Patrons

We are honoured to have the support and endorsement of our Patrons.

Kelly Marks, Monty Roberts and Roger Lyon

Kelly Marks www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk

Age: Undecided! (Birthday, January 1st)
Favourite Horse: My present horse ‘problem pony turned Champion’ Pie is super fun to ride but he’s great company even if I’m just leading him out for a walk. He ended up a top Working Hunter Pony, winning the BSPS Desert Orchid with my niece and ‘BSPS Rider of the Year’ twice.
Greatest Moment: My ‘pivotal moment’ was winning the Ladies European Championship (flat racing) in 1995. It gave me the feeling I could do anything. My ‘second life’ began when I started Intelligent Horsemanship, helping people and horses to be happier together.
Words of Wisdom: If things are not going to plan, have the courage to ask yourself how have I trained my horse to behave this way? Then you can put it right.
Star Sign: Capricorn
Essential Piece of Kit: Dually Halter
Aim of a lifetime, in fact, is to become an extraordinary teacher, enabling people to make quantum leaps in horsemanship by my extraordinary insights (might as well be ambitious!).
Hero or Heroine: Monty Roberts (mentor) and Pat Burgess (showjumping trainer) both in their 70s and both role models for energy and enthusiasm and generosity with their knowledge.

Traditional methods aim to teach the horse to ‘DO AS I SAY’ and involve the use of pain and intimidation, but Monty focuses on communion with the horse, rather than domination. “For centuries, humans have said to horses, ‘You do what I tell you or I’ll hurt you,’ I’m saying that no one has the right to say, ‘you must’ to an animal or to another human,” Monty said.

While tracking wild mustangs in Nevada as a boy, Monty observed a nonverbal communication between the horses, a silent language he would later call “Equus.” Monty incorporates “Equus” into his nonviolent training approach called Join-Up®.

Monty first developed Join-Up® to stop the cycle of violence typically accepted in traditional horse breaking. Convinced there must be a more effective and gentle method, Monty created these consistent set of principles using the horse’s inherent methods of communication and herd behavior. The result is a willing partnership in which the horse’s performance can flourish to its full potential, rather than exist within the boundaries of obedience. These principles are valuable tools to understanding what motivates horse behavior and increasing effectiveness in any application.

The message of Join-Up® goes far beyond horses. The lesson is also about philosophies of communication and relationships. Join-Up proposes that not just horses, but humans too, thrive in a cooperative and safe environment and falter in a climate of fear and submission.

Roger Lyon www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool

A great favourite with BBC Radio Merseyside listeners, Roger aims to reflect music and chat from across Merseyside. With great music, great company and all your local news and weather, relax on Saturday afternoons with Roger Lyon. For people outside the Merseyside area, you can hear Roger using the on-line BBC radio i-player.

Roger supports the work of Shy Lowen Sanctuary and opened our newly built Education Centre on 28th September 2008