I have always loved horses, and spent much of my childhood years bugging my parents for a pony while having as many riding lessons as my long suffering parents would allow! As I got older, life kicked in, and riding fell by the wayside. A few years ago, we moved to North Lincolnshire, buying a house with some land and stables so I could finally have A HORSE! However, every little girl's dream can so often turn into a nightmare... My first horse, an anglo-arab gelding, was wonderful, but he quickly succumbed to old age and arthritis (sadly, he was PTS two years ago). I needed a new friend and, in short, my new mare - 15'3" ¾ TB - had clearly been mistreated. A sensitive soul, she was scared of everything, had no trust in anyone, and, the coup de resistance, a bucking bronco. I'm the stubborn type, and I've got patience to give away free.... oh, and I'm thorough.... so I learned everything I could about equine psychology and behaviour. Since my background is in psychology and Social Work (BA (Hons) SWS - mental health, Dip SW, PQ1), my training kicked in (no pun intended...) and I researched and tried out every technique I could get hold of, finally finding Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks. I attended the Foundation Course in March 2008... I was hooked and so was my mare - in time she went from 'mad marey' to utter sweetie! We are now barefoot and bitless and, at the age of 45, I am finally enjoying every minute!!. I also have a shetland (cross houdini!), two dogs and two cats. I am committed to not only learning (and doing) everything I can to help my horses, but also to using my experience and training so far to help others to achieve the relationship I have achieved with my horses. I have nearly completed my training as an animal communicator, working towards the Dip AC, and am also training to become an equine reiki practitioner, so aim to incorporate these skills into my work with equihelp.
Like many young girls I wanted my own pony as soon as I first set eyes on them. I was 10 years old when I was finally allowed my first riding lesson and was instantly hooked! At 13 I was lucky enough to be asked to work at the local riding school as a weekend helper. Payment was a free ride! I attended every course I could nag my parents in to letting me attend, entered the local hunter trials and read even more books to learn about these wonderful animals. When the stables closed 2 1/2 years later, lots of tears and begging and pleading led to my parents being persuaded to let me bring Dominic home, my favourite pony and best friend. Very sadly I lost him less than 6 months later in a tragic road accident, leaving me devastated. Into my life came Milly, a very loyal, honest and extremely forgiving mare who I shared a special bond for 19 years. We attempted show jumping and took part in the hunter trials, enjoyed hacks round the woods and shared so many highs and lows life throws at you!! Milly sadly passed away at a grand old age of 30, leaving me devastated again by the loss of another best friend. I knew about Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks and once I discovered Intelligent Horsemanship, my life changed, there was no other way for me. I feel I can really give something back to those special equines that have touched my life and have really taught me there are no reasons at all for the use of pain and violence. As well as continually learning about horses and attending the IH courses (Foundation Course, Foal Handling and Stud Practice weekend, Feed and Nutrition / The Horse as an Athlete), I am also studying animal behaviour and Charles Darwin – On The Origin of Species. I've completed the 3-day introductory shiatsu course and am now doing a 2 year course to become a practitioner. I have 2 adorable mares, Bronte (Section D x) and Sirius (Section A), both on loan to me, both who will never know pain and both who are still teaching me valuable lessons in horsemanship. As well as the IH training, I have recently become the North Lincs BHS District Representative for Gainsborough area. I regularly attend the North Lincs area Committee Meetings and will be helping at some of the BHS events this year!
Hiya, I am 37 years old and been into horses all of my life. I have ridden at riding schools, competed and 10 years ago I came to a point in my life where I was horseless. My best friend Kay had just bought a welsh cob mare with a foal at foot, and asked me if I would be interested in the foal. So off I went to the field and said, ‘I like the mare’, and that was the start of my journey with Milly, a 14.1 Welsh Section D Cob - bag of nerves, difficult to catch/get on, frightened of her own tail, you name a problem we probably covered it! In comes my journey with Intelligent Horsemanship, Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks. I feel that life brings you many teachers to help you along your journey. I now have three teachers, Milly, Rosie (11.3hh 5yr Exmoor Pony – who came from a wild herd and I am just backing), and Tilly, 12.3hh coloured pony – ex-feral pony). My herd would all be classed as remedial ponies, but all in their own way are my teachers in the language of equus. My other teacher is my mentor, Garry Bosworth who is a Recommend Associate with Intelligent Horsemanship. With Intelligent Horsemanship, I have completed the courses for: 5 day Practical Foundation Course, Horse Psychology Weekend, Feeding & Nutrition, The Horse as an Athlete, Stud Practice, Handling the Young Foal, Handling the Untouched Horse, Leading and Loading the Less Easy Horse, I am just planning my outline for my Psychology Project for approval. 'Any person who buys a horse or pony begins a unique journey of learning.’
I have been around horses for as long as I can remember in one way or another. I started having riding lessons when I was about 5 and my sister and I eventually nagged our parents into buying us our first pony when I was 8. We chose Tango, a 14hh part New Forest gelding that I had for 19 years. Sadly he was put down at the age of 30 and I guess ever since losing him I realise what an inspiration he was to me. He was perfectly mannered and I've been wondering ever since I lost him how I can find another safe, well mannered school master to be me life long partner. So there I was lying on a beach in Spain in 1999 and starting reading a book by Monty Roberts. I was hooked and amazed at the bond he had with horses. I also saw a programme about him joining up with a wild mustang and was spell bound and found it very emotional. I wanted to find out more about this amazing man so attended my first demo later that year. I felt like a sponge and just wanted to soak everything up! How could I be like this with my horses? Well I started by taking the 5 day Foundation Course in Intelligent Horsemanship in March 2008 and it was like a light bulb being switched on. I have also taken the Horse Pyschology Course in January 2009 and am due to take further courses during 2009 to get the Monty Roberts Preliminary Certificate in Horsemanship. Nothing I have learnt was a complete shock and if anything a lot of these techniques just seemed very natural and what I had discovered about horses myself. Since then I have discovered so many people looking for a better way of training their horses. I now have 3 New Forest ponies which I am starting / training, and I ride regularly for a friend. I am very interested in horse psychology and love nothing better to sit and watch my ponies out in the field! I am animal mad and also have 3 pygmy goats and 2 cats to add to the menagerie.