Wild to Mild Horsemanship

Goal: Sole owner and trainer Tony Hughes' goal for Wild to Mild Horsemanship is to help horses and people with horse problems. "If [owners] can't do something with their horse, I will work with them and their horse so they can get along, have fun and be safe," said Hughes. "It's something I like to do and it is something the people need around here."

History: Hughes always wanted to ride horses as a child. When he got married, he and his wife Beth purchased a farm and a young horse. He took it to a trainer but was not happy with the results so he decided to learn about horse training

Hughes worked alongside a trainer in Indiana in 2003 to train his stud horse. He watched videos and read books.

After moving to Seeley Lake in 2009, Hughes participated in the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Lincoln, Neb. Hughes had 100 days to train a mustang and get it ready to sell. Hughes bought the mustang he trained, named Seeley, and brought it back to Montana. "My friends knew if I could train a mustang, I could help them with their horse," said Hughes.

Word of mouth spread quickly and Hughes has been working by himself training horses in the valley ever since. While he is not certified in any one technique, Hughes said he uses techniques and methods used by well-known trainers including Craig Cameron, Monty Roberts and Richard Winters.

"Everyone has their own way of doing things and they come out with the same basic principles," said Hughes. "I use whatever fits that job."

Products & Services: Hughes offers 30-day trainings for horses from six months to 20 years old for $400/month. Hughes boards the horse during its training and works with it five to six days per week. The owners provide the feed and are encouraged to come and work with the horse alongside Hughes for no additional charge. This allows them to learn how the horse was trained, facilitating a smooth transition home.

Wild to Mild Horsemanship is tailored to the owner's needs and includes: handling, catching, trimming, brushing, saddling, ground manners, basic riding, turning, stopping, backing up, side passing and trail riding. Hughes will also board horses for a short amount of time and gives riding lessons.

For More Information: Hughes can be reached by calling 406-210-3754.