Horse
Training Testimonial:
My husband and I moved
to Virginia in the fall of 2008. We had 2 horses that were 2 years old, pushy
and very disrespectful. I knew they would need
training from the ground up, and I wanted to hire a trainer who used Natural Horsemanship
methods. I was familiar with Buck Brannaman and Clinton Anderson, and particularly
liked Clinton Anderson because of his insistence that the horse be respectful.
I looked on-line and found a few trainers in my area, but they didn't follow any
one clinician's techniques. Then I found Dream Weaver Farm and Lynn Decker.
Lynn uses Clinton Anderson's
methods so I gave her a call. I spoke with Lynn's husband, Steve, and set up a
time to go out and see Lynn train. I immediately liked what I saw. The horse she
was working with had all his attention on Lynn and was very respectful and careful
to stay out of her space. He was also very willing to do what she asked and at
whatever speed she asked him to do it. I was very impressed, so I put down a deposit
for a training slot the following Spring.
Throughout the 3 months that my horses were there, Lynn and Steve were very friendly
and professional. I was encouraged to go out and see my horses at any time. If
I wanted to see Lynn work with them, then she'd wait until I got there to start
the training session. I was able to see improvement in my horse's attitude and
behavior each time I went out to the farm.
Now that my horses are back home, I can't say enough about how happy I am with
the training they received. Lynn's training rates are very reasonable and the
care my horses received while at Dream Weaver Farms was excellent. My horses went
from pushy and disrespectful to attentive, respectful, and willing to try what
I ask of them. I've had three rides on my gelding since he's been home and he's
done absolutely fantastic. Anyone with a young horse or a horse with problems
would be delighted, as I am, with the training their horse will receive at Dream
Weaver Farms!
Kim B.
Riner, VA 
 Chief
is a horse that was sold from
Dream Weaver Farms:
Hope you are doing well. I am sending you two pictures of Chief and Dana taken
this past Summer. Sorry for taking so long to get them to you. I was hoping to
get some more pictures this past Fall with Dana riding, but I didn't get around
to it. Chief is doing great! He is a sweet and inquisitive horse! We sure enjoy
him!
Amber
V.
Raleigh, NC
Clinic
Testimonial:
We attended the Trail OBS
Clinic by Lynn Decker at Her place. We had a great time! Lynn was excellent! She
worked with each Individual and there horse at there own level. She seemed to
zero in on the problem and give you tools that you could use based on your own
abilities. The farm is beautiful and we couldn't have had a more gracious host.
We met some very interesting new people, some involved with the Mustang Heritage
foundation, and spent time with old friends. Over all it was an excellent experience!
I would like to thank Renee and Jerry for setting up the event. I am looking forward
to the Tom Curtain Clinic that will be held at Dream Weaver Farms in November.
If anyone can get the chance to spend some time or attend an event at Dream Weaver
Farms, I feel sure you will come away from it a better horseman.
Shannon and Mike A.
Pulaski, VA
Horse
Training Testimonial:
I just wanted to
thank you so much for such a great visit with the boys!!! We are so happy with
their progress, and can't wait to see what you can do with them in the months
ahead. I can't get over the change in Gunner, and it makes me take a sigh of relief
that you don't find him to be dangerous or unpredictable. I have certainly done
him a disservice by buying into all of that, and I'm kicking myself for letting
others talk me into being afraid of him (more than I was on my own). So thank
you for bridging the gap, and I'm hoping to have many happy years on the trail
(and now in the arena) with him. We also appreciate you taking the time to work
with us. I know you're incredibly busy, and it was nice of you to take time out
of your day to ride with us, and show us all their new buttons!! Have a great
day and please kiss their noses for me.
Tracy and Matt K.
Suffolk, VA.
Horse
Training Testimonial:
When I first saw
Scooter I knew she was for me. It was love at first sight. However, she is a young
horse and can be quite difficult at times. Lynn has truly changed our lives. I
went from dreading to ride to being excited to ride. I truly believe there is
no problem too small or even too big for Lynn. Her approach is gentle, but she
still gets the point across. I could see that she really puts her heart into it.
She not only trains horses but she loves them too. Thanks to Lynn Scooter and
I can ride to both our full potentials. I have a newfound joy and love for my
horse. She not only is my horse, but now she is my best friend.
Misty C.
Hillsville, VA
Mustang
Training Testimonial:
The five year old
Mustang we delivered to Lynn was overweight, stubborn, lazy and disrespectful.
It was frustrating to work with and ride him, because we weren’t making any
progress. Eight weeks later, the (same!) horse we picked up was at perfect weight,
was respectful and extremely responsive to leg aids, the bit, and other cues.
He has wonderful ground manners, and is a joy to be around and ride. I can’t
say enough about what a great decision it was to bring him to Dreamweaver Farms
and have Lynn “fix” him!
Haley
Richmond, VA
Horse
Training Testimonial:
Almost one year
ago today, we saw Dolly for the first time. We could tell in a short amount of
time she was friendly, curious, and a bit on the lazy side. But because we were
purchasing the horse for my 11 year old daughter, Amanda, we were willing to look
past the laziness. As we got to know Dolly better, her lazy and unruly behavior
was a problem. She wasn’t responsive to Amanda’s commands and trail
riding was frustrating when she refused to cross water, move faster than a walk,
unless she was headed back to the barn, and worse yet, she actually reared. We
knew we had to do something.
Having just moved to the area, we began looking for someone to help us through
Dolly’s difficulties. We were recommended by a friend to give Lynn a call.
Lynn kept Dolly for 30 days. During that period, we made frequent visits to see
Dolly. We barely recognized our horse. Dolly was lowering her head for Amanda
to put on her bridal, and for the first time she was respectful of Amanda’s
space and moving backward quite well. Her ground manners had definitely improved.
By the following visit we were able to observe Dolly under saddle. Amanda, with
Lynn’s direction, was able to move Dolly from a walk to a trot, and then
something we had never seen her do--a complete gallop, and she was able to hold
her pace for a period of time. WOW!
By the end of the 30 days, Dolly was picking up on leg cues, side passing and
doing very well responding to Amanda’s every command. In 30 days we saw great
improvement and as a result, Dolly has been enjoyable to ride and we couldn’t
imagine our life without her. Lynn was wonderful in helping us understand and
know how to continue Dolly’s training so that we could keep the results.
We would definitely recommend Lynn’s training program.
Angie
H.
Bland, VA
Mustang
Training Testimonial:
In the summer
of 2007 we adopted a wild mustang from the Land Management Bureau of the US Government,
whose program saves the wild mustangs and burros. Being new to this type of horse,
my husband and I realized that our knowledge of training such a beautiful creature
was limited, and we needed to seek assistance. It was our great fortune to find
Dreamweaver Farm in Speedwell, Va.
Our Bella was enrolled in the training program under the guidance of Lynn Decker,
a true horse whisperer. Words cannot express our gratitude for the devoted care
that our mustang received at the facility. Lynn's knowledge and understanding
of techniques that work with horses is awesome, to say the least. Part of what
impressed me the most is the honesty shown to the client. Lynn will tell you at
the end of the first week of training if she thinks she can work with your horse.
With our Bella, she assured us that with patience and structure, Bella will prove
to be a horse that will show us respect and trust. Lynn was correct. Bella has
returned to our farm and is gentle, trusting and indicates to us that she wants
to be a part of the farm life.
Our personal dream of having a mustang that we can provide a safe environment
for has come true through our experience at Dreamweaver Farm. Lynn welcomed me
to come to the training sessions that she had with Bella, and by this sharing
I have learned immensely the techniques and the trusting gestures that are needed
to enjoy my time with such a wonderful horse as Bella.
Suzanne
Sparta, VA
Dream
Weaver Farms Review:
We bought our horse
in 2008 from a trainer that took him on a trade for training another horse. He
was a beautiful AQHA registered red dun, and there was something about him that
stole our heart; we named him Luke. We had him green broke by the trainer that
owned him at the time. After a few months of us seeing the trainer ride Luke,
we knew something was missing. Roger decided to take him on a trail ride. He worked
him in the ring first and tried flexing him and warming him up. For some reason,
after several hours of riding, Luke decided to “take off”, and take
off he did. That kind of behavior was just not acceptable to us.
We contemplated selling him, because we didn’t want a horse we couldn’t
trust or one who didn’t have the proper groundwork or manners. Even though
he was young, 4 at the time, we knew that kind of behavior would only get worse.
Then a friend of mine told me about Lynn Decker. I Emailed her and right away
I got a response back from Lynn to come by and look her training facilities over,
talk about our concerns with Luke, and decide if we wanted her to spend some time
with him.
We went
to Wytheville to meet with them. Lynn and Steve were so friendly, it seemed like
we knew them forever. They have a great training facility and love horses. We
decided we would give them a try.
We took Luke to them in early June 2009. Lynn first accessed him as not having
much groundwork; he couldn’t flex very well, and was very sensitive in his
hindquarters. She had her vet check him out, and told us he needed his teeth floated,
which we did and it seemed to help. We also had him shod for the very first time,
which he was great about, and now was ready to ride. Lynn spent time accessing
him, looking for signs that might make him sore, in pain or anything that would
hinder the training process. She found nothing and started ground working him.
She encouraged us to come
by as often as we could and spend some time. She showed us how to ground work
him, and get the respect from him that he so wanted to give. It was amazing watching
her and the natural skills she has with horses. In one month, Luke was not only
respectful; he was a much happier horse. He wants to please, he just didn’t
know how. We have him home now and he ties, stands, flexes, bathes, loads, knows
his space versus our space, lunges, and rides great! If we had more time, we would
have left him for another month as Lynn was getting him to side step, could open
a gate off of him and much more. He trail rides great, when he sees or hears deer
or something new, he doesn’t bolt and has that natural trust once you bond
with him.
I know now
that if we have any problems in the future, with any of our horses, Lynn is the
only trainer I would go to.
Roger and Deb Bench
Bluefield, VA
Horse
Training Testimonial:
Moe was fantastic on our ride, after we got him
home. There is still a little of the stubbornness in him, but when I push him
he gives in and goes on. He is so confident - he goes into and over anything,
and he listens to my legs and hands so well considering where he is in his experience.
We rode again today on the new river trail and he was a champ. You got him so
far in 4 weeks - I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you did. Thanks so
much - I have a horse to ride!!!
Thanks again for all of the work you did with Moe - you really did a wonderful
job. Now I just want to stay home from work and ride.
Virginia M.
Radford, VA
Horse
Training Testimonial:
I bought Bojangles, my ‘dream horse’
as a yearling. At that time I had 14 years of experience riding all kinds of horses
and had owned several different breeds. I primarily ride English and enjoy eventing,
dressage, trail riding and fox hunting. My riding has slowed down with 2 small
children but I did some ground work with Bojangles when I had time. Now 3 years
later it was time for Bojangles to go under saddle, but due to a previous bad
fall on another horse, we decided a trained professional should start him. I found
Lynn on the Internet and contacted her. Her and her husband Steve seemed to say
all the right things and she invited me to visit her facilities and watch her
in action. I was very impressed! She made everything black and white for the horse
and for the human. I really liked how she emphasized safety and it didn’t
seem to matter what level rider you were, your horse still had to behave appropriately.
Throughout Bojangles’
training, Lynn kept me informed of his progress. I was invited to visit whenever
I could. The first time I saw Lynn lope him under saddle, I almost cried! Then
she exhaled and they did a perfect stop. On later visits, I was encouraged to
ride Bojangles. Lynn did an amazing job. Bojangles really matured during his stay
with them, he is responsive about cues but calm about new things. It was worth
every penny! I highly recommend Lynn for starting young horses, as well as retraining
problem ones..
Rachel R.
VA
|
