"Life is a school of constantly changing attitudes and thoughts.  We can learn from the past, but we can't live in it. 
Advancement is essential in the realm of horse training. 
I've seen horse training go from "bucking" them out to "foundation training".  That's a good thing in my opinion.  I've had the privilege of training horses for some time now, it is truly a satisfying work, even the trying times." - Dale Cossman

Dale was raised on a ranch in Kansas where his great grandfathers homesteaded and his grandfathers and father farmed and raised stock and dairy cattle. Dale's interest in horses started early in his life."When I was a very young boy, I dreamed about riding and roping. Watching Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Hop-A-Long Cassidy and the Lone Ranger inspired me to ride horses. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century." Dale recalls his first mount when he was three years old, "It was no small pony either. He was a full-size horse with no saddle. Due to being dragged by a horse, my dad, Keith, would not allow me to ride with a saddle until I was older." Riding bareback taught Dale two important things: good balance and a "feel" for how a horse moves.

When he was a little older, Dale and his dad would travel to leased pastures to check the cattle. Dale remembers,"We'd jump Pepper (a full-grown horse) into the back of the pickup with no stock racks. We would be driving down the highway and Pepper would rake his bit across the top of the pickup cab!  People would pull over, stop and stare, as we'd go by. When we got to the pasture, we jumped Pepper out, and I would ride the pasture checking the cattle. I regret we never got a picture of Pepper riding in the pickup with no stock racks."

In the early 70's, Dale started training horses for himself. Working for Pawnee Valley Feeders Feedlot near his hometown of Hanston, Kansas, afforded Dale the opportunity to see what a good experience feedlot riding was for a young "started" horse. It was here that he started to ride for clients. Dale recalls, "The person that had the most influence on me at that time was Larry Phillips of Jetmore, Kansas. He is a heck of a hand with a horse. I not only had the privilege of working with Larry in the feedlot and learning his training techniques, but he also taught me how to shoe a horse."

1983 brought big changes to Dale, his wife Susan and their two children. As they said goodbye to family and friends and all the familiar surroundings of growing up, they made an adventurous move to Washington State. Continuing his training of horses in Washington was a challenge for Dale, because no one knew him there!  He worked diligently to get his reputation established by always being fair and honest with his clients and developing a clear understanding of their unique needs.

Lisa Herres of Richland, Washington, writes: "I first met Dale when I purchased a Palomino gelding from him in 1992. Before I took the horse home, Dale spent a great deal of time educating me about the techniques he had used to train this horse, ensuring our success as rider, trusted friend and mount. I was so pleased with the gelding's quiet, gentle, easy-to-handle manner, that I have since had two more horses successfully trained by Dale. My confidence in Dale's training techniques has paid off, as both of these horses finished their training with the same gentle, easy-to-handle characteristics as that first Palomino gelding. Many of my colleagues have remarked that my young horses ride as quiet and nice as their seasoned horses. I just smile and tell them, "You just can't beat Dale's foundation training!" In May, I am fortunate enough to be sending a third horse to him for training and am excited at the prospect of riding another "Dale Cossman" foundation-trained horse. In my case, Dale's training soon extended from training my horses to educating me. I have sought his advice countless times, and always with a successful outcome. Dale has a rare talent for training horses that not many possess. He is one of the most knowledgeable "honest-to-goodness horsemen" that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I consider myself fortunate to have him as my trainer and friend. As long as I am lucky enough to own horses, they will be "Dale Cossman" foundation-trained horses!"

To know Dale is to appreciate his knowledge of horses. An old cowboy once told him, READ, LISTEN and LEARN and take from that what you can use!  And that is what Dale has successfully put into practice. He uses the "Western Horseman" as a study guide and he is always willing to get sage advice from seasoned trainers. Most recently Dale spoke with clinician Al Granchamp from Radersburg, Montana, to get advice about a horse he was having trouble with. In addition, he has spoken to Larry Trocha of Petaluma, California, and he also utilizes Mr. Trocha's training videos for himself and his clients. Dale keeps abreast of the latest training methods by occasionally attending a training clinic. Curt Pate is one of Dale's favorite clinicians because of his hands-on common sense techniques.

Training Philosophies

Dale believes in " Foundation Training".  In fact they have a saying at his ranch: " FOUNDATION TRAINING, WITHOUT IT YOU HAVE NOTHIN'!"

What is foundation training? Dale says, "It is working the horse from the ground up. Working with the horse on the ground gives me the opportunity to get to know the horse and the horse gets to know me. I start the groundwork in my round pen. I teach a horse to lead forward and backward with a soft cotton rope on any leg. Then, I move to ground driving him. Once I have good control on the ground of the young horse, I move outside the round pen to do most of my driving. (A young horse gets bored going round and round. Moving him to the open allows me to take him by things he will be seeing when I ride him.) This allows the horse to learn what I will be asking him to do when I mount him. Move forward, turn left, right, backup, stop and give to the bit. When I feel the horse is ready to mount, I move back to the round pen. If the horse doesn't listen to me on the ground, I don't get on because it's a sure thing he won't listen when I'm on him. No two horses are alike, and each one takes it's own amount of time to understand what I'm asking."

Susan recalls, " I've watched Dale ride and train horses for 32 years. More than once he has come across a stubborn, hardheaded young horse. He'll be doing his groundwork in the round pen and the colt just won't cooperate. Dale comes in tired and discouraged. I just tell him, "Give the colt a bit more time, and he'll give to you soon. I've seen it a hundred times with you and a young horse." And when it happens, you can actually see the horse "give" to Dale, and from that time on the colt is willing to put forth effort to please his new found friend!"

Dale's training program promotes quiet, gentle and easy-to-handle horses. He puts into practice what he feels is essential for the horse and rider. "I feel working a horse in circles is really important. It teaches a horse to neck rein, rate, balance and execute lead changes. A lot of outside riding is the best thing you can do for a horse. It lets the horse relax and be a horse. If I have a "bug-a-boo" situation, I have to work through it. I can't quit. What would that teach the horse? (Act up and the guy on my back gets off! I can do that every time! In no time, I'll be a fat pasture ornament!) He will never get better if I quit. I never quit a horse on a "bad note." I try to quit when I've made a little bit of progress. You have to remember: There is no science to horse training. I have to read each horse individually, working that horse through his particular problem. Horses, like people, are not perfect. I have to be forgiving, especially with youngsters because they are going to make mistakes. Most of the youngsters' mistakes will be corrected with consistent riding."

Standing tied is also part of his training program as is sacking out a horse.  Why? Read about B. Dalke's experience.

Barbara Dalke of Delta, Alaska writes: "Owning and riding a horse in Alaska are challenges in themselves. The diverse types of ground - from bogs with Jell-O consistency to loose, sharp, shale rock, and Alaskan wildlife (bear, moose, caribou, and bison) traveling the same trails can test the best rider and his/her horse at any given moment. The trust or bond between rider and horse directly reflects, I believe, upon training."

"I've owned many horses and have ridden in the wilderness areas of Alaska for the last 20 years. This year, I purchased a gelding from Dale at Sand Dunes Ranch near Richland, Washington. Dale had worked with and trained this gelding. Not once during the 2500-mile trailer ride home did my new horse, Lace, balk or refuse to load. He was patient as I fiddled around and unloaded his trailer mate. He was calm each night as he was unloaded in the dark and put in new pens."

"Once back in Alaska, I rode Lace and immediately came upon a grizzly in the trail. Lace remained calm (much calmer than I) and stood quietly as I pulled my rifle from the scabbard. Several days later, a moose in the trail drew the same response from my horse. His calmness and actions in these tense moments are a testament to the training he received. Whether on hard ground or on soft ground where the bottom drops out underneath us, I have a trustworthy, calm mount. Thanks, Dale!"

Education of both rider and horse is crucial!

Dale recently gave a weeklong, one-on-one training clinic to Molly Sanders, an aspiring young horsewoman. Molly and her father, Gary, had purchased a mare from Dale a few years back. Being a young rider, Molly needed a little help getting her spirited mare back to the safe, sound handling and riding condition she was in when she was originally purchased. Dale spent afternoons teaching Molly how to handle her horse. Molly was able to ride along and learn first hand as Dale worked with his colts. Molly came away from the clinic with a renewed sense of confidence in her horse and her riding ability.

Gary Sanders of Kingston, Washington comments: "When Molly and Dewzy started having trouble, I knew things were only going to get worse unless we got some 'top notch' help in a hurry. Fortunately for us, Dale Cossman agreed to work with both of 'my girls'. Molly kept a journal of her training week, and when I read her entry for the fourth day, I knew we had found the 'top notch' training we were looking for. She had written about a trail ride she and Dale had taken among the sand dunes, stopping to work the horses along the way, '...Today was perfect, Dewzy was so good, she didn't do anything wrong! It was the greatest feeling in the world to be able to ride my mare with such confidence.' Thanks to Dale, both of 'my girls' are still doing fine, looking forward to spring, and, more importantly, enjoying each other's company. There are a lot of things changing in this crazy world we live in it's nice to know that there are still good men like Dale Cossman out there."

Nevada Fateley of Sweetwater Ranch in Washington writes: "I've had the privilege of being a "student" of Dale's, if you will, as he is always willing to teach the owner/rider of a horse, not just the horse. From watching Dale work the colts, it is really apparent that he can get inside the head of a horse. This is a unique talent in my opinion, because although all horses may have general ways in which they are alike, each horse is an individual in its responsiveness and personality. Dale seems to know just the right way to handle each individual horse. Dale isn't just a horse person, he is a people person too."

What Dale likes to see in a horse after 60 days of training:

 1)  Stand quietly tied at the hitching rail.
 2)  Stand quietly while being saddled.
 3)  Longe/ listen to commands.
 4)  Stand still while he mounts.
 5)  Walk off: flex / give head each direction.
 6)  Trot circle.
 7)  Lope circle.
 8)  Take leads most of the time.
 9)  Open and shut a gate (requires side passing and standing quiet).
10) Ride off on the trail quietly.

Dale cautions," Do not expect a horse to be seasoned in 90 days!"  Dale will tell you 90 days does not make a horse. He has told many clients the biggest mistake they can make is taking their 60-day or 90-day horse home and not ride him with consistency. Most trainers will tell you it takes about two years to make a seasoned horse. Now, most people cannot afford to have a trainer ride their horse for two years! Dale works with the clients showing them all the ins and outs of their young horses before they take their horses home. He encourages his clients to continue the same kind of riding when they get the horses home. (Dale has been known to call his clients and ask them if they are riding regularly!) This is only a sampling of how Dale will put a good foundation on your horse.

Dale's success is shown in the many satisfied clients that he has sent home with "Foundation-Trained" horses. His reward doesn't come from fame or national recognition, but rather seeing the result of his common sense horse training benefiting the horse and the rider!

"In Riding A Horse We Borrow Freedom"

"To watch Dale ride is to see the rider and horse as one! The fluid movements of Dale and his horse are beautiful to watch. I call it poetry in motion. As a photographer, I enjoy capturing the execution of rhythm and grace in which both trainer and horse unite," states Susan.

Dale's enjoyment of handling young horses can be seen when you talk with him here at the ranch or on the phone. He invites you to stop by or call and talk with him about your horse. Do you want to lay a solid foundation for your horse for future success? Dale is now taking bookings for the spring and summer sessions.

Dale's training techniques and philosophies are well respected.

Catherine Wolkenhauer of Washington writes: "I am very comfortable leaving my horses with Dale and have been pleasantly surprised with their remarkable improvement. There are three things about Dale's training program that I think makes it very successful. I have noticed that Dale never tries to "steal a ride" on a young colt. He doesn't let a colt cut a corner just because he's acting up. He persuades the colt to want to do the right thing, rather than intimidating him into it. I always know that my horse is going to be dealt with kindly, but also learn some discipline. Secondly, Dale is very consistent. By riding the horses on a daily basis, he establishes a routine that the horse can expect and learn from. He has taught me that horses are made by a lot of wet saddle blankets. Above all, I think Dale's best quality, as a trainer is that he is incredibly humble. For someone who has spent his life with horses, he is very unassuming. I don't know how many times I have been present when a horse owner shows up and starts telling Dale about horse training and Dale just smiles. He never tells anyone what to do, just gives suggestions based on what has worked for him in the past. He is open to new ideas and is willing to admit that a tried and true technique might not work for all horses."

Robbin Wight of Radersburg, Montana, says: "I have watched his method of training and was always amazed at his patience and kindness with a horse. One thing about Dale's method with a horse is you can rely on the fact that he will never abuse the animal, no matter how difficult the situation gets. He starts a horse from the ground up with tolerance and know how of what will work best with each individual animal. I have worked many horses, starting in the early 30's, and have made some suggestions to Dale at times when he was having trouble getting a horse's attention. But my method was always a little too rough for Dale, and he just stuck with his system and it usually paid off. He is a good man and a good trainer ,and I am glad to call him my friend."