Domonique – Sydney | I am amazed by the speed of my mare Melita’s progress… Ian spent 2 hours with her… She used to headshake, headtoss, reef the reins, sucked back, not able to canter left, lungeing head outside the circle… on trails not stop headtossing… first trail, half a dozen headshake then nothing, second trail 3…!!!! Arena work more slow but she has stopped turning around trying to bite my knee (yes it was that bad!) and today we managed 2 laps of the arena at a good walk (rare!) and without head shaking or piggy face… tomorrow we will try a bit of trotting. Such a pleasure to saddle up now after 2 years of 3 lessons/week with previous instructor!!! Pity Tasmania is his home!
Charlotte – Victoria | I purchased your trouble free Float and Trailer loading DVD And …have just finished watching it … What a great video, Thank you very much … And I really enjoyed the last minutes spent on safety of float, and just general information and advice.
Helen – Sorell | Hi Ian, Thank you for coming around and helping me load my Yearling. I practiced that for a few days and he literally jumps on board. I was gob-smacked when I saw you get him in there, considering he ran over the top of me the previous day. I cannot thank you enough for educating the both of us. You are an amazing trainer, a fantastic teacher and a lovely person that is easy to get on with.
Linda – Hobart | just a quick message to let you know that “Panther” and I are going really well – no more catching issues – he catches me now! My confidence with him is growing every day and I feel that he’s actually enjoying being with me and getting lots of scratches, he follows me around the paddock!
Sara – Hobart | Everybody should check this day out. Ian is great and the Arena is fab. Ian has sorted me and my horse out can not recommend him highly enough.
Jodi – Hobart | Dear Ian, Well what can I say and how can I express my thanks to you for sharing your teaching methods, advice and the assistance you have given Kaleb and I. We cant thank you enough. The difference in our horses in a short period of time is outstanding. To be shown and taught how, and what to do for the benefit of our horses is greatly appreciated. As you know Storm was just running with his nose in the air. After our lesson with you and getting him mouthed Kaleb did a little bit of ground work with him, the difference in such a short period of time is fantastic. He was automatically keeping his head down and his movement was so much better, hardly any pressure was needed. When I got home from work yesterday Kaleb said that he had done some more work with Storm, bridling and a little ground work, he also made a comment, I wonder when I will get to ride you Storm. Later on I noticed Kalebs helmet on the ground and thought to myself, mmmm, I wonder if he rode Storm. A little later Trish came over and said that she had found a DVD of an endurance ride and wanted to show me. We put the DVD on and up flashed Quirindi productions present (Quirndi is our properties name and Storms full name is Quirindi Storm), then up comes Kaleb riding my Storm in the round yard, I had tears in my eyes! Here was Storm all collected, head in and down moving around like he had done it forever! I was so proud of him (and Kaleb). To see him like this was the greatest feeling, and then he was backing up, going from a trot to a halt and then even side passing! Gosh, could this be the same horse, I cant express what seeing this did to me, I am holding back tears of joy even writing this (yes, I am a softy), I have watched it over and over. Kaleb was pretty impressed with Storm too, he even compared him with Goodie and said Storm was just as responsive as Goodie! I am thankful that Kaleb has retained what you have shown us, he definitely has the knack! I know that this is what a horse should normally do but to actually see the difference in Storm really has opened my eyes. You just cant expect to get on and ride a horse and expect him to do the right thing without being taught, more importantly the rider learning how to ride properly! Today after work I am going home to ride and practice on Kooga before getting on Storm. I want to do the right thing and have everything down pat before riding Storm, I dont want to confuse him and Kooga is ideal to practice on. Kaleb will enjoy giving me a lesson ‘m sure and I doubt he will let me back on Storm until I am doing everything exactly the right way (which I want to do of course)! Thank you SO MUCH, without your willingness to teach and your encouragement there is no way our horses would be doing what they are doing today. You are so helpful and your methods and teachings are so clear so we can put them in to practice at home. We will definitely put together some photos and videos we have taken of you with our horses. Thanks yet again Ian, you are a legend and you will probably get sick of the sight of us!
Linda – Hobart | Scout is a particularly intelligent, over-confident horse, who knows he’s special and always makes sure everyone else knows he is too. He always expected to be the boss and was quite “put out” if any other horse or person didn’t have the same expectations. I knew he had major potential to excel in any area, I knew my lack of confidence was holding him back, yet not really sure what to do about it. In effect I was “stealing rides” and hoping all would be fine (a very fitting term coined by Ian Leighton when I described the situation). There was one incident when Scout bolted on me and I couldn’t stop him, which confirmed my fears that I really had no control over him. I then moved him and only rode him once or twice in the paddock until Ian’s first visit.
The best thing I ever did was get Ian to come and help me. I realised that the groundwork I had done with Scout, was about 2% of the groundwork he needed. There were many amazing revelations over the next couple of months that made me very glad that I had persisted with Scout and I was overjoyed to know that there was a way that Scout and I could reach our potential together.
Some of the major highlights “on the ground” included:
- Discovering that horses can do circle-work collected with the desired flexion at the poll, at various paces, in a halter and lead rope, no side-reins or other aides, while building the correct muscle to develop top-line, without boring both horse and rider senseless with endless circles.
- How sensitive horses really are to our manner, movement, moods and any other variations in our demeanour. I learned to judge how much pressure to put on, when to ask for what I wanted, and how to use my body’s energy correctly to get variations of direction and speed.
- Sideways, backwards, yielding hind-quarters and fore-hand can all be as soft and responsive as forwards, still with just a halter and lead rope.
Probably the biggest moment for me, was when Ian demonstrated how to get total respect on the ground in an open paddock, (with Scout knowing his paddock mates who kept calling out to him were around the corner out of sight) then looped the lead rope around Scout’s neck so he was free to go, yet Scout chose to follow Ian like a foal following it’s mother all around the paddock, walking, trotting, stopping, backing up etc, without Ian even looking at him. This was amazing considering Scout was the type of horse who would look for an opportunity to do what he wished, and being intelligent, often managed to take advantage of any lapse in concentration, before I was aware of any lapse myself. I was amazed Scout hadn’t disappeared in a cloud of dust, especially when he started trotting.
The more I learned, the more I realised how many bad habits I had developed since losing my confidence riding him. Being a nervous rider gave Scout an excuse to be silly, but effective ground work techniques and lots of halter and lead rope riding gave me back my confidence, and the good habits began to become automatic.
The way Ian works is valuable for many reasons, but particularly as he is willing to demonstrate, not just instruct. As a kid I had instructors, but not someone who would demonstrate with your horse. Watching Ian ride Scout gave me confidence, as Ian wasn’t afraid to put Scout under a bit of pressure when Scout had his “ADHD kid on red cordial” days, and I could see that if I used the correct techniques, I could do the same thing. There were days that I would never have got on Scout if I didn’t trust Ian’s judgement, and it has paid off enormously, with me now having regained a lot of confidence and continuing to move forward with Scout.
I have attended two of Ian’s clinics with Scout, and I love to see everyone have “ah-ha!!” moments over different things they discover about themselves and their horses. Everything that Ian teaches can be applied to any horse and any equestrian discipline. For example, I would never have thought it was possible to get a perfect side-pass riding in a halter and lead rope on a horse who hasn’t had enough riding experience to even canter a balanced circle carrying a rider.
One of my favourite sayings is: “Do the best you can with what you’ve got,” and I believe that saying is being fulfilled in my life with Scout, thanks to Ian’s help. Six months ago I couldn’t have imagined we would have come so far. So thank you Ian!!
Beck, Ottis & Janey Jugah – Geelong | YAY! The clinics we have done with Ian were great! Ottis is still a handful but with the skills Ian has shown me, the results have been fantastic! I have video footage of Ian helping me with my first ride on JJ too. She is a Dream, I was told starting an 11 yr old Thoroughbred mare would be a challenge but using the techniques Ian showed me has made the process fun and rewarding for both of us. Thanks Again.
Sharen – Hobart | Congratulations Ian on a well thought out & informative site. Having benefited greatly from you teachings & philosophies and your friendship – I appreciate that your entry into the cyberworld can only be a positive step forward for our equine friends.
Gina – Hobart | Thank you so much Ian. Your clinic and private lessons have helped me and Joker understand each other. We have gone from a nervous rider on a spooky horse to a pair of bush hoons. Before your assistance riding was more of an ordeal than fun.
Alex – Hobart | Ian even just the first session with Charlie (Stubborn Ex-pacer) has really boosted my confidence in handling him. It is going to be a long journey, but at least its going to be fun now. I must have looked like a complete goose waving my arms about trying to get him to back up, but its great laughing while trying to get the serious stuff done! You are a natural teacher of people as well as horses!
Clarissa – Hobart | Congratulations Ian on your new web site, looks fantastic with interesting information. Have always enjoyed watching you work with horses as you have an excellent repertoire with not only the equine friends but the human ones as well. I have learnt far more from you over the last 18 months than what I ever did since becoming involved with horses again. Your clinics are always good fun and I look forward to many more happy years with the horses all because you have helped make it happen. A huge thank you from me and I sincerely wish you all the best.
Jess – Hobart | Ian has worked with 3 of my horses and the results with each have been dramatic. The biggest change has been in my welsh arab colt Hades who was incredibly disrespectful when I first got him. He had been spoilt to the point of being unsafe and nasty. When it came to leg handling he would try and rear and pull back and float loading was average at best. The groundwork skills Ian taught me completely changed the dynamic in our relationship and he got us to a stage where we had a true partnership. I learnt to direct Hades energy and speed in positive ways and to make ground work fun for both of us. I started to enjoy being around him and he’d meet me at the gate ready for work. With just a few sessions with Ian we got to a stage where I felt confident taking Hades out in the public eye and I showed him as a colt a number of times with lots of success and judges regularly commenting on how well behaved he was. The work Ian has put in means he can now trim him with no one holding his lead rope and he float loads beautifully. Recently Ian began to start Hades under saddle and I’ve been thrilled with the ground he has covered in such a short amount of time. His lightness and responsiveness is exceptional and he’s well on his way to being a safe riding horse. Ian’s work is his testament. He is a true horseman in every sense of the word and I can’t recommend him highly enough.
Chris – Bendigo | G’day Ian, I want to thank you for conducting the clinic at Hayemeron Park Stud in Bonegilla, Vic. The clinic content was amazing and you are an amazing and inspiring horseman.
Emmi – Hobart | Okay, yesterday was a really big day for me. We had the amazing Ian Leighton come to work with my “difficult” Standardbred mare Misty. I hadn’t ridden her since August 2006, when I had a really bad accident and lost all confidence, and ever since she’s been playing up. Almost two years of being scared of your own horse who you used to trust with your life… Not fun. Had enough, so we got Ian in. He did some basic groundwork with her (turns out she’s just used to getting her own way since I lost confidence and has just become spoilt and pushy). He just worked her in a rope halter and training lead, teaching her to respect him. Lots of going in circle, flexing, turning hindquarters, shoulder stuff, backing up etc. Then he slowly worked up to getting on her BAREBACK! This horse who likes to play up and never ridden bareback before was behaving like an angel. After a while he told me to get the saddle and I got back on her! After almost two years I got back in the saddle (was absolutely terrified at first) and rode her in a rope halter and lead. It was so totally awesome, and she was really good. So needless to say I’m very pleased with myself!
Carol – Melbourne | When I saw you ride my horse I was shocked at just what he was capable of. It was at that moment that I realised that he was just confused by my lack of understanding. In the short time that I spent with you I learned things that will assist me for the rest of my life with horses. Thankyou Ian
Ashlee & Paula – Launceston | Thankyou very much for holding such a fantastic clinic 🙂 .. Mum has gained alot of confidence and now feels like she is understanding and even likes working with Daisy, which we didnt think was going to happen. I now have the respect also with my horse Charlie, and it just goes to show how simple techniques can make a whole lot of difference and what a fun and educational day for us all. We definately will be looking forward to Ians next clinic in the area. Thankyou very much,
Jacquie – President WDRC | Dear Ian, The Western District Riding Club would like to thank you deeply for the recent clinic you held at Elder Park Rokewood. Your methods were fantastic and in simple terms. Your instructions were very simple and easy to follow. Everyone who attended was overwhelmed and full of joy with your methods that worked so quickly and easy on our horses. We’ve had fantastic feed back from the clinic and can’t wait for the next one! Hopefully it will be bigger and better and no bush fires! We will have to arrange another clinic in a few months time with you. Once again THANK YOU very much! Regards,
