I am motivated by a concern for the well-being of horses and their riders. The bond between horse and rider is something magical and something we should never take for granted!

Horses are incredible creatures and the fact that they ALLOW us to ride them never ceases to amaze me...why should they?

I also am a photographer who designs websites and writes and draws silly stuff. This can all be seen on my other website -
www.cathydee.com

If you'd like a daily giggle and you love animals you might enjoy the Riot Diaries.

Training and Rehabilitating Horses and their Riders with Cathy Dee

I am commited to helping people enjoy the sort of bond I have with my horses, to feel safe while out riding and feel at one with the horse. I am based in Rangiora Christchurch and will travel to you OR you can come out to me.

I'm not going to teach you to do passage or flying changes or even to jump stuff, what I aim to teach is better comunication and understanding of your horse. I am aiming to teach people how to tell if something is preventing your horse from being able to do what you are asking him to do.

So many times horses are forced to do things which they are either not capable for (mental or physical) reasons or things which they have not been prepared or trained for.

I am also aware of many people returning to riding after a break of some years and finding that their confidence levels are at an all time low. I'll work with humour and gentle encouragement to restore this.

I provide lessons which differ from the coventional in several ways. Your first lesson will be an hour and a half during which I will first sit and talk with you before your horse has even been caught, about the problems - percieved or real you are having. I will be taking notes.

I need to observe the way you handle your horse so I will be watching you from when you catch him, through saddling up and on to riding.

I will be looking at your saddle fit and at the bit you are riding in and its suitability for that horse.

When you start riding, I will photograph you first before your lesson - often seeing yourself in the photograph clears up any point I may be trying to make that you may not understand.

Your lesson will consist of working with the problems you are having - if you have several problems, we will work on each problem each lesson. Too much information all at once will not only tend to confuse you but also your horse!

In a couple of days you will be sent a detailed description complete with relevent photographs of your lesson. This will help to reinforce what you have learned.

One other thing, I don't claim to know everything when it comes to horses - like you I am constantly learning new things. Throughout this site you will find references to another website written by someone who I consider to be a great horse man - John O'Leary...
www.horseproblems.com.au

I've learned a lot about all sorts of horse problems through the resources John has on his web site and I find his advice not only sound and thought out, but really really good.

The first lesson is $60 (+ petrol) with subsequent lessons at $40
(+ petrol)

THE Stars of this site.

Nibbler B'stard was unrideable when I first came across him. He is the first and only horse I have actually been afraid of; in fact, he was downright dangerous. Now however - 4 years on and a lot of love and many many one rein stops later, he is a fabulous horse to ride and an extremely cuddly gentleman (I NEVER thought I would say THAT about him!). He loves his dressage and is a complete and utter show-off at the best of times. His interests are Mares and Food in that order. I'm pleased to say that Nibbler is back in work after being turned out due to a major Staggers problem. He's working well and enjoying his dressage.

I rescued Persil Beaucoup from an awful situation. He's an Australian Stock Horse cross bred for Polo. He couldn't be caught because he was so scared of people. I found him huddled in some yards, terrified of everything and anyone who came near. When I first started riding him, he only knew flat out and bounce up and down. We spent 3 months simply walking everywhere on serious hill country and eventually he calmed down. We've won a lot of CTR races and Persil and I are extremely close. I can get off him during a race and run beside him without having to hold on to him - he stays with me, in fact if I disappear behind a tree or something he gets very upset. In the paddock he grabs me by the jersey and leads me over to show me different things he may have found. That's Persil and me at the top of this page. Sometimes when we are out fora ride he gets so excited, he scuttles around sideways like a crab and squeels. I love this little guy.

The Phantom is the first horse I've had since I was a kid who hasn't been abused. I wanted a 'quiet' horse for my husband to learn to ride on. Phantom is the clown of the group. He's hillarious - he picks up our shoes and carries them round the paddock he stands at the windows of our house and wipes his nose loudly on the glass to get our attention. The Phantom had not had any schooling when I got him so I'm working on that and he has a lot of potential in dressage if I can get him to stop acting the clown.The Phantom and Persil spend most of their time playing while Nibbler moons at the mares over the fence. Although he's brilliant on the road and I love riding him, 'quiet' is not the first word that springs to mind concerning him! He is his own man and he just makes me laugh every day.

All my horses are barefoot - more about barefoot farriering.

As a recent convert to this type of trimming I have only just become aware of the very real difference between a 'paddock trim' that a farrier does and the true 'Barefoot' trimming techniques as practised by Pete Ramey.

I believe this is the true future of keeping our horses healthy and pain free and one of my greatest wishes is to see this become mainstream instead of a fringe activity. It really does work and the difference in the hoof health is incredible. I will post updates of my own horses hoof shapes changeing and the healing of horendous cracks in one in particular.

Another person I thoroughly recommend as an essential horse contact is Osteopath Sarah Wisson ph 021 31 55 99. Sarah works wonders with any musculo-sleletal system problems and not just for horses! She also treats all pets, wildlife and working animals. She is extremely well qualified and a great person!