Horse Training: Young horses started under saddle, older horses tuned up, and horses trained for showing.

Lil Peck is a lifelong horsewoman and professional horse trainer. To keep her skills current, she competes in horse shows and is consistently competitive.

She begins by doing lots of ground work to prepare the young horse to be ridden. She wants the horse to stay calm and to enjoy his work. She prefers that the young horse never even think about bucking or spooking, so she makes a point of never giving him the opportunity to do it.

It has been observed that Lil has a calming influence on horses and that horses that are excitable, nervous, or pushy when first brought to her usually become much quieter and more pleasant to be around.

Lil says there are no gimmicks or devices or shortcuts, that what it takes to do good horse training is to be pleased

with what the horse gives you and to spend time with the horse.

"Don't judge what the horse gives you," advises Lil. "Don't classify what the horse gives you as 'good' or 'bad;' it just 'is.' Take what the horse gives you and build on it."

Lil has trained horses for and shown in a number of different

classes, such as Horsemanship, Trail Class, Showmanship, Halter, Barrel Racing and Pole Bending, but her personal favorite is Western Pleasure.

"I like the beauty, temperament, and smooth movement of Western Pleasure horses," says Lil. "Because Western Pleasure bred horses have been genetically

selected for their athletic ability and trainability, they are delightful to work with."

Lil is very appreciative of the new, improved standards of judging and performance for the Western Pleasure horse show classes. Horses are now required to move forward and to be more natural and relaxed.

Lil does not use any training devices or gimmicks for developing a Western Pleasure horse, and she disapproves of cheating in any form, including 'tail blocking.' "If you have quiet legs and are calm with the horse," the horse will carry her tail quietly," she says.