Kerry Thomas, author of HORSE PROFILING: THE SECRET TO MOTIVATING EQUINE ATHLETES with Calvin Carter, and creator of the Thomas Herding Technique, recently received this letter from a horse lover who had read his book. We thought it summed up what his techniques are meant to achieve so well, we wanted to share it with everyone:
Dear Kerry,
A few weeks ago I read your profiles of the horses racing in the 138th Kentucky Derby. I was reading this post-Derby. I was impressed that your profiles were accurate—many of the horses behaved as you anticipated. The profile spoke about the horses’ individual characteristics and how they would manage based on their ability to focus when other horses where trying to influence them. I had never known this to be possible. I was beyond curious to understand the horse’s view and how this influence takes place. I had never seen horses communicating in a race. I wanted to know more—the article referenced your book Horse Profiling: The Secret to Motivating Equine Athletes.
I have ridden horses my whole life. I have never owned a horse, but I have taken riding classes. I consider myself a pleasure rider. I go to the racetrack once a week in Southern California to joyfully see horses reach their potential, and sometimes sadly to see a beloved horse with talent flounder race after race. I would ride and watch horses but never felt I truly understood them. I would wince when I would see trainers impose their will on a horse—and mystified when a trainer would lead a less athletic horse to victory. Many times my instructors would give me tools that I felt were taking me further from connecting, nurturing, and caring for a horse. I’ve never given up but my hit-and-miss responses to horses sort of made me a bit unfulfilled. I knew it could and should be different.
I just finished your book Horse Profiling—it has been my “Ah Ha! Moment”! The book revealed the mysteries I could not piece together on my own. Once your theories were explained it made sense. The book enlightened me on nature’s design of the horse’s emotions. How powerful herding is, how horses communicate, how horse personalities are different and that affects the way they are trained. I look back with some humor at my attempts to bring a horse in focus that was “done for the moment.” I was not taught the emotional profile of a horse, just his physical capabilities. The book was so fun-filled with case studies to help me understand. The book was very easy to read. Your knowledge was generous. Each chapter covers an entire topic for easy reference.
I really look forward to the fulfillment of seeing every horse understood as the horses in your case studies. Thank you so much for your hard work. I work in landscaping and will suggest to customers your pasture designs that better match the horse’s instincts. I am excited to ride and listen to horses!
Nina Colasurdo
For more about Kerry Thomas and his system of Emotional Profiling, CLICK HERE to see a short video on America’s Best Racing: Summer Insider.
HORSE PROFILING is available from the TSB online bookstore, where shipping in the US is always FREE.
