It's amazing to watch Mark & Dusty together, the relationship they have is one I think all folks who love horses dream of having.  I've seen Dusty make an impact on adults and children all over the country, I've seen faces light up just at the sight of the handsome, golden boy...my kiddos, Jane & Beau, are my soul medicine and I think that's what Dusty is to everyone he meets...Mark & Dusty make quite a team, they're making a difference, together, and my baby girl Jane, thinks Dusty's pretty darn cute too.  My wish is that all of y'all out there have an opportunity to meet these two beautiful souls:-)

Templeton Thompson, Singer 

"It's amazing to watch Mark & Dusty together, the relationship they have is one I think all folks who love horses dream of having."   

Templeton Thompson, Singer

Mark Peterson has a gift. I was amazed at how his horse Dusty was ever alert to his voice. His animals seem to want to do things for him that animals don’t normally do. They eagerly watch and listen for his direction. His relationships are beyond what I thought was possible between people and animals.

Lynn Rogers, Ph.D., Director,
North American Bear Center, Ely, MN (www.bear.org) 

"His relationships are beyond what I thought was possible between people and animals."    

Lynn Rogers, Ph.D., Wildlife Biologist

Dusty and Mark Peterson have been a very entertaining and inspiring example of the true partnership
we can have with horses. Dusty and Mark have a very unique way of understanding one another, to a point that Dusty seems to be able to read Mark’s mind!
I’ve been around many talented and skilled horsemen in the industry, but the way Dusty and Mark understand one another is simply a delight to anyone who gets a chance to interact with them both. I will always keep the little stuffed horse that Dusty literally went over, picked up and gave to me personally (at Mark’s request) though I was standing among a small group of people.
Dusty and Mark would be a wonderful addition to any event by giving people young and old a special memory from a very special horse.

Karen Scholl, Horsemanship for Women
888-238-3447, www.karenscholl.com
 

"The way Dusty and Mark understand one another is simply a delight to anyone who gets a chance to interact with them both."    

Karen Scholl, Horsemanship Clinician

I considered my personal saddle horse in the '70's to be an exceptional animal with a high level of training and reliability in part because I rode her and camped with her seven days a week at that time under often difficult conditions in very wild and rugged mountains in western Wyoming.  When I met Dusty belonging to Mark, I knew this was a horse the likes of which I'd never seen before and probably would never see again. Dusty in the hands of his handler, Mark, is a truly remarkable animal beyond any horse I'd ever imagined. Quick, intelligent, and so tuned-in to human behavior and sensitivity  that at times a person thinks this horse is perhaps on a level approaching human understanding. I've never said anything like this about any other animal, and I have trained a lot of work animals in my life.

The most awe inspiring behavior for me happened at camp each night in the Cascade Mountains research camp when I would get out my old wooden squeeze box and play some old tunes which I'd often do around campfire time, and Dusty would come over and ever so gently lay his massive head on the top of my button box while I played - as long as I played! -  to hear the music through his maxillary bones I presume. I could just barely feel the weight of his head on the instrument, but I could definitely feel the delightful warmth of his breath on my neck in the cool night air. He truly enjoyed music, as  many animals do I have found, but never have I seen an animal so expressive in his feelings.  A truly magnificent beast of unbelievable intelligence.

John Mionczynski, U.S. Forest Service, Big
Horn Sheep Biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
 

"Dusty in the hands of his handler, Mark, is a truly remarkable animal beyond any horse I'd ever imagined. Quick, intelligent, and so tuned-in to human behavior and sensitivity  that at times a person thinks this horse is perhaps on a level approaching human understanding." 

John Mionczynski, Big Horn Sheep Biologist

It was my pleasure to spend a couple of days camping with Mark Peterson this fall (2008) in the Ouachita Mountains of SE Oklahoma. Accompanying Mark was Dusty, his horse. While I am a wildlife biologist, I can not claim any expertise regarding equine behavior. Nevertheless, I was amazed as I observed the apparent communication and comprehension connection that exists between human and horse.

Dusty gives every indication of understanding Mark. For example, after arriving at camp and making introductions, I was anxious to meet Dusty, whose reputation had preceded him. Mark first had Dusty do some tricks. Then he threw his hat on the ground some distance behind Dusty and asked him to fetch it. As the horse walked towards Mark with the hat in his mouth, I suddenly told Mark to have Dusty bring me the hat. Mark immediately relayed the request to Dusty, and the horse turned mid-stride 90 degrees and brought me the hat. Perhaps that was a simple trick, I don't know, but it sure made me a fan of Dusty and a believer that he is one smart horse.

Alton Higgins, Assistant Professor
Mid-America Christian University
 

"I was amazed as I observed the apparent communication and comprehension connection that exists between human and horse." 

Alton Higgins, Wildlife Biologist

The first time I met Mark Peterson, I knew he was different...and so was his relationship with his horses, Dusty and Daisy. The unbelievable communication between Mark his horses is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I wanted to have the same with my horse.

The most rewarding thing was the confidence I found buried deep within. Mark helped bring that to the surface in just one ride...but what a ride! We went through cornfields and I was afraid at first, but Mark's encouragement and confidence in me and his horses, helped calm my fears and helped me to trust. Trust his horse, trust myself. I cried on my drive home. It was a beautiful ride. The journey had started to unfold. I still have a lot to learn about riding and I still have fears, but I'll get there. It started with a ride through a cornfield, trusting Mark's guidance, believing in myself, rebuilding confidence, ultimately losing the fear and allowing the trust to take over and just enjoy the ride.  Mark's love and passion for horses and life is genuine and is as real as it gets.

Kathy
 

"I just recently I had the pleasure of working with Mark Peterson on an episode of the hit series MonsterQuest for the History Channel. Mark was our guide and base camp support for an expedition in the Ouachita Mountains of Eastern Oklahoma. Ultimately, Mark allowed our team to hit the ground running at our location. His experience and background in production also helped us accomplish our shot list and more. I’d highly recommend Mark Peterson for any project. If you need great footage, he’ll help you get it."
 

Troy Parkinson, Producer Video Arts Studios