Holistic Horse Training: About Us!

Our Philosophy

Tanya was born and raised in Carmel, California, where she grew up on a small ranch. A graduate of UC Davis, she majored in Animal Science with a concentration in Equine Reproduction, and a minor in English.

She is certified through UC Davis as an Equine Breeding Manager, is a certified 4-H judge, and a Reiki Master. Currently, Tanya and her husband live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with five horses, three dogs, three cats, a couple of parrots and a bunch of fish.

Besides her passion for horses, Tanya is an avid Scuba diver, an active bicyclist, and loves to hike, snowshoe, read and write. She is currently working on two books, one fiction that needs an agent now, and a creative nonfiction about horses written from the horse's point of view.

Tanya has been helping to bridge the communication gap between horses and humans for over 30 years.


Tanya says:
"Because the ranch we owned when I was a child catered to anything horse related, we bred, bought, sold, leased, boarded, and showed our animals. We also rented horses to tourists visiting the Monterey Peninsula. And, because we were a small ranch, the rental string got sold off every fall. Then, every spring, we'd buy another 30 or so head.

Each new horse had to be evaluated for suitability for the rental string, then trained to be gentle and calm enough for beginners. Once evaluated, my mom would hand me the reins of a horse, and say, "Tanya, this one rears (bucks, runs through the bit, etc.). Fix it. " With my heart pounding, and my palms sweating, I'd climb aboard. It didn't take long to figure out that understanding Which Fear caused the horse to act out a particular behavior was critical for my being able to help him learn to overcome that fear and teach him to do what I wanted.

Over time, I realized that getting the horse to do what I wanted was only part of the equation. The communication between us was much more important, and I began my quest for understanding the horse in his entirety, from his physical body to his psyche. Now, I am learning even more ways to help horses be comfortable--again, from their physical bodies to their emotional psyches.

I was ten years old when Mom handed me that first horse, and since then, thousands of horses have shown me what they need to feel safe. If I can pass that on to even one person, I'll succeed in paying back the Horse for helping make me a better person."

ANNOUNCING: A CHANGE OF DIRECTION!!

I am happy to announce my official semi-retirement!

What this means, is that although I will no longer be accepting any horses in training, I will continue to instruct horse owners in how to best communicate with their animals both on the ground and in the saddle.

My focus will shift to more consulting, and I will continue doing seminars, speaking engagements and clinics both locally and out of state.
Consulting services include: Finding the right horse, choosing a saddle, finding a trainer, farrier, veterinarian, setting up your horse facility, choosing the best fencing for your money, feeding, watering, cleaning practices, horse-proofing your horse's living area so he's safe, first aid, breeding and barn management, plus, plus, plus....whatever you need, I will help you with.

I am offering a Spring Special --I know, but it's almost here!

Whether you are looking to buy your first horse or add to your current herd, I will work as your agent to help you find the best horse to suit your needs. I have been doing this for many years, and love matching the right horse with the human. I have contacts world-wide including all breeds and riding disciplines. Most are in the western US so transport expenses stay reasonable. Not only do I know who to trust and buy from, but more importantly, I have a list of who to avoid. Sad that's needed, but it is.

Please contact me for more details, but basically, after an initial consultation, I will do an evaluation of your horsemanship, riding ability and what you desire in a mount, then find you a horse. Included in my fee are suitability and compatibility evaluations, a pre-purchase physical evaluation (not a vet check!), and then I help arrange transportation, vet checks, brand inspections, provide a list of essentials for you to have ready when your new horse comes home, put you in touch with hay sources, help you find a trainer for your discipline and breed that best suits you, etc. Right now it's a buyer's market! My fee is a commission based on purchase price.

Taking over much of my business, is Nicole Armstrong. She is amazing with teaching children, is fabulous with horses and rides in a centered and balanced frame, with soft hands and a positive attitude. She is willing to take on new clients, but her book is filling fast, so contact her now, even if you would like to wait until Spring to begin working with her. Her phone number is: 720 384-8708 (leave a message)

Thank you, to all my past clientele for your support and business!

~Tanya Buck

(If you are interested in my consulting services, please contact me to book an engagement through my website, [url=http://www.TanyaBuck.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.TanyaBuck.com[/url]).