Meet Jerry Tindell: Horse and Mule Trainer, Humans Too!

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerry Tindell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerry, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
There was no real thought process behind starting my own business or growing it into what I do today. I am very fortunate to have spent a lifetime with horses and mules and to be able to make a living at it, not only as a Horseman, but as a Professional Horseshoer and its just simply been a way of life for me. I began to realized after many years of shoeing, riding, packing and driving that I had a way of being around the stock and helping them. I developed a special set of skills through my own experiences and education which allowed me to become an accomplished Horseman. Not only was I good at helping the stock, I was able to communicate with the owners and explain to them in a way they could understand how to help their own animals. My business grew from their and I was able to not only be a Horseman, but a clinician as well and help people understand their animals. I feel blessed to be able to share all the things I have learned over the years with my students and help them have better relationships with their stock.

What should our readers know about your business?
Tindell’s Horse and Mule School is a one-of-a-kind training and education program for horses, mules, and the humans that are involved with them. We understand the nature of the horse and mule and we want to translate that nature to the human. With decades of experience handling and caring for livestock of all kinds, we’ve studied their lifestyle, and understand how they think. I am proud to have had mentors who believed in me enough to hang in there when I was not sure what to do and where to go. I am super excited at this point in my career, and I am convinced I am capable of passing on the same opportunities that were given to me. It is interesting to me as to how I got where I am today without a lot of for thought on my part. I was put into a job out of high school, shoeing horses and mules and I never looked back. I was taught and expected to do a good days work and earn my keep. I carried that throughout my adult life, raising a family and being respectful of how I got there. Working with the stock was not just a job for me, it was a way of life. I never had any thoughts of doing anything else. I loved working with the stock, which lead into teaching the human. I realized I could work the stock but ultimately the owners had to learn too. It helps that I like people and I am able to communicate with them in a way they can understand their animals. I feel that with all my experiences over the years, I can accelerate the learning process for the human in an understandable way. Although I never set out to be a Horseman or Clinician, I am fortunate to have been able to make a career out of it for the past 50 years. Lessons I have learned are to work hard for what we want, be thankful of how fortunate we are to be able to do it, never forget the importance of care and compassion for others and honor those who have gone before us setting a path to follow. If you are driving along and see a turtle on top of a fence post know that someone helped that turtle get there, I sure enough want to thank everyone that has helped me. With all this being said I am by no means trying to say I am perfect or without short cummings. I worked hard and had lots of guidance, support and folks who believed in me, even at times I did not believe in myself. I am happy to be able to pass these thoughts along to anyone that is interested. My thoughts are to offer a service with understanding and correct information and to be able to back it up. My intentions are to teach my students to better than I ever meant to be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend came to visit my suggestions for a grand time would be load a horse trailer with saddle horses a couple pack mules head into the High Sierra’s for a week long pack trip. Going into a wilderness area there are no motor vehicle travel, no motorcycle or peddle bikes only walk or stock use. The saddle horsed are for us to ride the pack stock would haul in all of our supplies. Food, camp gear and all necessary items to be comfortable. This trip would be an learning experience like how our four Fathers had to travel. Horsemanship is studied, living off the grid, cooking outdoors using Dutch Ovens to prepare meals just like how the West was won. Getting back to nature and away from our busy and sometime hectic lifestyles. While riding we are able to look at nature and take notice how quiet and special these places are. On these trips we can see deer, turkey, trout swimming in a stream and even a bear, hope at a distance. At one time this was the only way to travel or explore, Its kinda special to get away and know how the West Was Seen. I am very fortunate to have made lots of these types of trips and have shared this with friends and family. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank family. My parents for raising me with good morals, a good work ethic and respect for others. My older brother, Duke Tindell, was the key factor in getting me started in my professional career. If it wasn’t for him I’m not sure where I would have ended up. I also want to thank all the people who believed in me, supported me and guided me in my education and allowed me the opportunity to help others a long the way. Most importantly I want to thank all the stock that I have been able to work with and learn from over the years. Without them my education would not have been possible.

Website: www.jerrytindell.com

Instagram: @Tindell’sHorseandMuleSchool

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