Lisa and Corey:
WOW ------ thats all I keep saying to myself ------- WOW!
If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it!
Emilie and Phil were remarkable with our horses and with us! My 21 year old son recently purchased an 11 year old Clydesdale, named Sophie. Her previous owner said she had never driven her and didn't think she had any training - (she owned Sophie from ages 3 to 11) and within the first hour of the training, Phil had Corey, himself and a few huge rocks on a wooden pallet, safely and successfully being pulled by, none other ,than his Sophie! They were quite the site to see - laughing and trying to balance themselves, like kids in a candy shop, realizing what a treasure they had just found in Sophie. She was totally calm, smooth and looking like she had been driving her whole life!
AMAZING!!!
Now me, who hadn't ridden my 22 year old Quarterhorse, Sultan in mannnnnny years, also had WOW moments! When I first started telling Emilie and Phil about how Sultan was "such a love", "always rubbing his head and body against me one minute and then bowling over me another minute, when heading to the barn, they quietly and quickly had a smile to themselves and each other, and I caught it but kept quiet. By the end of the first session, I quickly learned that my horse thought I was the "dumbest thing around and had no respect for me or my space". Within hours my horse learned his place and I mine, and he now is always an arms length away unless I invite him into my space - a MUCH nicer and safer situation! I was riding again, with Emilie gently correcting my bad habits that I had acquired over the years, and the horse I thought was "afraid of everything" was in the ring with blowing plastic tarps dragging behind him, barrels thumping around and ON him, and two other horses in the ring doing similar drills, without even a flinch!!!!!
I want to say a BIG THANK YOU for helping my son be safe and smart with his 1700 pound "pet " for and allowing me to get back into my passion, feeling safe and understood the entire weekend!
Thanks to Erika and Lisa for introducing Corey to Phil and Emilie and hope we all get to ride together someday soon!
Again, if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it - from trailering to riding - watching Phil calmly wave his hand to the right and watching the horse "go right" without a word or sound spoken, to asking both horses to "walk on" the trailer, AND THEY DID, after a bit of training (a big difference to bribing them on and shutting the door as fast as we could) what an amazing and truly wonderful (and tiring) weekend!
Thanks for sharing your family with us too! Your boys were fun to barbeque with - excellent grilling talent too!
Look forward to hanging with the "Horse Whisperer Couple" again soon!
Sincere Thanks,
Lisa and Corey
02 Oct, 2012
If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it!
Emilie and Phil were remarkable with our horses and with us! My 21 year old son recently purchased an 11 year old Clydesdale, named Sophie. Her previous owner said she had never driven her and didn't think she had any training - (she owned Sophie from ages 3 to 11) and within the first hour of the training, Phil had Corey, himself and a few huge rocks on a wooden pallet, safely and successfully being pulled by, none other ,than his Sophie! They were quite the site to see - laughing and trying to balance themselves, like kids in a candy shop, realizing what a treasure they had just found in Sophie. She was totally calm, smooth and looking like she had been driving her whole life!
AMAZING!!!
Now me, who hadn't ridden my 22 year old Quarterhorse, Sultan in mannnnnny years, also had WOW moments! When I first started telling Emilie and Phil about how Sultan was "such a love", "always rubbing his head and body against me one minute and then bowling over me another minute, when heading to the barn, they quietly and quickly had a smile to themselves and each other, and I caught it but kept quiet. By the end of the first session, I quickly learned that my horse thought I was the "dumbest thing around and had no respect for me or my space". Within hours my horse learned his place and I mine, and he now is always an arms length away unless I invite him into my space - a MUCH nicer and safer situation! I was riding again, with Emilie gently correcting my bad habits that I had acquired over the years, and the horse I thought was "afraid of everything" was in the ring with blowing plastic tarps dragging behind him, barrels thumping around and ON him, and two other horses in the ring doing similar drills, without even a flinch!!!!!
I want to say a BIG THANK YOU for helping my son be safe and smart with his 1700 pound "pet " for and allowing me to get back into my passion, feeling safe and understood the entire weekend!
Thanks to Erika and Lisa for introducing Corey to Phil and Emilie and hope we all get to ride together someday soon!
Again, if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it - from trailering to riding - watching Phil calmly wave his hand to the right and watching the horse "go right" without a word or sound spoken, to asking both horses to "walk on" the trailer, AND THEY DID, after a bit of training (a big difference to bribing them on and shutting the door as fast as we could) what an amazing and truly wonderful (and tiring) weekend!
Thanks for sharing your family with us too! Your boys were fun to barbeque with - excellent grilling talent too!
Look forward to hanging with the "Horse Whisperer Couple" again soon!
Sincere Thanks,
Lisa and Corey
02 Oct, 2012
Bette:
I can't tell you how amazed and in awe I am with what you did with Piper and Revel yesterday evening. It was like, "if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes" Thank you so much. You are a very gifted horseman and I am so glad to have met you.
I worked with Revel twice today. The first time it took about 15 minutes before we got to a point where I could touch her all over and she stand comfortably (also this was in the big outside stall). Later in the day it took 7 minutes (small stall) and she didn't even bat an eyelash when I put the halter on her. on. off. on off. I walked her around in the stall both ways several times and used voice commands (walk on and whoa). Thank you so much for the tools I learned.
03 Apr, 2012
I worked with Revel twice today. The first time it took about 15 minutes before we got to a point where I could touch her all over and she stand comfortably (also this was in the big outside stall). Later in the day it took 7 minutes (small stall) and she didn't even bat an eyelash when I put the halter on her. on. off. on off. I walked her around in the stall both ways several times and used voice commands (walk on and whoa). Thank you so much for the tools I learned.
03 Apr, 2012
Laurie:
I’ve worked with quite a few trainers over the years. Phil Shipman is by far the best. He quickly took my fractious young gelding and made a solid citizen out of him, eager and happy to work. Most trainers work only in a ring, but Phil goes out of the ring as well -- on the roads, through woods and fields and streams -- teaching horses to relax, perform, and overcome their fear of new stimuli. Learning opportunities are limitless with Phil; whether it’s a dog that jumps on a horse’s leg or a flight of wooden steps to climb, everything is a chance to teach a horse bravery, obedience, and respect. Phil’s calmness and good humor make learning a pleasure. My horse and I came away with a new awareness that working together can be both satisfying and fun.
24 Jan, 2012
24 Jan, 2012
Jan:
Hi Phil and Emilie, Thanks for doing such a great job transporting Stetson! He's settling in beautifully and I'm quite confident he's doing so well because he was transported relatively stress free. Stetson has done so well that Amy has been able to ride him yesterday and today, with much success. Thank you for your loving care with his transport! Thank you too for being so nice to Lily who was very sad to say goodbye to Stetson.
05 May, 2011
05 May, 2011
Traci D.:
Hi Phil - It was nice meeting you and Emilie last week. I heard from Sandy how well the girls (Pearl and Molly) did on the trip and on their arrival. I'm happy they (and Sandy & I) had such a positive experience!
21 June, 2011
21 June, 2011
Sue Cooper:
When we first met Phil, he was delivering a horse to us to be sold. I was immediately impressed with his professionalism, care, and handling skills. After unloading the horse, and settling him in, we got to talking.
Our conversation turned to a very difficult 4 year old mare we were preparing to back. The mare was extremely aggressive towards people, and very resistant to being touched or told what to do. Upon hearing this, Phil's face took on a whole new expression. He asked if he could have a look at her.
We cautiously allowed him to go into her stall. Within minutes, she was calmly allowing him to touch her all over. When he asked to take her out of the stall, we all shot each other a skeptical look, and agreed. Within a half an hour, he had this mare wrapped around his finger. She was loading and unloading on the trailer, allowing him to touch her all over, and lowering her head when he asked her to.
He disappeared into the indoor arena with her, and curiosity got the best of us. We had to see what was happening. To our amazement, he was on her back!!! This mare had not even allowed a saddle on her, never mind a person! That night, we asked Phil to stay over night and get some rest (and of course, work with the mare again!) The next day he spent time showing us how to help her understand what we wanted, and she has been progressing in her training ever since!
I have been a trainer for 25 years, and have never seen someone with such an amazing connection with horses. I would trust Phil 100% with handling or hauling any of my horses. In fact, we bought a young horse that he bred and raised and we are thrilled with the confident, calm temperament and trainability. Whether you are looking for a young horse handler, some help with a difficult horse, or need a horse you loved hauled somewhere, Phil is your guy!
Sue Cooper
Huddleston. VA
Impulsion Unlimited
Our conversation turned to a very difficult 4 year old mare we were preparing to back. The mare was extremely aggressive towards people, and very resistant to being touched or told what to do. Upon hearing this, Phil's face took on a whole new expression. He asked if he could have a look at her.
We cautiously allowed him to go into her stall. Within minutes, she was calmly allowing him to touch her all over. When he asked to take her out of the stall, we all shot each other a skeptical look, and agreed. Within a half an hour, he had this mare wrapped around his finger. She was loading and unloading on the trailer, allowing him to touch her all over, and lowering her head when he asked her to.
He disappeared into the indoor arena with her, and curiosity got the best of us. We had to see what was happening. To our amazement, he was on her back!!! This mare had not even allowed a saddle on her, never mind a person! That night, we asked Phil to stay over night and get some rest (and of course, work with the mare again!) The next day he spent time showing us how to help her understand what we wanted, and she has been progressing in her training ever since!
I have been a trainer for 25 years, and have never seen someone with such an amazing connection with horses. I would trust Phil 100% with handling or hauling any of my horses. In fact, we bought a young horse that he bred and raised and we are thrilled with the confident, calm temperament and trainability. Whether you are looking for a young horse handler, some help with a difficult horse, or need a horse you loved hauled somewhere, Phil is your guy!
Sue Cooper
Huddleston. VA
Impulsion Unlimited
Carla:
Thanks for taking such good care of my two horses... Last night I decided not to take Rascal so thanks for changing my mind...had she not gone on nicely I would have kept her and with your good work and her learned trust I realized she could handle change and I pray that someone really kind and fun adopts her.
22 July, 2010
22 July, 2010
Beth:
Hi Phil,
Thank you again for coming and working with Winnie. It was wonderful and really helped K be assured that she'll be okay. K doesn’t talk much at first, but she was talking non-stop on the way home about how wonderful you were.
06 September, 2010
Thank you again for coming and working with Winnie. It was wonderful and really helped K be assured that she'll be okay. K doesn’t talk much at first, but she was talking non-stop on the way home about how wonderful you were.
06 September, 2010
Whitney:
Phil was a great transporter. The best that we have used. He was so good with the horses. When he delivered he took his time and spent time talking with us and getting them settled. He even had photos of them on the way here sleeping together in the box stall. Very nice and professional. We would use him again.
26 April, 2011
26 April, 2011
Jen:
Good morning Michelle! I was hoping you could pass along the kind comments from Whitney to Phil. I agree with her sentiment 100%...he was an EXCELLENT transport. Very kind, gentle and professional =) Thank you again for suggesting him to us! Hope you are having a great day!
Lisa Evarts:
Dear Phil and Emilie,
Three months have passed since our adventure began. Willow was extremely anxious, full of fear, anxiety, and panic. I had reached a point where I no longer felt safe working around her in the stall or on the ground. I knew I either had to consider selling her or invest in training that would allow BOTH of us to understand each other and rebuild a safe relationship.
Willow had MANY issues. The only way to catch her was to get in her stall and close the door. She was nervous when I entered her stall. She backed in the corner and watched my every move, breathing rapidly and startling at the slightest hiccup. She would not allow me to pick up her hind legs. She kicked if I persisted. The farrier had to use stocks to trim her hooves. I had to mount with extreme caution. The slightest wrong move mounting, riding, or dismounting caused Willow to panic and attempt to bolt. I feared getting hung up on the saddle, falling and being seriously injured. I never cantered her on the trail for fear she would not stop.
We delivered Willow to your farm on June 6th. You immediately connected with Willow encouraging her to put her head down and relax. Your natural ability to silently communicate with a horse is AMAZING to watch. You command respect in such a way they they in turn develop your trust. Your calm, committed, and caring personality makes you a successful natural horseman. You were interested in my concerns. You taught me the importance of desensitization, praise, and repetition and not to move on until the horse successfully submits to the fear at hand. Each time we worked together, I left feeling so excited about Willow's progress. You taught me so many valuable skills and helped restore my confidence. Six weeks later I felt like I was ready to take Willow home and build on the foundation you started.
Eight weeks after returning home we are doing better than ever! I am soooooo pleased with our progress. Willow is social and is the first one to and in the barn, rarely a snort and minimal breathing. She allows me to groom her and picks up all four legs without pulling away from me or making me feel she wants to kick. The farrier has shod her twice without stocks. I can mount and dismount in the yard and am working on the trail. We walk, trot, and canter on the trail smiling all the way. (Willow was so relaxed after one of our rides I was able to clip her muzzle, bridle path, and legs with battery operated clippers!!!) Your incredible support even allowed us to have a successful time showing at the local county fair.
It is difficult to find words that truly express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to you for restoring my relationship with Willow. I value your professional advice, support, and FRIENDSHIP. Willow and I continue to grow. We have so much to learn. We realize the training will never stop. We will persist and work through whatever issues arise because we have been given the groundwork needed to accomplish whatever we encounter. (Plus you're only a phone call away!!)
Thank you sooooo much,
Lisa
Three months have passed since our adventure began. Willow was extremely anxious, full of fear, anxiety, and panic. I had reached a point where I no longer felt safe working around her in the stall or on the ground. I knew I either had to consider selling her or invest in training that would allow BOTH of us to understand each other and rebuild a safe relationship.
Willow had MANY issues. The only way to catch her was to get in her stall and close the door. She was nervous when I entered her stall. She backed in the corner and watched my every move, breathing rapidly and startling at the slightest hiccup. She would not allow me to pick up her hind legs. She kicked if I persisted. The farrier had to use stocks to trim her hooves. I had to mount with extreme caution. The slightest wrong move mounting, riding, or dismounting caused Willow to panic and attempt to bolt. I feared getting hung up on the saddle, falling and being seriously injured. I never cantered her on the trail for fear she would not stop.
We delivered Willow to your farm on June 6th. You immediately connected with Willow encouraging her to put her head down and relax. Your natural ability to silently communicate with a horse is AMAZING to watch. You command respect in such a way they they in turn develop your trust. Your calm, committed, and caring personality makes you a successful natural horseman. You were interested in my concerns. You taught me the importance of desensitization, praise, and repetition and not to move on until the horse successfully submits to the fear at hand. Each time we worked together, I left feeling so excited about Willow's progress. You taught me so many valuable skills and helped restore my confidence. Six weeks later I felt like I was ready to take Willow home and build on the foundation you started.
Eight weeks after returning home we are doing better than ever! I am soooooo pleased with our progress. Willow is social and is the first one to and in the barn, rarely a snort and minimal breathing. She allows me to groom her and picks up all four legs without pulling away from me or making me feel she wants to kick. The farrier has shod her twice without stocks. I can mount and dismount in the yard and am working on the trail. We walk, trot, and canter on the trail smiling all the way. (Willow was so relaxed after one of our rides I was able to clip her muzzle, bridle path, and legs with battery operated clippers!!!) Your incredible support even allowed us to have a successful time showing at the local county fair.
It is difficult to find words that truly express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to you for restoring my relationship with Willow. I value your professional advice, support, and FRIENDSHIP. Willow and I continue to grow. We have so much to learn. We realize the training will never stop. We will persist and work through whatever issues arise because we have been given the groundwork needed to accomplish whatever we encounter. (Plus you're only a phone call away!!)
Thank you sooooo much,
Lisa
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