Testimonial from Pam Barker, D.V.M.
April 2007

Stacia Stevens first began working with my horses about three years ago.  My well-started Paint mare, Ghost, had developed several ground manners problems--spooking at saddling, hauling back at the hitching rail and just general anxiety and nervousness that made working with her a stressful chore, instead of the fun I knew it should be.  She had always been trained by gentle methods, and so I knew a heavy-handed approach would not benefit either of us.  At our first session with Stacia, I was astounded at what she could accomplish.  Not only were we able to curtail those behaviors, but Ghost's entire demeanor was changed.   Stacia's calm, matter-of-fact approach has a quieting effect that is almost immediate.  The more excitable the horse becomes, the mellower Stacia becomes.  It is amazing and, at times, almost comical to watch the horse try to become anxious or stressed and be unable to do so because the feedback from Stacia is that of total relaxation.  

Equally important, Stacia was able to teach me clear-cut and specific exercises I could do to accomplish our goals.  She explained not only the hows, but the why's of her techniques.  It was easy to follow through on my own because I understood the basis for what we were doing.  Stacia recognizes that the primary goal is not just to have the horse work well for her, but to have the horse and owner work well with one another.

I am happy to report that I have had not other anxiety problems with Ghost and she is a better horse now than she has ever been.  My two-year old Paint gelding is currently being started by Stacia, as I know of no one better to give him a better foundation to be a safe and pleasurable companion in the years to come.

Pam Barker, D.V.M.

Testimonial from Kaye Cloud of "Heart to Heart"
natural healing a massage therapist for horse and Humans                                                                               
May 2007

As an older rider of 61 with an older mare of 18 I co-founded a mounted shooting performance team “The Outlaw Cowgirls". I realized that both me and my mare Marla needed more riding skills to perform at our desired level.  Marla had been used a lot in the woods to gallop on the trails but knew little about turning and speed control. We needed to learn skills such as lead changes, side passing, as well as smooth transitions and backing up.

I heard of Stacia Stevens through a mutual friend and sent Marla for training.  Stacia certainly lived up to her business name of "Gentle Persuasion" training.

She trained my mare and I for 30 days and was very kind and gentle it was very easy for both of us to learn from her.  Stacia made learning simple and easy to understand and I knew that my mare enjoyed it as much as I did. Marla and I benefited greatly from the month that we spent training with Stacia.

I highly recommend Stacia for both horse and rider as it was a pleasure for both of us to work with her. She enabled us to reach our performance goals.

Sincerely,
Kaye Cloud

Testimonial from Bud and Patti Lee
June 2007

We contacted STACIA from an ad in the mountain trader.

I am 64, with a bad back.  I had ridden horses from the time I was 3, until 30 when I had to stop and raise my son.

I wanted back in and fell in love with a paint that had taken on some bad habits and was getting away with them.

When we took him out to STACIA'S place and watched her with Bo Bo we knew we had made the right decision, and were greatly impressed with her methods.

Now two weeks later, he is like a new horse, one with manners.  She taught him simple respect and relearning of things he knew to begin with.

I believe her more difficult challenge now is to teach me how to ride him with respect.

We brought Bo home, but are working daily on some exercises, and I have set up lessons twice a week. 

We would recommend STACIA to anyone with any horse issues. She will give you and your horse whatever the care and training needed and you will enjoy the process. Additionally we made a friend along the way.

Thank you STACIA
Bud and Patti Lee

Testimonial from Darrell and Ardis Christofferson

July 18, 2007

Do you want a better horse?  Whether it's a baby or an older seasoned horse, we know from our experiences that Stacia can help you!

We first met Stacia 9 years ago while looking for a horse for our 13 yr. old daughter, shley.  After responding to an ad, we were sent by the owner of a lovely Arabian mare named Golden Touch to Stacia's, where the horse had been in training for a month.  Ashley rode "Goldie" and connected with her immediately.  We bought her and the next summer Ashley showed her and won numerous ribbons.  Since then Goldie has given us 3 lovely foals and raised an orphan for us.  She's a great trail horse and anyone can ride
her.  We call her our $100,000 horse, meaning we wouldn't take less for her (the truth is, we wouldn't sell her for $100,000!).  BUT....we wouldn't have Goldie if it wasn't for Stacia.  We found out after we bought her that the former owner couldn't handle her.  She had been so over trained by a heavy-handed trainer that her mind was mass confusion.  She had "run away", would back up incessantly, and was in general a nervous basket-case. 
Stacia's quiet calm way of handling her had changed her so much the former owner wondered if she'd been drugged.  Consequently we ended up owning a wonderful horse.

3 years later a sweet filly, who we named Khrystal, was born to a beautiful mare named Bessy.  Bessy was a mare that was basically a "throw-away", with such fear and mistrust of humans that she was considered dangerous. Stacia had acquired her, and with much patience had gained her trust and trained her to ride and to jump.  Stacia was out of-town for awhile and we cared for Bessy in trade for letting us breed her and keep the foal.  The
result was Khrystal.  Our daughter, Ashley, also showed her and jumped her, winning many ribbons.  Bessy was not dangerous at all, just had been abused enough to hate people, until Stacia rescued her.  As a result of Stacia's training methods we have Khrystal, and now also have 2 of Khrystal's colts.

Our 3rd experience with Stacia's training is now in process.  We were told by another trainer that she couldn't train our 1/2 Arab, 1/2 Paint mare, Sassy, after having her for several weeks.  The trainer said she "dumped the saddle", "pulled back", "locked up" when mounted, and had "an explosive disposition".  So we took her to Stacia.  In less than a month Stacia taught her to stand to be saddled (tied or untied), and to stand perfectly still to be mounted from either side.  She can be ridden by anyone on a loose rein with extremely light bit contact, and she side-passes and 1/2 passes with ease. 
Her body is beautifully balanced and she has a natural, relaxed head-set that any show judge would love.  All this has been achieved through the quiet, patient methods that Stacia learned from John Lyons, which she knows, understands, and uses well.

Thank you, Stacia!!

Darrell and Ardis Christofferson