Testimonials
I hope that you will find the following testimonials from a few of my clients helpful. I have included these as I would like to give you an idea and feel for how I work.
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"Very intuitive, Sarah is a natural teacher with an extremely perceptive eye. Sarah helps me to adjust and refine my body in the saddle. With her help I limit negative influences and maximise the positive influences I have on my horses. But it's not all about the rider. Sarah knows how to use appropriate exercises to encourage straightness and balance to bring a horse further in his development." T.K.
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"I met Sarah over a year ago, she was teaching another livery at my yard. I was very impressed with the way she taught, so arranged a lesson with her. I find Sarah to be extremely patient and have never known her to rush her explanations. She explains everything in detail and so it can be understood. My horse can get quite stressed but really likes her and relaxes when she is around. Sarah is very quiet and sympathetic to the horse's needs and gets results." V.D
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Sarah has been my trainer since 2007. Due to her understanding of horse and rider biomechanics she is able to help me make changes in myself (sometimes now almost imperceptibale to see) which have a profoundly beneficial effect on how my horse is moving and carrying himself and my connection with him. She is able to combine this with more traditional ideas (such as using lateral work at a certain time to improve balance and straightness). Her teaching is logical and makes sense and I am always able to understand what she asks me to do and why. No force or gadgets have ever been involved. Sarah is empathic, builds confidence, is supportive, kind and generous with her time. She cares deeply for horses' well-being and continually strives to learn more about riding, training and all aspects of caring for horses. During a 10 month period in which I rehabilitated my horse following a suspensory ligament injury, Sarah was a tremendous source of knowledge and support. She is easy to feel totally at ease with and stayed with me through livery yard moves and I have always felt that she does her utmost to help me and my horse. J.C.
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'Sarah is a wonderful coach and trainer. I have been taught by her since 2008 and remember very well my first lesson when I realised how effective the Ride With Your Mind (RWYM™) techinque is. Sarah's personality and style of teaching instantly puts me at ease and gives me confidence. Using RWYM™ Sarah has taught me the various 'pieces' that have enable me to become consciously aware of what the various parts of my body are doing and how to make them more effective so that my horse performs better. This has totally changed my riding for the better. Sarah's coaching style means I have plenty of 'tools' in my tool kit for when I am riding on my own and can reproduce what I obtain in lessons. 'Coaching' instead of 'telling' is a very powerful method of training. Sarah has helped me 'notice' what my body is doing and become aware of bad habits and how the horse can alter me. Every lesson I learn something new and have the feeling of building on the previous lesson's 'pieces'. I would highly recommend Sarah and feel very lucky that she is my trainer. L.S.
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Since Sarah has been working with me and my horse we have both seen a vast improvement. My horse had been guarding his back having sustained an injury as a youngster but with Sarah's help and guidance we have been able to get past this issue (and many others!). His mobility has been transformed and he can now move in a way he was never able to do before.
Sarah has made me more aware of myself as a rider, and how I influence my horse, and as a result I now feel I can be much more effective. Sarah's approach to teaching is sympathetic and complimentary to both horse and rider. She is a very constructive teacher, easy to understand and great fun. I find her methods remarkably effective. N.J. |
I am a registered BHSAI and I have been using Sarah as my instructor for the last three years. Over the this time we have worked on a number of horses, continuing to improve my comprehension of biomechanics and just how vital they are to success, my riding therefore, and the way of going in each of the horses. For me, the secret to Sarah's success comes via a number of qualities:-
Problem Solving. Give Sarah any scenario and, via extraordinary attention to detail, she is hot on spotting the essence of an issue or problem. It is almost always, as with so many horses and riders, the slightest nuisance, angle or anomaly in position, or way of going, but it will often be the cause and therefore the solution.
Understanding of horse and rider biomechanics. Sarah as shown me an additional level of understanding that surpasses anything before. How influential the tiniest correction in position can be, how to use your core muscles, what you should feel on the saddle, how to analyse when something is not right, how it should feel when it is going right, by how far its power can influence the horse and then how to keep it. And, coincidentally, by how far the horse can negatively influence the rider without even being noticed! These are powerful tools to be given.
Training the horse. Sarah has many layers of knowledge on the training of the horse, both mounted and in-hand, which work seamlessly with her knowledge of biomechanics. When up against an issue, her style is always to look back into the training of the horse and understand what is failing. I have therefore learnt that you will always find something which gives you an angle from which to fix. You just have to be patient. Under the umbrella of training of the horse, her appreciation of how and when to reward, when to give an aid and when to stop, are integral to the success of changing the horse. This has been another 'big learn' for me.
Ethical approach. The riding style that Sarah creates via her lessons is entirely ethical, meaning no push/pull. It takes a lot (in a good way) to 'do nothing' and this becomes evident early in the lessons. Her methods of teaching without fail put the comfort on the horse (and rider) foremost yet are entirely effective. In addition, she will spot conformation issues, tack issues, soundness issues and discuss. The welfare of the horse is clearly paramount.
In conclusion, I would thoroughly recommend her to anyone who wishes to follow a quiet, effective, ethical and highly successful approach to their riding and their horse's progression. J.W.
Problem Solving. Give Sarah any scenario and, via extraordinary attention to detail, she is hot on spotting the essence of an issue or problem. It is almost always, as with so many horses and riders, the slightest nuisance, angle or anomaly in position, or way of going, but it will often be the cause and therefore the solution.
Understanding of horse and rider biomechanics. Sarah as shown me an additional level of understanding that surpasses anything before. How influential the tiniest correction in position can be, how to use your core muscles, what you should feel on the saddle, how to analyse when something is not right, how it should feel when it is going right, by how far its power can influence the horse and then how to keep it. And, coincidentally, by how far the horse can negatively influence the rider without even being noticed! These are powerful tools to be given.
Training the horse. Sarah has many layers of knowledge on the training of the horse, both mounted and in-hand, which work seamlessly with her knowledge of biomechanics. When up against an issue, her style is always to look back into the training of the horse and understand what is failing. I have therefore learnt that you will always find something which gives you an angle from which to fix. You just have to be patient. Under the umbrella of training of the horse, her appreciation of how and when to reward, when to give an aid and when to stop, are integral to the success of changing the horse. This has been another 'big learn' for me.
Ethical approach. The riding style that Sarah creates via her lessons is entirely ethical, meaning no push/pull. It takes a lot (in a good way) to 'do nothing' and this becomes evident early in the lessons. Her methods of teaching without fail put the comfort on the horse (and rider) foremost yet are entirely effective. In addition, she will spot conformation issues, tack issues, soundness issues and discuss. The welfare of the horse is clearly paramount.
In conclusion, I would thoroughly recommend her to anyone who wishes to follow a quiet, effective, ethical and highly successful approach to their riding and their horse's progression. J.W.