Dressage trainers in Kent?

[Maiko]

Can any recommend a dressage trainer in Kent who fulfills all of these requirements:

Sympathetic and calm
Absolutely NO "crank-and-spank" used
Good track record
Able to take the horse for schooling livery during my summer holiday (extremely important!)

I would prefer someone who would be willing to travel to my yard for lessons, but if not I am happy to travel to them.

Personal recommendations would be great, thank you.

 

[Sags_Deer]

Hi ya I have a lovely trainer I think she lives Maidstone way, where are you? she is very classical and sympathetic

 

[Maiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi ya I have a lovely trainer I think she lives Maidstone way, where are you? she is very classical and sympathetic

[/ QUOTE ]

I am near West Malling. Who is your trainer?

 

[toomanyhorses26]

From what I have heard fiddlers green stud is good and able to take schooling livery and I was recommended Tanya Larrigan when I was looking for a dressage bootcamp for my slightly wayward ex racer

 

[spike123]

my friend travels to Julie Draper for lessons in showjumping.She also has a sister who teaches dressage and both are aparantly excellent trainers.I know they also do schooling livery so it may be worth getting in contact with them.
I only know Julies contact details but i'm sure she would be more than happy to put you in touch with her sister. They are based in Great Chart near Ashford.

 

[Sags_Deer]

Mandy Lawrence

 

[black_horse]

[ QUOTE ]
From what I have heard fiddlers green stud is good and able to take schooling livery and I was recommended Tanya Larrigan when I was looking for a dressage bootcamp for my slightly wayward ex racer

[/ QUOTE ]


no no no!!!

 

[monkeymad]

Sharon Edwards is based in West Kent. She is lovely. Has been very patient with me and my TB, and has really improved our dressage marks in eventing. I have been to some dressage trainers who I feel are just too hard on the horses, I don't want to intimidate/bully my horse.

 

[black_horse]

second for Tanya Larrigan , marion groggin is very good but i dont think she does liveries.

what about claire lewis?

 

[salamo]

Leanne Wall gets my vote everytime. She is based nr maidstone and is a listed BD judge as well as a BYRDS rep.

 

[Maiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Leanne Wall gets my vote everytime. She is based nr maidstone and is a listed BD judge as well as a BYRDS rep.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does Leanne Wall do schooling livery? Does she travel to teach?

Also, does anyone know if Claire Lewis does schooling livery? I used to have sideways lessons with her some years ago so am happy with her as a trainer.

Ditto Mandy Lawrence? I assume she is still based in Harriertsham?

 

[black_horse]

mandy lawrence does livery as does clair lewis, i dont think leanne wall does but i could be lying.

 

[toomanyhorses26]

She does the dressage clinics at Cobham I think (leanne wall) - would avoid one of the names above after seeing a lesson given - pm me if you would like

 

[clairencappelli]

I train with Leanne Wall and shes doesnt take horses forschooling livery but she will come out and school them for you if that makes sense? She is by far the best. Tried mandy - i found her a tad odd myself !

Leanne comes to me, im seeing her friday.

 

[Seahorse]

Another person that recommends Mandy Lawrence, don't think she would take horses for livery though.
Why do you think she's odd?

 

[black_horse]

mandy lawrence does have liveries doesnt she?

 

[Seahorse]

She doesn't have her own yard and her own horse was on full livery up until she died before christmas.

 

[Snowball]

Ditto Black Horse!!

And another huge thumbs up for Leanne Wall

 

[Heidi]

Sue McMahon.

 

[Snowball]

I think u will find that sue is no longer in the area?

 

[TGM]

The Sprog has had a couple of lessons with Leanne Wall and found her to be excellent.

 

[Maiko]

Thanks everyone, plenty of food for thought.

Sue McMahon has moved to Chelthenham, for those who know her as a Kent instructor.

 

[GinaGem]

Alex Wyatt at Fiddlers Green is my instructor and is very good - he helped me get over my confidence problems so definately recommend him if you want someone patient. He's taken my mum's horse Badger for schooling livery while we've been on holiday too and he never wants to leave so thats always a good sign!

 

[dressager]

David Rumsey. He's very a very nice guy, competes regularly himself, has own yard with lovely facilities and does schooling livery. He trains with Pammy and Spencer mainly, is a BD judge and teaches all levels. He works them properly from behind into a contact, no front end riding or compressing! He has helped me with my young WB for a year and has been very patient yet firm.

 

[black_horse]

[ QUOTE ]
Sue McMahon.

[/ QUOTE ]

she's in gloster now,not kent

 

[Sal_E]

David & Mandy both would potentially suit your outlook, Leanne absolutely would not - I suspect she'd tell you herself if you called & asked her...

 

[mymare]

Andrew Murphy.

http://www.ttttrust.com/instructors.asp

(hope this link works)

 

[Maiko]

[ QUOTE ]
David & Mandy both would potentially suit your outlook, Leanne absolutely would not - I suspect she'd tell you herself if you called & asked her...

[/ QUOTE ]

Out of interest, why do you say she wouldn't suit? Is she a crank-its-head-in-and-kick-it-hard sort of person?

 

[Sal_E]

Er, she's certainly not the quiet patient sort. She DOES make a horse look very smart, can't deny that, but she is very firm & tends to 'crack' horses in the first 5 minutes, and sometimes the rider too! I can understand why she suits some riders (especially competitive pony clubbers) but I honestly don't think she's what you're wanting.

 

[Maiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Er, she's certainly not the quiet patient sort. She DOES make a horse look very smart, can't deny that, but she is very firm & tends to 'crack' horses in the first 5 minutes, and sometimes the rider too! I can understand why she suits some riders (especially competitive pony clubbers) but I honestly don't think she's what you're wanting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, that's very interesting. She's been recommended by quite a few people, none of whom thought she was particularly brutal. I have to say, I don't much like the sound of being "cracked" in 5 minutes!

Mandy Lawrence also absolutely would not suit; she talks too much and theorises way too much for me, and whilst I like Andrew Murphy and actually see him on a regular basis, he is fairly expensive!