my life but Jeanne is the first trainer that I have worked with who establishes the basic principles and theoretical frameworks of training with her students. I now understand much more of the “how” of riding instead of just the ‘what” of riding. In fact, she is teaching the rider to be an active partner in the horse and rider team. By understanding Jeanne’s training philosophy; I have become a more involved and more effective rider.

I think the other key to Jeanne’s program is establishing respect and trust both for the horse and the rider. Many trainers “take over” when a horse misbehaves. Jeanne’s method is to teach the rider to fix the problem. By demonstrating the techniques to correct the misbehavior, Jeanne has taught the horse and rider team lessons that can change the dynamics for the life of the partnership.

~ Laura Gruntmeir, PhD

I'm writing in reference to the Dial Difference. I have seen the most amazing things come about in the horses she trains and even students. Her 5 steps are great for horse and rider. I've watched Jeanne break colts and fillies, from being scared to following her, to getting them started under saddle.

My daughter takes lessons, keep in mind my daughter has only been riding for one year and in that first year she places in every event she does. Right now she only does local shows like 4-H, but what was exciting was she was eligible for state. We didn't let her compete though because we didn't feel she was ready for that big of a show yet.


My daughter has also gained a lot of confidence around horses, she knows what to look for, such as ears, tail swishing, etc. She was also taught to properly saddle the horse, put the bridle on, etc. All these things Jeanne has taught her.

I can go on and on about Jeanne's training techniques and how much she means to us.

~ Kristy Booth

Jeanne Dial has given lessons to my grandson on horsemanship and riding. She is patient and knowledgeable in training children about horses. The horses she trains are top-notch. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Jeanne for training horses, or people. She's a great teacher.

P.S. I gained a great deal just observing while she was working with my grandson.

~ Gary Reid, Editor-Publisher, Kingfisher Times and Free Press

Being older in age, having learned all I knew about riding horses from the back of a horse, having focused on trail riding, and, having only been a “serious” rider for the last 16 years---running into Jeanne Dial at a small, hometown horse show started a flame in me that had only been smoldering for a few years!

But her “teachable moment” mentality allowed me to screw up royally at that small show and still feel like she, as the judge, had my and my horse’s best interests in mind.

My subsequent training sessions with Jeanne have jump-started my life goal of training and taking a horse to the AQHA World Show. We are not there yet, but I now have the firm conviction we can do it!

Jeanne has enabled so many steps to occur between me and my horse. To enumerate a few:

• She enabled me to realize that, no matter how determined I was the horse you’re riding does matter. I’ve gained the confidence to purchase a horse that can match my aspirations.
• I was able to finally understand that I have long been a passenger on my horses, kind as most were, and that now I must really become a rider. All my good intentions were useless unless I was able to take charge of my horse’s actions.
• This “take charge” attitude was/is by no means an unkind proposition for my horse. In fact, he is likely calmer and more trusting of me as a rider because he continues to learn that doing as I request of him is when he encounters no resistance on my part. And he is certainly rewarded for his willingness to cooperate with my queues.
• And speaking of queues, this concept continues to open my eyes and improve my riding abilities in ways that I probably still don’t truly appreciate.
• Jeanne has shown me how basic training steps between horse and rider are the foundation for almost all show events. They cannot be skipped if horse and rider are to be successful in the show ring.

Jeanne has several key strengths in teaching methods. Among these are:

• The ability to observe very keenly. She steadfastly declines to teach in a group setting as it hinders her ability to see every little motion or nuance of the horse and rider.
• She turns these observations into tangible steps for the rider to use to change a behavior in the horse, or, to strengthen the correct results of a queue.
• Since she has had such a long background in riding and training horses, she is able to draw upon past experience to help me get over roadblocks I encounter in teaching my horse
• She has also enabled me to finally understand the difference between discipline and punishment when it comes to horses…and I think my slowly growing confidence in that phase of training is allowing me to progress faster. As example, I brought a 16 year old mare to her that strongly refused to load in a two-horse trailer. It had taken me and another experienced trainer 35 minutes to load this mare for the trip to Jeanne’s. After unloading the horse at Jeanne’s she then gave her a chance to step quietly back into the trailer. After dealing with the mare’s strenuous actions to avoid that, Jeanne proceeded to make it very uncomfortable for the horse outside the trailer. She did not hurt the horse in any way, but she made sure its every action was what she, Jeanne, wanted. By the 3rd time she allowed the mare to stand at the back of the trailer to step in, she willingly did so. I cannot explain the pride I had when I was able to duplicate that feat the next time I needed to take this horse to the vet…I felt I had attained a concept and skill that will help me for as long as I own horses!
• Jeanne has also programmed me to believe I am helping my horse to collect and stay focused with me in any situation. Here is the thing, having been bucked off by other horses, and also once with this new horse, I had allowed myself to become intimidated and frightened of that possibility. While she was oh so patient to let me mentally work through that, never making me feel ashamed or pushed, she persevered in praising my riding with each new accomplishment. Now I can barely wait, during each training session, to get to the part where we lope! I have regained joy in riding because I have re-attained the confidence I possessed as a youngster---when falling off was something to laugh about.

~ Peggy Cole, 58 year old riding wonderkind!

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