I live up in the hills in Saddleworth near Greater Manchester where often the weather can be challenging! However we have wonderful scenery and it’s great for getting horses fit.
I have a small DIY livery yard on my husband’s farm where I have an arena equipped with poles and jumps. I often hold clinics midweek and at weekends.
My aim is to provide sessions that are fun for both horse and rider, build confidence and trust whilst gaining improvement and always working on a suitable level that we agree on. Working as a team we focus on what is important to you so that you achieve it.
Wether you want to be confident hacking out by yourself or in a group or gain a great mindset to help you in competition, your needs and aims are just as important to me.
Travelling to your yard is also possible as are private, shared or group sessions.
My real journey began, I worked as a Dental Technician (my mum wouldn’t let me work with horses straight from school) to pay for his stabling and spent the next 5 years training him – what a bond we had, he eventually learnt to trust me and I could hack him out. He was the best jumper ever after he’d figured out how to canter. Vicky Tibbott helped me a lot with his training and she was so patient with our endless uncontrollable cavorting around the arena on Riding Club lessons. I also started helping others on the yard with their horses and ponies and this made me realise that I wanted to teach.
Sadly, Charlie developed pedalostitis and there wasn’t any real treatment then for it so broken-hearted I gave up my job as a Dental Technician and went to live in Broadstairs, Kent to train for my BHSAI at a private boarding school with their own stables. I gained my PTT and then went to work for Roseanne Rhodes (now Liversidge) an event rider and BHSI in Dover. Being a working pupil in those days really was slave labour. However, I learned real horsemanship with high standards and although Roseanne was a hard taskmaster, she taught me well.
After gaining my BHSAI I returned home and had various jobs working for British Airways and North West Auto Trader before deciding to go freelance and teach for a living whilst training for my Intermediate (BHSII). In the early days I did anything horse-related to earn money, travelled miles to teach to gain experience in riding schools such as Croft Riding Centre at Warrington and Longfield EC in Todmorden. I taught at Pony Clubs, Riding Clubs, schooled horses for people, hacked out for Peter Farrelly and groomed and clipped every hour I could.
I had some fantastic training along the way and am indebted to the late Chris Roberts, who let me ride and jump her horses: Springer, Romeo, Mare, Finn and the wonderful Benj (Private Benjamin), her Prix St George dressage horse she’d trained from being an Advanced event horse. He taught me how to ride a half-pass, passage, piaffe and changes!! He also taught me how to ride a spooky, sharp horse. I was often at the opposite side of the arena facing the other way with no idea how I’d got there!!
Chris introduced me to Mr Alec Lyall at Snainton Riding Centre, Scarborough and also to his talented daughter Charlotte. Between them they turned me into a rider and I gained my BHSII and then later my BHS Stable Manager’s Certificate.
I had some great jump training with Lorna Halstead who had York Riding School and I was so lucky to have such good riding and coaching training from the late Kenneth Clawson, who challenged me to teach J P Sheffield who was resident at his yard then!
One of my greatest learning experiences was being part of a two week teaching exchange visit to the Czech Republic on a BHS Leonardo da Vinci programme. Here I learnt how to coach through an interpreter, to ride the horses, to show our pupils what we meant and to drink vodka in the evening!!
As Rob Lovatt from Ingestre Stables was also on the programme I was very fortunate to learn so much from him just by watching his teaching. Jillie Rogers was there too and had many useful insights.
Later it was all about building a client base and I became involved with teaching on equine programmes in colleges: Bishop Burton, North Trafford, Calderdale and Kirklees College, where I gained my Cert. Ed. Teaching in FE Qualification.
I had some great horses along the way. Spooky (aptly named!), Donna,Fly, Dingy and Mabel. Some were difficult, some more straight forward but all taught me so much.
Marriage and children came along so riding and competing horses went on hold for a bit and then my daughter Sophie started riding. Her first pony Molly was saved from being a meat pony (had her ears tagged) but she was loved and we just used to bumble around the fields on her.
We then had 2 miniature Shetland field ornaments Tilly and La-La who came for the weekend but ended their days with us as companions. Then came Bluebell (adorable) followed by Stitch, Rosie, Jack (best mounted games pony) and Ziggy, as she outgrew them all. Finally, Prince who she evented to BE100.
Sophie trained every single one of them and they all left better than they came. We obviously had a lot of help along the way too! I became head groom and helped with the schooling and fittening but also had horses of my own. The lovely Rose and later Harry and Miranda for a short time.
I now devote my time to helping other people with their horses and ponies and have time for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of their horse and how to train them. I don’t care whether your aim is to enjoy your horse more, win a competition or just to stay on. You’re all important to me.
I’m often asked who inspires me the most? All the above named people have inspired me greatly as has Ingrid Klimke, Michael Jung, Rob Hoekstra and Nick Skelton as I love their styles of riding, my greatest inspiration has always been the horses!
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