From 1999 through 2007, we owned OutWest Guides, a wilderness outfitting business based in Marble, Colorado. At our peak of operations, we had 47 head of mountain horses that we used to take guests into the rugged Rocky Mountains at elevations of up to 12,500 feet. We were known far and wide for having the very best horses around, and we were the preferred outfitters for the St. Regis Hotel, The R
itz-Carlton Club, and the Roaring Fork Club, all 5-star resorts based in Aspen and the surrounding area. You don't get that kind of clientele by doing things wrong. Our horses were known for being lively, willing, athletic, and careful--not to mention good-looking! Once we sold the business, we realized that there was a big demand for quality horses, and we took the concepts that we learned in our outfitting business and started training horses to sell to the public. Of course, all horsemen and horsewomen have their mentors and sources of knowledge and inspiration. We have studied the techniques and philosophies of such renowned horsemen as John Lyon, Chris Cox, Monty Roberts, Pat Parelli, Ray Hunt, and Mark Rashid, and we've learned something valuable from all of them. However, the most valuable program we've found is the Down Under Horsemanship program started by Clinton Anderson. Clinton has a no-nonsense approach that teaches a horse the foundations of respect and learning cues that translate into a relationship with the rider as leader and the horse as willing partner. Through these methods, we're able to make available some really nice horses for sale. We've owned all kinds of horses over the years--quarter horses, paints, Missouri foxtrotters, draft horse crosses, Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Tennessee walkers, paso finos, you name it. However, we are partial to Arabians, and we have several very nice Arabian geldings for sale. They've been well started on trails and endurance riding, and they're gentle, sweet, and willing. In addition to our horses for sale, we offer horse purchase evaluations; personal training and coaching; consulting on nutrition and feeding; and riding seminars. We do not typically train horses for the general public.
