About Exitpoint Stallions :.

Located in the picturesque environs of the Pacific Northwest, Exitpoint has as its singular focus the development and active sharing of a system of stallion management that embodies respect, kindness, empathy, and understanding between equine and human. The stallions in our training and breeding management program are our true friends. If you've been told that stallions are scary, dangerous, unpredictable monsters. . . well, we're working to debunk that urban legend and we hope you'll take the time to learn more about what's really going on with our stallion friends.

Are we unconventional in our approach to stallion care? Absolutely - we're not at all shy about stating the obvious: "conventional" approaches to stallion handling in North America are ineffective, disrespectful, dangerous, and genuinely abusive. Our approach respects stallions has individuals, with individual preferences, joys, and priorities - while still asking (demanding, really) that they embody good manners. Our boys are gentlemen in the truest sense of the world: kind to themselves, kind to others, honest, and reliable.

Our program has been referred to by observers as "integrative" in nature, and there's some truth in that description. We don't carve up equine life into disconnected bits and pieces, but rather encourage the same skills, tools, and approaches to challenges in all areas of our boys' lives. To that end, we don't wall off sexual energy in our stallions as something dangerous or inappropriate, but rather channel that energy towards positive, safe, appropriate paths. There's a proper time and place for it, and we work towards those sorts of skills rather than fighting un-winnable fights against deeply-rooted instincts.

We explore our approach further in our upcoming full length book, Stallions Demystified. Sadly, the first (handwritten) draft of the book was stolen by an ex-employee and we are now in process of re-writing from scratch. The good news is, we think it is even more accessible the second time around.

We are perhaps best known of our training and breeding management of the legendary international show jumping stallion, Capone I, as well as the phenomenally gifted Cantus son, Cantour. Both are German bred imported Holsteiners. Additionally we stand the German approved pony jumping genius, Brooks Neville. On the other end of the spectrum, the magnificently-bred the majestic Percheron sire , Pennwoods Prince Joe Laet, has made his home with us here at Exitpoint for a decade and counting. Each of our boys is a loved member of our family here at Exitpoint.

Our lifetime experience with horses is complimented by a deep involvement with canine breeding as well. I spent nearly a decade training and campaigning Golden Retrievers in AKC Field Trials, and served as an AKC Hunt Test judge during that time. Since that time, I've worked with Schutzhund-titled GSDs, African-bred Boerboels, rescued purebred wolves, German-bred Rottweilers, and European-bred Great Danes. I don't need an excuse to have dogs in my life; dogs are an integral part of my life, and always have been. Our canine crew spends their days hanging out with the stallions, sleeping on the bed, playing in the manure pile, and generally enjoying life to the fullest.

Oh, and one more thing: we don't practice routine castration here at Exitpoint, not with our dogs or horses or humans either. While it opens me personally up to the tired, old charge that I'm "just a guy with a hang-up about balls," that's not important. What is important is respecting the physical integrity of our friends - genital mutilation reflects a deeply troubled attitude towards our fellow beings. Friends don't cut friends. There's a world of justifications offered for the practice of routine castration, but none of them holds up under objective scrutiny. The facts are clear: it's unnecessary, physically harmful, and a deeply flawed approach to cross-species interaction. Enough said.

Personally, my life has taken me to the highest highs and the lowest lows thus far. I am fortunate to still be alive today - a fact I acknowledge each and every day. Throughout my life, I've been an outspoken, controversial, acerbic, and some would say downright curmudgeonly presence; no need to state otherwise. I've also challenged myself to live with honor and true integrity while chasing big dreams and following a path uniquely appropriate to my own personality. It's not always been a pretty picture to watch; I've made mistakes and gone wrong. I've also learned from my errors, chosen to grow through them, and thus come to approach life with a bit more compassion and maybe even wisdom. Much of my life has been lived in the public eye, out there for all the world to see - good and bad.

I've been asked before if I'm "the Doug Spink." Yes, I am. Is everything that's ever been said or written or posted about me true? Hardly. Yes, I'm controversial and non-typical and in many ways far outside the Normal world. . . but I could fill a book with crazy rumors that've been spread about me over the years. Years ago I stopped wasting time trying to track down all the mumbo jumbo, and nowadays I actively encourage the more hare-brained rumors about myself - purely for sport. So, if you've heard a really juicy new one lately, please do pass it along! For more details on some of these rumors, as well as their historical roots and modes of transmission, you may be interested to read my detailed personal statement. A more traditional curriculum vitae is available here in pdf format.