Meet Tim McGaffic in this inaugural episode of The Nature of Natural Podcast and learn how his background as a Holistic manager, ranch manager, horse and cow guy not only made him an ideal candidate as ranch manager in extreme conditions, but also helped shape his philosophy for training.
In this conversation, Tim shares his journey into the world of horsemanship and stockmanship, emphasizing the importance of behavioral science principles in training and managing animals. He discusses his early experiences with animals, the influence of mentors like Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance, and the role of dogs in stock management. Tim also reflects on his time in Hawaii, his friendship with John, and the evolution of equitation science, highlighting the significance of combining reinforcement techniques in training. In this conversation, Tim McGaffic discusses the journey of creating a film about Tom Dorrance's philosophy and the importance of making equestrian knowledge accessible to everyone. He emphasizes the need to understand horse behavior and how this understanding can improve interactions with horses. The conversation also highlights the collaborative efforts of the team behind 'The Nature of Natural' and their goal to connect various aspects of horse training and behavior. Tim shares insights on the importance of motivation in learning for horses and the significance of bridging scientific knowledge with practical application for the average horse owner. The discussion also highlights the resources available on the Nature of Natural website and the importance of community engagement in promoting animal welfare and effective training methods.
Tim's Background: Tim has studied with many of the great legends and to this day remains a student looking for greater knowledge and deeper understanding of stock dogs, horses and stockmanship. Tim was introduced to Ray Hunt during the 1980s while working with difficult horses on a Colorado Ranch. That experience changed his thinking about how to handle horses and set him on a journey to search out Tom and Bill Dorrance and horseman of similar philosophy. He is well known for low stress stockmanship, horsemanship clinics, and his innovative work with wild mustangs (most notably the Mesa Verde gather.) Tim has conducted horse clinics and taught low stress stockmanship around the country, predominantly in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, North and South Carolina, Florida and Virginia.
Through his experience, Tim developed “The Nature of Natural”, a philosophy essentially based on the principles of behavioral science. In this episode, listeners will learn about his partnership with John St. Ryan through the project, Get the Mind and the Feet will Follow documentary. Tim and John shared an overall philosophy of behavior and ways that our current understanding can influence training through the deeper understanding of animals ... and in this case, horses. Their conclusions were developed through the lens of Equitation Science and involvement with the International Society for Equitation Science. Prior to John's death in the spring of 2025, Tim and John collaborated through shared experiences and a desire to communicate the work and philosophy of their common mentor, Tom Dorrance, leading them to make the film.
For more information about Tim, Ginny and the team at The Nature of Natural, visit The Hub at https://thenatureofnatural.com. For more about exciting equine podcasts, visit https://jamediaconnections.com.
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