Testimonials


Merry Christmas, Amy! I am so glad I found you this summer. You are hand-down the best instructor/trainer I have ever had the privelege of working with, and I cannot wait to start back in full-swing this spring. Best wishes, Alison (and Cyrano)

Dec. 2009



Amy,

Thank you so much for helping Jasmine (and me too.

Hopefully when the weather is nicer in the early summer I can talk you into a trail ride. I promise the long hours in the saddle that day will be worth it.

Take care and be safe.

Tawnya

Dec 2009












Thank you big time!

I couldn't have dont it without you. Thankyou for giving me the confidence to ride Sakina.

Wendy

Sept. 2009


Hello Amy,
I have been wanting to email for some time now and let you know Ruby
is wonderful! I have attached a photo of Reece on her at our place and one
of her and I getting ready for a prize ride that we rode in last Sunday.
Ruby did awesome, it was her maiden trip to the beach, the ocean did not
bother her a bit. The ride was about 3 hrs along the beach and then thru the
woods into the hills so we had a bit of everything, weaving trees and some
hills to climb. Our only issue was learning to keep our distance she wanted
to almost ride on the horse in front, by the end of the ride she had it
figured out.

I am so happy with the training you put on her we are continuing the same. I
purchased another bit with the french link as it seems to work great.
Several people have asked "now, where did she go for training again?" They
are very impressed and the trail ride was just over the top, one friend has
a 4 yr old that she has come off of so many times she doesn't enjoy him at
all (can you blame her).

Thank you so much,
Tery

Sept 2009




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I met with Amy about my OTTB (off the track Thoroughbred) to see if she would consider taking her on to train. Some race horse trainers remember Infinite Freedom quite well, she had the reputation of being a crazy untrained animal. None in Washington, nor Oregon, would have anything to do with her because of her past escapades. A vet told me to take her to an auction and get rid of her.

Freedom had no manners, was hard to lead, could not stop, nor stand still, and would go totally out of her head, because of this she had been mishandled.

In three months time Amy has taken this horse and changed her completely. Freedom is now approachable, easy to catch, and easy to groom, even clipping is not a problem. Under saddle she stops when asked, is calm and best of all, she listens! She's gone from a horse that could not focus, to a horse that partners with you and is a pleasure to ride.

I cannot express how amazed I am at what Amy has done. With patience and understanding she has not only taught my horse so much, she has taken the time to teach me as well. I believe Freedom will do well with her next career.

Thank you Amy.

Vicki Crawford
06/08

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Testimony 04/02/2008
I am 53 years old and have rheumatoid and osteoporosis arthritis. In dealing with so much pain for so many years from the arthritis, I was afraid to reach out to try and fulfill a dream I have had all my life, which was to own my own horses. Two years ago I decided to get two miniature horses (Mare, Sylvie and her filly, Misty). I figured that miniature horses would not effect my arthritis in a negative way.

True, having the minis did not make my arthritis worse, in fact my health became better because I now had to take care of two horses. But Sylvie and Misty had never been trained and it would take me an hour each day just to clean out their hoofs. In fact the filly was not even trained to wear a halter; she would kick, bite and throw tantrums. There were days I would end in tears. I was in a pickle. What to do? A friend of mine who knew of my situation found Amy's web page on the internet. And as they say, the rest is history. Amy has had so much patience with Sylvie and Misty but also with me.

Amy's horse training knowledge is immeasurable. Since the beginning of the training that started in April of 2007, both mini's will now stand still for a complete grooming, lounging, the Farrier, the Vet, will take a bit, give to pressure and I can ground drive them in a harness. Misty no longer kicks, bites and she gives me the respect of the alpha.

October 21st of 2007 I was given a 10 year old "trained" registered Quarter horse Mare named Dandy. Previous Owner had fallen into hard financial times and wanted to make sure her mare got a good safe home. I was feeling so good about the training of the minis (Sylvie and Misty), I thought, "I should be able to handle a full size 'trained' horse".

I had read in magazines, and also saw on RFD TV, that it was good exercise for people who had some physical disability to ride horses at a walking pace. It will work the same muscle groups in the body of the rider as if the person is doing the walking themselves. But there is no pressure and pain on the human leg/knee joints. Some people's idea of a trained horse is different than others. Oh Dandy is a nice horse, until I tried to lunge or ride her. She expertly knows how to run toward you and shove you with her shoulder. Knows how to turn around and kick out at you when she does not want to do something you are asking of her. Amy to the rescue again. Dandy just completed 30 days of training at Amy's farm. Now Dandy gives to the slightest pressure of the reins, drives with just my leg pressure, stops with just my body cues. Now, if only I (the Human) would learn as fast as Dandy did.

Amy, thank you for being the major reason in my life of being able to achieve my life long dream of owning horses. Its a dream come true. Thank you for doing such a great job of training my horses. Now that I can ride again it has greatly improved my muscle tone. God Bless you for being you, because though you God has given me the freedom once again of exploring a trail and being out in the woods pain free.
Lynn


"I had a blast at the last lesson!!!...You're a great teacher!!"
Debbie - Olympia, WA


"I was very impressed by the way you handled my horses."

-student who owns two drafts rescued from a feedlot



"Thanks so much for last week's lesson, you are awesome! I've been working on leading and having him respect my space. It works really well!"

-student who owns a horse who was destined for the slaughter house



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Amy is that "little voice" in your head.

I first noticed Amy in the covered arena at the ranch where I board. She was walking along while a gal was riding circles around her. Amy was coaching the gal in her riding position, making specific suggestions and corrections for the riders posture and balance. Her voice was calm, reassuring, and persistent. "Elbows in, hands down, sit up, look up . . ." like a broken record. I wasnt looking for a riding instructor, but had been thinking I'd like to improve my equitation. I ride trails and admire folks who can ride really well, thus actively pursue improving in my horse hobby.

I've owned horses for eight years and rode occasionally as a kid. Had a few lessons over the years and once I owned a horse, I attended a lot of clinics, seeking to improve my horsemanship. Discovered natural horsemanship about six years ago and learned a lot about groundwork, releasing the try, and communicating with the horse, and my riding was adequate, but not very elegant. Not that I needed to be an elegant rider, since I ride trails on my Paint horse, don't compete, and have no intention of showing. But watching Amy coach the gal and seeing Amy ride, I thought, "Id like to look like "that" while riding". More in balance and harmony on the horse. So I asked Amy if I could be her newest student.

My goal was to be able to ride well enough that if I wanted to enter competition, we could win Western Pleasure classes. That entailed getting my horse, Patch, and me "collected". He was all strung out, with nose and head pointing out and up, and didn't have his back rounded to give optimum impulsion. I was flopping along with my hands in an unnatural position in the "box" in front of the saddle horn, elbows akimbo.

We started with walking circles, asking for Patchs head to come down, moving my hands to a better position, sitting taller, supporting my body with my arms and keeping those elbows DOWN. I already had the heels down-toes up part of my legs and seat. Amy walked miles as I rode the circles. The walk got better and we started trotting, repeating the same lessons at the faster gait. Then Amy had me canter the circles. Well, everything went down the drain at that speed.

Patch wasn't balanced, I wasnt comfortable. His canter was all strung out and very fast, considering he has a very slow walk more like an amble. Amy rode him for a while, asking for compression, where the rear drives the front and the horse learns to carry himself from behind, rather than the front pulling the rest of the horse along. Thats an important part of Amys ability as an instructor: she can tell you and she can show you exactly what she means. If the horse needs an education, too, she can provide training.

Over the few months that I worked with Amy, she was determined to get married and move to Washington, Patch and I both improved an incredible amount. I miss our weekly lessons and may never find another riding instructor that I feel as connected with as Amy. Like the old proverb, she was the teacher I needed when I was ready . . . I can still hear her like a little voice in my head, "elbows in, hands down, don't lean, drive him!"