Scott Purdum

Scott’s success might just be due to the fact that he got such an early start, so if you look at it from that angle, he does, in fact, have two decades of experience. His parents owned Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds when Scott was just a child, so he grew up surrounded by equines. He always enjoyed being around the horses and spending time in the barn. He started riding at the early age of three, and even at such a young age, his parents recognized his love for horses, along with his budding talent. They wanted to feed that natural ability and bring it to its full potential.

After seeing Scott ride and handle the family horses for two years, Scott’s parents thought that formal riding lessons were in order. They felt he would gain more from formal lessons than he would from informal lessons with them, so they decided to sign him up for sessions with a professional trainer. They enrolled him in riding lessons under the tutelage of Jill Betz when Scott was just five. He learned quickly, and once he got the basics down, he pleaded for his own horse. He felt he was ready and wanted to “spread his wings,” so to speak. His parents agreed, and the search was on.

It didn’t take long to find an appropriate horse. Scott’s first mount was a Quarter Horse. It had no special training for any discipline, but it was a gentle horse – a good “kid’s horse,” as Scott says. Scott enhanced and perfected the riding skills he had learned from trainer Betz, and at the age of six, he entered his first show. His event was English Pleasure. He continued showing in English classes and in hunter-jumper for several years, until the age of twelve or thirteen.

By that time, the young horseman became more interested in sports and girls than he was in his equine companions, as boys are wont to do, and he pretty much gave up the demanding schedule and practice necessary for the horse shows. His love of horses and showing lured him back, however, and by the age of sixteen, he again plunged headlong into the equine world – not that he totally abandoned girls. He discovered that a lot of girls were into horses, too!

About that time, Scott began working informally as a horse trainer. His parents owned a paint mare that was incredibly high strung and nervous. The mare spooked easily and saw “ghosts” everywhere, so she was therefore difficult and potentially dangerous to handle. Scott was determined to work with the horse and exorcize her demons, so to speak. Scott was on a quest. He read every book he could get his hands on about different training methods and tips. He watched countless videos of training clinics. He processed all this information and formulated it into methods that he thought would be most effective for him and for the mare. After working with the mare using his new-found knowledge, he happily realized his unique training methods were, indeed, effective. His success with the spooky horse gave him the confidence and experience to further his training career.

His first formal training job was with a high-strung, high-energy gelding. It belonged to a young girl who didn’t have a lot of horseback riding experience, and in essence, the gelding was just too much horse for her. The parents got in touch with Scott, and he worked with the horse and got it calmed down and manageable. By that time, the horse’s owners decided they wanted to sell. All was not lost, however. The owners sold the horse for a handsome profit, largely due to Scott’s efforts.

When it comes to training a horse, safety always comes first with Scott. He learned at an early age the importance of safety. When he was around ten years old, he and his father were trail riding one day when something happened that left a lasting impression on the youngster. Scott’s horse was afraid of water, and as the riders were about to cross a creek, Scott’s mount baulked. His dad dismounted and tried to pull the pony across, but it became very frightened and jumped on top of Scott’s dad, associating the man with safety. Of course, Scott was terrified to see his father lying on the ground, and he realized just how dangerous an improperly trained equine could be.

After Scott’s success with the gelding, local horse owners began hearing about the young man’s special gift with horses, and they started enlisting his help with their horses. Word spread quickly. This word-of-mouth advertizing served Scott well.

After high school, Scott wanted to continue learning as much about horses as he could. He entered the University of Maryland, where he studied Equine Management. After a year or so of his studies, the siren song of the horses called to Scott again, and he left the halls of academia and became a full time horse trainer and lessons instructor. He gained vast amounts of hands-on knowledge on his own and by working as an intern with noted West Virginia Quarter Horse Trainer Ken Adkins. Scott even had the privilege of assisting Adkins at the Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio.

From time to time, Scott has held part-time jobs over the past few years that didn’t involve horses. For example, he has worked as a landscaper, but he always returned to working with horses – his true passion. Fortunately, the horse-owning public has discovered this young man’s rare gift and has clamored for his services. His notoriety continues to spread exponentially.

Today Scott is the owner of Advantage Horsemanship, located in Union Bridge, Maryland. The 50-acre facility includes a 30-stall barn, an 80 x 200-foot indoor arena, and a 100 x 200-foot outdoor arena. The facility offers horseback riding lessons in basic horsemanship, advanced western pleasure, and hunter-jumper. Lessons are taught either in small groups or privately to individual students. Horse boarding is also provided. You’ll usually find about 30 horses at Scott’s barn, with about half that number in training. Because he spends so much of his time helping other owners with their horses, Scott owns only one equine of his own, which he shows in western pleasure at both local and AQHA shows.

Scott calls his methods “advantage horsemanship” because he’s taken the advantages offered by natural horsemanship and those offered by traditional “breaking” and combined them into his own unique system.

Scott made a big splash in the training ocean last August. He competed in the Northern Illinois Trainer Challenge, consisting of three sessions over two days. His competitors were Kerry Kuhn of Coats, Kansas, and T.J. Clibborn of Westfield, Indiana. After the dust had settled, Scott emerged as the victor.

While Scott does teach riding lessons, his passion is working directly with horses. He specializes with problem horses and has worked with numerous BLM mustangs, which have a notorious reputation for being difficult to handle. He also trains Sports Horses, Quarter Horses, and gets two-year-olds ready for the track. In addition, he often takes ex-racehorses and turns them into accomplished hunter-jumpers.

Scott has a great training facility, but he doesn’t limit his work to his own stable. He often travels to the home barns and farms of his clients, especially when he’s teaching horses to properly and quietly load onto a horse trailer. In addition, Scott travels across the country conducting teaching clinics. Just this year, Scot has brought his Advantage Horseman techniques to the Horse World Expo in Timonium, MD; to the Mid-Michigan Horse Expo in Birch Run; to the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA; to The Road to the Horse event in Franklin, TN; to the Horse and Pet Expo in Reading, PA; to the Carroll County Horse Expo in Westminster, MD; to the Horse Starting Demo in Mahwah, NJ; to the Eastern Pennsylvania Hands-On Tour; to the Relax and Motivate Clinic at Best Intensions Farm in Westminster; to the Virginia Hands-On Tour; to the Northern Illinois Horse Fest in Belvidere; to the Advanced Junior Clinic at Best Intentions Farm; to the Ultimate Obstacle Course Clinic in Dickerson, MD, to Horse Appreciation Day at Dublin’s Farm in Pasadena, MD; to the 4-H Relax and Motivate Clinic in Clarksville, MD; to the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA, and to the Fall Festival at Day’s End Horse Rescue in Woodbine, MD. Scott will hold a clinic in December at the North American Horse Fest in Novi, Michigan. In addition to this hectic travel schedule, Scott periodically conducts training clinics at his home base of Union Bridge, MD. It’s no wonder that he has little time left to compete in shows!

Scott also designs training equipment to help riders improve their skills. These include a specially designed Western saddle with both the horse’s comfort and the rider’s in mind. One of the saddle’s unique features is large cutaways that provide close contact between the rider and the mount – something often lacking in many Western saddles. The saddle has received rave reviews from riders who have tried it.

Scott also offers a riding halter with reins that serves an important function in training. It’s great for ground work and for young horses just started under saddle. As Scott explains, “If you have a young colt that you are starting out under saddle and you want to have a successful first ride, you can depend on the horse associating the same pressure as given on the ground as to when you are actually riding to horse. If you are a trail rider and you put a halter underneath your bridle to tie your horse up when you get to the trail, now all you will have to do is unsnap your reins from the side rings, use one end to tie to a picket line or fence, and the other to snap to the bottom of the halter! You can just eliminate the whole bridle!”

The most popular of Scott’s designs, however, is his training halter. He describes it this way: “It takes more than a piece of rope to make a halter; it takes design and effectiveness. This halter offers features such as a stiff inner core, knots that are strategically placed, and twisted rope over the horse’s poll-all designed to make it more uncomfortable when the horse is leaning on you. The best feature on these halters is a snap that fastens the halter together. You only need to fit it once to your horse, and it is ready for quick attachment and detachment!”

Scott even has some wonderful training videos. I watched some clips, and they were amazing. He walks viewers through the exercises step by step, explaining exactly what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. I’d say the videos are the next best thing to seeing Scott in person. He’ll have new videos available soon.

Scott’s clients give him frequent raves and often send heartfelt thank-you notes via email. He also gets frequent, good natured ribbing from the “old pros” because of his young age. He’s sometimes referred to as the “wonder kid” of the training circuit, or as the “Doogie Howser” of horse training. Scott takes it all in stride, however. The tall, lanky trainer, donning a cowboy hat, looks more like the rugged Marlboro man than he does a hunter-jumper trainer, but looks can be deceiving. From everything I’ve learned about Scott Purdum, he can be perfectly at ease just about anywhere – especially when a horse is involved.

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is the 20 year old daughter of Tony and Donna Cole from Benson, NC.  She is in her final semester at Johnston Community College where she will earn a degree in Business Administration in May 2009.  Upon completion of her degree she will begin to take the necessary steps to open a Therapeutic Riding Facility.  It has been her dream for several years to share the healing power that can happen on horseback.  Ashley truly believes when you are riding a horse you are flying without wings.

Ashley is a faithful member of Erwin Church of God where she attends regularly.  Her strong Christian faith keeps her grounded and her attention focused on what she wants for her future.   Family is very important to her, and being surrounded by her niece, nephew and all her cousins brings her much joy.

Ashley got her registered QH mare for Christmas in 2002 and it was love at first sight.  They have traveled from the mountains of Virginia to the plains of South Carolina, and with every step her love for Romie has grown.   She now rides a 7 year old QH gelding name Ed, but Romie will always be her first love.

Maureen Bordelon

Maureen lives in rural Texas with her six horses, and five dogs. An avid horsewoman of over thirty years, she enjoys both English and Western riding disciplines. While having successfully trained her beloved, but recalcitrant mare to First Level in Dressage, Maureen has furthered her horse education by developing an interest in Reining. She sees humor in all situations and pens stories about her favorite topic, horses.  A freelance writer, her work can also be found as a contributor to the Ultimate Horse Lover book.

Patrick Corcoran Sr.

Patrick Corcoran Sr. worked for the Baltimore, Maryland and Newark, Delaware City Police Departments for a total of 25 years. He retired to devote more time to his hobby of riding and training horses and competing in amateur rodeos.

After retiring Patrick owned and operated a horse/ cattle farm in Northern Kentucky. It was in this bucolic setting where he wrote the fictional western novel, “Charlie Two Hearts, Book One, Empty Boots.” Available at Amazon.com

Two years later Patrick and his wife, Donna, moved back to Delaware and donated his horse to a therapeutic riding program for underprivileged and handicapped children.

Patrick’s black and white American Paint Horse, Zip’s Fire and Ice, was featured in a March 2004 edition of “The Paint Horse Journal”. “Zip” was also the inspiration for the horse character, “Cracker” in the book, “Charlie Two Hearts”.

Patrick is back in law enforcement full time again but finds time to ride motorcycles and help other people with horse training issues. The rest of his waking hours are spent writing books and short stories.

CJ Wheeler

CJ Wheeler is a professional equine photographer that loves horses, dogs, and taking photos.

She and her husband Rick live on the RR Ranch which backs up to The Cleveland National Forest, 60,000 acres of open land where she has blazed many trails on her horse Tango. When she is not riding or taking photos for her business “running horse pictures“ she is the Executive Producer of a number one rated talk radio show heard throughout all of Southern California. She has a rich Southern background with family living in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

Kate Manning

Kate Manning is 22 years old. She is originally from England but is now living in Florida with her husband who is an ex-jockey turned farrier, their dog Spark Plug, cat Marilyn and two pet ducks, Miracle and Maggie. Kate has always been passionate about horses and has physically worked with horses for just over 5 years. Kate Manning learned to ride and exercise racehorses, but has since worked with many different equine characters. Kate is currently working towards starting a rescue facility for needy or ill-treated equines or horses who may otherwise end up at slaughter.  Kate lives on a farm and helps care for some 20 horses. Aside from horses, Kate is an avid Beatle fan, she enjoys art and loves creativity. Kate recently began improving her writing skills by freelancing on the internet. She loves to share knowledge about what she knows or has learned from others.

Alisa Atkinson

Alisa is a Safety Engineer and a horse lover to the core.  As a child, in Western Kentucky, all she ever wanted to do was have horses.  Now she chooses to work with horses that have been neglected, abused or have suffered through bad training techniques.

If it has to do with horses, you can bet she will be ready and willing to participate.  Unless you have time to talk, just don’t ask about her horses.

She currently lives in Western Kentucky with her husband, two children, five dogs, and seven horses.

Michele Davis

Michele Davis has been around horses her whole life. Whether it has been riding, training, teaching, grooming, or working as a stable manager she has always been passionate about horses. She grew up riding a horse born two weeks before she was who she rode to a world championship for his breed. She works in finance to fund her horse hobby and rides any horse she can. Currently she lives in Colorado with her husband and the rest of her family: two cats, a dog, and her horse.

Mark Rashid

Mark Rashid

Mark Rashid (pronounced RASH-id) is an internationally acclaimed horse trainer known for his ability to understand the horse’s point of view and solve difficult problems with communication rather than force. He began working with horses at age ten, when he met the “old man,” who taught him to work  with horses, not against them, and to listen to what the horse is trying to say. Mark’s clinics center on one-on-one work with horse and rider and are immensely popular with people around the world.

When Mark decided to study the martial art of aikido as a way to improve his horsemanship, he brought the same quiet determination to it that he exhibits in his work with horses. After years of practice, he has  earned a second degree black belt in Yoshinkan aikido and now teaches the “way of harmony” in the local dojo.

Mark worked full time on ranches for many years gathering herds, managing stock, and training horses. When time permits, he still enjoys working on ranches near his home in Estes Park, Colorado.

Mark has been a guest on NPR’s The Horse Show and was featured on the Nature series on PBS. He is the author of seven books – Considering the Horse, A Good Horse is Never a Bad Color, Horses Never Lie, Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse,  Horsemanship Through Life, Big Horses, Good Dogs, & Straight Fences, and his latest, A Life With Horses. He also has a solo music CD Song of the Prairie and enjoys singing and playing guitar with a local band The Elktones.