Brooklea Park Equestrian

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Australia
Vacy, NSW
Brooklea Park Equestrian

Dedicated to the training & improvement of horse & rider, building confidence & trust with your horse

Qualified Coach Dedicated to the training & improvement of horse & rider. Catering to most disciplines specialising in Open Performance, Dressage, Hacking, Jumping. English events, Western, Pony Club, General Riding, in hand, ground work, sporting & equine management.

08/04/2024

Massage Monday with Equine Massage

07/04/2024

Sunday 21st April
Pattern Workshop

Learn how to read and remember patterns for events and shows
Ride or Run a pattern with your horse

Patterns include
Suitability for Dressage, Hunter in Hand, Reining, Ranch, Trail, Horsemanship, Equitation, Hack, Dressage

07/04/2024

Ugh!! When it's already getting darker at 530pm

Anyone with regular lessons at 5pm or onwards please note we will be looking at moving lessons to weekends.

I will do the best I can to get everyone riding.

School holidays in a little.ivwt a week. So we can get a couple of weeks of early riding in while we sort schedules

06/04/2024

Messages have been sent with camp details for 15th 16th and 17th. We still have availability, however will give grace period for those who've already enquired to finalise bookings.

We will be looking to add additional mini camps for the 2nd week of the holidays.

Remember, these camps are suited to 1-3 riders. They allow riders to immerse themselves in horse riding and pony care without being left behind in larger groups.

50% ($60 )deposit is required ($25 is non refundable)
Cancellation policy applies
$120
2-2 1/2 hours of horse fun including
Catching and grooming the ponies
Riding lessons
Horse care
Unmounted games and activities
Painted Ponies

05/04/2024

Forecast for Saturday is.. yep.you guessed it. RAIN 🌧️

Now in the event we wake up to sunny blue skies, I'm happy to run lessons. But I think the forecast of rain and storms will be correct.

Sunday will be a wait and see.

School holidays are soon, so when the weather is better we can do more lessons and more catch ups.

Stay dry!!

03/04/2024

Our lessons always incorporate some form.of.horsemanship, from.learning about grooming and how to brush a horse for riding or for show, to saddling and bridling, lunging and ground work, to feeding and caring for these special animals.

Young Harper in her lesson today giving Bronson (who's back in work shortly) a good thorough groom. Showing horses that every time they get brought in they don't have to always work. Some days they get a good brush and some snacks.

02/04/2024

As we move into Daylight savings (or lack of daylight) a few spots will be opening up due to riders changing days to better suit after school times

Tuesday morning's on school pony
Tuesday and Wednesday mid afternoon and after school available

Sundays we are now looking at as a travel day, heading to Sawyer's Gully, Lochinvar, Branxton areas and Maitland/Singleton.

We also have a special project to be completed hopefully over the coming weeks which will assist with those shorter days

02/04/2024

Thank you to everyone who allowed me to have a few days with my family without messaging and thank you to those riders who were able to be put into the day and a half I worked over the long weekend.

I am back, feeling a little crook (possibly chocolate induced and self inflicted) could also be a lack of sleep.

Today's weather caused lessons to be cancelled.

All school holiday camp time messages will be caught up soon, thank you for being patient.

I Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter weekend and the bunny was good to you all.

Xx

27/03/2024

Big dinosaur baby 🦕 🍼

Doing all the good things today in his first saddle and low key ride.
Well done to his mum Deanna for being brave and this is only the start of the journey

27/03/2024

Ben and Snow (and me) taking safety very seriously.
Helmets while working with the horses.

26/03/2024

Today involved lots of scritches for the good ponies

25/03/2024

We have an availability TODAY (Tuesday) between 1130am and 2pm

Either byo horse here or travel only

24/03/2024

No Mondayitis here when it's Haylee and Bacardi time.
(When Haylee runs over and gives me the biggest hug because we've had to miss two lessons due to me being away)

Someone definitely missed their Bacardi lessons

22/03/2024

Easter Long Weekend Lessons

We are doing

Thursday Lessons as normal
Friday Lessons as normal (can discuss options for earlier times)
Saturday lessons as normal

All Sunday riders will be switched to an alternative day (Thursday or Saturday)

We ask that riders pre-pay prior to the weekend (internet payments) for their lessons to help with the flow of the day.

This will also assist with last-minute cancellations because the horses still have to eat.

Happy to chat. Thank you for your understanding

22/03/2024

51st Appaloosa Nationals
We had our ups and our downs.. literally on the ground under horse. But we're ok. Jasper is ok. We finished the week fighting back fears tears and trying to hold ourselves together (alternative was 🤢 over the arena fence or curling up in a ball)

We came home with some decent placings and some great scores (was super competitive this year with everyone on their A game)

A few 6th/5th/4ths and a 3rd on Ranch and Sporting Day.
Dressage day we rode a nerve wracking test through PTSD and tears. Yes I cried as I rode to the judge, in front of the judge, during the test and blubbered as I rode out of the arena.
We earn't ourselves

❤️Reserve National Champion Prelim❤️
And a 4th in the Novice
Followed by

❤️Reserve Champion Led Show Hunter❤️
❤️Reserve Champion Ridden Show Hunter❤️

We then went out and placed a few 3rd/4th/5th/6ths in a range of events

Halter day after 3 washes in 24 hours... We WON!

🩵National Champion Performance Gelding🩵

We went in for Grand Champ however the mare won grand. Well deserved Tamara.

Then we did horsemanship and did some neat patterns and got 6th in both
Most colourful 5th
Trail 4th and 5th

We attempted ranch again and we did a pretty neat pattern

🩵National Champion All Age Ranch Riding🩵
❤️Reserve All Age Walk Jog Ranch Riding ❤️

We had entered out all age reining but after the week we had, I wasn't sure if we'd do it.
I had been riding no spurs all week, and we were both tired and sore.

We rode in, steady and calm. Not like we've practiced (speed, flying changes and decent spins).. well I laughed the whole ride. Our stops were average, our spins were 4 track and loopies at best. Our changes were simple but near enough.
I made sure to count my spins and ensure I turned the correct way.
This earnt us

🩵National Champion All Age Reining🩵

I've always wanted to ride a reining pattern at nationals and was so excited to give it a red hot try.

It definitely wasn't the Nationals we prepped for, or anticipated, and it could have been so much worse (I shudder at that thought)
But it was the nationals it was.
Just a broken and bruised Appy girl and her 20 yr old semi retired leopard at their umpteenth national show having fun, making friends and making memories.

We went out there with dressage on our mind.. and came home with wins and placings across the board.

Appys can definitely do everything.. from dressage to ranch and halter and trail.
Jasper worked hard and was my rock solid friend through the whole week.

LWM Stud for their sponsorship of the All Age Reining
And I'll have to find and add the other sponsors as some classes were listed and other didn't have sponsors listed

21/03/2024

Easter Long Weekend
Those of you who have lessons on Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday/Monday

I am looking to fit you guys in this coming weekend and start of next week. Just so we don't miss out on too many weeks of riding.

If you are able to fit into earlier week lessons or do an early catch up on the weekend, we can make it work.

20/03/2024

April School Holiday Camps 15th-28th

Monday 15th
Wednesday 17th
Thursday 18th
Subject to availability

Mini Camps ( 1 1/2-2 hours of pony fun) $120 per rider BYO lunch/snacks. Up to 3 riders. (Time may be extended depending on the attention span and age of riders)

Kids will arrive and meet the ponies.
Grooming as a group to get them clean and tidy. Learning the different brushes and items needed to care for a pony.
A private one on one lesson will begin while the other riders either watch and do theory activities or do some form of arts and crafts.
We will rotate riders for their first lesson. Incorporating steering, walking and some trotting and games.

At the completion of first lessons, riders can have a snack break and then we either do another ride or we can paint our beautiful ponies and then into works of art.

Ponies will also get lunch and treats, all fed out by camp goers.

We also have available Private Mini Camps ( 1 -1 1/2-2 hours)
$100
Suitable for riders who may be too young to do a group activity or on days we don't have additional riders.
All the same activities as above.

Riders with their own horses are welcome to inquire about camps to suit their riding levels, and we offer small group camps to suit.

Brooklea Park Equestrian also offers private one on one lessons to riders of all ages, 3-103.

20/03/2024

With the impending Change of day light savings, I will be needing to move a few after school riders to weekends.

If Saturday or Sundays suit anyone

Sundays are my typical travel day so would be ideal for anyone who is on the road.

I also need to keep in mind the horses. So please keep flexibility in mind.

19/03/2024

"First day back after a holiday" vibes

19/03/2024

We've had a bunch of enquiries about Easter holidays camps.
We are running them, I've just not had the chance to lock the dates in as been busy with National Show Prep.

If you have a date in mind, please let me know.

We won't be running camps over the Easter Long Weekend as we are taking a well deserved holiday.

Remember!! Mini camps are on offer as well as half day camps.

Chat soon 🐰

18/03/2024

We are back from a week away at Nationals.
Professional photos and full updates to follow.

Lessons are in full swing for tomorrow (definitely needed today to have a nap and rest the body)

11/03/2024

🦋

11/03/2024

No lessons until we return Monday 18th.

Any enquiries will be returned and answered at this time unless I have a spare moment during evenings.

The school horses are enjoying a week off!!

I'll see everyone next week.

10/03/2024

Over the weekend Jasper and I had our very own lesson.

I am a big believer that we never stop learning and can always improve on ourselves.

With Nationals only 2 days away I decided to have a lesson with Liz Mudd, whom I've known most of my riding career, as a youth at pony club (to be honest her dressage lessons scared me) and as an adult, often catching up at pony club where we both coach.

Liz pushed us and put us through our paces.

I went in feeling nervous and excited and finished feeling empowered and a little bit more ready for Nationals.

As a coach it's important to improve on your own riding, because I want to be the best I can be for my amazing riders.

10/03/2024

Four of my riders attended events this weekend (only three pictured)

Molly and Hazel attended Gresford show (their first show) and Molly placed in the "Best Walk" which I knew she and Remy would do great in
Hazel ended up riding Remy as well and I am super.prous of the girls for giving it a try. Onwards and upwards!

Lynn and her OTT TB Leo attended their first event since beginning lessons with me last year.
We've been working in prepping for dressage days and we went to Coalfields Riding Club to test the waters.
Leo and Lynn scored a 3rd in best presented (out of a good tidy lineup) and another 3rd in the led over 15hh.
It's good to see how the horses go and we can reassess how to approach the events.

Jaylah and Coco attended their second Barrel racing event and on their first day managed to break into the 21 and 20 second mark. Great riding and teamwork!

A great weekend all round!

08/03/2024

The girls of Brooklea Park Equestrian

Strong
Independent
Loyal

05/03/2024

For our lesson horses.
Snow, Bacardi and Bronson. Legends in their own right.

One of the biggest downfalls in the horse world is the lack of understanding of the important role that lesson horses play. So often riders complain about lesson horses for a variety of reasons: for their perceived lack of quality or value, for having to ride one they don’t like, for not getting to ride the one they do like, for their trainer not having enough lesson horses, or for the lesson horses not being available at their convenience when their personal horse is not rideable. These complaints all stem from the lack of appreciation of lesson horses. Lesson horses aren’t here for students to ride forever and certainly not for ‘climbing the levels’. They’re here to get students started safely and productively; while they decide if they would like to pursue personal horse ownership, learn general riding/horsemanship or continue on to compete in equestrian sports.

Lesson horses are incredibly special creatures. They have to be easily caught by beginners who don’t know how to properly approach a prey animal & wait while they struggle with the halter. They have to stand still on the crossties while students take the better part of an hour to get them clean. They have to hold their head still while beginners repeatedly jam a cold bit into their teeth. They have to stand still at the mounting block while the rider stands for too long with all their weight in the left stirrup and then slams down on their back with no attention to their comfort. They tolerantly carry riders who are unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unclear, who catch their mouths and bounce on their backs and kick at their sides and give mixed messages. Yet they are expected to behave without so much as a swish of their tail or pinning of their ears. Oftentimes if one of these saintly horses has a moment (where they act like a regular horse) and ask the rider to ride well, they’re labeled annoying, rude, bad, lazy or ______. Regular horses do not reach Sainthood for a reason, they are not a lesson horse.

Lesson horses are not intended to take riders up the levels and jump big jumps and win all the classes. If a horse was beginner-friendly (this tolerant) AND the hack winner with an auto lead change, they would be literally priceless. That’s not to say lesson horses can’t be winners if you ride them well and pull your weight, but their ability to win in the show ring is not their real value. The purpose of a lesson horse is to bring new riders into the equine sports and/or the lifestyle. Lesson horses teach riders ‘the ropes’ and get them started, they help lay a foundation and prepare them to make a bigger commitment to equine sports by leasing or purchasing the ‘next-step’ horse. Lesson horses are not responsible for chasing Olympic dreams, they’re responsible for getting them started.

Every horse you ride has something to teach you. Whether it’s the crotchety old school pony who likes to pigroot and buck when you’re not paying attention, or the younger lesson horse who will only pick up the right lead if you ask *just right*, or the ultra reliable canter lead queen, or the big horse who doesn't quite get the idea of canter however can jump and tries with all his heart, they all will add to your toolkit so that you can one day apply to the fancier model if you decide to strive toward the next level. Or you might just learn to appreciate lesson horses so much that you fall in love with a less fancy more trusty model. Wherever your journey leads, just don’t forget about the lesson horses who paved your way!

(Shared post with edits - original author unknown)

03/03/2024

Well done to our riders this week. Braving the heat, rain, sweet grass and naughty horses.

Meeting new clients and our regulars sashing out stepping stone goals to achieve and reach out big goals.

One more week of lessons before I am away for a week.

So please, if you want a bonus lesson booked let me know.

Sunday will be opened up for extra lessons on school horses as well as some local travel spots.

Remember, I will be away from the 11th (Monday) midday until the following weekend Sunday night. With lessons resuming Monday 18th/Tuesday 19th

29/02/2024

We are taking a week off from regular lessons to attend the 51st National Appaloosa Championship Show.

This means no lessons from the 11th till the 17th March

Lessons will resume Monday 18th!

We have additional availability the remainder.of this week and next week to get those extra lessons in.
If you want to book an additional lesson in next week or this week, just let me know.

Additional time slots have been made available on Saturday and Sunday to allow

27/02/2024

Feeling the love this week.

I thought I would share a few of the beautiful comments and feedback from lessons.

Honestly i would do what I love for cookies and coffee

Address

Gresford Road
Vacy, NSW
2421

Telephone

0427636899

Website

http://www.freewebs.com/brookleaappaloosas/

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Videos

Massage Monday with Equine Massage

Young Emmerson rode Bacardi today (normally we ride Snow) We were learning about the different types of trot (slow, fast, bouncy) in preparation for an accidental canter (my favourite type of first canter because it exposes the kids to the canter without it being a thing). Well we got an accidental canter and then we decided to try to ask for it and get a few extra strides. Bacardi is an absolute legend!!! She just knows when to push the canter and when to humble around. First time canters are truly special!!

Special mention to Cindy and Monk. It's not a competition.. but these guys got very competitive today and if someones horse gets a 🏅 for fastest (least amount of attempts) to get on the bridge, Monk and Cindy nailed it. (Basically straight on without a fuss) Monk has so much confidence in himself and he looks after Cindy. They make a great team.

Kaylyn and Bacardi getting super confident in their jumping.

Sharleigh Bacardi and Bronson rocking out the new jumps. We were gifted with some jump wings and poles from a friend and we finally got them into the arena. Think it's time we got B 1 and B2 some jump boots and more matchy matchy gear. Great riding Sharleigh!!

What a week!! We squeezed every hour we could find to get everyone riding Video of one of my riders Kaylyn, first ride back after a 2 month break she's back on Bacardi over the weekend. Working on our walk to canters, and setting down in the stride. Anyone who knows Miss B, knows she can be lazy and stubborn (perfect school horse if you ask me.. because it teaches resilience and strength and not every horse is going to be absolutely perfect... Even my best show horse has an opinion and we have to ride the horse we get on teach day) Kaylyn got Bacardi working so kindly and smoothly, and super responsive to the aids.. and never ever touched the monkey strap the whole lesson. A personal goal of hers especially up and down in the canter transitions. #barbiehorse

One of our new riders nailed the bridge on his first ever lesson.

Our last lesson of the day with young Zoe and Bacardi Working hard on keeping Bacardi moving along while also steering. Those who know Bacardi, one of her favourite things is to do nothing. Great job Zoe!!

Fantastic lesson with Hazel and Molly Here is Molly with new horse Denver

We got rained on... Correction.... We got drenched! 🌧️ But we also got to play in puddles. So there's that! Good job Jess and Fudge tackling the scary merky pond water with hidden monsters. No more fair weather riding!

A little bareback in our lessons to get us more balanced. Plus bareback is heaps of fun!!

Another of our Thursday riders. (Sorry I didn't get videos of everyone) young Zoe got Bacardi cantering 2 whole circles after this initial attempt at Canter. I am truly honoured to be able to teach these riders about Equestrianism and horsemanship #brookleaparkequestrian #cantering #schoolhorses #horseridinglessons

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Dedicated to the training & improvement of horse & rider

Owner, Head Coach and Trainer Amy Bright, is dedicated to the training & improvement of both horse & rider. Catering to most disciplines from Open Performance, Dressage, Hacking, Jumping. English events, Western, Pony Club, General Riding, in hand, ground work, sporting & equine management and horsemanship.

Established in approx 1996, as a Welsh Pony Section A and B stud, breeding and training quality ponies with a combination of heritage pedigree with new lines. Once the “kids” outgrew the ponies, and moved onto bigger horses, Brooklea Park grew into a Mobile Service, providing lessons off site to horse owners.

Assisting riders develop and improve their connection with their horses. Horsemanship is a huge aspect in the teachings here at Brooklea Park. Quite often people focus too much on the end goal, without putting the work in. Amy believes in building trust and knowledge from true horsemanship. From the simple tasks of how to catch and turn out a horse, float training, to ring etiquette, sportsmanship and riding.

Using a combination of training methods, learning what works and what doesn't work over her many years of teaching, coaching and training horses. Building a tool belt of skills, allowing horse and rider to figure out what works best for them. As they say, there is more than one way to cook a steak. Sometimes one method doesn't necessarily translate for one horse, but for another it proves helpful. Other times its a combination of different methods. Having been competing, riding, training, schooling and coaching for over 20 years, in a range of disciplines from Hunt Seat and Equitation, Hack, Dressage, Hunter under Saddle, Handler, Jumping, Cross Country, Mounted Games, Show Rider, as well as Western Pleasure, Ranch Reining, Horsemanship, Trail, and led classes from Suitability for Dressage to Led Hack and Showmanship. Amy loves teaching the fundamentals and foundation of horse riding. It applies to everything, being able to correctly ask for a canter lead and sitting trot, holding counter canter and working through a course of jumps or going to a show and competing, or quite simply heading out on a trail and knowing how to safely cross paths with other riders, or presenting your horse for a local riding club.