I’ll bite. How much did you enjoy the book release parties and one particular soiree? I love a good story!
11 Likes
Have you ever been around someone who, at a gathering, “holds court” and kind of sucks the air out of the room?
Then his wife/lady friend/romantic partner at the time-- who as I recall was not at all as one might imagine-- accused a close friend of mine, who was also an equestrian journalist, of spreading personal info about Kevin that was ruining the aura he’d created with his Native American cosplay. So any mocking had to be done discreetly.
Unfortunately, the company was making $ off those books. “Horse, Follow Closely.” Ugh. But hey, he figured out a niche and made a living off it. For a while. Once the mythos wore off and he tried to transition to being just another version of a natural horse whisperer guru and, you know, had to demonstrate that he could actually ride… well, the proverbial worm turned.
I have no idea whatever happened to him. Which makes me wonder how long the Horse Witch can continue her thing on its current trajectory.
14 Likes
Sounds like you’ve met my younger sister?
Sorry I was hoping for more interesting details. 
3 Likes
Sorry, I don’t remember anything more specific other than my general loathing. It was a long time ago.
His lady friend/wife really wanted to maintain his mystical Native American appeal. She tried to quash anything that questioned his authenticity. When in reality, as I recall, he went to UC Berkeley and had played in the band. Nothing wrong with that, but he was not the persona he tried so hard to cultivate. But then, you obviously already know that. 
7 Likes
We have a big Ag show in the fall here every year. The equine stuff is/was separate – and we had him here as the headliner one year. He was incredibly unpleasant to everyone, and he refused to work with the “demo” horse that was offered, who happened to have shown on the Arabian circuit and also did Arabian demos and drill team at the same venue.
2 Likes
I remember being shocked when I found out that was supposed to be more than a pretty picture book. Despite working full time in a tack shop and having a pretty robust horse book addiction that was one I never bought despite my discount and horse book hoarding tendencies. “I’m not going to learn anything from this pretty picture book.” I own a lot of horse books I didn’t learn much from so the bar was set pretty low
5 Likes
What?!? You weren’t interested in Relationship Training? Or teaching your horse to focus on the rag you’re holding in your hand? Or learning how to ride bareback and communicating with your “aids” which according to Pony Boy are your knees?
Have you noticed how many of the photos share the same vibe as the Horse Witch’s pics? Lots of horse hugging. Human leaning into horse, shoulder to shoulder. Human putting self in such close proximity to horse that any sudden movement could spell tragedy. But it’s all beautiful because they have a speshul relationship.
Ugh. You can see how having to support and promote this sort of drivel irked me to no end. 
9 Likes
I understand. A diva in buckskin and face paint.
Of course he did. I’m sure you can figure out why.
And thus concludes my trudge down memory lane with Pony Boy, who in some way was no doubt a predecessor to the foo and woo of the Traveling Horse Witch.
10 Likes
He was the headliner at the huge fair I was helping friends at many years ago. Our stalls were right next to his horse - a pinto/Paint called Kota. Or maybe Koda. He was only at that stall to toss some hay and take the horse in and out for his Horse, Follow Closely demos. That horse was unhappy and bored. We made sure his water was topped up by adding some from the hose through the bars. We offered to clean his stall but Kevin The Fraud declined. He was rude and arrogant. That horse stood in a filthy stall for five days. The padlock on the stall door kept anyone from helping in an emergency and there were no contact numbers posted. Kevin had a double tack stall/dressing room… IMO that horse should have had the double and all his cosplay shit could have been stacked in one stall. There was a rather odd woman who came and went… unlocked the stall and gave Koda more hay… then left.
Kevin’s adoring fans would find the stall and oooooh and aaaaaah over Koda - who stood with his nose in the far corner and his butt greeting all his fans. We ended up roping off the stall alley as those fans were intrusive and sticking their hands and fingers in our stalls and even trying to go in with our horses. We always had someone there to keep an eye on things.
11 Likes
6 Likes
5 Likes
What I did not know when I started this thread… I thought I was looking into bodywork or maybe biomechanics.
4 Likes
How to work the body… into handing over the chequebook. Ka-Ching!
14 Likes
I’ve been reading this entire thread, because I follow someone on IG that keeps promoting the BTMM method. Even showing some before and after photos that look amazing! But I just can’t figure out what the heck are the Pillars?? I’ve watched the first video, Pillar One, and I’m a smart person, but I just could not understand what she was saying. It was so many WORDS?!
So I got the book 55 Corrective Exercises by Jec Ballou because it was mentioned in this thread I think. And from what I can gather, these exercises in that book are the same thing as the BTMM?? Is it really as simple as getting your horse to lower its head, take a step back with its head lowered, and doing pole work and other stretches? Please help me make this make sense.
14 Likes
Yes but with hot instagram pics 
10 Likes
Yes. Good bodywork (pick up a posture prep or just use the method), activation exercises and pole work….and all a lot cheaper than BTMM because almost all of the components can be found free on YT.
My gelding has never looked better and it’s finally starting to transfer into his movement. He’s a pasture puff though.
7 Likes
Yes, when it first began it was marketed as simple standing bodywork exercises that owners could do at home in conjunction with their existing training programs, and one of the reasons myself and other early adopters were supportive of it initially. By the end of that first year it evolved into riding horses while in stretched out resting postures, and most of the original folks involved no longer support it once they’ve run their bank accounts dry and realize their horse isn’t as improved as they initially believed.
Recently I saw a comment where Celeste was claiming several talented professionals who have been around for years prior to BTMMs existence somehow stole her work as a sort of meltdown when someone politely questioned aspects of the method that are now being recognized to be destabilizing posturally in the research realm. That was interesting. It was quickly deleted however. Can’t help but think she slipped up and revealed her true colors before realizing her error. The thing is screenshots live on forever, and here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Steph Bloom has been a supporter of BTMM for quite some time as far as I can tell, so it’s odd Celeste is attacking her for simply bringing up concerns very professionally about some of the exercises. Celeste’s knee-jerk response is to berate her with untrue harsh insults. The strong defensiveness is typical of her nature anytime she is questioned by a supporter. Isn’t that strange?
I also recall Annie Dillon was attacked in a similar fashion by Celeste some years ago for discussing with Celeste about the importance of an open poll when Celeste was supporting horses falling behind the vertical in the masterclass a few years back. I do recall Annie disappeared from social media for quite some time for health reasons shortly after, was that part of it? Is there more to the story? I suppose its only fitting Celeste appears to have reversed the roles in her recount of the events. The irony is Annie teaches the opposite of what Celeste teaches which makes her claims even more ridiculous.
Diana Waters and Celeste got into a very public bashing amongst each other some time ago. I am not all that familiar with Diana’s work so I can’t comment on that, but I can say I have met multiple trainers who have worked with ex BTMM horses who were in training with Celeste herself, and Celeste had missed significant crookedness in the spine, not to mention every single one of them had pronounced brace in the poll. Again, she seems to point the fingers for actions she herself is guilty of.
From what I can tell, most respectable trainers don’t give her the time of day once they see through the social media popularity ruse, that appears to be the only consistent aspect surrounding the method that I can see. It does make for some popcorn worthy drama!
Why someone with such a large following and profitable business would be so concerned with such small name trainers is beyond my comprehension. But then, this seems to be evolving into a recurring theme, and it’s not a good look for Celeste. I suppose gurus can only maintain a facade for so long before the cracks begin to show.
At the end of her comment, if we are to take the trend of this entire screenshot with obvious role reversals of what actually happened, then look at where she mentions she enjoyed her talks with these individuals, I can only assume it’s because those talks benefitted her somehow because they certainly don’t seem to miss her.
9 Likes
There it is. True colors. Again.
4 Likes
Because of money and greed?
11 Likes
