Well, I am about to head off to Pinelands Equestrian Center in New Gloucester, ME for what hopefully will turn out to be an amazing adventure! To learn more about Pinelands, click here!
While I was in the Northeast last month, I visited Jean Marquand, a longtime client and friend. For the past 3 years, she has invited me to come learn about the Elite Dressage Program that she rides in with Michael Poulin. I have helped Jean through a ground manners makeover with her imported Dutch Warmblood, Well Done after his arrived in the US a few years ago. Our work together has helped increase her bond with him as well as his responsiveness to her soft ways of communicating.
In our visit last month, I so enjoyed meeting Michael and his colleague Gwyneth McPherson. It was amazing to watch them work slowly and kindly with the horses they are bringing along at the upper levels. After sharing philosophies on how horses need time to soak in their lessons, time to develop mentally, emotionally and physically, it seemed we shared many of the same ideas. I was thrilled when I was invited to come back and ride some of their school masters to teach me about upper level dressage horses!
This is something I have wanted to to for years, but had no idea how it would come to fruition. Last March, after working with Magali Delgado, I thought I had found someone to share this with me! Her approach was equally soft and considerate of the horse. Before she left Aiken, she invited me to France to come ride some of their school horses and learn with her! I have been emailing and sending videos ever since, but sadly no response.
So now, onto greener pastures! So I say to you, if you have a dream, a crazy idea or something you have always wanted to do, PUT IT OUT THERE! Talk to people and share your dreams! You never know what doors may be open to you! As Jean said to me last night, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears!” May I be a good learner today!