Testimonials
Heather and Flynn
Note- Started having lessons with me because Flynn couldn't leave the yard willingly and would rear when he became worried.
"I just rode Flynn out on our first hack with someone else since I started having lessons with you. It was very busy and allot for him to deal with so I had to put what you've taught me into practice. It was fantastic, I felt in control at all times and all issues were dealt with without any escalation. So, successful first trip! For the first time ever, I could tell Flynn felt that he could rely on me to help him. Thankyou”. - Heather
Willow feeling better about a rope around her hind quarters.
Anna and Neil's youngster Willow
Back in Feb ’09 I sent my much loved Morab (Morgan X Arab) mare off to an extensively vetted and reputable yard to be backed and ridden on.
To cut a very long story short we collected her after only 1 ½ wk having been told that she was too dangerous to carry on working with and that they were not prepared to put their staff at risk by backing her.
At the time I felt utterly devastated believing that my beautiful horse was broken beyond repair. She was bruised, large swellings over her withers and down her neck, she had several small cuts from when she crashed through the fencing, she was very thin having been worked up to 5hrs a day and she also seemed to have a facial drooping on one side, though this cleared after a week on anti-inflammatories. On top of all this I struggled to lead her from A to B without her flying backwards to get away as soon as there was a bit of distance between us.
A good friend of mine had mentioned Anna only a couple of days previously to us collecting Willow and not knowing where to turn I rang her for some advice. Well I can honestly say that Anna is an amazing horsewoman that possibly saved Willow from an uncertain future.
Having her trip to America booked for the whole of April it was decided that she would initially come out and work with Willow at our farm getting her happy with being handled, less worried about her sides, back-end and head. Seven times she managed to come out and at the end she felt quite hopeful that she should be able to back her on her return in May.
Anna kept Willow for 3 weeks when she got back from America, and worked with her 6 days a week with me trying to visit as often as I could. The most difficult part was the work from the ground as Willow had become flighty and nervous about certain areas especially the head, mouth and sides, which clearly would prove a problem when being ridden. Once she was happy with these ‘problem areas’ the backing and riding on seemed less of a problem.
We have now had Willow at home with us for 3 weeks riding out on the moors 4-6 times a week. She is happy in company and on her own, great in traffic, with dogs, doing gates etc and checking livestock.
I feel very privileged to have had Anna working with Willow and to have had the opportunity to observe and learn from her. Willow is always going to be a sharp and sensitive horse but as Anna said many times It was about trying to get the horse to think through the things that worried her.
- Anna Cole 10/06/09
Helping Kestrol learn how to lead.
"When I started having problems with an Exmoor pony that I had rescued off the moor, Anna was the person that I called out to help. The pony was very frightened of other people and was very difficult to lead, he would take flight easily and was too strong to hold onto. Anna showed me how to lead him in a Richard Maxwell training halter. Anna was clear about the importance of using clarity and timing when pressure was applied and released to the halter rope. We gradually took him away from his comfort zone, so that after a while I could take him for walks, go over raised planks of wood and tarpaulin sheets without him taking off. Without Anna's knowledge and quiet manner to help, I would still be struggling." - Christine Joyce.
Willow's first ever ride.
Christine and Ketsrol
Homeopathic Treatment for a horse called violet.
"My horse Violet was suffering from Mud fever on her fronts and intermittent lameness on her right hind. Also she had been finding it hard since a new horse has arrived into the herd, which meant that Violet was being pushed around alot. I called Anna to see if she could help Violet physically and mentally. Anna came out to my yard and dedicated her time and came up with an accurate Homeopathic plant remedy. Anna's understanding of Horses no doubt puts her in position to be able not only to help in the training of horses, which she does with skill and commitment, but also her knowledge enables her to prescribe an accurate remedy to help the horse recover.
I'm pleased to say that my horse Violet became sound one week after the Homeopathic remedy , since an abscess burst out of her coronary band on her right hind the day after the remedy was prescribed. Violet has also been standing up for herself in the herd and I am now back to riding her as normal. - Wendy
Wendy and Violet
Telephone +44(0)77431 60149 © Anna Bonnage 2009 annabonnage@mac.com
