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Even if your horse has no problems, HOW SURE are you that he is performing
as close as possible to 100% of his potential?? As a trainer, this is
what I have been, and probably always will be, working towards. Getting
the best out of your horse!
Having ridden horses for over 20 years without a horse of my own, I
have gained invaluable experience dealing with horses of various breeds,
disciplines, and personalities. The horses have ranged from experienced
schoolmasters, to green horses just starting their education. I have
also been lucky enough to work with horses that have presented their
owners/handlers with a variety of problems, both physical, and mental
/ emotional. It is these horses that have taught me the most about the
true nature of the horse.
When a client brings a horse to me for their first lesson, my first
objective is to determine whether the horse has any physical / mental
/ balance issues that need to be addressed before the training proceeds.
I usually use an analogy that makes my perspective simple to understand.
Here it is:
If you wanted to learn how to play soccer well, and went to train with
the best soccer coach in the world, except you wore high heels for shoes,
it would not matter how good the coach is, or what knowledge he shared
with you, your progress would be minimal because your body would be
fighting the high heels more than anything. This would prevent you from
reaching your true potential as a soccer player, and you would be wasting
your time and money on your training unless you got rid of the high
heels.
Similarly, horses are often not able to gain the most benefit from their
training (any discipline), because they are constantly dealing with
some version of “high heels.” However, the culprit might
not be very obvious, and would require further insight into the horse’s
condition. As a trainer, I will do my best to identify whether your
horse is performing as close to 100% of his true potential as he can,
and if not, what his “high heel” might be. Sometimes I come
across issues that require treatment from specialists in that area.
Over the years, I have developed working relationships with some of
the best specialists in various fields of equine diagnostics, conventional
therapies, holistic therapies, and veterinary treatment. This allows
me to stay up to date with new information, and cutting edge technologies.
I have also studied several different approaches to working with the
horse’s mind, to solve behavioral issues, nervousness, anxiety
etc. I have found that not all methods work the same for every horse.
Since each horse has a unique personality, I use an approach more targeted
to work best for that individual horse. If you are striving to get the
best out of your horse, I believe the best gift you can give yourself
is an OPEN MIND. Although I mostly train horses and riders in the disciplines
of Eventing and Dressage, I have done ‘Performance Analyses’
on horses across the world in several different disciplines including
thoroughbred racing, barrel horses, reining, endurance, polo, and hunter/jumper.
Click Here for TESTIMONIALS
LESSONS
I am based at Pine Knoll Farm, just south of Lexington, KY and teach
lessons both on the property (indoor / outdoor / cross-country) and
will travel within the Lexington / Louisville area as well. If you are
outside this area, I am also available for Phone Consultations at (859)
339 3474. Dial 001 if calling from outside the USA.
CLINICS
If you are interested in organizing a clinic over 2 or 3 days, (or if
you would like to know if I will be teaching in your area) please contact
me for more information.
TRAINING
I do accept horses in training based on availability. Also, if you would
like me to compete your horse at an event, or dressage show, please
contact me for more information.
"A ruthlessly condensed training only leads
to a general superficiality, to travesties of the movements, and to
a premature unsoundness of the horse. Nature cannot be violated."
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-- Colonel Alois Podhajski (1965; translation: T. Ritter)
"I have time" should be the guiding
word especially of dressage riders during the entire course of training
and remind him of the fact that the goal of the classical art of riding
is to be attained only by the gradual increase of demands." .
-- Colonel Alois Podhajski (1965; translation: T. Ritter)
"For
the young, the practice of equitation is a valuable lesson, as it requires
the exercise of all human virtue.
If they are introduced to the practice of riding by understanding and
patient teachers, then they too will develop these traits.
The young rider grows to realize the horse is a partner rather than
a slave who also deserves love and understanding."
- Nuno Oliviera
