The Story...
My earliest recollection of horses was as a toddler on our annual camping holiday - decked out in shiny new wellies, as my parents pitched the tent I caught sight of a horse wandering the campsite (I guess health and safety was less of an issue back then!) - off I wobbled in pursuit of his tail alarming the poor beast who let fly clipping me under my chin. I still bear the scar but reckon I must have been extremely lucky that day. I obviously wasn't put off but I was 7 before I got chance to reconnect with horses giving up the Saturday morning dancing lessons in favour of riding lessons at a stables on the edge of town. Lessons there consisted of being put on top and led up the lanes for a few weeks until able to cope with a rising trot. then you were on your own. It was another 7 years of these weekly visits to the stables, digesting Pony Club manuals and begging rides from friends of friends who had ponies before we moved to the countryside to a house with our own 2 acres - at last my dream had become reality. We are now at a wonderful place on the border of Shropshire, Cheshire and Wales and only a few miles from Staffordshire and have installed stabling, a large all weather 28 x 45m arena,and a playground with fixed obstacles including a bank complex, bridge and ditches. Recent additions include a 50' Claydon round pen and a circus/patience pole. A full set of Polyjumps inc fillers and numerous toys are also available for use.
After 40 years of traditional riding and competing cross country, dressage, show jumping and team chasing I stumbled across a whole different approach to being with horses. Natural Horsemanship came into my world early 2009 and since then everything has turned upside down. At last I am getting answers to why some things worked (or didn't) over the years. I started as a student in the Parelli program gaining my green string (Level 3) with Juno Wot before he was forced to retire through age related problems - now it's as though I have opened Pandora's Box - at every turn I seem to uncover something else. I have found my mentor in Dave Stuart who visits the UK annually and I am studying as much of Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, Buck Brannaman, Mike Bridges, Walter Zettl and Martin Black that I can find or access. Recently I have started to look into a classical approach to equitation including straightness training. I'm sad in a way that at 60 something I have already missed many opportunities but I fully intend to make the most of whatever time I have left and hopefully encourage others to open their minds and see what I've been missing all this time. And I'm sure that there's plenty more out there still to find!
THE MORE I LEARN THE MORE I REALISE THE LESS I KNOW
Welcome to my world and give thanks to the wonderful creatures that inhabit it - especially horses - I'll try to share a little of my journey with you along the way