Balanced Horse Training
Riding lessons, horse training, boarding and bodywork.
About Kate
Kate has studied dressage and hunter/jumper disciplines with various local and international teachers and clinicians. She has experience training and riding many breeds, as well as young, unbacked to Prix St-George.
Her understanding and feel of the horse under saddle has been further developed by study of equine biomechanics, rehabbing horses with profound injuries to soundness, training in a variety of hands-on equine bodywork techniques.
Kate particularly enjoys working with students who wish to develop themselves as a competent partner to their horse, on the ground and in the saddle: to read, understand, care for and facilitate their horse's mental, emotional & athletic development and confidence—to become balanced, tactful, trusting partners. Kate employs in-hand/lunging, bodywork, and uses a Classical approach and methods—for the good of the horse, with patience and good doses of humility and humor.
About Jennifer
Jennifer studied hunter/jumper disciplines for nearly a decade before taking a break to pursue her education. She returned to riding and joined BALANCED HORSE TRAINING, first as a rider, then as a trainer.
During her early riding career, Jennifer showed in both the A and B circuits in Illinois and won numerous awards in childrens hunter division. She was tasked with aiding in the rehab of several injured horses, and worked for several trainers as an exercise rider, and to provide general care during their absence.
Jennifer's approach to hunter/jumper training focuses on the safety and comfort of both horse and rider. Attention is paid to flat work (dressage) as a foundation and key component to jumping; a good, confident jump is achieved through balance, lack of tension, and problem-solving throughout the course.