GENESEO, NY — As part of its annual Winter Horse Health Seminar, the Genesee Valley Equine Clinic recognizes an Equine Educator of the Year. Although those who have received this honor over the years have been an impressive lineup of selfless, giving, talented, and generally exceptional individuals, perhaps none has been so popular and widely acclaimed as this year’s soft-spoken, gentle-man, Dave Minteer. He could be called Western New York’s “horse whisperer,” for he has devoted his life to the education of both horses and riders in our area.
Dave got started with horses at the age of 12 in his hometown of New Castle, Pa. His first horse was a freebie, but no real bargain—it was unbroken. Undaunted, boy and horse learned together, fast, and soon Dave was riding all over Pennsylvania, whenever and wherever he could.
Attracted to the excitement of the rodeo arena, he spent several years as a bronc rider. At the age of 18 he ventured up to the Attica rodeo, where a pretty young lady named Laney caught his eye. Before long the two of them were hitched and rodeoing together, winning pickup events all over Pennsylvania and western New York.
The young couple moved to this area in the early 1960s. Soon there were two children to raise, Jack and Loretta. Knowing he was destined for a career with horses, Dave enrolled in farrier school at Cornell in 1967. This launched his first career trimming and shoeing horses for the next 22 years.
Dave became a skilled and respected farrier who gained a reputation for having a particular knack for working with difficult horses, and soon he was training horses on the side.
To broaden his skills, he started attending clinics with the noted trainer John Lyons. John’s methods of Natural Horsemanship were a perfect fit with Dave’s thoughtful, quiet manner. He was a devoted student, and used what he learned as the foundation of his training business. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Dave’s success with difficult horses is legendary, but his manner is modest. As his friend and student Andrea Scott said, “He won’t ever blow his own horn so somebody has to do it!” His nomination for the prestigious GVEC award was supported by about a dozen letters from horse people of all stripes: trail riders, dressage people, eventers, western riders, hunter and jumper folks, and driving people.
These letters have been compiled into a memory book by Suzanne Suor, owner of White Barn Press. Each letter used similar adjectives to describe Dave: wise, humble, unassuming, quiet, calm, gentle, and composed. In the book, fans describe how these qualities combine with the innate “horse sense” and incredible patience of a true natural horseman and communicator, to make him a such a good trainer. Over and over they told tales of how he got success where others had failed, particularly with horses who had a fear of trailers, or a dangerous habit such as bucking or balking.
One common theme that ran through the letters of support was the care that Dave has taken all his life with educating both horse and rider. As Connie and Steve Lembaris noted “He doesn’t just train the horse, he teaches their owners with every move he makes.”
It is obvious that Dave has changed the lives of many area horses and their people. Perhaps the impact of his work is best summed up by an excerpt from one very special letter that was sent in support of his nomination from none other than John Lyons himself.
“I believe he has the same attributes that I have found in every great horse trainer. First, he always wants to learn more and strives to constantly learn from the horses he works with. Second, he keeps an open mind and always is willing to learn what others are willing to share. Dave sees the positive in others and offers kind words and little criticism of others, and applies those same qualities to the horses as well.
He never puts horses as more important than people, nor people more important than his wife, Laney, who has stood by him and supported him for so many years. She believes in Dave and thinks he probably created the horse. That is a good thing because we all need a person like that in our lives. He has helped so many horse owners throughout the years, and I have been very fortunate to have him as a friend. I do not know anyone who is more deserving of this award. Congratulations to you for picking him, and congratulations to DAVE MINTEER on receiving this award.”
Amen
