My vet recommended Sue Gardner to me.
The first few lessons we had were on the ground and Sue soon had us working with poles. I could have cried when I realised just how terrified Treasure was of touching one of these monstrosities and what I, in my ignorance must have put her through.
Treasure and I now have an unbreakable bond. I hack out mostly in a rope halter much to the amazement of my friends and passers by.
I will always be grateful for what Sue has given us all.
I had a horse as a teenager, been involved in pony club, had ten years away from horses and been bitten by the bug again when I was offered to loan a lovely cob mare from a friend. Soon I wanted more. I decided to buy my own horse and that's when eight years ago I met my eight year old Connemara x Thoroughbred mare, Treasure.
I thought she was everything I had ever wanted, forward going and beautiful, it was love at first sight. Trouble was I just didn't get the feeling she felt the same way as me. Couldn't really put my finger on it, she is a real trier, it was the little things. She was quite head shy, terribly sensitive and reactionary. She was a terrific jumper but I got the feeling that she just rushed at everything like a bat out of hell almost like she just wanted to get the job over with. She jogged everywhere, and generally seemed to live life on the edge.
I was having regular lessons on her and was getting advice like "Put her in a stronger bit" or "Keep her going round jumping the same jump over and over until she tires". I knew this wasn't ever going to work with a horse like Treasure. She would just run away from the pain, she actually has a lovely mouth, and galloping around a school jumping the same jump over and over was just frying her brain.
I had heard of natural horsemanship and really thought it may be the way forward especially with a horse like Treasure. I had purchased Pat Parelli's stage one kit and was trying to work through it on my own. I had started riding in a rope halter and was amazed at the level of control I had and Treasure seemed happier already. I knew I still needed help though and that's when my vet recommended Sue Gardner to me. I booked a series of lessons with Sue because the more I saw the more I wanted to know, and I wanted to get the basics in place before settling down to say a lesson a month.
On day one we had a little chat about what I thought our problems were and Sue watched me thump through my interpretation of my Parelli course. Within twenty minutes of Sue handling Treasure's ears she had fallen asleep in Sue's arms. Sue taught me about approach and retreat and the subtleties of body language and energy force and what these mean to a horse. I was amazed that the effects of a little repositioning of my body meant to my horse. The effects were instantaneous.
The first few lessons we had were on the ground and Sue soon had us working with poles. I could have cried when I realised just how terrified Treasure was of touching one of these monstrosities and what I, in my ignorance must have put her through. Treasure and I now have an unbreakable bond. I hack out mostly in a rope halter much to the amazement of my friends and passers by. Treasure is calm and thinks before she spooks. She really trusts me and we regularly compete in dressage, hunter trials and are about to start le trec. Last year she presented me with an adorable colt who has come in to the world as trusting and respectful as his mother. I will always be grateful for what Sue has given us all.
Michaela and Treasure, West Sussex