Mary-Anne Forder
Mary-Anne Forder started riding when she was 5 years old and has competed in Open eventing, Elementary dressage, Open equitation and 1.2m show jumping.
She has trained with Christopher Coldrey (International Course Builder, UK), Gonda Betrix, Mickey Louw, Phillip Smith (all Springbok show jumpers) and Theo Leros.
Mary-Anne went to the UK to train with Mary Wanless and has presented clinics in the USA, Cape Town and Johannesburg. More recently, she has started studying and applying Andre McLean’s Equitation Science with great success.
As a SANEC 2 (Level 7) and Ride With Your Mind – Level 2 instructor, she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge in a calm environment using clear and consistent instructions which are easily understood making learning for both horse and rider a positive experience!
Training with Dr Andrew McLean
The Australian Equine Behaviour Centre approach is unique in that it combines classical training with a strong emphasis on scientific understanding of animal psychology and horse behaviour. Dr Andrew McLean, together with his wife Manuela, conceived and developed the training system and established the AEBC in 1991. Andrew McLean, an Australian neuroscientist, holds a PhD in horse training psychology, has authored several international best-selling books on horse behaviour and is in constant demand as a lecturer and demonstrator around the world.
The AEBC approach focuses on making the connection from hoof to rein simple and clear, which means mastering control of the horse's legs. It establishes a logical connection between the rider’s light aids and the horse's behaviour using his ‘learning theory’ system.
"Animals learn to react to signals and they also give signals to their environment. The greatest variation in signals typically occurs in training, to and from both the rider and the horse." - Andrew McLean
Biomechanics and Awareness with Mary Wanless
Mary Wanless is an internationally renowned coach, and is the author of the 'Ride With Your Mind' books. She coaches riders at all levels, from relative novices to two of the top twelve US dressage riders, and some of the Canadian eventing squad. She has B.Sc. degrees in both Physics and Applied Sports Coaching, and holds the BHSI certificate.
Educational clinics with Denise O’Reilly
I’ve always wanted to be good at dressage and have invested a lot of time and money into lessons. However I’ve never really been able to influence a horse’s way of going beyond Novice – and, looking at the way the entries drop off for Elementary at local dressage competitions, I’d say I’m speaking for the majority of “grass root” dressage wannabes.
I met Denise on a clinic having read a bit about RWYM and have been hooked ever since. What struck me was just how toned you have to be. I couldn’t believe the amount of tone Denise was demanding from me when I’d spent the last 20 years being told to “relax” and “sit up tall” and “take your knee away from the saddle”. So it came as quite a shock – surely riding isn’t this hard - I felt I had to lie down afterwards! Well the answer to that was what Saffa my horse told me. From having his ears stuck up my nostrils, he stretched forward and reached into the bridle in the first lesson
I began to find out why I was stuck at Novice. I had soggy thighs, a collapse through my waist, a right hand that appeared to move of its own will, a jiggly right leg and numerous other issues. All these points other instructors had picked up but had just said things like “stop moving your hand” or, “your right leg is moving too much” – and focussed on the horse’s way of going instead. However with Denise I soon found out that these issues weren’t just things to fix to “prettify” my position – they were fundamental to my horse’s way of going. What is more the more I improved the more I found that it is that the effort of tone on a moving object that creates the illusion stillness – I looked like I was “doing nothing and relaxed”! ~ Sarah and Saffa