TESTIMONIALS  

 

I just wanted to write and thank you for your excellent Rider Confidence Course on Saturday. I thought it was unique, inspirational and brilliant, applicable to any level of rider and indeed much of he content to all walks of life, not just horses. I took my horse cross country schooling on Monday and have decided that I am best to go into every fence repeating "we can, we can, we can, we can" from 4 strides out, instead of my usual "can we, can we, can we?". 

 

I would highly recommend this course to pretty much any level of rider and, in fact, I think I might even like to re-take it some day. 

 

I hope your hand heals quickly. Your horses and beautiful yard are a credit to you. I also learnt some excellent tips for further training my own horse. 

 

Best wishes, 

 

Sam Davis - August 2016 

 

 

What can I say but "Amazing" 

Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge with us. 

I attended the confidence course yesterday and this morning I hacked out my mare alone. 

My reins were loose and we had the best time we've had, when she started to spook I didn't react or tense up so she calmed immediately :-) 

Thank you for helping me to start enjoying my riding again Xx 

Lydia August 2016 

 

 

 

 

Dear Karl and Zana, 

 

On Sunday, my horse reared. Thanks to the skills you shared on the rider confidence course I sat out the first rear. A short while after he reared again, only this time due to the boggy conditions underfoot in a ploughed field, he lost his balance and toppled backwards with me still mounted. The friends I was hacking out with were horrified and felt helpless as they watched. Somehow, the drills you taught became second nature - I managed to keep my seat until the last moment when I knew which way he was falling to slip my stirrups, let go of his mane and push clear. I ended up with him landing and rolling onto my lower leg and was able to scramble clear as he got up. 

 

I can't say thank you enough. I didn't panic and it seems as if what you planted in my brain instinctively kicked in. I credit you guys for the reason why, other than a little bit of whiplash, I am fine and in one piece. Best of all, so is my horse, who patiently waited for me to get up and walked home with me looking so upset and rubbing his face against me as if to say sorry! Fortunately we have identified the reason for him behaving so out of character - which has been resolved - and I am back in the saddle with no loss of confidence! 

 

Here's a photo of the saddle - as you can see we were fortunate to be on a track the side of a ploughed field at the time. I have no hesitation in recommending your course - I had never thought I would be in the position I was this weekend and firmly believe all riders should attend and benefit from your course. 

 

Thank you so very much. 

Kind regards 

Kay 

 

Jan 2016 

 

 

I came to your riding confidence course at the beginning of February and thought now was a good time to let you know how much I feel I’ve come on since then and what a difference your course made. 

 

I loved the day! For me, it really put the fun back into riding where some bad experiences on the army horses had left me so nervous I just wasn't enjoying being around horses. I think the highlight of the day was rearing your gorgeous stunt horse and just walking away from a day around horses with a huge smile on my face. I wasn’t sure what to expect of the hypnosis as I’d never had experience of it before but I feel it made me relaxed and helped re-train my brain to see horses as fun rather than dangerous. 

Since the course I've continued weekly jumping lessons and hacks on calmer horses in preparation for my riding holiday in June, I took my first tumble last night. I fell safely, didn’t hurt myself in the slightest, laughed it off, jumped back on and re-rode the entire course of course in a forward position. 

 

Without a doubt if had took a fall before your course there’s no way I would have done all that. 

 

Everyone who helped out on the day was friendly and professional and we were never made to feel embarrassed for our nerves, it was amazing to watch everyone progress throughout the day and how everyone was queuing up to throw themselves off Nelly by the end of the falling section! 

 

I’m looking forward to coming back to try and trick or stunt day very soon! 

Please do feel free to use my comments on your site or facebook as I think everyone who is held back in riding at all should come to you guys. 

 

Thanks so much 

Rachael 

2014 

 

 

 

 

I just wanted to let you know I had a great time on the confidence course last week, (19/01/14) , really enjoyed it. To be honest before I came I was a bit skeptical about the hypnosis section and how successful it would be, and having come away on the day I didn't think it had had much of an effect but I'd really enjoyed the strategy of the mind and application of that thinking onto riding. 

 

The physical side of the course was really fun (I know it wasn't necessarily supposed to be), I have a very healthy sense of adventure but have been playing it a bit safe recently due to various riding experiences, but I really enjoyed the rearing and falling sections – and I'm now seriously tempted to sign up for the stunt riding day! 

What was brilliant about this course was the practical way we learned to approach situations that happen when riding horses so that the thought of this coming about becomes familiar and not scary, at least for now I feel mentally able to deal with what comes my way. 

 

Today I rode my dressage horse as I normally would, he's a safe ride in many ways, his bucking doesn't put you on the floor and if he bolts its through sheer excitement, rather than naughtiness. I'm not weary of him at all, but then he's become my comfort blanket of a ride. So, when I was offered a ride on a more complicated horse this afternoon, to my own surprise I found myself accepting without hesitation. He's known to be very spooky, will turn and bolt on a six pence, and not to be trusted jumping. For the first time in ages I felt confident to use my skill and ability to deal with a horse like this, I didn't feel anxious or nervous and we even completed a clear round of show jumps! I totally forgot to put my back protector on, another comfort blanket. I know that at some point I will fall off a horse, but now I feel better prepared to deal with it, and much more confident in my ability to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

 

Everyone at the yard was interested to hear what I'd been up to last week, and the number of people who I've shared a laugh with about paying to fall off a horse, but my riding instructor today was amazed at the change in my attitude and impressed with the piece of riding I was able to demonstrate. Two weeks ago I was playing it safe, this week I made a complicated horse look like a novice ride – I've been told time and time again I have all the ability but none of the self belief and now that I'm writing this to you, I think the hypnosis that I was initially a bit skeptical about might just have paid off!!!! Thank you so much, to all the team – I'm thrilled to be enjoying the benefits of having taken the course! 

 

For anyone who might be considering the course I would say it really isn't just for nervous riders, I'm not nervous but bad experiences had definitely clouded my perspective when riding. This course has lifted that cloud and is allowing me to focus on the positive and ride to my full potential again. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to shake off a bad experience regardless of their riding ability. 

 

I hope I can come back and take the stunt riding day soon, this definitely whetted my appetite for a bit more adventure, and reminded me why I love playing with horses!! 

Thanks again to the whole team. 

 

 

 

 

Just wanted to say a big thankyou...the confidence day and “It’s normal just ride the horse” has made a huge difference to me and my Welsh cob mare Star. I can’t believe I am beginning to jump her and hack her out. She is totally different as I am not gripping and tightening. I can’t thank you enough! 

 

 

 

 

Brilliant course on Thursday, well worth the trip over from Ireland. I will recommend it to all my friends. Thanks Karl & Zana, great fun