Lizzie 1986
L.L. Cool Jay. Trained by me from
Novice to Medium 2004
Piper 2008
Biography
Neither my husband or myself rode as children and only started after we were married in 1984. After a period of trying most disciplines it became clear that dressage was to be my passion.
My difficulties nearly got the better of me with my then TB Chestnut mare, Lizzie, as frustratingly I couldn’t seem to work out how to get the same results as my teacher did when she rode my horse. This all changed when I went on a Mary Wanless course in 1986. Suddenly someone could tell me exactly what I needed to do and how (in detail!).
23 years later Mary and her Ride With Your Mind methods have been instrumental in turning me from a rather ineffective club level rider into a rider who has trained her own Irish Draught - Piper (originally bought for my husband up to hunt) to advanced dressage! I am now one of Mary’s senior coaches, teaching her methods internationally as well as being on the British Dressage trainers data base and also a trainee dressage judge.
The Dressage Secret combines knowledge from these spheres with some amazing insights from all the trainers and coaches who have influenced my career. The focus is on correct biomechanics and detailed interaction with your horse, together with an easy to understand training system suitable for all riders and horses.
Having struggled myself to find answers to my questions, I am ready to help you. There are no horses or riders for which this cannot work - even if your problems seem insurmountable!
I would like to thank all my trainers past and present for their invaluable input and the specialist skills they have given me:
- Mary Wanless - without whom nothing would have been possible
- Sally Bennett - for believing it was possible
- Flemming Lyngsoe - for showing me how training without tension is possible
- Gareth Hughes - for showing me what connection is
- Jane Green - flying change miracle worker
- Heather Blitz - all round miracle worker
- Maria Eilberg - for help with my new project Taf, miracles eagerly awaited
...and to all my horses past and present who show me miracles and endless possibilities every day.