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ABOUT CATHY
Brief Riding History
Cathy didn't start riding until she was 21, pursuing a childhood dream. At 25 she abandoned her career in insurance where she worked as a systems analyst, and started full-time training as a working pupil. The BHSAI followed a year later and she started her own business in rented premises. Constant training and development over the following years led eventually to the BHSII, but it was a long road and the show-jumping for the BHS Stage IV exam was a huge hurdle to overcome... and yet a great achievement when complete.
Far from being a natural, Cathy has had to work extremely hard to master the skills required to ride and handle horses successfully. The benefit of this is apparent when teaching however, as she firmly believes that all these skills can be learned, by anyone! For sure it takes some people longer, and some are limited by their level of fitness, or the amount of time available to them; the truth is though, that every horse and every rider can be improved.
Relevant Qualifications
British Dressage database trainerBritish Horse Society Intermediate Instructor - (national level) BHSAI (BHS Assistant Instructor - regional level)UKCC level 3 (UK Coaching Certificate, national Level)Canadian Equestrian Federation Western Riding CertificateCity and Guilds qualified saddler and harness makerNVQ A1 assessorHGV licenceABRS assessorCurrent CRB, current HSW First Aid certificateWinner of BHS Equitation award for being the instructor of qualifying junior competitors in both age categories: 2008, 2009.
Cathy's horses
Cathy on her riding school years:"One of the unique features of my riding school was my belief that all the horses and ponies should be capable of going to a local show, and if not winning, certainly getting a rosette for their rider. This meant that in addition to starting some of the horses from scratch, I was also involved with schooling all sorts and sizes of horse, and training all levels and ages of rider for competition."
Here is Chaos, the backbone of the school and the safest horse for beginners!She came to Pied Horse unbroken and with a foal at foot.As well as being a keen jumper (when sufficiently motivated!) and a historical re-enactment star, she also turned her hoof to dressage and is shown here with Cathy qualifying for the British Dressage Area Festivals.She has now gone to a great home with an ex-pupil and we all wish them the best of luck in the future.
In both 2008 and 2009 Pied Horse qualified pupils in both age sections of the British Horse Society's Equitation Competition. Cathy's Junior riders went to the National Championships in Warwickshire on the Pied Horse mounts, and two years running made the placings. In 2009 Elinor Cowen achieved a 4th place in the Under 13 section, and Philippa Wisbey was Reserve Champion in the U17 section. The competition was very long, busy and tough with riders coming from all around the country to compete at show-jumping, dressage and equitation knowledge.
Shown here are Ellie, Cathy and Philippa receiving their awards at Newton Hall (Ipswich) on winning both sections of the regional qualifier in 2009.
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