Lessons

Debbie regularly teaches at selected Equestrian Centres in the Edinburgh / Glasgow / Stirling area and also offers private lessons for people at their own home or yard.

Riders without access to an indoor school or other facilities are welcome to join Debbie's weekly sessions at Hyndshawlands Farm Stables near Biggar on alternate Wednesdays and Saturdays. Click on the link below for more information about Hyndshawlands.

Another popular venue where Debbie teaches regularly is the Edinburgh Equestrian Centre. The Edinburgh Equestrian Centre has excellent cross-country facilities and fabulous off-road hacking. Click on the link below for more information about the Edinburgh Equestrian Centre.

Clinics can be arranged for groups of riders anywhere in the UK. Contact Debbie directly on 01899 860732 to discuss arrangements.

Safety and welfare are prioritised and clients are protected by MDM Equestrian’s full third party and public liability insurance as well as professional indemnity insurance for advice given. Debbie also holds a current HSE First Aid at Work certificate. She trains horses and riders at all levels, from those recovering from major set backs, starting out again and needing confidence restored to return to being ‘happy hackers’ to those keen to iron out subtle performance glitches that are holding them back from greater competition success.

Debbie says;

“Every horse and rider is an individual and each partnership unique. I have a naturally sympathetic and understanding approach and use only positive coaching techniques. In my experience consistent and lasting improvements are best achieved by encouraging horses and riders to progress at their own pace, depending on their initial level of skill, ability and fitness and the time they have to ride or work together each week.

There are many different ways of communicating with your horse and great variety in the aids which can be applied to request every movement. I aim to find the aids which best suit each partnership and teach riders how to apply these in the most efficient manner at the right time.

Every horse (like every rider!) has his or her own ‘bad habits’ or foibles and ways of avoiding the physical demands of ‘correct’ movement. I teach riders how to become aware of and correct these in themselves and their horse and how to encourage their horse to move freely forward, maintain straightness, bend, rhythm and outline with active hindquarters and supple soft shoulders, relaxing the ‘topline’ and using his or her back and legs properly, building stronger and more evenly toned muscles.”

I have not yet met the person or horse who cannot improve, however slightly, from lesson to lesson. Everyone gets ‘homework’ exercises to do and we aim to build up to perfection in an infinite series of ‘baby steps’!

I never forget that riding should be enjoyable for all concerned. Are you fed up riding aimlessly around the arena at home hoping no-one is watching when things go wrong? Do you have a ‘great trot’ but ‘disastrous canter’? Do you have difficulty ‘getting or maintaining an outline’? Are your transitions a bit bumpy? Do you fancy having a go at dressage or dressage to music but not sure how to start? Would you like to try a bit of jumping? Are you already competing, but want to move up a level? Are you getting stuck, feel you are in a rut or no longer having all the fun and pleasure from your horse that you used to have or hoped for when you bought him/her?

Whatever your level, if you want to ride with more confidence; improve your skills or your horse's performance – give me a call and let’s see what we can do!”

Hyndshawlands Farm Stables

Edinburgh Equestrian Centre