The Team
Behind the success of The Dressage Secret is a small but dedicated team, each one of which, in their own way, contribute to the high standard of professional service we give our clients, (both human and equine!)
DENISE heads the team, and oversees the training and development of the schoolmaster horses, as well as training and competing her own horses. Husband Kieron provides never- ending support, helping daily on the yard, hacking and jumping the horses to make sure they get plenty of variety and interest in their work. Denise also oversees the physical development program for all the horses in her care, including fittening work and any physical therapies required.
She also ensures that the other coaches and working pupils get plenty of quality training, and that they develop as riders as well as individuals.
SARAH is a BHSAI who has been trained under the Ride With Your Mind System too. She is joining me as a coach here at the Dressage Secret Training Centre. Sarah has a wealth of experience as a coach, having run busy equestrian centres and riding schools most of her professional life. Sarah is currently adding the work of Dr. Andrew McLean to her skill set, through our monthly clinics here with Ali Wakelin, one of his top UK coaches. She is a superb coach with a passion for helping riders at all levels, and is a top notch rider too!
RUTH - Like Sarah, Ruth has a lifetime of riding and coaching experience. Her riding achievements are impressive, but typically, she keeps this very quiet! Ruth has showjumped to National Grade A level, evented, hunted and shown Working Hunters at County level. She is well-known locally for her quiet, patient training of young and difficult horses. As a coach, she is friendly, encouraging and gives her riders a real confidence boost!
NIKKI is our Yard Manager,and also assists with coaching. She has been my student since 2008 and has constantly impressed me with her quiet determination, which she has often needed whilst training her talented but sometimes difficult thoroughbred gelding, Helix! Nikki's riding has improved tremendously in this time and she is a competent assistant in the backing and training of our young horses. Her calming influence is much appreciated by all the horses. She is starting to become a super competition rider too! Nikki works to ensure the yard runs smoothly, and is super efficient at keeping me neat, tidy and organised!
VIKI is head groom and yard assistant, having completed her Equine Diploma at Rodbaston College in July 2012. She has been here with us since 2010, and is an invaluable member of the team. She is methodical and thorough, and cares for each one of our horses as if they were her own. She particularly loves Revel, our foal, who seems to feel the same way!
LIZ is an invaluable asset in the day to day running of the yard. Kind and quietly spoken, the horses all love her. She helps on all of the courses, making sure that our clients have a wonderful relaxing time from the moment they arrive to the time they go home.She has an uncanny knack of being exactly where you need her to be - providing a pair of hands just at the right time!
KELLY is our part-time yard assistant and although new to the job is loving her new role and getting to grips with the routine. She is showing potential as a rider amd will hopefully be helping us by taking some of the cobs to shows.