Our training process begins with work on the ground; horses have to be conditioned in order to keep from injuring themselves and to be able to properly carry themselves. We ask the horses from the beginning to reach for the bit, bring their backs up and step through. We bring them off their forehands, and immediately engage their hind ends asking them to move in front of where the leg is or where the leg would be. Their hind ends are to act like the motor, that is where their energy starts; the energy has to flow without interference. We engage the hind end and immediately get them off their forehands by elevating their withers, the horse will naturally reach for the bit, and we don’t have to do any see saw motions or force them to take the bits and bend unnaturally in their necks. When the withers have lifted it fills in the hole where the neck and wither are connected and frees up the shoulders. The horses back is able to soften with all of these elements in place and a horse can truly be in cadence, rhythm and balance.
All of this takes time, effort and energy but we believe that every horse is capable of doing it.
A horse going forward, who is in front of the leg, cannot do anything but go forward.
We take pride in our work, and hope you do to. Every horse has something to teach us as well, and the more horses we ride the more we learn from them. Our horses are well cared for, clean and over all happy.
Riding Resume:
I currently ride with Michelle Binder of the Relational Riding Academy (see her website at www.relationalridingacademy.com)and have ridden and studied the art of classical dressage, combined training and corrective riding with her for 10+ years.
I have had clinics with:
Sigfried Vutte of the Spanish Riding School 05
Sue Sherry since 2000
Danica Yates (Debbie McDonald Student, see her website at www.Danicayates.com) 2008
I have studied/audited with:
Debbie McDonald 2002
Walter Zettl 2002-2004 putting in over 72 hours of observation, note taking and study
Marina Genn 2002
Ridden With:
Cricket Dixon Jump Instructor 2000-2001
Michelle Merkin of Frostline Farms 2001-2002
Three Hats Farm; Driving and English Disciplines from 1995-2009
Other Achievements:
4-H member in Columbia County from 1997-2001
State Qualifier in 4-H ( in Jumping, Dressage, Showmanship, English Equitation, and Horse Judging)1997-2001
Founder and Varsity Captain of Gladstone Highschool Equestrian Team 1998-2001
Oregon State Games Silver Medalist 2002 (in Horse Trials)
AWS Bronze Medalist 2004 and 2006.
Super Fine Image- Sophie 1999 American Saddlebred Mare. Ridden by Amanda Wakefield. See how Sophie’s hind end is engaged and she is nearly stepping with her hind leg to the girth. Her back is soft, her withers are elevated and she is light on her forehand, the hole between her neck and withers is filled in, she’s in a natural set of head carriage (her head is directly over the bit, not in front of or behind), where she is reaching for the bit. Her shoulders are freed up which is allowing her humorous to fully extend. This horse had been in training for 60 days in this picture, she had already been started by a saddleseat rider, so we spent the 60 days retraining her for dressage. She is a gem and a perfect example of the of work that we do.
Here Sophie is just slightly behind the vertical but she is pushing through with her hind end, on the aids, and coming through. This horse has loads of potential, and if I bring her pole to the highest point and allow her nose to go just a few inches more forward we will have a truly correct picture.
Amanda Wakefield riding Renegades Major Go in his first horse trial at Merlin Farms, Deer Park Washington 2002 where we placed 4th out of 15 riders. We went on to compete in other horse trials and three day events, competing up to Novice Level. Received the silver medal for the Oregon State Games in Horse Trials at Lake Oswego Hunt Club 2002.
Renegades Major Go with our working student Bonnie at a play day in Deer Park WA at Twin Willows Farm. Bonnie took home several 1st-3rd places out of 15 riders.
Renegades Major Go training with Amanda Wakefield at Deep Creek Farms, Airway Heights Washington 2002. Training Beginning Novice-Novice Level.