One very fateful day, when I was but a wee poppet, my father unknowingly made a very big mistake. He put me on the back of a horse.
Now I believe that absolutely every girl, everywhere, loves horses. Some might be frightened of them, and some might not even know of them, but deep down, we all feel the magic that is Horse. I am pretty sure I would have survived knowing these amazing creatures only in books and movies, or out of car windows as we drove by, had my father not organized, what he thought, this once off ride around.
Not too long after that, after much begging and pleading, I was at Sleepy Hollow every week for riding lessons. I learned here more than just how to ride, I learnt about different disciplines, grooming, how to care for tack and the horse itself. I met many horses of all different shapes and sizes and I fell in love with them all.
Fast forward a few years, after school, and many different horses and trainers later, and in the midst of a few failed proposed life paths, I started volunteering at the horse care unit at the local SPCA. It was here that I realised that the relationship was not just one sided, I had just as much to offer horses as they could me. So I decided to become a farrier. No, an equine physio. No, an animal behaviourist! That’s the one.
After a small amount of research and advice, I came to the conclusion that no one really recognises any one institution for animal behaviour and that it might be best to get a more popular qualification first. So off I went to SANEF school….
I have since completed my Module 4 (Prelim Coach) and once my young horse is ready, I intend to go for my Module 5 (internationally recognised level 1 coach). After which I would still like to complete a course in horse behaviour, just to round it all out.
Below are a few pictures from various shows attended while studying my SANEF at Cape Winelands Riding. I had a very special mare while there who taught me much about myself, as well as coping with a mare.
Please get in touch if you would like to hear more or talk about your own special horses.
Regards,
Lisa-Marie