I started riding when I was very young. My sister and I rode together , riding , often bareback , all over the Cheshire countryside.
I started having formal riding lessons in my early twenties, and over the years rode at many equine establishments, enjoying all aspects of riding and horse care.
I began working part-time at a local riding school, and was encouraged by the yard manager to apply for a place on a BTEC National Diploma in Equine Studies Course, which included riding and teaching. I was accepted and completed the course at Distinction .
I continued to ride and study at a variety of riding establishments, and taught at a local riding school, this culminated in my becoming an ABRS qualified, riding instructor, and I carried on teaching at riding schools and then as a freelance instructor .
I am also very proud to have been invited to be a BBI , a Dr Cooks ‘ Bitless Bridle Instructor. ‘
As time passed I found myself becoming more and more disillusioned with the ‘traditional’ methods of training and working horses , and researched many alternative training methods, which made so much more sense to me.
I found these methods improved your relationship with the horse, and had very positive effects on their health and wellbeing .
I constantly read all the new data regarding horse health and welfare, so many of the things we are ‘traditionally’ taught about horse care is century’s old, and has been fixed in’ tradition’, even though evidence shows clearly that many things we are taught are not in the best interest of the horse, just more convenient for the human.
As a result of this , our horses are now all bare foot, (unshod), they are all bitless, we use the Dr. cook bitless Bridle, and tree-less, we use the ‘total contact’ saddle, which we affectionately call ‘the paddle’ .
I am passionate about horses, their care and wellbeing.
I am always available to help advise anyone with regard to bitless,or barefoot, or about alternative methods of working with horses.
I am with you 100 percent horses do not need metal of any kind. My hope is that one day all horses will be free from the restraints put on them by the pressures of TRADITION.