I started competing at barrels and poles at 8 years old.  I have trained professionally since 1992.  I've been successful with many horses that I have owned, trained and competed on.  The unique knowledge I have from starting colts to teaching basics to competing on the 1D barrel horse and 21 second pole horse has taught me more than the average competitor.  The knowledge of how to communicate and cue horses from the very beginning to the end is a lifetime of experience and that is the horsemanship I hope to teach you.  I train and give lessons daily, and I do several clinics a year.  I love what I do, and I look forward to helping every horse and rider, I meet.

I was born in Southern California, grew up in a horse town called Norco, then moved to Colorado when I got married, lived there 8 years, moved to Louisiana with my husband's career, which brought us to Florida where I have resided since 2001.  Some titles I have earned over the years are as follows:

1994 Top 5 Novice Horse Program on Cali
1995 District Champion NBHA 2D on Cali
1995 Top 5 NBHA State Championships on Cali
1997 NBHA Colorado year end Champ 2D on Cali & Cash
1997 C&L Winter Buckle Champion on Cali & Cash
1998 NBHA year end Champ and Top 5 1D title on Cali & Cash
1999 Top 5 year end district finalist 1D and 2D on Cali & Cash
1995-2000 NBHA World Qualifier in 1D and 2D on Cali & Cash
2003-2007 1D & 2D money won with over 250 entries, open rodeo money on Korbel Goodtime and Jose Bexas
2007 Novice Horse 1D Reserve Champion with Tour of Champions on Runaway Brisco
2009 Tour of Champs year end Top 3 Finalist in Novice Horse 2D & Futurity 1D on Alilhankypankyatsix "Lil Martha" and Derby 1D on Runaway Brisco

I love teaching horses and riders, and I enjoy the teamwork accomplished to reach a goal.  My training techniques are kind, effective, and they are based on universal horsemanship theories.  I can take a young horse and finish their basics, getting them broke from the face to the hind end, supple and using their bodies correctly.  I take in horses to pattern for barrels and poles and offer tune ups.  I have the owners involved closely in the training of each horse with lessons included in the training fees.  I give constant updates as to where they are in training, so the owner can keep it going once they go home.  I start all of my horses in snaffles or side pulls & leverage bits occasionally.  I only pattern them after they have solid basics.  I will haul them for exposure and exhibitions.  I can campaign for them at shows or rodeos when they are ready.  The result of my training is a consistent, happy, and well educated horse.  My end goal is a team competing at their best.  My program is designed to treat each horse as an individual, while the concept and principles are the same, the time tables and techniques may vary!    

You may learn more about me and my ideas on training by going to FloridaBarrelHorses.com and looking up my articles at "Ask Tina".   I have a few years of articles there for you to read.  I love horses first and foremost then barrel racing!  I enjoy helping the horse/rider improve their relationship and competition. 

I feel if I can help ONE horse & ONE owner to have a better relationship than it's ALL worth it.  I believe a horse should have a solid foundation, so they can go on to any event and be successful.  I like to have a horse broke from head to tail to give and move away from the lightest pressure.  An example of that would be; when I ride most of my clients horses they are very heavy in the face, and they don't use their hind ends correctly.  On a scale of 1 being the lightest and 10 being heavy, most are 8 to 10 on being heavy, laterally and vertically in the face, which does not allow then to round the back and use the hind end as well.  If a horse is heavy in the face, they will not be soft in the body or collected.  It takes time to get a horse light.  It's a constant maintenance to keep them light after that.  An example, of how to teach them to become light would be;  if you where to ask the horse to give to rein pressure with 1 pound of pressure releasing as soon as they soften, or you would add pressure up to 10 pounds, until your horse gives one inch or more, at that time you release, reward and wait, then build off that.  Then you need to address using their body correctly next with the same concept in mind.  I hope this example gives you an idea of my training philosophy.

I believe in building a relationship with a horse based on trust, respect and cues.  I do not believe in fear, pain or intimidation training.  I believe in making the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy.  I want my horse to enjoy learning and feel good about it.  All of this can be taught by using horsemanship, timing, feel and reward.  I would love to teach any horse lover/barrel racer my program.  I offer common sense solutions for the common problems people deal with in barrel racing and pole bending, from shouldering/hitting barrels, over-running barrels, alleyway issues and more.  I can't promise you that you will never have a bad run again, but I can promise you that you will improve and when you do make a mistake you will know why and how to fix it.  There are many things that help you win, proper training and a healthy horse is a huge part of it.    

I thank my parents for getting me into horses as a child.  It was my Mom's passion and has become mine since that time.  There are few things in life that calm you, bring you pure joy and make everything all right, for me, it's being beside or on a horse.  Of course we all need a RUSH sometimes too!  It's the "NEED FOR SPEED" that all of us timed event junkies have in common!   Barrel racing is addicting, but well worth all the effort when you hear the announcer say, "THE NEW TIME TO BEAT" or "THE WINNER IS"!  If you have any questions, or if I can help you in anyway with your horse, please email me or call me.  See ya down the road, I compete with NBHA FL, Tour of Champions, WPRA, super shows, rodeos and jackpots. 

Glory be to God and the Power of Prayer!   Be Thankful Always!  Tina - TLC