Liz Madeley Equestrian Coaching - LMEC

14/07/2024

RIDE SAFE TRAINER AWARD COURSE 1ST AUGUST 2024

25/06/2024

They are never just RIDING SCHOOL PONIES❤️🐴

One day you may move onto bigger, fancier horses, but never forget the school horse who made you, as without them, you wouldn’t be able to ride anything at all.

The patient soul that tolerated your bouncing while you figured out how to sit the trot.

The kind mare that didn’t walk off when you stumbled up the mounting block, trying to get your foot in the stirrup.

The sweet gelding that picked up the trot even though your body was telling him to do the exact opposite.

The saintly angel that never spooked, which was a dam good thing because your balance was precarious at best.

Too often we forget where we came from. We move on to the next chapter in our lives and say, “Oh my gosh, I’m learning so much! I’m going so far! I could never do this kind of thing on that old school horse!”

But infact you could, you were just not ready to do all these things back then.

But that school horse gave you the confidence to move forward. That school horse took care of you in all respects and allowed you to take the time you needed to find your way. You couldn’t have become the rider you are today without that riding school horse, always remember to love them unconditionally for our riding school horses are what help start your dream, make dreams come true and get you ready for those bigger dreams 🐴

24/06/2024

Dr David Marlin’s top tips to help you manage your dog in the heat – a few simple principles can help you keep your pet/s comfortable and safe in the hottest summer months. AVOIDING the heat is the best approach. Some basics are: Walk in the early morning or late evening Reduce activity e.g. kee...

20/05/2024

One of my University friends research, well worth a read it certainly explains a lot

New menopause research has been published highlighting some of the difficulties women in equestrian sport are facing, as women are urged to get support

23/04/2024

22/04/2024

If you use Clay Lane, Tetford for riding, cycling or walking please drop-in to the Village Hall in Tetford, Horncastle LN9 6QB between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday 25 April.

The BHS is helping a researcher gather user evidence for the route. If you need more information please contact [email protected] or 07783888300

15/04/2024

Emotional Labour in Equestrian Coaching -
Free Webinar with Ellie Halsey BHSI UKCC L4
📅 29th April, 7pm
💻 Online via Teams

Emotional Labour is the ‘work’ we carry out when managing our feelings, be that under or over playing an emotion, suppressing, or changing an emotion within a work role. The management of our own emotions and those of other people’s is necessary in many areas of life and becomes emotional labour when performed within a work setting. Equestrian sport as a whole carries a huge emotional commitment and investment and whilst the rewards can be great, we must equally be mindful of the potential costs and safeguard against this.

If you work as an equestrian coach, are a yard owner/business manager or employer, and are interested in learning more about emotional labour please join the webinar to find out more.

https://rebrand.ly/wiud4tq

31/03/2024

🛑 SLOW DOWN FOR HORSES 🛑
Are you aware of the Highway code changes. When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph. Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. When safe to do so, pass wide and slow, allowing at least 2 metres of space.

26/03/2024

“Trust me”

That’s what we say to our horses every time we put a headcollar on and ask them to follow us, put tack on and climb onboard or walk them up a ramp onto a horsebox.

“Trust me” we say as we give them a swift kick in the ribs or over zealous “half halt” for not doing what we ask, when the likelihood is we asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong.

“Trust me” we say as we put a bigger, harsher bit in their mouth because we want the greatest control with the least effort, when a bit of time and training could create a far more harmonious relationship with no need for additional metalwork.

“Trust me” we say as we leave them stood in a stable 23 hours a day, not allowing them any time to be a horse, because turn out is “too risky”, admitting that our bank balance is more important than our horse’s happiness.

“Trust me” we say as we refuse to listen to or acknowledge obvious signs of pain or discomfort, we just reach for the spurs, supplements of bigger bit, rather than taking a step back, remembering horses do not choose to misbehave, and investigating the real reason for the behaviour.

It amazes me that day after day, week after week, year after year, these horses STILL believe us when we say “trust me”. They still try and perform for riders that put success and titles far above their horses welfare and happiness.

And we wonder why horses say no. We wonder why we get explosive behaviour that turns unmanageable or “dangerous”.

So next time you ask your horse to trust you, you have to show them why trusting you is the safer and easier option. Working with horses is a privilege, not a right and your actions should always reflect that.

When you say “trust me” to your horse, make sure you give them a reason to.

27/12/2023

Online survey BOS

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas, hope a wonderful festive season is had by all and looking forward to seeing you in the New Year.

21/12/2023

Ellie Halsey Nina Boex Stephanie Bradley Claire Edwards Joanne Burns Firth Eve Hare Becky Monk Senara Caddy , what a fabulous 'journey' we have been on, congratulations to everyone, such an achievement. So pleased to have been part of this lovely cohort and to be continuing to complete our MSc Professional Practice in Sports Coaching. It has also been fabulous working with Lauren Kianchehr Boccia, Mike Johnstone Running and Andy Robertson and James Loveday, Rowing. Thank you to all of the Britsh Equestrian Level 4 Team and the team at the University of Gloucestershire.

🎉 Congratulations to the nine coaches who have today been awarded their British Equestrian Level 4 Coaching Certificate at the London International Horse Show, including four British Showjumping Coaches!

Read more 👉 http://tinyurl.com/446xy9tv

📸 Jon Stroud Media / British Equestrian

19/12/2023

Pony Club Lungeing Test here on January 4th 2024.
For training please contact us, horses also available for candidates to use on the test day.

14/12/2023

Celebrating

12/11/2023

12/11/2023

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅
Everyone likes to talk about the harm caused when a horse is ridden behind the vertical... but have you ever wondered why?

One (of the many) problems with a BTV position is that encourages incorrect flexion in the neck. In a healthy horse, the head will flex up and down at the first cervical vertebrae. This bone is known as the atlas or C1.

In an effort to avoid excessive pressure caused by a harsh bit, rider or gadgets (especially draw reins) many horses will begin flexing at the 3rd vertebrae (C3). "Broken at the 3rd" creates incorrect movement throughout the body and will quickly lead to pain and damage. Once a horse begins moving in this manner, it is extremely hard for them to unlearn and they may continue this harmful posture even when at or above the vertical.

31/10/2023

Monday 13th November

Riders needed for coaching exam

5 jump riders
15 flat riders.

If your interested please contact us
Must be reliable and capable rider

13/10/2023

🌾PERSPECTIVE 🌾
Here’s a nice comparison and write up, compliments of E. Williams Horsemanship~
This is a “visual comparison”. This is for anyone who is confused about horse weight, this is not to shame. These pictures are only to educate in a way that would be best understood on what a “healthy horse” should look like. There are a lot of people, and even some veterinary professionals, that would say the last picture represents a “healthy horse”, but it does not. Today, because there are so many overweight horses, it is hard to recognize when your horse is unhealthy, but I hope these pictures are able to give you some perspective. Keep in mind it is an “image perspective” comparison and not to be taken literally.

13/10/2023

Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should...

Going back almost 15 years and as far as I’m aware, I didn’t have a bad reputation in the horse industry. I backed horses calmly and quietly. I would ‘bit’ them, put tack on, lunge them, long rein and lay over them, all before quietly getting onboard.

When schooling, I could get a horse in a frame and hold it together with relative ease and I could sit a bronc or a rear if needed. I was pretty fearless. I rode some horses in draw reins if they didn’t soften to my hand or were inconsistent in the mouth. My whip was for correcting behaviour and I certainly wasn’t afraid to use it if I thought it was necessary (or if I ran out of ideas or patience).

I took on problem horses and had a really good success rate at dealing with those problems.

Only I didn’t.

Looking back, I think it’s likely that I only dealt with the symptoms of the problems. For example, the horse that didn’t want to stand at the mounting block; I trained him easily by using ‘pressure and release’ with a well timed reward and he soon learned to go to the mounting block. What I probably didn’t see were the tight, sore, angry muscles. The stiff back, the poor posture. The atrophy under the saddle. The compromised gait. All of which contributed to his lack of willingness to be mounted.

The horses with poor mouths that I lunged in training aids, side reins, rode in draw reins, all learned that they couldn’t escape the persistence of my rein and began to comply. Eventually they learned to compensate elsewhere in their bodies, likely becoming shut down in the process.

Over the last 15 years, I have watched countless hours of horses moving. I have studied their gaits, I have felt their musculature. I have picked up hundreds of limbs, palpated countless tendons, lesions and effusions, and I have witnessed the damage caused by doing things the way that I amongst others used to do them. I can say with a degree of certainty that if you are having a problem with your horse - no matter what the symptoms are - your problem lies with a lack of one or more of the following:

(Ambi)dexterity/straightness
Strength/fitness
Balance
Coordination
Comfort
Confidence/trust
Communication
Resilience

Treating the symptoms without addressing the cause will usually mean that the human’s needs are met and the horse’s needs aren’t.

Like many trainers, I am aware of the signals a horse gives to express how it feels: whether it is threatened or whether it feels safe. I am able to quit right before I pass a threshold. I instinctively use approach and retreat techniques to foster anything from confidence through to suppleness. All of this gives me an ability to help a horse to overcome a problem very quickly, but it also gives me the ability to bend the horse to my will - a fact we must treat with great care and respect.

I could probably load a ‘problem loader’ in half the time I take, if I only used ‘pressure and release’. If only I wasn’t so aware of the delicate structures around the horse’s head and face and the potential psychological issues I could cause by forcing the horse to load without understanding it’s side of the story.

Nowadays I do things very differently. I can hear what the horse is saying through his actions. I can feel what his body tells me when I ride him, through my seat and down the rein. Which parts move well and which parts don’t. I constantly observe the entire picture. His breathing, gait, demeanour, muscle tone and posture. I read his actions and I learn from his reactions. I take everything on board and work in the most physically and mentally appropriate way for that moment. I condition his body whilst gently conditioning his mind. As a result I can desensitise a sensitive horse without waving objects like flags and tarpaulins around and I can prepare a horse for saddling without the need to send it broncing around an arena aimlessly.

Nowadays, despite having the ability to back your horse in days, I won’t. Because I know that in the long run I would’ve done your horse a disservice and any trust he placed in humans would likely start to falter when his body started to ache and his brain started to fry through being ill prepared.

I could train your horse to approach the mounting block, but only once I’m confident that his reasons for resisting mounting have been heard and his needs have been met.

Horses are the most fantastic animals. Sure, they do stupid stuff sometimes and they aren’t always the most logical(!). But they are unbelievably generous and forgiving. They are adaptable, malleable and trainable. Therefore, we owe it to them to make sure that their needs are met when we are ‘problem solving’.

They will give and give, which puts us in a position to take and take.

Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.

25/08/2023

23/07/2023

Came across this and thought it was rather interesting.... definitely something to bear in mind when working and buying young horses.

03/05/2023

Tigger Riders,

I have one space left on tomorrow’s Clinic, Thursday 4th May at 6.30pm. Please text me if interested.

Spaces also available on the Saturday 20th May Clinic. Let me know if you would like to book a session.

30/04/2023

Good afternoon all 👋🏻

I saw this image recently that was shared by the main Hampshire Constabulary page and thought I would post it here for awareness.
The horse community on the Island is densely populated and inevitably that means you will often come across horses being ridden, driven or lead.
Last year, the Highway Code changed to detail how drivers should manage situations involving animals, this is as follows:

Rule 214

Animals: When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them. Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care. Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road. Watch out for animals on unfenced roads.

Rule 215

Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when approaching, overtaking, passing or moving away. Always pass wide and slowly. When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a MAXIMUM OF 10 mph. Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. WHEN SAFE TO DO SO, PASS WIDE AND SLOW, ALLOWING AT LEAST 2 METRES OF SPACE 🚗

Feral or semi feral ponies found in areas such as the New Forest, Exmoor and Dartmoor require the same consideration as ridden horses when approaching or passing.

Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver. Remember there are three brains at work when you pass a horse; the rider’s, the driver’s and the horse’s. Do not forget horses are flight animals and can move incredibly quickly if startled 🐴

PC Champney

21/04/2023

Tigger Riders I have one space left on Saturdays Clinic, 22nd April, at 3pm . Please text me if interested. Spaces also available on the following two clinics

16/04/2023

Tigger Riders,

Thank you for your patience whilst I have been recovering from my skiing accident.

Tigger Clinics are back up and running on the following dates:

Saturday 22nd April 12 noon – 4pm
Thursday 4th May 4pm - 8pm
Saturday 20th May 12 noon – 4pm

Let me know if you would like to book a session.

I hope to see you all soon.

Liz

21/02/2023

NOTICE….. Unfortunately due to a Skiing accident resulting in a broken right leg and damaged ligaments in left foot all lessons until week commencing 27th March and Tigger Clinics on Thursday 23rd February and Saturday 18th March are cancelled. Online sessions will go ahead as normal.

09/02/2023

LRAC Louth 2023 Winter/Spring Tigger Clinic dates:

Thursday 23rd February 4pm - 8pm
Saturday 18th March 12noon – 4pm
Thursday 30th March 4pm - 8pm
Saturday 22nd April 12 noon – 4pm
Thursday 4th May 4pm - 8pm
Saturday 20th May 12 noon – 4pm

To book contact Liz 07796401834

31/12/2022

Happy New Year
and
success all round
for 2023