REAL LIFE RIDERS – Dressage Training TV

AN ON-GOING PRE-RECORDED SERIES LOOKING AT A VARIETY REAL LIFE RIDERS AND THEIR HORSES

Watch how these combinations of horse & rider develop, both on the ground and in ridden work through a series of sessions with our RWYM coaches. Click the photos below to go to the pages where you can watch their progress and read about them in more detail.

ALI & DELILAH

From a non-horsey family, Ali spent all of her spare time from the age of nine at the local riding school, working 20 hours most weekends for the chance of a free ride. Once she was old enough to get a paper round and a job in the local supermarket it didn’t take her long to find a pony on loan which she enjoyed taking to local shows. Finally she bought her first horse at 21 years old.

Now as she approaches her late forties she's living the dream of horses at home and two pony mad daughters who enjoy the love of horses which she found many years ago!

Delilah is the latest addition to Ali's equine family, she travelled from Ireland at the beginning of 2021 and Ali bought her in February. She’s a five year old Connemara and has the most calm and gentle persona. However, she is quite nervous when it comes to new people and if they try and do anything with lunge lines and whips she thinks the worse, so they are taking our time to get to know each other.

Her favourite pastime is eating and lately has been enjoying midnight feasts as she manages to escape her paddock to the longer grass in the field. Ali's looking forward to what the future holds for her as they all grow together.

CAROLINE & SUNNY

Sunny is a rising six, 15.1hh traditional gypsy cob. Caroline has had him since he was 13 months old.

She started with groundwork & backed him when he was four. this time last year he began more work, and so is still green.

CHANTAL & MIA

Chantal loved riding from an early age, but didn’t get her first horse until she was 27 years.

Mia is a 15.2hh, 14 year old cob who lives out all year round, in a field at the end of Chantal’s garden. Unusually for a cob, Mia has more go than whoa! She loves performing in front of large crowds! Together Chantal and Mia compete at Prelim/ Novice dressage and regularly take part in the webinars and demo days.

Savannah-Session-5-Schooling-1-Nav-Block

CLAIRE & SAVANNAH

Claire is in her mid-forties. She learnt to ride as a child but only bought Savannah when she was 40! Claire has a bad habit of tipping forward especially when things go a bit wrong. She also has to focus on keeping her hands up and elbows bent.
Savannah is a 16.1hh, 11 year old Selles Francais x KWPN mare. She has more go than whoa and can be a bit spooky.
Together Claire and Savannah like to hack and they compete at Prelim/ Novice level dressage.

HANNAH & ROSIE

Hannah has ridden since a child and evented until 2012 when she lost her horse and her enthusiasm went with it. When Hannah first started these sessions she was very crooked but has made fantastic progress with her and Rosie's straightness.
Rosie is an eight year old Welsh cob mare. She had only hunted before Hannah bought her in January 2018 and she generally went around with her head in the air and only in straight lines. She was bargey on the ground and a bit stubborn - not surprising for a chestnut, Welsh cob mare!
Rosie had laminitus in spring 2019 and has just started to come back into work. Hannah hopes to compete her at Prelim dressage again in the future.

KAREN & KALLIGRAPHY

Karen grew up in Zimbabwe and has ridden/ owned horses since she was five years old. She took a break from horses when she married and then when her and her husband relocated to the UK in 2004, she started riding again.
Kalligraphy, is a 7 year old, chestnut thoroughbred bred by Grace Muir of North Farm Stud. He can be a bit of a worrier but takes great confidence from Karen.
Karen and Kalligraphy have started doing Prelim Dressage with the aim of competing at higher levels.

KIRSTIN & GEORGE

Kirstin has ridden since a child, predominantly at a riding school where she eventually worked part time. She trained to BHS Stage Three switching to NVQ 3 while working at a livery and training yard in her late 20's, and enjoyed working towards PTT.
George was bought by Kirstin as a four year old. His training was a little stop/start due to Kirstin having a young family and work commitments. When he's calm, George has more whoa than go but he does have the occasional exuberant outburst!
Kirstin and George like to hack with Kirstin's children and their ponies, and would like to do some BD Quest competitions in the future.

KIRSTIN & PADDY

Paddy is Kirstin's son's little horse. When Kirstin's not riding Paddy. Paddy can mostly be found at PC and SEG events having the time of his life! Paddy is an uncomplicated, willing & very trainable soul, who is a joy to do in every way possible!

SAM & BLUE

Sam is Sarah S's husband, although he and Blue are less comfortable between the boards than Sarah & Pablo, they often go up against each other at dressage competitions, just for fun!

SARAH & BOBBY

Bobby was a seven year old Welsh pony who was started late in life, & had been training with Sarah for about nine months at the time of filming.

Sarah reported that Bobby was more 'whoa' than 'go', but that his instinct was to rush when worried.

SARAH S & BLUE

Blue was bred as a racehorse, but didn’t seem to have the racing spirit. Pablo & Sarah compete against Blue & Sarah’s husband at various riding club events & Sarah is keen to uncover Blue’s obvious talent for dressage.

SARAH S & PABLO

Sarah used to work in Army public relations but is now a self-employed PR consultant. She is our longest 'Real Life Rider' and has been training with us for over two years.

Pablo is a 13 year old part Andalucian. He is quite a character and a favourite with members! He likes to put in just enough effort but no more!

Sarah and Pablo do Prelim Dressage, 2’6” / 2’9” show jumping, a few Hunter Trials and every so often go out with the local hunt where they show the field master who has the fastest horse!

TAYNE & DUKE

Duke is Tayne's first horse since taking a break from ponies her childhood.

Over the years Tayne and Duke have competed at dressage, showjumping, cross country, hunting, showing, side saddle, beach rides, sponsored rides, happy hacking, groundwork you name it they have given it a try!

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YOUR COACHES

MARY WANLESS

RWYM BHSI BSc

Mary Wanless is an internationally renowned coach, and is the author of the ‘Ride With Your Mind’ books, which have been translated into many languages. She has also authored 8 DVDs. She coaches riders at all levels, from relative novices to two of the top twelve US dressage riders, and some of the Canadian eventing squad. She has B.Sc. degrees in both Physics and Applied Sports Coaching, and holds the BHSI certificate. Her coaching career in the USA began in 1991 with an invitation to speak at the California Dressage Society annual meeting. She has also spoken at the US Dressage Federation’s Annual Convention.

ALI WAKELIN

RWYM BHSAI

Ali Wakelin is a fully certified RWYM coach. She has been trained by the world renowned coach and author Mary Wanless. Ali teaches alongside Mary at clinics on a regular basis. Ali has also undertaken extensive training in the methods of Dr Andrew Mclean (Australian Equine Behaviour Centre – www.aebc.com.au). Ali is one of very few trainers outside Australia who have trained in this method. Ali combines Rider Biomechanic training (RWYM), Clicker training and the classical, scientifically based horse training system of the AEBC into a unique Horse/Rider learning experience.

PETER DOVE

RWYM

Peter Dove is a RWYM coach and #1 Best Selling Author of Master Dressage – Ride more beautiful tests, get higher marks and have a better relationship with your horse. Check out the 50+ 5 Star Reviews on Amazon for the 2nd Edition at https://www.amazon.co.uk/masterdressage Peter Dove has been riding, teaching and learning dressage for over 25 years. In the 15 years he has been at East Soley EC2000 he has judged and taught combined, some 9000 riders competing at intro to elementary level and beyond. Over the 15 years he has developed systematics ways of explaining how to improve results competing at dressage. Peter is taught by Mary Wanless BHSI and considers her teachings of rider biomechanics to be one of the main keys to success at all levels of riding and is forever in her debt for all she has taught.