To Bud and Ellie

who taught all of us

that the best way to teach our children

is through how we live our lives

Acknowledgments

No one ever gives thanks to all the people he should.

That said, I first want to thank all the wonderful horses in my life. There have been so many, but some I consider family: Ace, Andy, Sonny, Mahto, Romeo, and Pepper.

Second, I must express my gratitude to my grandfather, Hans Ornstein, who helped raise me and passed his great love of horses on to me.

Third, my family. My wife, Jane, has always supported me in my love of horses. She has sacrificed so many things in her own life to ensure I could accomplish more in my life with horses. She has never ceased to amaze me with her skills as a clinical psychologist and how magically she can apply them in equine-assisted therapy. Jane continually inspires me to believe there are always greater emotional depths to be plumbed with a horse. She has steadfastly believed in my dreams, even when they were not her own. Her hard work has allowed my family and me to spend an enchanted life at our horse ranch in Tucson, Arizona.

I also want to thank my three children: Josh, Luke, and Tessa. Although not one of my children ever got infected with the “horse bug,” they nonetheless respected how much I got out of my life spent training horses and staunchly supported me in my dedication to training them. The presence of my children was the largest factor in ensuring that our family life at the ranch was always uplifting, inspiring, and fun.

I have had so many wonderful teachers and mentors in the world of horses. To name a few: Monty Roberts, John and Josh Lyons, Pat and Linda Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Lanny Leach, Barbara Rector, Christie Metz, and Marc Devereaux.

I am fortunate to have had a wonderful team of trainers, horse professionals, and wranglers at Rancho Bosque. I am indebted to every one of them who “rode for the brand.” Running herd over all of us is Linda Parker, who keeps the ranch humming like a Swiss clock and keeps us all humble.

I am indebted to my literary agents, Mike Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada, who never fail to inspire me and move me on to the next manuscript.

Finally, I thank the family of friends at Storey Publishing, especially Deb Burns. Storey is a group of inspired individuals who have long believed that the message horses convey can help all of us lead better lives. They have always endorsed the notion that the community of man, animal, and plants constitutes a fundamental harmony of happiness if we can only learn how to access it.