Dana Hokana Interviews

Testimonials

It is one thing to have enough knowledge to be a professional horsewoman, but it is another thing to be able to teach that knowledge to others in a clear and easy to understand way. Dana Hokana has both of these great gifts! Her training videos are by far the best information on the market today for training a winning western pleasure horse at home.
I had the pleasure of purchasing a three year old prospect from Dana last winter. However, I had not shown or done any kind of training for almost 10 years! The week I brought my new prospect home I purchased the Maximizing Series Volumes 1-3 and the Take Control Series Volumes 5-7 and all I can say is AWESOME!!! Dana explains everything so well and I love all the small pointers that she gives about how to catch small training cheats before they become big problems. Another concept that I’ve found to work wonders on my new horse is feel and timing with my hands, seat and legs. They play such a huge part in maintaining a happy, long-term pleasure horse.
After only a couple months of working with my horse and Dana’s training videos I’m back in the show ring and winning classes! It’s like I never even took the time off from showing. Thank you so much Dana for making my dreams of showing again a reality and for being so kind and supportive through my journey. You are truly an amazing and gifted horsewoman J

Mary Ann Graves and Solid Gold Dimension “Chesney”
White Salmon, Washington

" I have had the privilege of riding in 3 of Dana’s clinics as well as many other clinics throughout my training and teaching career. Dana’s clinic at the 320 Ranch in Montana was hands down the best clinic I’ve ever been to. In just two days, Dana transformed my level of awareness and my horse’s performance abilities to new, exciting heights! The atmosphere and people involved in putting on the clinic were upbeat, positive and just good fun. Dana, her family and her assistant were more than just nice and caring of our needs and training goals, they were involved and supportive of our positive learning experience and personal growth. When it came to the actual training of our horses, all I can say is WOW! Dana’s motivation and positive approach pushed everyone to the next level. She holds nothing back and lays all her training secrets on the line to help everyone understand principles and apply techniques. All I can say is that it was a truly amazing in all aspects of training, and if you think you have a desire to learn how to develop each individual horse into a better athlete- Dana is your clinician!!!"

Pamila Thiel
Northwest College

I live in New Zealand and it is often difficult to access Western trainers here. This is my second year in Western showing after 30 years of riding English pleasure riding. Last season I had a young, green Paint QH , my first western show horse, and I had a few problems at shows due to both of our lack of training and experience. I bought seven of your training DVD’s and have them played over and over since I got them. I have been training my young horse all through our winter with your guidance from the DVD’s and the results are fantastic! Fellow riders who have seen him going recently have commented on the fabulous changes and great control I have with him.

I found your descriptions and examples of your training methods easy to understand and follow. The DVD’s have a wonderful positive feel to them and I really enjoy watching them! They give me the confidence I need to succeed in my training. I often watch one at night to refresh myself for my training in the morning. The pleasure training methods that you have shown me has also helped with our trail and horsemanship practice as well. I am continuing to watch, train and maintenance and look forward to a great show season ahead. Your DVD’s will continue be a long term part of my training and maintenance for myself and my horse.

Thank you for making this information in this format available to people like myself to follow.

Jane Valentine-Burt
Auckland, New Zealand

Hi my name is Sally Henshaw I live in Australia and bought your DVD's from some-one that was getting out of horses and they are the best thing I have ever bought. Every time I have a problem I watch your DVD's are there is always an answer to be found in them. My horse is very sensitive and he has not been easy and your DVD'S have helped me enormously. - Sally Henshaw, Australia

   Wow...What a tremendous help Dana's videos and clinics have been. Dana has an incredible ability to communicate to you, the rider, various training techniques in a simple effective way.

Recently, I started riding a 10 year old AQHA broodmare. I had shown this mare approximately 5 years ago and had only put 1/2 of a point on her. This time, when I brought her back into training I used Dana's training techniques. The difference was amazing, I was able to put 5 points on the mare during a single weekend show. I can't wait to take my mare to the show again. Thanks Dana for all your help!!! - Kim Blunt, Foristell, MO

     First off Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting me believe that, I too, can train my Western Pleasure horse. I had sent my mare to a trainer to be broke out as a three year old with an emphasis on WP, because I wanted it done right. I have been riding for a long time and consider myself experienced enough to stay in the saddle and at least know what it should look like, but never knew how to teach a horse how to lope/jog slow and do all that with a nice headset. So with that said, my horse went to the trainer for about six months and we did well as long as I showed with my trainer. He would ride her first and then coach me before my class. I felt great! Finally I had the horse I always wanted. My mare came home and without going into great detail slowly but surely fell apart. Where was that smooth, like butter, lope as I called it. Why did her head set keep getting lower and lower? I did all the same maneuvers my trainer taught me. We practiced all the turns on the haunches and forehand, and rolled back like no body’s business. I kept her off the rail at home while schooling her and did not beat monotony into her head. Believe me, I cried my eyes out on more then one occasion, I had no clue as to what could have happened to my finished Western pleasure horse. Did I cause this and how? So she went back to the trainer and this cycle has been repeating itself for the last three years. All is well for about a month and then I notice that she is cheating me in little ways here and there. A friend of mine turned me onto your website and she had one of your training DVD’s. I figured that I had nothing to loose and that maybe I needed the training not my horse. I know she rides great with a trainer. Obviously the break-down happened when I sat on her! I am happy to report that since I started watching your DVD’s I have gained a new understanding on communicating with my horse in order to, not only put my point across, but also to understand what my horse is saying to me. I could see what exactly you were talking about and how to achieve a balanced and willing horse. I learned how to watch for the little cheat and to correct it before it turned into an obvious one. Your insights as to what can go wrong and how to fix it before it becomes a major problem has changed the way I work my horse and I now have a purpose while I school. I know what needs to be done and that all my bits and pieces of training correctly will reward me with a horse that is balance, calm and the envy of my competitors. -Sabine Donovan

     I purchased “Maximizing volume 1 & 3. Dana, thank you for sharing you talent! For me, the Volume 1 further explained the Cleve Wells concept of exercises and suppleness. Your examples showed what to look for and how to correct and redirect for success. Then I watched Volume 3 – the 7 steps! I practice every step every day! The self carriage and leaning were areas I needed help - now I have the tools to help enhance my horses performance.
For me, Dana’s advice and examples were better then going to a clinic- I can review the series every time I feel the need for help! -Elaine Peterson, Sunglow Acres, Sheldon, Iowa

I read all of Dana articles. And like her techniques very much. The only problem is that I can't afford to buy them other wise I would use then like a bible. -Rich

     All I can say is “WOW”! Dana’s Clinic’s have not only changed my riding style but has also changed my relationship with my horse! What a phenomenal experience to have personal instruction from one of the best!!! I have watched and memorized all of Dana’s videos, but to have the opportunity to actually ride and receive one-on-one instruction …. is a dream come true!!! She is truly the leader in the industry!! Thanks again Dana!!!! -Deborah Morton, Merced, CA

     Knowing I was coming to Dana’s clinic as her new apprentice, I wanted to make sure that I was going to be able to prove myself! I knew that entering the clinic would give me an excellent jump start to my new job! Dana made things so incredible for me and everyone else! She has a way with people like I’ve never seen! It was such an awesome opportunity to get personal help from such a professional in the pleasure horse industry! The changes that Dana made with me and everyone in the clinic was incredible!   The environment was friendly, comfortable, and it made things easy for leaning! Dana gave me confidence that I could do it! It was awesome! - Jessica Reilly, Wautoma, WI

     I have been passionate about western pleasure since showing in Youth classes as a child. When my kids were small I did my best to stay involved by producing the “Hottest Pleasure Stallion” videos and several western pleasure training video series. I sat at the Congress and World for hours on end intently watching classes and studying movement. In all my studying I had become pretty book smart. But in turning from producer to trainer I wasn’t always sure what things were supposed to feel like under saddle. It took attending Dana’s clinic to get the hands on experience I needed to truly understand what I was training and start immediately achieving better results.

     I came home and combined what I learned at the clinic with other techniques I have learned through the years and my horses have improved dramatically in just a few short weeks.

     As they say the proof is in the results, and for us it was the 4 blue ribbons from the horse show last weekend one of my students won! I highly recommend Dana’s clinics to anyone who is ready to breakthrough and bring their riding to a new level no matter what level they are on today. Thanks Dana for making us all feel so welcome and comfortable, for not holding back and sharing your years of expertise and knowledge and in doing so paving the way for more beautiful, flowing, correct moving western pleasure horses! - Jen Rohlen, Alpharetta, GA

   Participating in the clinic with Dana as my instructor was an incredible experience! I learned so much while I was there at the ranch. Everything that I learned impacted me and has managed to help my horse and I be better at our jobs, making us a better team than ever before. -Chelsea Smith, Ballground, GA