I found the whole ethos behind riding ‘Western’ after a lifetime of riding the ‘English’ way totally enlightening, I simply could not get enough information to learn how to get a horse so relaxed and willing, without using all the contraptions and limitations I was used to.

When I joined WES and found people so helpful and friendly, instructors with so much knowledge I felt that this was a million miles away from the attitudes I had so wanted to leave behind. This in turn made riding a pleasure again.

I joined the council in 2011 because I wanted to give back something to a society that had given me so much enjoyment. I now have a family of like-minded people that so want to share, with as wide an audience as possible, the benefits of having a horse that is a partner, not a slave.