Testimonial from Anne
"Ambrose" and I are so lucky to be working with someone with the knowledge, patience, humour and talent of Jeanette.
Anne Stevens - Nelson
Patricia Warhurst and Precious Adelaide - Austraila
“Thank you again for all that you have done for Precious and I. Words do not do justice to the appreciation I feel for all your gentle guidance that has vastly improved our ‘way of going’ and understanding of each other. You have been pivotal to us making a large quantum leap in the last year.”
Ceila Sowman and Kriss Russell Golden Bay “There are two kinds of people: fire lighters and extinguishers. The first kind will inspire and encourage, and go out of their way to help. The second kind will throw cold water on you. Jeanette is a good example of the first kind. She has great enthusiasm and views you not as you are but as you could be, and ignites your passion to learn all there is to know. She has a gift for teaching ‘boring old’ theory and turning it into ‘gripping stuff’”. Celia Sowman of Golden Bay Pony Club and Adult Equine Qualifications Learners
Introducing Mac :-
Chestnut Gelding 13 years old 15. 3. hh.hands.
We have very little knowledge of Mac’s background before Phillipa purchased him, other than his previous owner was a 16 yr old girl and that he had completed ‘The Cavalcade’ ( A long distance ride in the heart of the south island of New Zealand), Phillipa bought him to enjoy riding out in Nelson’s stunning countryside and beaches.
When I first started to work with Mac and Philippa Mac seemed tense and hurried tending to drift and cling towards the paddock gate or other horses nearby. The stressed expression seemed to say “if I hurry up it will soon be over!!”
"If I hurry up it will soon all be over"
Schooling - early days
These early sessions were based around establishing trust between horse, rider and coach. For Mac this meant getting assurance that what we wanted was not difficult enabling him to relax and find a steadier rhythm. Philippa needed assurance and trust in me the coach and that the environment was safe to ask questions and for me to give clear explanations.
Establishing a steady forward rhythm came first
Time for clear explanations A few months later
Our first focus was on a steady even forward going rhythm. Philippa quickly found out how to slow Mac down without ‘pulling on the reins’ enabling her to ride for the speed and rhythm she wanted. This was fairly straight forward in walk and trot but canter proved to be a little more challenging, lateral stiffness, speed and poor balance being the first things to rectify.
The canter proved to be a little more difficult!
Introducing parallel leg yield and leg yield in a circle gave Phillipa the opportunity to develop more feel and coordination as well as starting to improve Mac’s lateral suppleness. The riding of accurate school figures with straight and curved lines and working for smooth changes of direction also helped this.
Careful work which required focus and detailed attention yet with a motivation from us all of us soon made progress.
A better saddle that seemed to fit both Phillipa and Mac was purchased and a little later we changed the ‘eggbut’ snaffle bit for another that has shafts on each side – this also helped to achieve some flexion to the inside and a softer feel in the hand.
Some months later - the canter becoming better balanced
Praise and reassurance from coach to rider, rider to horse
The amount of schooling to start with was just a once a week lesson with riding out work in between, so not a lot of schooling. However Max is schooled more often now that he is more used to the work with new muscles starting to develop and his ‘way of going’ becomes more established. Proving the point that it is not how often you school but how well.
As Philippa learnt more and increased her repertoire of school figures and movements - sound foundations are being laid for future work. A basic ‘way of going’ with Mac moving forward in a good rhythm and accepting the rein contact.
The facilities we use consist of a very well drained but not to level paddock. This is only a small area but it enabled us to work in winter and summer conditions. Jump poles where laid down to mark the edges of our ‘arena’ and ‘cones’ used to define various sizes of circles and school figures.
Where Mac and Phillipa now on their training journey from trek horse to dressage horse?
Yet more work on establishing better basic paces, balance and suppleness, working with more ‘spring’ from his hind legs in a regular rhythm, improving the rider’s position, feel and understanding of the training system. They now have a ‘tool kit’ of movements and exercises to work on with some autonomy – for example :- Warming up – loosening, focusing stretching before more demanding work, creative use of school figures and a range of movements/ transitions to work towards engagement. Riding forward to a soft rein contact and acceptance of the bit being a key factor.
And what do they have to keep them moving forward? The motivation and joy of working together and an ever increase ‘tool kit’ of training knowledge and ideas.
