We’re excited to announce the most excellent presenters for our 2025 mini Best Horse Practices Summit in Santa Fe, April 4-6. Together, they are planning at least eight presentations during which they will collaborate in the saddle and on the ground. They are:

Ben Longwell

Ben Longwell

Ben operates True West Horsemanship, based in Pendleton, Oregon. He grew up in Colorado, riding horses and working cattle and spent years day-working for different ranches and outfits in the area. He also worked as assistant trainer at a Quarter Horse breeding facility and on a big outfit in northern Wyoming.
In 2011, Ben and his wife, Natalie, moved to her native country of New Zealand and began to build their horse training and clinic business there while expanding their family with four amazing kids. While based in New Zealand, Ben received rave reviews for his clinics, which ranged from Colt Starting and Problem Solving to the Vaquero tradition, presented multiple times at the national horse expo. He also began to write horsemanship articles for a variety of publications internationally. During this time, they launched a unique Online Video Library and podcast, Life In The Saddle.
In 2022, the Longwells made another big move, this time, to Oregon, and continue to work to achieve their mission: to advance and develop practical skills and communication for the dedicated student of horsemanship.

Jec Ballou

Jec Ballou

Jec was raised in a horse training family in Vermont, studied dressage throughout Europe, and eventually settled in California, where she is most frequently found riding her own horses and creating Custom Fitness Plans for horses all over the world.

Ballou is a passionate advocate for horse and rider fitness and excels at offering straightforward tools to help horses use their bodies optimally.
She is the author of five books related to horse exercise and conditioning. She is a frequent contributor to Canadian Horse Journal, Horse Illustrated, and Eclectic Horseman; she travels widely to teach clinics that focus on helping horses move freely, enjoy exercise, and find ease along the way.

Katrin Silva

Katrin was born and raised riding dressage in Germany, but moved to New Mexico in 1990 to become a cowgirl. Since then, she has found a lot of common ground between English and Western riding and excels with this holistic knowledge. Check out her website.

Katrin Silva

Today, she feels equally at home in saddles with and without horns. She believes every horse, regardless of breed, age, or background, can benefit from a well-rounded education that incorporates elements of both traditions. Katrin is a regular guest columnist for Cayuse Communications and the author of two books.

Daniel Dauphin

A popular Summit presenter in 2022, Daniel grew up in Louisiana and spent six years apprenticing under cutting horse trainers. He’s started scores of colts and dealt with thousands of horses of varying breeds and disciplines.
His presentations are grounded by science, common sense, and critical thinking, but fans know him, too, for his humor, which he laces throughout any speaking opportunity. Best known for his teachings on bits, Daniel created The Bit Video and The Bit Course which strive to reveal what happens on the other end of the reins. His material has been used at dozens of colleges and universities with equine programs.

Daniel Dauphin

He also has the long-form podcast, “Adult Onset Horsemanship.”

He is enthusiastic to collaborate with his fellow presenters and glad to get to touch a horse this time at the Summit.

Registration for this event begins December 1. Space is limited to first 70 registrants.