Alfonso Aguilar lives with his wife Karin, and two children, Sebastian and Valentina. His time is divided between California, Patzcuaro (Mex.) and Europe (primarily Switzerland and Germany). Without a doubt, Alfonso is one of the pioneers of natural horsemanship training, a training of horses based on no confrontation. He was born in Morelia, state capital of Michoacan (Mexico) and raised in a family with a long tradition of raising and training horses. Alfonso began horseback riding at the age of 3. At fourteen, he participated in the first competitions of “charreria”, a Mexican roping and riding sport. At the young age of eighteen, he was competing at state level. He also participated in the Rodeo, riding wild horses and bulls.

Alfonso earned his Veterinary license in 1985 at the University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo. One year later, he moved to the United States to continue and expand his training. In 1988, he began working on a California ranch owned by Pat Parelli, where the training was specialized on colt starting and problem solving. At that time, he also met Tom and Bill Dorrance and Ray Hunt. For nine years, he worked with Pat Parelli to create and develop a horsemanship training program.

Since 1990, Alfonso has offered courses in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Australia. In 1996, he completed a study program for the University of California, Davis (USA). Topics covering equine behavior and horse handling and training were offered to first year veterinary students. Other special programs continue to be offered in the Reken School for Instructors (Germany), the Federal Haras (Switzerland), and the Mounted Police Unit of Leon (Mexico). Although Alfonso draws greatest satisfaction from teaching his training courses, he has managed to participate in some of the more renowned fairs of the sector (Equitano, BEA- Berna, International Fair of Leon-Mexico, Americana, etc.) and conferences held by veterinary universities on horse behavior and character.