Tracey McCleave

I met Tracey through a horse forum website more than a year ago, and learned very quickly that she was a person who not only had an enormous amount of knowledge and experience with horses using your program, but that she was also extremely willing to share that knowledge and experience with anyone who needed help and support. We struck up a friendship based originally on our mutual interests in your program, as I was already receiving Frank Bell's DVD’s monthly and had lots of questions. When I began training my wild 2-year old mare that had never been handled, Trace was right there with me, even though she was hundreds of miles away, offering techniques and support that HUGELY benefited me and my mare. Now, my Talia, a wild little mare with no pedigree and unknown parentage, is as sweet as can be and happy to learn new things. I’ve even had people offer to buy her although selling her would be like selling one of my children. 

When Tracey formed R.E.I.N.S. and we took our little yearling in, Taz, who had been badly mishandled and abused, Trace was with me almost on a daily basis, helping me with my technique, interpreting his body language effectively, and teaching me how to refine what I had already learned in order to apply it more effectively. Within a few weeks, a yearling who was going to be destroyed for being “psychotic” that would “willing maim or kill a human, given the opportunity”, was running around like a free spirit, back to being a young, happy horse that could be touched all over and would willingly follow me anywhere.  I give most of the credit for his amazing transformation to Tracey, as her advice and interpretations of his fears proved to be right on the money..

Now, working with our badly abused foster horse, BJ, I have been able to apply what your program, with Tracey’s help, has taught me far more effectively and have already made huge strides in helping him to become a horse who can learn to trust again. Where he would, a month ago, literally sit back on his haunches in fear if you so much as reached for him, I can now walk up to him easily, touch him all over, and am starting to work on him giving his feet. He already has the first 4 steps of your program down nicely and we’re working on the others daily.

She is a firm and faithful believer in Frank Bell's philosophies as much as I am, and one thing I have learned over the last 2 years since having horses, distance is no obstacle when you love your horses and want to learn. You find the media most available to reach out to people who can help you and in this day and age, that is the internet. I am just so grateful that I found Tracey as her help, explanations of Frank Bell's program, help with techniques, and support have proven invaluable over the last year or so, and I cannot wait to get her here in person to work with me and my horses so I can begin my own accrediting program. I am currently working on setting up a clinic for her here in Colorado, not because there are no other trainers available, but because Tracey has proven herself as the most knowledgeable in your program and she’s the one I would want to hold the clinic.

It may sound strange that, having to date only met Tracey through an on-line forum for horses, I would feel as if I know her well enough to offer a testimonial on her behalf.  But this particular forum boasts of almost 3400 members worldwide, from Canada to the US, to Costa Rica, to New Zealand and Australia, France and Germany. Even some places I can’t pronounce! And Tracey has helped many of those people with a wide variety of issues based on Frank Bell's program, and has encouraged all to become more educated in horse training by posting the website several times, talking openly about Frank Bell's teachings and philosophies, and offering help and support.

I count her as not only one of my dearest friends, but also my mentor, and look forward to working with horses, with her help, for many years to come!

Sincerely,

L Papi, Colorado, USA

December 31, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

This short document is regarding Ms. Tracey McCleave and her teaching methods and techniques. I have been and still am a student of hers after returning to riding after several years’ absence and needing to re-establish my riding seat and more importantly my confidence while on the horse. I found her to be very approachable, easy to relate to, extremely knowledgeable and able to clearly convey this knowledge to her students. I feel that she adapts her techniques to suit the requirements of the student. I personally am a visual type of learner so I need someone who will show me where to put my legs, heels and hands when giving cues to my horse, not tell me, and Tracey would do just that. I have learned a lot from her in the summer of 2007 and plan on learning more in the coming year of 2008.

She has also helped me become more of a partner with my horse, a Polish Arabian. He was green broke when I purchased him. I have really enjoyed him more this past summer than I had prior to taking my lessons with her and look forward to participating in many more things with him in the coming year. One of the major issues he had was that he would not trailer, would not even get into the trailer and now he walks in so easily and willingly. That was one thing that I had had several other trainers work on with me and for me and none of them were able to get him past standing at the door of the trailer and I have an 18 foot open stock trailer. After one session with her he was very willing to just step in there and was just as willing to stay in the trailer until he was asked to come out, a major accomplishment in my books.

Elizabeth, British Columbia, Canada

On April 29, 2007 We were ready to sell "Splash", a 6 yrs old Appaloosa, to the first cowboy that would take her.

My daughter, Jesse, who at 13yrs was an accomplished rider but had become fearful of this little mare.

When we acquired this Appy, she was very fearful, and showed signs of very little training at the age of 4yrs. So I had started from the beginning as if she knew nothing. But she progressed slowly. We had made some advances, but by the time we started to ride her, she started bucking. She was refusing to load into the trailer etc.

We met Tracey & she said that she saw hope in this little mare, and she told us that she would like to try working with her if we would let her. She had gotten wind that we were looking to sell the mare.

The first time she came to the house, we were very impressed. 30 minutes with Tracey & the mare was taking a bit!!! We found out that "Splash" had a lot of fears. Tracey said that with a lot of love and working at "Splash’s" pace, we could help her get over the fears.

Jesse was right in the middle of things wanting to help this little speckled mare, even though afraid of her, however had already stolen her heart. This was becoming a love story about a girl who wanted to see a horse succeed, and prove the world wrong.

So the relationship with Tracey began mid May of 2007. By July of 2007, Tracey on Splash and I on my quarter horse we went for our first long ride. Tracey and Jesse had done a lot of ground work restoring the Appy’s faith in people and making her groundwork solid.

Jesse would go out every day for 15 to 20 min and work. At that point Tracey was working 2 days per week with Jesse and "Splash". In between Jesse would work her. The bond that grew was enough to make you cry.

By October of 2007, Jesse was riding "Splash" up the road to a neighbor’s arena to work "Splash". With the confidence of Tracey, "Splash" is now cantering with such ease.

There is still work to be done as with all horses, but Tracey has gained miles on that little mare. And my daughter Jesse soaks up any and all knowledge that Tracey gives her.

The bond between Jesse & "Splash" is like a 3 strand cord, Not easily broken…

Not only do we have a great trainer… But we have a wonderful friend. I would recommend Tracey to anyone… and have.

Thank You again Tracey…

Rebecca, British Columbia, Canada

May, 2008

 ".....a lot of people would think you would have to use harsh methods to control him but with Tracey, it was the opposite...."

First off I would like to thank Tracey for all the hard work she put into my horse Ivan the past two months. Ivan was very green, and only halter broke, when Tracey got him. She turned him into a now started, respectful, and gentle horse.
 

At a massive 17hh and only just coming 4 years old, combined with my size, 5'3, a lot of people would think you would have to use harsh methods to control him but with Tracey, it was the opposite.

Ivan now leads with/without a halter on, lunges with full tack on, listens to voice commands, and is desensitized to a lot of items such as tarps and plastic bags all without the use of un-neccessary and abusive tactics. I am very pleased with the training she has done in only two months with him. I am now able to ride my horse at a walk and a little bit of trot since he is not mature enough to handle anymore work. That's another thing about Tracey. She knows how much a horse can handle and does not push them past their limits no matter what age.

I am so impressed with the way she works around Ivan and very impressed with how far she can get with her NH methods rather than forcing a horse to work. I would seriously recommend Tracey as a trainer to anyone having any training issues with their horse.
 
Kathryn, Nelson, British Columbia

August, 2008 

............."Since he spent two weeks with you he is a changed boy...."

April, 2010

"..... Tracey has amazing abilities in training the hunter/jumper.  I am amazed at how far my mare has come in just a year...."

Tracey McCleave has been working with both of my horses and she has always gone above and beyond my expectations.  Horse number one is a 6 year old Quarter Horse mare, Yoshi.  Horse number two is a 6 year old Thoroughbred mare originally from the track, Dreamer. 

Yoshi is a horse that I bought as a 2.5 year old.  She was originally in reining training and did fine but could not naturally perform some of the more challenging maneuvers.  She then became a trail horse/ pasture ornament for a year or so.  I decided to find out if this mare had any ability in the hunter/jumper discipline.  I hired Tracey a month after I met her to go out on this journey.  At first, Yoshi just could not understand how to get over the jumps.  She tripped over her own feet and had no balance.  Poles were flying everywhere as she hit them and tripped consistently over them.  She was very out of shape as well.  Yoshi also resisted contact with the bit and did not like giving with her head.  She also was not consistently picking up her leads.  Once she had lots of flat work under her and she became in extremely fit condition she started to enjoy moving out quite rapidly. 

It was getting hard to hold her back as she would take control over the bit and put her head up in the air.  We began to see that this mare was a really moody mare and that she was very unpredictable when put under more pressure.  In just a few short months Yoshi began to jump very well and actually began to love it.  She couldn't get enough of it.  During the past year Yoshi has moved up to jumping 3' fences, is now doing flying lead changes, and has been taken to several shows.  With some equipment adjustments and by using seat aids Tracey has been able to calm Yoshi down in the mouth without using harmful or cruel bits.  Yoshi still has her mood swings as some mares do but through Tracey's training we now know how to work through these tantrums.  Tracey continues to work with this mare at home and also takes the time to take her to schooling shows to jump her in new environments.  With Tracey schooling this mare both at home and at new venues she is building her confidence at a much more rapid rate.  

Tracey has amazing abilities in training the hunter/jumper.  I am amazed at how far my mare has come in just a year.  Her jumping ability was unveiled by Tracey.  I never thought this mare had it in her.  She can now jump 3' fences and do them at speed and with tight turns so with some more miles under her belt at schooling shows she should be a real contender in the jumper ring. 

Dreamer is a horse that I took on after she suffered a severe injury, a broken coffin bone.  To allow for proper healing it was necessary for her to remain in her stall for approximately eight months.  It was difficult to see her in such a situation but it was the only way to heal her.  During her time in the stall she regularly cribbed and she was slightly fearful of strangers when they entered her stall.  She also seemed to have a fear of blankets or tack being placed over her back and was also mildly head-shy.  The past two months she has finally been able to go out in a small dry paddock which she enjoys immensely.  Since she was stalled for so long and since I didn't really know Dreamer before her injury I wanted Tracey to get her started again.  She had lost a lot of muscle tone and was weak and off balance.  Tracey started Dreamer with ground work first to help build up her muscles and to teach her some manners.  Then she proceeded to start her under saddle.  She became more unsure of herself, her healed limb and her surroundings while under saddle.  She is currently still in training with Tracey working on building her confidence level.  Recently she was sacked out by Tracey showing just how much fear she has.  In only a couple of sacking out episodes Dreamer has already gained bravado.  We have seen just how much being on strict stall rest can affect the psyche of a horse.  The insecurity of being outside her stall is very real.  With Tracey's guidance Dreamer looks like she will rehabilitate very nicely both physically and emotionally.  It will just take patience and time. 

As an aside, since Dreamer has gone back to work and goes outside her cribbing activity has been reduced to nil and she currently is not wearing her cribbing collar anymore!  I believe highly in Tracey's ability to rehabilitate horses who have come off the track or out of pasture ornament status to those who have suffered an injury or have been mistreated. 

To close, I have had two horses now in training with Tracey and I have seen her train several other people's horses.  She cares for them as if they were her own and is always patient and gentle with them.  She is sure to move only at the horses speed and does not follow a strict deadline of tasks like other trainers do.  Tracey has a wide variety of skills and can work with horses of any skill level, any breed, and background.  She has always impressed me greatly.  I learn more and more from her every day I am around her.  I am always amazed and in awe when I watch what she can do with a horse.  She truly has way with equines. 

Christa Dunsford, DVM

Mission, British Columbia