Viggo Mortensen Writes about Rex Peterson
I have had the privilege of learning about horses and riding from Rex Peterson, and the good fortune to watch up-close the remarkable results he achieves with even the most challenging of horses and riders. He has guided me through the movies “Hidalgo” and “Appaloosa”, and I have been lucky to become his friend and ride many miles in all sorts of conditions with him. He makes his job as horse-master look effortless, but those who have trained under him over the years know it most assuredly is not. He does appear to have a gift for “reading” people and horses, always finding the most suitable teaching approach in each situation, but he works extremely hard every single day, often for many hours at a time. He has an iron will, and will not quit on any horse or rider, but is remarkably patient and leads with a steady and kind hand. One of the most helpful bits of advice he passed on to me – which can be applied to working with horses and to life in general – is “go slow to go fast”. He would never, unlike others not as gifted or patient in his line of work, rush things unnecessarily or ever ask anyone to do something he was unwilling to first try himself. He invariably has the safety and well-being of his horses as his topmost priority. He speaks highly of his own legendary teacher, Glenn Randall, Sr., often saying that he will never know as much as his mentor did. Although I never met Mr. Randall, I cannot imagine anyone asking more of themselves or getting more out of horses and riders than Rex Peterson does. I look forward to working with him again soon.
Viggo Mortensen.
To learn more about Rex’s training methods, visit www.swansonpetersonproductions.com