Testimonial by Yorkshire Wolds Riding Club

Melanie has supported Yorkshire Wolds Riding Club for probably longer than she cares to mention, being part of the furniture is one of her many jobs as club trainer. The club is a small club and its aim is to support riders who want to learn more about riding their horse in a non-competitive, unthreatening training environment.

Melanie is incredibly adaptable and can provide a session for the two people who turn up one week to the twelve who decide to come the week after. Everyone who comes along gets something out of the session and Melanie provides feedback to everyone afterwards about what they have achieved and what they can do to carry on the work at home.

Anyone who knows Melanie will know that she has a unique sense of humour and this comes over frequently as she tries to get us to understand exactly what she wants us to do. She is renowned for prancing around the school trying to demonstrate what the horse should be doing (you really have to see it, it’s hilarious). Even the horses have been seen to roll their eyes in exasperation!

What do we value most about Melanie? It is her undying faith that one day one of us will get it right, her belief that every one of us has potential to achieve a balance between our own expectations and a happy horse. Her enthusiasm, endless encouragement and the way she knows each horse intimately, what it can do, what it can’t do and (especially in the case of my horse Norman) when the horse is leading the rider up the garden path! It is her ability to have you constantly stretching your expectations as a rider, without leaving you feeling like you will never get there, and ultimately her genuine pride when you achieve your goals whether that be staying on right through the whole lesson, competing at your first novice test or jumping the whole course clear!

Jackie Ingham
Club Secretary

This blog was posted on Saturday, January 10th, 2009