We have been clients of Annie's for the past six months, following a spill I took from TJ last spring. Our Clydesdale is the gentlest horse without a mean bone in his body, but we have a yearling who likes to create havoc in the corral. The yearling caused the spill I took and it's been a long road to recovery for me. I had a stroke following the accident, that caused me to give up on riding for over a year. Annie has given me a new lease on life and helped me to work towards getting back in the saddle again. I have never known a kinder more gentler trainer. I couldn't ask for a better trainer....for me....or for TJ!

Bob and Belinda Lane, Owners

Comanche Oaks / Granbury, Texas

Rockin' Doubles

Registered quality quarter & paint horses. Futurity horses Annie worked with are Smartie and Rose.

Rockin' Doubles offers this about Tough Heart Training:

"Ms Penrice is considered by us as one of the finest equine development trainers for our young foals, yearlings, and three year olds. Her expertise is rarely found in today's equine industry. Her involvement in the community and equine associations should be proof enough of her value to the Texas horse industry. As an individual, her reputation, honesty and support for animals and their well being is both passionate and rare. She treats her clients with that same passion and honesty that cannot be found anymore. It's not just a business....it's her life.

Brad Schafer and Debbie Selverling

Rockin' Doubles

Client: Angela Wilmot Hull

"Annie Penrice is a surrogate mother. Not only to me but to my husband and also the countless youth she teaches equine studies. My husband and I are a Marine Corps family of two. We both live a considerable distance away from our parents. Annie has opened up her heart and her home to us as a safe haven. She reminds me of my own mother and of my mother-in-law. All three are 'no excuses' type of women in that they take no excuses from anyone. Soft and warm and ready to serve up a heaping helping of tough love when needed.

As for Tough Heart horse therapy, I come from Fauquier County, Virginia. Horses are a part of all of our lives up there. We have similar equine therapy programs. Annie is unique in that the interaction between her, the troubled child, and the horse, becomes much closer and personal. Her manner is, as I said before, warm with a big dose of tough love. The children don't just get up and ride. They are taught to do all the work that goes along with caring for horses. Feeding, mucking out the stalls, scraping their hooves, maintenance of tack, hauling hay and straw. I could go on and on as the the list of things to do caring for horses, the barn, the fields, the fences etc...is never ending.

The big reward at the end of all this work, is the children have developed respect for authority, respect for the horses, and most of all respect for themselves. They have a feeling of accomplishment unequaled to therapy from some 'shrink'. We should all be so lucky to have someone of the caliber of Annie Penrice.

Angela Wilmot Hull

Azle, Texas

Sue Hughes

LAST Ranch and Hughes Family Farm

"We have really enjoyed working with you for the last two years. My family and I have learned so much about caring for our horses and interacting with them. I have watched my two young daughters evolve from the 'pretty pony' phase to becoming junior horsewoman, and delight as I hear your instructions coming from their mouths when they ride with their friends.

As you know, our barn is now full of horses, since my husband purchased the roan and we are raising Brandy's colt as a barrel prospect and all around ranch horse for my daughter, Linda.

We are counting on your advice, instruction and training at least once and possibly twice, weekly in 2008. Specifically:

* Structured Private Riding Lessons for Linda and Dee Dee -1 x week

* Private Lessons for Tom, on Trooper and me on Brandy

* Training assistance with the colt, George

* Securing the use of a horse from your stable when we trail ride or participate in events at the Triple Cross Cowboy Church or Riding Club.

Your expertise, skill as an instructor, and relationship with our children and our horses is invaluable. We are blessed to count you as our friend and look forward to enriching our life on the Ranch with your help."

Sue Hughes

LAST Ranch and Hughes Family Farm

Diamond G Ranch

Debra Gryder, DVM

"I recommend Annie Penrice as a horse trainer and for English or Western lessons, for both adults and children. Annie has helped my children go from beginner riders to young ladies who can safely approach their horses, saddle and ride and enjoy the sport of equestrian events. Annie has helped our family with many things, including purchasing the correct animals for our children to ride. Annie is very competent to work with the horses as well as the individual rider.

I also recommend Annie to help out with events involving horses. We have been involved in several equestrian events together and I am impressed with the way she conducts herself around the horses and the participants. She is very concerned about the safety of all involved and this is what led me to ask her to help with the training of our children.

I look forward to work with Annie in 2008, as our intent is to have her continue to teach the children how to ride their own horses and work with them in the capacity of the show ring as well as safety in everyday activities, involving our horses. I also plan to have Annie continue to work with the horses as well, to continue their training. I am very pleased to have our family enjoying the horse activities together and Annie has made a lot of this possible with the way she has helped our family in the manner described above."

Debra H. Gryder, DVM

William B. Gregory, Jr., LTC (Ret) USAF, Ph. D.

Glen Rose, Texas

"I have had a professional association with Ms. Penrice while she is boarding my two quarter-horses; one for rehabilitation from a leg injury and the second for training as a Western saddle horse.

Ms. Penrice has the gift of successfully communicating with all levels of trianed and untrained horses. I have watched her take charge of horses in a quiet and confident manner as the horses rapidly bond with her and quickly accept her as their leader. It is amazing to observe 15 to 17 hands high horses as they become docile and responsive to her instructions.

Ms Penrice has stables that are clean and well constructed with spacious exercise areas. I have recommended her to a resident of Alvarado, Texas, who is a horse farm owner, for training five of his young fillies and colts."

'Through barbed wire to the stars'