Horse crazy – that's what my parents called me. They thought it was a phase that I'd outgrow but apparently this was a bug that stuck and I'm still as wild about the horses as ever.
I grew up riding English, western, bareback, unstarted horses in the pasture... whatever horses and ponies I could get my hands on. I even found a job while on an exchange program in the Netherlands exercising upper level event horses for well-known rider and owner, Hans Brugman. By my late teenage years my focus had narrowed to hunters and I rode for many years with top local trainer, Linda Labrousse Worley. I assisted Linda with the young horses in training, taught her school horse program, and traveled with her to rated hunter shows around the Pacific Northwest.
After hearing from many parents that they wished their child could ride but they didn't want to invest in a program based heavily on showing, I decided to start teaching on my own. I teach with a goal of keeping riding fun while still instilling the proper basics of riding and equitation. In addition to the usual no-stirrups drills, two-point marathons and jumping gymnastics, we play games on horseback, have occasional mounted parties, and take field trips to watch shows in other disciplines. Showing is an option for those students who wish to compete. My students also learn about basic horse care and even very young students are expected to help groom and tack up their own pony. Older students may learn how to dress a wound, wrap legs, load a horse into a trailer, or even administer a vaccine. For more information on additional activities, please click here.
I carry this philosophy through to my barn management and all the stall cleaning, feeding, and turning in and out is done by experienced horse people. I believe that it is important to have my hands on my horses and my clients' horses every day so that I can be aware of any changes in their behavior and habits. You are just as likely to find me cleaning a stall as teaching a lesson or riding a horse in training!
Another important aspect of my role as the trainer is finding good matches between riders and horses, whether the student is riding my own horses and ponies or looking for a horse to lease or buy. We may switch horses a few times to get the right fit for lessons, and as you progress you may find yourself moving on to a different mount. If you decide to lease or purchase a horse to ride at Myrewyn, I will work to find the right match for your budget and abilities, not just the fanciest horse or the one that will bring me the biggest commission.
Here are some of the comments I have received from clients;
" I sense that you've been the catalyst for a good number of kindred horse and rider combinations. That's a rare ability."
"Sara has a knack for finding caviar horses at hot dog prices!"
"I really appreciate all that you have done to help find... a suitable horse."
