Horse Mavericks

When Lanny West was a toddler, he used to fall asleep on horseback.  Not wanting to disturb his sleep, Noel West would tie his son to the saddle and let him nap.

The son of a horse trader, Lanny West has fixed problem horses, tamed wild mustangs, educated colts and taught equine team roping competitors.  He has been known to train horses for rough stock riders, rodeo clowns, horse traders, cowmen and pleasure riders. 

Tucked away in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, he makes his living as a ferrier, a horse trainer and a cowman.  When there is a training or health problem with a horse, locals call Lanny first.  With nearly 60 years of experience, he has gleaned information from veterinarians, equine dentists, horse shoeing organizations and fellow horse trainers. 

As a young man, he was a professional team roper winning buckles, saddles and cash prizes from the United States Team Roping Association, Wrangle Team Roping Association, the American Team Roping Association and the California Professional Cowboy Rodeo Association.  He spent nearly 20 years putting on roping schools and clinics for people from Canada, to California and Nevada. 

Lanny West says he has learned a lot from horses and not just how to train and shoe them effectively.   He has developed ways to communicate and understand them using feel, intuition and energy levels.  Through the years he spent in the arena, he knows how to train his body and mind for the pressures of competition. 

The purpose of this blog is to pass on Lanny West’s techniques, knowledge and expertise to you.  We hope you will find the stories helpful. 

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