The only way to have a friend is to be one,” Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely pointed out, and his advice can aptly be applied to our relationships with horses. Horses in the greatest need of a friend, however, are often the most difficult to befriend. How do you get physically let alone emotionally close to a horse who’s busy biting, rearing, and bucking? Or to the horse who’s a bundle of nerves and shies for the seemingly smallest of reasons?

The philosophy underlying Frank’s work is straight forward: lasting, positive behavior changes come about as a result of the give and take of any close relationship. It’s like with people,” he says. “You want to develop a rapport with someone before asking them to do something for you.” If you give, give, give to horses, they’ll want to give back.”

With a focus on safety, Frank’s work begins on the ground long before getting in the saddle. In the program he developed, calling it the Seven Step Safety System, the first six steps are all ground work: Bonding, Take and Give, Intimacy, The Dance Begins, Desensitizing, and Ballet on the Ground. Only the final step, In the Saddle takes place on the back of the horse, and only when it is ready.

“I had no idea what kind of a relationship I could have with my horse until I met Frank Bell. He taught me and my horse how to be friends. I had no idea how much of the equation I was missing. Thank you for opening those doors, Frank Bell.” —Butch N.

The event is offered for a suggested donation of $10, and more is always appreciated. All donations will be given to Hapi Trails Horse Adoption Program in Driggs, Idaho and Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding.

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