Don West has been a professional horseman for over forty years. As a breeder, trainer, teacher, author, promoter, and equine product designer, he specializes in Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino, and all the naturally gaited horses. Billed as "America's Favorite Trail Riding Clinician" he has performed as a speaker/clinician at all the major horse fairs and expos around this country. Not just another lecturer or teacher, Don thinks of himself more as an "equine success coach", "your learning leader for equine adventure". Don is a nationally known and respected expert on saddle fit, basic training for trail riding, back country horse travel, and low impact horse camping.

Don has a lifelong history with horses, a passion for teaching, and a deep love for the out-of-doors. He is a trained and accomplished experiential educator with a B.S. degree from Penn State U. in Outdoor Recreation Education and Park Management. Don did his Masters work in counseling at South West College in Santa Fe, N.M. His saying, "A comfortable horse is a happy horse, and a happy horse makes for a happy rider.", sums up his basic, straight forward, no-nonsense, easy to understand approach to basic horsemanship and training for trail riding. 

In his five day, "Come Ride With Me"- Naturally Gaited Horse Training and Trail Riding Intensives, held at his West Gait Equine Learning Center near Fruita, Colorado, Don teaches what he calls "horse handling-horse sense", "sit-down equitation", and "synergistic-synchronistic riding" . For the more adventurous, Don offers a five day hands-on wilderness field practicum called "Go Right-Go Light"- Low-Impact Horse Camping. You can ride his Paso Pleasure Horses, a breed of naturally gaited horses he created by crossing his pure blood Peruvian Paso mares with his Mountain Pleasure Horse stallion, "Big Red". Or, you can bring your own horse(s). 

Don is the product designer and field tester for Have Saddle-Will Travel, Inc., the Innovative Outfitter for people who were "Born To Ride". He's the creator of the Don West "Signature Series" Training-Trail Saddles and Tack, "the sit-down saddles with the fit built in... not added on", designed for today's Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino, and naturally gaited horses. Don is also the designer of the Saddle Software Systems, Cordura™ saddlebags, packs and accessories, "bringing backpacking technology to horse packing equipment", and the Storm Riders Clothes Line, weather beating outerwear; "classic western designs in today's hi-tech fabrics".

 Don's work with Boston University, the Colorado Outward Bound School, the Verde Valley School, Pecos River Learning Center, Four Corners Center For Experimental Learning, and other outdoor education programs, personal growth and enhanced communication seminars, and horse-handling skills spans over fifty years. Don is an Eagle Scout, was a U.S. Marine, and for five years was Town Marshal in Crested Butte, Colorado, where he also spent a summer season  as a working cowboy. Besides horsemanship he's also taught hiking, biking, skiing, camping, backpacking, rock-climbing, mountaineering, river rafting, and nature education.

Don is an author, poet, and philosopher. His articles have appeared regularly in many well-known horse magazines and equine publications. He's the author of four books, the award winning "Have Saddle, Will Travel, Low-Impact Trail Riding and Horse Camping", "Paca, Paca A Sure Cure For The Trots (Everything You Wanted To Know About Peruvian Paso Horses, But Didn't Know Who To Ask)", and his latest book  "Horse Handling-Horse Sense™: A Practical Guide for Today's Pleasure-Trail Riders (especially for naturally gaited horse riders)." For those who like cowboy poetry he wrote "Lessons in Life, Love and Learning - Selected Poems by Don West" . 

You know its hard to express in a poem, the emotions that come to a man,

when your pony you straddle, sittin tall in the saddle,

and you take up the reins in your hands.

You connect with your old childhood heroes.

You commune with the earth and the sky.

Time seems to stand still, yeah it's more than a thrill,

it can bring a tear to your eye.

Cause you know then what's really important,

and you're right where your wantin' to be.

When you ride out alone, the whole World is your home,

and your spirit climbs high and flies free.

So if you're headin' the call to adventure,

and you're able to follow my lead, then go saddle your horse,

 and ride the one sure-fire course that takes you to what you most need.

Go follow the trail of the cowboys, and the others who rode out before.

With a good horse beneath ya', your cares can't defeat ya',

 and like an eagle your spirit will soar.

                            Saddle up. Let's ride! Happy trails! Don West

Last Updated: December, 2009

West Gait Equine Learning Center

P O Box 700

Fruita CO 81521-0700

phone: 970-858-7739--fax: 970-858-7861

e-mail: donwest@wic.net