Lester Buckley grew up in the historic cattle country of North Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Equine Science from Sul Ross State University in Texas, where he was also the "Outstanding Horse Science Student".
Lester trained horses during college and it was at that time that he met Ray Hunt. That laid the foundation for Lester’s future and was the beginning of his lifelong career in horse training.
Lester trained for both the King Ranch in Texas and the Parker Ranch in Hawaii, two of the largest working cattle ranches in the world. Lester trained horses for their working cowboys as well as for competition and eventually managed a horse herd of over 400 horses in Hawaii.
While in Hawaii Lester began showing again and won the open cutting championship for the year and finals as well. He went back to Texas and trained for World Champion, Hall of Fame trainer, Willie Richardson. Lester then began to train and compete on his own and won Reserve World Champion APHA Open Superstakes, an APHA Open Cutting Honor Roll Top Ten Horse, showed NCHA 3000 Novice Cutting Horse Champion as well as BCCHA 10000 Novice Cutting Horse Champion.
Lester became more interested with the preciseness of classical horsemanship and searched for the finest instructors. That search led him to Germany where he currently studies under the Dressage and Jumping Masters and has earned his level IV and III Bronze Performance Medals respectively. Lester conducts clinics, teaches groundwork, basic and advanced Western riding and problem solving at the Equestrian School in Germany. In 2007 Lester was awarded his international trainers license in dressage and sport jumping from the German FN.
Lester currently lives in Hawaii where he trains horses, including the offspring of top cutting, reining, working cow horse, dressage and sport jumping sires as well as the offspring of a Kentucky Derby winner. They raise a few select sport horses in Germany. Lester occasionally travels helping people in all disciplines to better understand their horse.
Lester’s worldwide clinic schedule as well as more general information can be found at: www.buckleysporthorses.com.
Lester has wowed the attendees at Light Hands Horsemanship for years.