About Me

 

I am a BHS qualified riding instructor with over 30 years experience of teaching, training horse and rider for exams or competition, and the running of competitions.  I compete and judge regularly in dressage.  I am also a qualified Further Education teacher and hold the City & Guilds Certificate in Education. I recently completed an Edinburgh University course in Equine Nutrition and am available to give consultations on the feeding and condition of horses and ponies.

Teaching riding was the only thing I ever wanted to do, even when the careers advisor at school tried to put me off I was determined! Straight from school I went to work at Gleneagles Equestrian Centre near Southampton as a working pupil, trained for my BHS Exams and spent some happy years there.  I have worked at several riding schools over the years, including running my own for a while, but I found that raising a family and the long hours associated with riding school work didn't mix!  I originally went freelance as a way to fit work in around family life, but I have found this to be the best thing ever.  I get so much pleasure from teaching riders on their own horses and watching the development of both ability and relationship.  I am very, very lucky to be working at a job which is also my hobby and my vocation (I do remind myself of this when I'm freezing cold and dripping wet!!!).

In addition to my equestrian life I have also had what my husband would refer to as a 'proper job'!  I spent a few years teaching Information Technology in college and although I enjoyed it (and it was sometimes nice to be in a warm office!) I did miss the horsey environment.  I do try to mix equestrian and IT worlds together in some of my lessons and I use my skills to produce training plans and videoed lessons.  I also hope in the future to have a download section of this website to enable my clients to access schooling plans, exercises and such like.  Watch this space!!

My teaching is centered around the relationship and partnership of horse and rider, training both to become more in tune with each other.  I believe that every rider, whether grass roots or competitive, can develop feel and tact when training their horse.  All horses benefit from training - even those who are not destined for competition can become supple, confident and balanced, making them a pleasure to ride and providing maximum enjoyment for both of you!

I offer a wide variety of lessons, please see the Training Prices page for more details:

• Private Lessons - for individual instruction in Dressage or Jumping.

• Semi-Private Lessons - for two riders who want to have a lesson together.

• Group Lessons - Minimum of three riders of similar ability who want to pool resources and have a lesson together.

• Video Lessons - Excellent training tool, enabling maximum improvement in horse and rider.

• Training Plans - Individual training plans produced for schooling, fitness or competition purposes.

• Dressage Judging - Have your test professionally judged in preparation for competition.  Works well in conjunction with a video lesson.
  

• Clinics - For jumping, dressage, pole work, simulated cross-country, cross-country and loose jumping.
  

 

I also judge dressage at affiliated and unaffiliated competitions, course build and judge for unaffiliated jumping and instruct/lecture for clubs on training days or camps.