Why, What, and Where?

 

Why do I teach?.....

Because I love horses and want to educate others that want to love them too.  Too many times I have seen people unintentionally mistreat their horses only because they lack the knowledge to have a great relationship with them. So my job is to educate people so the horses in our lives have the best care possible, and that includes good riding.  I also teach because seeing my students grow over the years to become great riders and great people, is more reward than I could ask for!

     What do I teach?.....

My philosophies are really very simple. I believe that kindness, compassion, and humane treatment is the way to get the most out of the horses that we train, and patience, understanding, and the demand for respect is the way that I get the most out of my riders.  With respect for each other, most goals can be accomplished. 

Of course I have many of my own methods for instruction and training, but they all stem from the good old classic equitation/dressage roots from the likes of George Morris and the late Bertalan de Nemethy, and more modern successes such as Anna Jane White-Mullin, Anne Kursinski, and Missy Clark.  I try to stay open to new ways and methods as well.   I like to use Round Pen training to establish a healthy relationship with a young horse, and I also have started using basic clicker training geared especially for the skittish or scared horse where positive reinforcement is especially important for their progress.

 

Where can you find me?..... 

My home base is a wonderful stable called Shady Maples Stables (Mary and Dale McCall), in Blossvale N.Y where I teach 30 + riders on their own horses or school horses.  SMS is very down to earth and has a family friendly atmosphere.Take a look at their website by clicking HERE.

North Riding is a new place for me on Oneida lake in the town of Cleveland, NY. The owners are Scott and Gina Duggleby and they are very dedicated to their farm and daughters dreams.  A beautiful setting makes this farm a great place to be, with a very friendly atmosphere. 

North Riding offers :

Renovated historic barn with 24 stalls.

Large 12' x 12' stalls.

 6 paddocks with white poly wire tensile   fence and matted floors.

 60' x 180' indoor arena: completely   enclosed, lighted and sand surface.

 176 acres of wooded trails and open fields   including use of additional trails on adjacent   property.
 

Call Scott & Gina Duggleby for more information  315-674-3876

Fairway Farms (Julie and Russell Young) is a wonderful facility that I have worked at in the past.  Fairway puts on a great local show series that is perfect for new horses and riders and the perfect place for me to take customers that need to get in the swing of things in the show ring to prepare for the new seasons. Visit them at http://hometown.aol.com/fairwayfrms/fwf.htm

At the Horse Shows....

You can also find us at various other local shows in the area, or competing at  USEF (http://www.equestrian.org/) competitions such as the Syracuse PHA Circuit (http://www.syracusepha.org/) or, Saratoga Classic (http://www.skidmore.edu/campus/saratogaclassic/schs_entry.htm). My favorite venue for competition is the HITS on the Hudson series in Saugherties, NY.  (http://www.horseshowsinthesun.com). During a typical summer you may find us there for  3 or 4 weeks.

HITS 

Chemung County Classic

Saratoga

Since 2003 I have also been very involved in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association which has taken us all over to places in New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland.  The IEA is an association for Middle and High School students to compete, and it's format is much the same as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.  Students do not need to own there own horse to show, and perform on the host school's horses with their tack and equipment.  

       

 

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