Even though I was recognized nationally as one of the country's top 50 riding instructors in 2007 and, I was named the National Mounted Patrol Instructor in 2001, my greatest successes with horses have resulted from helping the "difficult" ones overcome their respective "problems" (some of which are sometimes quite dangerous). I have been doing this for over 40 years using techniques that more recently (in the past 10 or 15 years) have become known as "Natural Horsemanship". While these methods can be very effective when properly applied, there are some unwanted behaviors (e.g. stall kicking, pawing, cribbing, weaving, aggression, etc.), that quite simply cannot be stopped with "operant conditioning" and other similar types of "Natural Horsemanship" behavior modification tools.

Horses are empirical animals (i.e. they learn through their own experiences). Therefore, before attempting to modify a horse's behavior, it is important to understand how this characteristic effects the horse's learning ability. Horses only "learn" (i.e. modify their behavior) by determining in their own minds what 'works" and what doesn't work as the results of their previous actions. Consequently, it is imperative that any unwanted behavior be negated immediately in order to preclude a repetition of that activity.

The electric fence is a good example of a very specific and unambiguous behavioral modification device. Once a horse has made contact with the fence, it is very clear to the horse that this activity should be ceased immediately. The ViceBreaker applies basically the same principles, wherein the horse thinks that the correction that he receives from the collar is the direct result of his performing the specific action that we want to eliminate (i.e. it is the horse's choice to terminate that particular activity).

Rather than looking upon the ViceBreaker collar as a "last resort", I have found that. When properly used, it may well be the "first step" in stopping and eliminating many dangerous and damaging horse behaviors (in a quick and humane manner).

Tri-Tronics approached me and asked me to try one of their electronic collars after they had observed me making a presentation (at Horse Expo) on Police Horses (one of my areas of specialization). After checking out the ViceBreaker and applying it, I quickly achieved very positive results.

I have since made it an integral part of my horse training regimen and I've been quite pleased with the results.