The Long and Winding Road toward the cooperative horse - Dennis Summers

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD toward the cooperative horse

by Dennis Summers
December 20, 2025

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD toward the cooperative horse is a collection of experiences and methods gleaned from my lifetime around horses. Most involved young or inexperienced horses during the time period between early starting training and the solid (cooperative horse.) For that reason I feel there may be nuggets for the average Joe and Jolene that is bringing along a young horse straight from the trainer or just dealing with the inevitable training issues that come up.

I like to search for solutions to problems and did my best to put them to paper. As I said in the book, problem finding is the easiest thing in the world. Problem solving, that is gold. The short cuts toward the cooperative horse for me have been few and far between. Thinking like a horse, a goal of a working partnership with my horse and mind numbing repetition seem to be themes that arise over and over. There are those occasional breakthrough moments or rides that make all that effort worth while.

Bringing the young horse to the point of actual cooperation is a great challenge. For me the rewards have been immeasurable.