• Ian Vandenberghe
• Nicole Golding & Adam Goodfellow
• Linda Ruffle
• Debbie Glennan
• Lyn Dixon
• Sue Brown
• Suzanne Marshall
• John Jones
• Sarah Weston
• Zoe Chipman
• Hannah Rose
• Garry Bosworth
• Sarah Dent
• Lynn Chapman
• Sandra Williams
• Cyndie Gould
• Sally Hamilton
• Jo Bond
• Dido Fisher
• Julia Fisher
• Carrie Adams
• Sylvia Arnold

Please note their contact details are on a separate page 'Recommended Associates to Help with Your Horse or Pony'

Ian Vandenberghe ~ Oxfordshire/Berkshire/Northamptonshire ~ Ian and Sandy Vandenberghe have run a starting and schooling yard and stud for over 15 years. See also under 'Courses' where Ian runs the Foal Handling, Stud Practice, Feeding and Nutrition and The Horse as an Athlete. Ian takes on our most serious remedial cases as well as schooling and starting. Ian and Sandy always have an interesting selection of horses for sale - open to veterinary inspection and with full history. Enquiries welcome.

Top

Client Feedback:

'Adam Goodfellow was recommended to me as someone who could help with a 3 year old Arab gelding I had just bought. I soon found that Arizona had quite an attitude and I wasn't sure how to deal with it. Anxious to start everything off right, I contacted Adam. When he came I was so worried that he would do something bad, I would hardly let him out of the car! But I soon realised he would change Arizona's behaviour without doing anything I wasn't happy with. From leading, loading, long lining and now riding (I backed Arizona with Adam at the yard he runs with Nicole Golding), I have been helped at each stage enabling me to continue on my own at home. Adam's help has been invaluable. His kind and thoughtful approach has produced a lovely riding horse for me to work with and enjoy. It has been very reassuring that if any problems develop I can contact him or Nicole and receive sensible and sound advice.'

Top

Client Feedback:

'I was amazed how quickly my horse responded. I would definatley recommend your service to other horse owners' 

Top

Client Feedback:

'Lyn is very approachable and gives her time readily. Lyn has a great understanding of horse behaviour and is able to offer solutions to any difficulties.'

Top

I am a freelance equine behavioural and physical therapist, travelling to clients to work with them on their home ground. I have been riding since I was 3yrs old, and working with horses for over 20yrs. In this time I have gained a huge amount of experience with all types of horse. I am a BHS qualified riding instructor, having achieved my BHSAI qualification in 1997 I went on to complete the Monty Roberts Preliminary Certificate of Horsemanship in 1998. I have also spent time training with Mary Wanless (Ride With Your Mind). In 2005 I qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist, and am currently studying for an MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy at the Royal Veterinary College in London (for further information see www.acpat.org). I have recently completed an Equine Massage course with Equinology (for further information see www.equinology.com)and am a qualified Equine Body Worker, and am also studying Equine Touch (a non-diagnostic, non-invasive muscle and energy release discipline, for more information see www.theequinetouchuk.com). I also run 1-day 'Introductory Perfect Manners' courses and 1-day 'Equine Massage' courses alongside RA Sandra Luxford, as seen under 'Courses' on this website (further details at www.naturalhorsesense.co.uk and www.holistichorsehelp.com). I love the work, the people, the animals and the variety! The knowledge I have built up from my equestrian background combined with my massage and physiotherapy work enables me to offer a truly holistic approach to working with both you and your horse. I offer both groundwork and ridden instruction, as wellas Equine Massage. I particularly enjoy working with nervous riders to increase their confidence and improve their relationship with their horse. I spend a lot of my time working with youngsters, from handling ( i.e. picking up feet), leading and long lining to starting and hacking out. I also enjoy working with loading and travelling problems, and visiting people who don't necessarily have a problem at all but want reassurance, guidance and support. I am based in Thame, Oxfordshire, and travel around the UK bringing Holistic Horse Help clinics to your yard.

Client Feedback:

(From questionnaire): Q: 'How could we improve our service?,  A: 'Come and live on my yard!'

Top

Suzanne Marshall ~ Kent ~

Horses have always been a part of my life, but I felt that there was something lacking in some conventional training methods. In 1998, I attended at Monty Roberts demo and finally found what I had been looking for – an approach that achieved partnership, cooperation and trust between horse and human. This caused the horse to work with you because he wanted to, rather than he was being made to. I became a Recommended Associate in 2001, and am also a Mary Wanless ‘Ride with your Mind’ Accredited Coach, and a holder of the BHSAI. I have a10 horse yard offering full and schooling livery. A lot of my time is spent out on the road travelling to clients to help them in whatever way they need. This could be assistance in leading, loading, groundwork exercises or ridden problems to name a few. My aim is to tailor my work to suit you and your horse, to create a better relationship and understanding to strengthen the bond between you.

My goal is to help people reach new levels of understanding with their horses, and to make the time that they spend with them fun.”

Client Feedback:

Below is a quote from Lisa who rescued and mare and foal from slaughter in France, and the mare was so scared she wouldn’t let anyone hear her, and the headcoller had rubbed her raw.

“Just a big thank you for what you have done for myself and Missy, and for being so nice and friendly and for helping me to get Missy's headcollar off, I hope it doesn't scar her pretty face. You were so good to her and so kind I cannot thank you enough. The wounds are dry now which is good. We cremated the headcollar with glee!!! What you did was just amazing and so effortless really, in just one hour you did what I had been trying to do for 3 weeks. I am now your biggest fan and that of IH and want to learn more. And thank you for not telling me I'm in over my head and shouldn't have brought a horse I know nothing about. (even though that is sensible)” Lisa and Missy.

Top

John Jones ~ Herefordshire, South Wales ~ John has been a Recommended Associate since 1998.

John works with youngsters and problem horses aiming for lightness and clear communication. “I still feel so elated by how you have changed her and consequently am daily gaining more confidence in trusting her, I hope I won’t bore you with endless *******, but I am riding on clouds at the moment with my new found grey friend!”KV. “I have found the work that John has done with my youngsters, invaluable” PL.

Sarah Weston ~ Hants, South Wiltshire, East Dorset ~

 I am based in the heart of the New Forest where my starters and remedial horses live out full time and have the opportunity to work in a peaceful environment with lots of interesting things to see. My philosophy is to give a horse a sense of purpose; much of my training work takes place off the yard and in enclosed areas of the Forest. Naturally I work with a lot of untouched ponies, halter training them and preparing them for a working life. My mobile work also covers starters, non-loaders and lots of quirky problems that horses seem to acquire from time to time.
 

Client Feedback:

Just to let you know that Flossy travelled back really well on Sunday and came off and went straight back on again about 3 times, I was so so pleased with her. She also loaded last night really well.

Have just read your assessment. Thank you for taking the time you did over it. I found our sessions very interesting and enjoyable and it was good to meet you. I found your written assessment incisive and most helpful.

Thank you so much for help – everyone in the yard cannot believe what a difference to my mad pony. Sue, December, 2004
It’s going really well, it’s fabulous, I feel so much more confident…..

Also, I would like to say a big thank you for yesterday! Angel's move has been really calm & it's all down to you. She's settling in, but of course is a bit puzzled by the new farm. 

Firstly I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU personally for your time, effort and patience in showing me your way with horses it was brilliant and nice to see there are still people who care enough!

Top

Zoe Chipman ~ Surrey ~ Hants ~ W Sussex ~ Berkshire

By mediating between you and your horse, using language you will both understand, Zoë offers effective, sympathetic help with a wide range of behavioural problems.
Although Zoë works with all manner of issues, she specialises in helping horses who are reluctant to load, horses - including rescues or foals - who have never been handled or who have been handled traumatically, and horses or owners who are suffering from confidence issues.
Zoë is also available to give lessons in Long Reining, Spook busting, and general handling.

Client Feedback

'Gave excellent tips and moral support, it's working well and I feel I can ring or e-mail anytime!'

'She was extremely knowledgeable, it has helped to gain a broader outlook on the problem and me a new outlook in how to solve the problems". "Zoe is enthusiastic, confident, flexible and reassuring. I would highly recommend her!'

Top

Hannah has been working with horses since 1980. She holds the BHSAI. Hannah saw Monty at Towerlands in 1997 and less than a year later was on Kelly's last 10 week full time course. Since becoming a Recommended Associate in late 1998, Hannah has worked hard to build up her relationship with local equestrian establishments in Suffolk. Hannah has recently relocated to Mustique in Barbados, however she is still available for email horse help enquires, where possible.

I have been a Recommended Associate since 2002. Visiting The Bransby Home of Rest for Horses, near Lincoln, on a regular basis, to work with many of their horses, has given me experience of a wide range of equine behavioural problems. Although I have the use of a small yard I mainly visit clients at their own premises, however, I can, if need be, take horses in for more intensive work. During the summer months I run various workshops and organise lecture/demos by other equine practitioners.

Client Feedback:

'I found it very interesting and the concepts Garry used and introduced to me made perfect sense. He was very good as a people and horse person'

Thank you for the excellent workshop day in August, I really enjoyed it (LF Lincs.)
Jupiter will now trust me enough to let me load him single handed (JK Lincs.)
I took Shannan on a 45 minute journey and she hardly got warm, did not kick out or ‘freak’ at all. Thanks for making it possible. (LB North Lincs.)
Sam is now a much happier horse. He is gentle, relaxed and a pleasure to work with. (GS Hackthorn)
I saw a lot of people struggling to load their horses at the end of the day. I was very tempted to give them your name. (JK Welton)

Top

Sarah Dent ~ North and West Yorkshire, Cleveland, Co Durham

Sarah lives on a mixed farm in Boroughbridge, N Yorks, and has facilities at home to take horses and ponies in for Starting / Re-starting: * 60 metre outdoor arena with undercover viewing * Indoor and outdoor round pens * Newly built oversize loose boxes (including 2 suitable for 'wild' cases) * High fenced 'wild horse' paddock * Safe contained tracks for riding/long lining * 20 acres of grassland split into several turnout paddocks * Premium homegrown haylage * Lecture room for small groups/seminars/guest speakers * Farm is easily accessed from J47 A1 motorway

'Having Sarah work with Toby today was a truly remarkable experience - something we will never forget. Whilst I was really hopeful that she would be able to help, I really didn't expect to see so much happen so quickly - it felt quite magical! It feels like we have just taken a huge step forwards on a great journey, and I know that the time spent with you and Toby today is just the beginning.'
Top

Client Feedback:

Restart horse
M’s been really good and much calmer- all thanks to you! She feels like my horse again and I’m very proud of her. P.R. Surrey
Starter
Dinner in the oven and still on a high! Thank you so much for making the effort to come up to I. It’s lovely to have such a good teacher and nice person to share the experience with. L.B. Berks
Ex-racehorse
Once again thank you so much you have made me feel more comfortable with S already. H.M. Andover
Clipping Problem
Lynn made me feel that, with help and persistence, I could make a difference and make life easier for me and my horse. J.K. Hants
Handling Issues
She answered all my questions and put my mind to rest. I now have a baseline on which to start his training. C.F. Hants

Top

Sandra Williams ~ Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxon

Client Feedback:

'Dear Kelly, I wanted to write and thank you and your website for putting us in touch with Sandra Williams nee Luxford. Since using Intelligent Horsemanship with our horse we have come from the point of having a horse so nervous and stressed that she was becoming a danger to herself, to having a horse that looks to have a promising future ahead. We still have a long way to go but it is thanks to Sandra’s help and support that we have come as far as we have.'

'I attended a Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks demonstration in the beginning of 2004 and decided this was something I really wanted to know more about, and that it could really help me with the 3 ½ year old horse I was training/backing.
After signing up for my 5-day preliminary course, I received a list of exercises to practice in preparation for the course. I was concerned that I couldn’t do these and contacted Kelly Marks. She advised me to visit my local Recommended Associate (Sandra Williams) for a lesson to prepare me for the course.
I contacted Sandra and she immediately made me feel much less concerned about my inability to perform some of the exercises. When I visited her, she quickly made me feel at ease, and explained in very easy to understand terms how to perform the exercises required - the lesson was fun with a capital “F” from start to finish. The lesson made all the difference to my confidence in tackling the preliminary course. For me it transformed an interesting and exciting course in to a truly fantastic experience. I would strongly advise anyone who wishes to attend the preliminary course to visit their local RA beforehand. I met several people on my course who hadn’t mastered some of the basic techniques required, and I believe they could have gained so much more from the whole experience had they spent just 30 minutes training with an RA. I continue to have lessons with Sandra, working towards my stage two certificate. Every one is a great learning experience and helps me every step of the way. Sandra, “THANKS” for all your hard work, encouragement and patience, I wouldn’t have got this far without your help.'

'Sandra has worked alongside my 11yr old daughter and myself with our various horses and ponies for over 2 years now. Her equine intuition, clear teaching and endless patience has helped us beyond measure to understand and handle our horses in such a way that it is an absolute joy to be with them. Thank you'

'I am writing just to say thank you! I recently called with a problem mare who had very suddenly stopped loading on to my lorry, where I had had no problems loading her before. You put me in contact with someone more local to me, Sandra Williams, who was very helpful. She advised me to go through all the foundation exercises in the 'Perfect Manners' book, which I already had at home. I went out and bought a training halter and although I have to admit that I was a little skeptical as to whether these things would get Mystic up the ramp, to my surprise and delight it has worked a treat! It took four weeks, doing 15 - 20 minutes a day with her and she loaded and ate her breakfast on the lorry every day of last week. Sandra said to me that you need to try and find out what the problem is, which I found impossible to get my head around, because she had loaded before with no problems whatsoever and at the end of the day she wasn't very well going to tell me! But after racking my brains about the ways she had loaded I put the problem down to the ramp, as because of the springs, it doesn't always lay completely on the floor when you lower it, so I found a peice of wood in the work shop and put it underneath and it made the ramp feel a lot more secure, so that peice of wood travels every where with me now. The only thing I am sorry for now, is not contacting you sooner and avoiding some of the other failed attempts at getting Mystic on to the lorry. Please pass on my thanks to Sandra - me and my horse were very stressed out and now we are both 'happy as larry'!! '
 {
 

Top

Cyndie Gould (formerly Melcher) ~ Surrey ~ Sussex ~

Cyndie Gould (formerly Melcher), one of our first RA's, comes out to where the horse is in order to work with the owner and the horse equally. To help develop a relationship of mutual trust and respect, she spends as much time with the owner to explain the principles of pressure and release as with the horse.

Cyndie can assist in improving a range of relationships from foal imprinting to more cooperative leading & loading to napping and bucking. She also teaches long lining for purposes of bringing on a youngster, of offering an alternative to lungeing for any horse or of helping a convalescing horse return to normal work. Sometimes Cyndie needs to come out to help only once, and other times she comes at regular intervals, giving the owner'homework' to do between sessions. As a follow up to working together she is available by phone or email.

In addition Cyndie is a registered BHSAI, especially helping people who are nervous riders for a variety of reasons. She also volunteers her time instructing with the RDA in both riding and driving for the disabled. Cyndie is also a member of EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Assoc.). She has 2 horses out her back door, a 17.1 Irish Draft/TB and a Welsh Cob (15.2) whom she drives as well as rides. Cyndie has a round pen that she can transport to your yard, especially for group clinics.

Client Feedback:

'She came out yesterday and I have to say I have never been so pleased with a session with a professional in my life.' 'We made an unbelievable amount of progress in just the first session, i was astounded.'

Top

Sally has been a part time riding teacher since passing her BHSAI when she left school, and calculates that if all her experience with horses was put together it would span about six years full time.  Some highspots included teaching the Oxford University Pentathlon team, teaching someone so that he could join a cavalry battle with the Sealed Knot, and being thanked by a member of the British Junior Show Jumping team for being one of his favourite teachers.  Pupils have ranged in age from three to sixty something, some have been mentally or physically disabled, and some have gone on to own their own horses or ponies or taken up a career with horses.   Her passion for teaching was fuelled by her introduction to the work of Sally Swift in the 1990s, but it was in 2000 that her life with horses was changed dramatically by a demonstration by Michael Peace, trained by Monty Roberts, using join-up as the basis of communicating with horses in a non-violent way.  This started her on a journey of discovery that soon took her to Kelly’s training courses at Witney.  Using many of the equines at Bradfield Riding Centre as case studies, where she was teaching at the time, her interest at first was just for her own satisfaction in seeing what could be achieved with riding school horses using join-up, longlining and foundation exercises.  Sally has not allowed a horse to be hit in any of her lessons since 2000, and uses wip-wops instead of sticks.  To her delight she was awarded the Monty Roberts Preliminary Certificate of Horsemanship in 2005, and was invited to become one of Kelly’s Recommended Associates in the New Year of 2007.  Since then she has found she has been able to help people with loading and leading problems, napping horses, horses you can’t catch, won’t stop, or are frightened of traffic and various other issues.  She has particularly enjoyed helping people gain the trust and respect of youngsters.  Sally does not have her own yard so will help you in your own surroundings.  Sometimes just one or two visits are all that is required, although some clients prefer ongoing support, and are usually visited once a week or fortnight.  In 2008 she was inspired by a four day riding course with Mary Wanless, which she feels has improved her own riding skills and given her more ways in which she can help her pupils.

Client Feedback: 'Its great to know there is help out there if you need it and that problems can be solved!'

Top

Dido Fisher ~ Sussex ~ Hants ~ Surrey

Client Feedback:

'I would like to say thanks to Dido and the help she gave me and my pony, we have been able to compete successfully, and this year became the National Novice Carriage Driving Champion. Although i have put in hours of training I feel that the help Dido gave me at the beginning to get my pony right helped me greatly. Thanks Dido.'

Top

Julia Fisher ~ Hertfordshire

Client Feedback:

'I would definately recommend IH to others. Julia's style of teaching and guidance is excellent. Since she left we feel much more in control and confident around our 3 ponies.'

Top

Carrie Adams ~ Nottinghamshire

http://www.centrelines.co.uk/

Combining the principles of Natural Horsemanship within a Dressage training system based on communication, trust and mutual respect'

Client Feedback: 'Carrie was extremely professional and understanding of our problems with a remedial young horse. The horse made amazing progress under her care and direction. We are now able to progress and ride our young horse in our choosen discipline of dressage with further help and training from Carrie. She is extremely competant and understands the mentality of young horses. I would have no hesitation in recommending Carrie to anyone.'