ARLINGTON — Peter Campbell can bring out the best in both horse and student — and that’s the main reason he’s coming back to Arlington.

Taking a holistic approach to horsemanship, the Wyoming resident and lifelong cowboy has taught clinics on the subject for more than 20 years to U.S. and Canadian residents.

“He’s just really out to help every single person and every single horse,” said Kathy Drain, host of the four-day event, which takes place March 12-15. “He’s very fun to be with but on the other side he’s just really passionate about his profession.”

For the second year, Campbell will be holding a horsemanship clinic at Eagle Mountain Ranch in Arlington.

Two classes — a foundation class and an intermediate class — will be available for riders of all ages and experience levels.

During the classes, Campbell said his aim is to help people understand their horses and educate riders on an individual basis.

Campbell said his teaching style focuses on forging that relationship between horse and rider.

“It’s built one person at a time,” Campbell said. “The reality is that you have to change inside in order for the horse to make it.”

Using a highly personalized approach, Campbell said people are generally receptive to the technique he shares because it’s practical.

“People seem to enjoy it because it’s the real deal,” he said. “They don’t want to be patted on the back when they’re not doing a good job. You can be nice about it, but you’re not going to get any better being patted on the back.”

Campbell’s style comes from more than 25 years of experience on horseback.

The Alberta, Canada native grew up on the eastern side of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

By his late teens, he and two other cowboys were responsible for caring for more than 200 horses on a Canadian government ranch. Their jobs were to get those horses ready for back country service.

He said he began to notice a trend after training horses.

“I was raised on the eastern slopes of the Rockies where horse riding was a part of life,” Campbell said. “I rode horses for the public, and I noticed that I wouldn’t have any problems with a horse but the rider would have trouble when they got them back.”

In the early 1980s, Campbell became involved with horsemanship training, and by the late 1980s he was teaching his own clinics.

Campbell moved to Wyoming in 1989 and has been teaching classes throughout North America ever since. He also has a video series based on his “Willing Partners” technique.

“I started the clinic to see more horses and get more experience with a variety of horses in different places,” he said. “I found out that people needed to understand it — not horses.”

Drain said there are a couple spots left in the classes for residents who are interested.

The cost of each class is $550 per four-day class. Beginner classes take place from 9 a.m. to noon and the more advanced class goes from 1:30-5 p.m. Cows will also be available for riders to work on Sunday and Monday for an additional fee.

Spectators are also encouraged to watch Campbell’s classes for $30 per day at the Arlington ranch, which is located at 805 Lakewood Road.

For more information, contact Mark or Kathy Drain at 360-426-5452 or e-mail mkdrain@mctc.com.