Tony is an amazing horse communicator and trainer. My horse Ricci, a large warm blood, would not load into a trailer for anyone and had poor ground manners. Within a week, Tony had him loading like a pro and acting like a gentleman on the ground. He is now a respectful, listening horse. I am thankful for Tony's expertise and horse experience.
Kim Dickie
I decided to engage Tony for help with my 7 year old paint horse. I myself am a licensed Psychologist, who came into this process with PTSD. Tony and I, over the course of time developed a language, both of words and by using my anxiety issues as well as my horse's to create a constant dialogue in order to better both my horse's world and my own. Tony is extremely wise and together we forged ahead, by using the understanding of resistance to help me and my horse. As a horse owner, I feel much more hopeful that Tony and I together will continue to open up options other than spooking of both myself and my horse, and this progress has already begun. Both my horse and I will be forever grateful for the brilliance, patience and knowledge that Tony provides on a consistent basis. He is a teacher and mentor of the most superlative level that I have yet to come across. Equine therapy has been suggested as a wonderful tool to help those with PTSD, and with Tony at the helm, he is sure to benefit many, many people (and horses!) Robin Bartky, Ph.D.
Robin Bartky
Tony has essentially changed my horse, Colours life, and by way of doing that, also mine. Colours was a rescue when she was just a foal, with a twisted leg. She has grown into a lovely paint horse, now 7 years old. Because I had little to no experience with horses, as she grew bigger and bigger, I became more and more afraid to work with her, particularly since she was a reactive and sensitive horse, who had been through her own early trauma. I loved her but was afraid of her! Enter Tony Simonetti, who was put on our path to freedom and fun! Tony is helping me to be confident with Colours so she is not pushy, desensitizing Colours to her fears and together, the three of us are altering an existence that was sure to be much more isolated and boring. Colours is changing right before my eyes, and finally, I went to the barn last weekend to work with her all by myself! A miracle! Thank you Tony, from the bottom of Colours and mine's hearts....
Robin
When it comes to training, Tony is the "real deal". We are lucky to have him here on Long Island. I came to Tony b/c I had "lost" my connection with my beautiful warmblood, Elisa. Due to a number of factors, we had stopped enjoying our trail rides. We had lost "trust" in each other. Tony was one of the few trainers I have worked with that was willing to take Elisa back out into the park setting to work on our issues on the trails. I was easily able to apply his techniques and gain a total new and stronger connection with my horse. She is back to being a perfect companion on the trails. I plan on continuing to work with Tony to strengthen that connection thru changing seasons and circumstances. Thank you Tony for helping me once again appreciate and bond with my horse without the fear that was tearing apart our bond. I am grateful to once again enjoy my time with my horse using Tony's training aids and techniques.
lynn JacobsI'm sure you have seen Rebel on Tony's posts. He is doing great! he is 5-18 yrs old. as training began, we realized he had never been broke! In addition, he was extremely buddy sour, an feared being touched past his shoulders. In a very short period of time, Tony dissected and diagnosed a multitude of problems in this pony. All issues were addressed, even when the goal seemed far away. "Failure is not an option"!! Rebel is now riding, on his way to a useful life! Thank you Tony for all you did for this little guy. It's because of you he has a purpose. I want to thank Allison as well. So many hours in the round pen can take from family time. I appreciate your support during this process. It is great to have family support, as the training days can be lengthy. As for Rebel, perhaps it is time for a name change? His name no longer fits!!! Cathy Wilvert
catherine wilvert
Working with Tony has been a game changer. We started with a horse who refused categorically to load the trailer, would spook at her own shadow and was so stressed that getting her inside the ring was a victory. My horse learned a great deal. I learned even more.
Layla
I so enjoyed our barn's first group clinic with Tony Simonetti. It was amazing watching each horse's transformation from the beginning of the clinic to the end. We each gained our horse's respect and I personally watched my horse go from using his instinctive part of his brain to his thinking part of his brain. It was definitely a learning experience but Tony also made it fun for all. I am looking forward to our next group clinic.
Dawn Lomelo
Hi all, I just wanted to let everyone know that I had my first lesson with Tony Simonetti on Monday and it was great. I have had several natural horsemanship lessons in the past, but found that usually they are better at working with horses than at teaching people.
Susan McCotterHi all! I must once again praise Tony for his amazing ability to not only control the horse, but to teach the rider how to do it as well. I rode away from the lesson feeling totally in control and like Dakota and I could be on the cover of Horse Illustrated! lol. I went to the playdate at the BEC later this afternoon and was just breezing around the course. I had Dakota going over all the jumps in both directions, slaloming around the cones and going right over the tarp and through the carwash like a pro. With Tony's help, I was able to establish complete trust with my horse and he was not only willing and able to follow my lead, but he was actually enjoying himself. It was complete fun and not tense like it would have been in the past. Thank you so much, Tony! Once again you have given me back a better horse than the one I brought you.
Evette Alti
Tony has taken the guessing game out of riding young horses...He has
made my job so much easier as I knew every time I got on a young horse,
they were focused on what i was asking. Rather than dealing with a
young horse that was inattentive, they were ready to go to work! Tony
has been a big part of my success with the young horses!
- Jill
JillAll summer long I spent the occasional morning asking my 5 year old filly to have breakfast on the little 2 horse trailer. She learned quickly enough that the trailer was an okay place to hang out, and we progressed with no issues until the day that I, a non "natural horsemanship" person, decid...
Dale Gifford
I have taken natural horsemanship lessons before but find Tony Simonetti to be a grounded and knowledgeable teacher. But don’t think it will be…he’ll fix it. He makes you and your mount work, and work and maybe work some more. It seems that he makes no assumptions about where you and your horse...
Lisa & Scout
About 2 months ago I bought a new horse. His name is Rugby and he's a big, 5 year old, 17.1 hand paint Percheron TB cross. I was told he was green but he seemed such a sweet and willing horse that when I tried him before buying I was impressed with how well he handled being ridden and settling ...
Brigitte SleiertinHi everyoneI want to let the reader's know about two horses that were helped by Tony Simonetti. The first one was a 5 yr old warmblood mare who would not load on any trailer. I'm not sure how they even got her to our barn in the first place! As luck would have it she was a sale horse that I ...
Dianne KThanks Tony for that terrific session on Saturday. Hollyand I really appreciated your help in clarifing our timing and giving us a modified way of working (more John Lyons)w/ loading Pippin when weather and footing don't safely permit some of the more dramatic moves outside and around the trail...
Kathleen
Thanks Tony for that terrific session on Saturday. Hollyand I really appreciated your help in clarifing our timing and giving us a modified way of working (more John Lyons)w/ loading Pippin when weather and footing don't safely permit some of the more dramatic moves outside and around the trail...
Kathleen KleinmanMaren MiltonI just want to share about our session today with Tony. Li'l Man and I had a lesson to work on advanced games and leading and following the shoulder. First Tony worked with Li'l Man and got him responding 100% to his cues for moving his shoulders, backing up and stepping sideways ...
Maren MiltonHi everyone!!My friends Marilyn and Connie bought a quarterhorse- Tommy- about 2 months ago who had some issues about getting bridled. At first, it would take Marilyn about 15 minutes and a lot of frustration to bridle Tommy, I could also do it in about the same time and Connie would just give...
Mike Steinzor
I just want to let everyone know how much I appreciate the talent of Tony Simonetti. I have show horses that win all over the country and this could DEFINIELTY not be done with just a good rider! The way Tony gets into the minds of these horses is PRICELESS! He has helped me with loading to get...
Jill Aureliano Just to let everyone know.... Tony worked Arizona and the magic changed this horse once again for the better... Arizona is soft, calm and a pleasure to be around.. After his training Arizona rides and is more willing then ever... Its very true that things just keep geting better and better...fo...
JosephI know my horse very well,okay so I thought I knew my horse. I know when he bites me,it hurts, (ohh my) I know when he tries to kick me, my reflexes have sped up considerably. and when he dumps me, thats a blow to my ego, and everything else I land on, (p.s. it's never my behind).But today I ha...
Dee
Tony,Thanks so much for a totally great lesson today. I was so impressed with what we accomplished in such a short amount of time. Growing up with a traditional dressage education, I couldn't imagine that I could get my horse that soft, round, and responsive without a bit. Today, with only a ha...
BethI was just coming on here to post about what a great training session we had. I went back down to the barn to check on Bella and Judy said that Heather had a great lesson too.I am really motivated once again. Every time you come and work with us I'm rejuvinated!!! I'm so excited to spend four d...
Edie SpringsteenI was just coming on here to post about what a great training session we had. I went back down to the barn to check on Bella and Judy said that Heather had a great lesson too.I am really motivated once again. Every time you come and work with us I'm rejuvinated!!! I'm so excited to spend four d...
Edie Springsteen
Once of the many sayings that are very applicable about horse training and life in general is that it’s not just what you do but how you do it. My horse had been a pleasure to trailer load. Easy, calm and very willing until last fall when he colicked and I took him out for a trailer ride to get...
japTony, You gave me a glimpse of what I never thought was possible and you know how long I've had horses. I cry for all the years that I never knew these keys to their language. No one can articulate it better than you. This is because you have such generous patience and spirit so that people get...
JenniferHi Tony,Just wanted to say THANK YOU! For everything. Capone is absolutely wonderful with me. We are working on leading on his right and him keeping his nose by my left shoulder. He is doing fabulous. And he didn't spook with me even once this past weekend. I can only hope for the best when I a...
Regina
Sorry I'm taking this long to post. Sunday's clinic was fantastic! I enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people! It was great to put faces with the names in these posts. My sisters horse Cammy was like Rin Tin Tin (if any of you remember that wonder dog) the next day when Pam and I went to the ba...
DeirdreIt just amazes me how Tony can transform a horse's attitude in such a short period of time. I learned so much from watching the demonstration today. The more I know the more I get out of watching. (and I thought I got a lot out of it before!!) I just feel like today brought me to new heights in...
Judy Hi everyone. This is my first time on the message board, so here goes...I took my horse (Handsome, a 3-year old black Tennessee Walker)to Karen's for the clinic with Tony. Jen and I worked our horses in the ring, with a lot of help from Tony. I just have to say that it was a wonderful experienc...
Jean
On thursday August 28th I had my first experience working with Tony and my horse. My horse (Justin) had very bad ground manners especially when I would walk him around on the lead. He just really wanted to run you over, eat grass, or drag you into a stall. After Tony worked with him he started ...
PeggyLast year sometime,Tony mentioned to me that one day in the future I would ride over to his house and we would have training sessions there. I secretly thought to myself that I would probably be old and senile and lying in a nursing home somewhere by the time my horse was ready to make the trek...
Sue RJust a note to say that I was delighted with the demo session with Mister Penny yesterday (For those not at the demo: Penny is a five-year-old thoroughbred and a very tough and competative racehorse. He was full entire until about eight months ago was was still racing late last summer. He's bee...
Alan
I became one of Tony's students in November. I had my first session in the park May 1st with my friends Sue and Elaine. The group session went well and I went home feeling good (real good) about what we accomplished. I went out on the trail by myself the next day and practiced. Brandy & I did e...
Dawn (&Brandy)Hi Guys,Thursday Tony came over for a lesson with Shimmey. Madison & I were in awe of Tony! You see Shimmey has not been ridden in over a year & when she was it was like fighting a bull. We have been doing all the games on the ground with much success. So it was time to test all this “playing” ...
SentaWell Tony, Where do I begin? I'm not much of a writer. I'm speechless. I was so touched yesterday I have been floating all day. To see what you did with Jughead was unbelieveable,if i didn't see it myself. I couldn't believe how responsive you became with you. Everyone talks about John lyons ce...
Kathy & Juggy
Today's lesson was such an important one even though we never got in the saddle. Tony says that Stanley is a horse that is full of emotions so this lesson is just what we needed to improve out skills and to stay safe. We moved forward with the 7 games in our lesson by playing them in a more adv...
JudyWell, what can I say? The round pen session was great. We got a smorgasbord (sp?) since the original "star for the night" couldn't make it. It ended up being a comfortably cool evening after such a hot day. Tony showed us a little bit of everything using the horses he had on hand, and answered ...
Maren