Constant Appaloosas

My coaching philosophy is highly coloured by my interest in horse learning behaviour and horse training. At the centre of my coaching is the partnership between the horse and rider with the horse always at least as important as the rider. I aim to create a balance by ensuring that firm foundations are in place throughout the stages of training. I aim to provide sympathetic Western coaching from the horse’s point of view. I aim to assist a step by step process of technical development, ensuring that each lesson along the way is understood well, and that horse and rider develop together. I aim to assist in forming a partnership so that both horse and rider are working as a team. There is no place for brute force, ignorance and bullying yet this does not mean that the rider should not be a strong leader. I expect hard work and consistency, from both horse and rider. I take riding seriously and I expect my clients to do so also; putting in the time required to achieve their goals. You have to study your subject and understand what you are trying to achieve so that you have a clear way forward. I expect to be a source of technical equestrian information; e.g. on how the horse and rider move together, suitable tack, horse management advice, rules for competition etc. I expect to be to be a point of contact if things go wrong. I expect to provide ideas and a safe structure- an area where the client can experiment in the knowledge that I will speak up if they are going to put themselves in danger. Some of these ideas are summed up in my advice to clients on a recent all day clinic;