My work Experience By: Tori Colosimo

“All horses are not created equal. Time is spent making good ones great”

THUNDERBIRD HORSE CENTER

Thunderbird Horse Center

This is a family owned and operated ranch. Thunderbird has grown to become one of Canada's largest training and breeding facilities. It is home to over 100 AQHA registered quarter horses that are a result of a thirty year, six generation breeding program.

Thunderbird Horse Center is just minutes south of Brandon, Manitoba, close to the scenic Brandon Hills. They not only ride, train and teach Thunderbird horses, but many owners from across North America send their horses there to further their education.

There are always many different people working along side of the horses, but Neil and Sharra teach and train all of the horses and their owners real horsemanship.

When I was their I worked with Neil as he taught me many different things I had never learned before such as the 5 steps that horses need to no, prior to the proper training!!1. Standing still 2. moving right3. moving left 4. backing up 5. moving straight forward

Seems simple enough but the hardest thing for any horse to do is move forward in a straight line, which takes a lot of training and time!

I also worked with Sharra, Neils daughter she helped explain things to me as well, and she also helped me with my barrel racing teaching me how to come at a barrel in a different approach, which also helps the horse out a lot to!!

I also worked with Mel she came down from Alberta to learn how to train horses better she showed me how to desensitise a horse so they are not scared, which was really interesting and works really well !!

MelsPuppyFin

History Since 1977 there have been over 3,000 horses in training at Thunderbird. One of the most valuable assets at Thunderbird is experience, sometimes very expensive and hard to come by. Neil McLeod adheres to the highest level of commitment and dedication in training and developing the equine athlete.

When I was their everyone had a job to do Neil, Sharra and Mel ridding teaching and training people and horses most of the time I watched & learned but to have all these horses comes work !! I cleaned a few stalls brushed lots of horses grained and bathed and also healed……and what I mean by that is took care of one horse Neil loved and cared about Alabama Okie that horse amazed me they called him 3 legged cause his front left shoulder is broken and has been like that since he was little he has sired most of the foals and horses at Thunderbird.

At Thunderbird most of the time it was very calm and relaxed, very laid back, understanding, helpful, and very welcoming.

Neil just wanted you to understand and be attentive and focused on what he was saying.If you had no idea what you were doing he would help you he wanted you to have a up beat attitude and ask lots of questions.

My experience at Thunderbird helped me with my own training with my own horses. I found that everything that Neil, Sharra, or Mel taught me worked and maid sense. I have always had a interest in horse but threw working at Thunderbird it has made me want to learn, work and train by trying different techniques with horses. I have always preferred to do things my own way when it comes to horses but now I have learned a different side to training, there are a lot of things I'm very good at and a few things I need to work on.

What appealed to me about this experience is that no matter what horse they had they never gave up or shoved it to the side they were persistent but respectful of the horses space and time that things took. I hope that one day I can do something similar to what their doing cause I believe I am very suited for that kind of environment. Being around horses is something I enjoy and love and at Thunderbird horses are their priority and passion!!