Denise O'Reilly, Biomechanics Coaching, Dressage Training for all Levels

Helen and Lizzy

Case Studies

HELEN AND LIZZY:

I have had Lizzy on loan for 3 years now and she has been a most testing horse for me. I tried quite a few approaches to training her and we have entertained many a crowd and judges at quite a few shows in the beginning!

Poor Denise must have wondered what to make of us when she turned up to give us a lesson. Lizzy by now had refused to go forward AT ALL and even threatened to lie down with me the more I used my leg! I was desperate by this point!!

Denise worked on my position, showing me how I was blocking Lizzy’s forward movement with my seat. The position felt strange to start with, but as Lizzy started to swing forward my confidence grew and we soon started to make great progress.

We love our lessons, our homework and all the information that Denise has to offer, which she does - in a language that anyone can understand. The result speaks for itself and people think I have a new horse!

Lizzy is now a reformed character and a pleasure to ride. Our greatest achievement was winning the prelim dressage championships at Stafford. No one would have ever have thought that possible, even me!

AniaBienias, Seven times National Polish Dressage Champion

ANIA BIENIAS, Seven times National Polish Dressage Champion:

Learning about the biomechanics of riding has made me realise how obvious the horse's reactions are. I am sure I could have avoided many training mistakes had I known about it earlier. After the first couple of lessons I felt as if I was learning to ride all over again, but after 3 years of professional coaching I can say I have reached a breakthrough.

I wish that all riders would try this type of coaching, as it opens many doors which may previously have been closed, and saves the rider wasting time going down paths that lead nowhere.

It really is for the good of both the horse and the rider.

Nicky and Indie before and after

NICKY AND INDIE:

Indie is a 13 y o shire x TB mare who I have owned for 8 years. All I have ever wanted is to be able to do a decent dressage test - surely that shouldn't be hard. We have tried a number of trainers but the emphasis has always been on the reins and Indie’s head position and a part of me just knew that couldn't be all there was to it.

I felt cruel being told to pull her head into position - but frustrated as nobody could tell me what to do instead. In my initial lessons with Denise she taught me about the effect of my seatbones on the reflex points on the horses back. I felt the horses back lift up and she became soft and round. WOW! Although my position felt alien at first I started to see massive changes in my horse and I had done so little.

We are now ready to tackle affiliated Novice and perhaps even some elementary.
She is so much happier and so am I!

Amanda and Lilly before and after

AMANDA AND ABERCONWY LILWEN (LILLY):

When I first contacted Denise in April 2007 I left a desperate message on her answer phone with a plea for help. And since then I have not looked back. At the time I had owned Lilly (14 hh Welsh Cob mare) for almost a year. We had attempted a few Prelim dressage tests but I was happier doing “walk and trot” tests as we just couldn't’t canter (well Lilly could, but I wasn't’t helping things).

Denise has given me the tools, the direction and the inspiration to not only reach my original aim (a decent Prelim test) but to far exceed it, and now to aim higher. I love my lessons with Denise and I leave each one having experienced something new that I can take away and work with. I’m enjoying learning so much about how my body can so profoundly influence my horse in ways that you would not believe are possible until you feel it for yourself.

In October 2008 Lilly and I won the Beaver Hall Unaffiliated Open Novice Championship. I am so proud of my little pony, but we could not have done it without Denise.

Teresa and Daisy

TERESA AND DAISY:

Having used a number of trainers over my many years and having spent hundreds of pounds to be shouted at by the majority of them – what a refreshing change to find Denise who actually explained how to achieve the horse working over a round back or how to lower the neck outline, instead of having to endure “He’s not working over his back” which, of course, I already knew. Until I was told how to correct the problem, I would never have improved, no matter how loud or how long the trainer had shouted at me and, of course, I never did!