On the Road to Success:
Christa Petrillo Total Horsemanship Training
By Kathleen Burke
 

“The road to success is always under construction,' is one of natural horsemanship trainer Christa Petrillo's favorite quotations, and is part of her recent campaign to help people understand both natural horsemanship and the realities of horse ownership.
 

“Good horsemanship is a process like so many things in life,” Christa relates. When Christa talks to people about horses it encompasses more than just training issues. She imparts wisdom and insights, such as little trade secrets, to everyone she meets; it just comes out naturally in her conversation. People are always appreciative and amazed at what they've learned from just a few minutes with her.

Christa believes strongly in building a good solid foundation in people concerning their horsemanship and life with horses. “A building is only as good as the foundation it is built upon. If you have an inadequate foundation the building is going to come apart over time. So it is with our horses and with our understanding of horses.” Christa guides her clients through the “construction zone” of education to successful horsemanship. She helps set people “on the road to success.”
 

These days, “On the Road to Success” is living in her barn; that’s the name of Christa’s yearling paint filly that she is training up to be her new demonstration horse for her clinics. While Christa didn’t name her, the match between horse and philosophy is a happy coincidence.

Christa Petrillo is a John and Josh Lyons Certified Trainer who runs her Total Horsemanship Training business near the small Northern California town of Winters. Christa’s business is based on training the horse and rider to achieve the best possible experience together.
 

The Lyons program encourages its students to learn from everybody and see what others are doing, evaluate it, question it, and apply it. Christa has continued to further her education by taking clinics geared toward the professional horse trainer and has completed the first “leg” of a two-part Professional Trainer’s Reining Accreditation Program with Josh Lyons. “Lyons techniques,” Christa says, “work on every horse.”
 

On any given day, you can find Christa handling a foal or starting a young horse, re-educating a problem horse, finding the perfect match of horse and rider in the sale component of her business, putting the finishing touches on a top show contender, rehabilitating horses, or breeding and managing stallions at stud.
 

In addition to her work with horses and riders, Christa also maintains a busy clinic schedule. Her coaching is geared toward more than just riding the horse; she also sets her clients on the right path to becoming conscientious equestrians. This includes educating students on nutrition, conditioning, safety, equine behavior, veterinary work, equipment, saddle fitting and more. Christa also exposes her clients to equine acupuncture and chiropractic work.
 

Talented, ambitious, enthusiastic, and passionate about her work, Christa, her clients, and horses are “On the Road to Success.” Grateful for her success, Christa views her skill with horses and people as a gift from God. The scripture that guides her is Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
 

Today Christa teaches students at her clinics and in private lessons and trains client’s horses along with breeding, training and showing her own.

Christa Petrillo’s
‘Under Construction...Five Critical Steps to Building Successful Horsemanship’
by Christa Petrillo
California Riding Magazine July 2008
Click here to read the article (1.2 mb PDF file)

John & Josh Lyons
The Methodology of the Certification Program
Click here to learn more

Holding the Reins
Despite her age and size, trainer's a winner with horses
By David Henson/Special to The Vacaville Reporter

Click here to read the article

Christa Petrillo’s
Total Horsemanship Training
California Riding Magazine July 2007
Click here to read the article

Christa Petrillo
Christa Petrillo Training
California Riding Magazine July 2006
Click here to read the article

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