Hi, my name is
Jackie Richards
I have designed this site because horses do not have instructions and can not speak, so it is very difficult for you to make the correct decisions for your horse. This is made especially hard when there are so many “know it alls”, that have little real knowledge, and “experts” that are just passing on snippets of information without considering the real consequences for the horse.
Growing Up
I grew up in Welling in the outskirts of London. It was a very built up area with a lot of young kids in gangs getting into trouble.
My dad decided that buying a horse would keep my two brothers and I out of trouble, little did he know that our weekends, school holidays and school day evenings were taken up doing death defying tricks. We were regularly being bucked and kicked by our 15.2h sports horse called Papillon (aptly named as he regularly took flight!).One instance that sticks in my mind is when we thought it would be a great idea for my brothers, and other crazy friends, to lay down in a line and us all to take turns in jumping them. I really feel we would have been in less danger if we had joined the gangs my dad was so keen for us to avoid.
Once I had finished my schooling and Alevels I got a place in university to study math and physics, in preparation for becoming a teacher. Instead, I decided to take a year out to learn a little about horses.
This is the start of my complete passion
Croft House School
I was lucky enough to gain a place at Croft House School as a working pupil, where I studied under an amazing woman called Angela Hutchens. She trained with Tricia Gardiner and was a part of the dressage scene at the time. She was a perfectionist and often I would end up in my room in tears, having worked 12 hours, giving all I had, and still being pulled up for not showing enough energy. It was very hard but I learnt so much with her.
My Training
As it was a private girls school I had the holidays off, so I volunteered or paid to work for whoever would take me. I spent 6 weeks with a Barron who had trained the Belgium olympic show jumping team. He was terrifying!! He regularly tipped my full wheelbarrow over, declaring I was not fit to lick his boots clean as I had left some muck in the stable. I would ride his horses in a small indoor school where his style of teaching would include blindfolding me, tying my legs to the girth and then putting random jumps around. Often I would ride with no girth as, “apparently this was the only way to learn”. He was in total control of the horse and I trusted him completely so my riding improved dramatically. I learnt to sit almost anything but I do not believe his methods would be ok in today’s society though!
I also spent my holidays: helping a Monty Roberts trainer doing loading demonstrations; at David Broome’s center doing yard work, where I learnt about the show jumping scene and also at a breaking yard, what an eye opener that was! Most of the time I just helped out with the donkey work, but sometimes I would get to ride or have a lesson which was amazing, taking in all the different ideas. At the breaking yard though, I mostly learnt how not to do it – painfully.
After four years I gained my BHSAI and BHSII, but sadly my mum was suffering with breast cancer and I was still in Devon. Luckily a riding centre came up for sale closer to my parents which they took on, so I could run it and be closer to home. This was a massive leap of faith on my parents behalf as, at the time, I was only 24 and the yard had had many failed managers. My parents knew nothing about horses or my ability with them.
Slough Fort Riding Centre
The yard- Slough fort Riding School- was placed right in the middle of a caravan park and it was the steepest learning curve of my life. At that point I knew about horses but people management was untrodden territory. I left there with many dear friends and I gained so much knowledge, and a deep understanding of the struggles new riders and owners faced. I also saw the bitchy unforgiving and opinionated horse world they would have to find a place, and a voice, in order to care for their horse.
From then until now, apart from 6 years taken off to concentrate on my 3 children, I have run riding and trekking centres.
My family
I am very lucky to have a very understanding husband, who has supported me throughout, especially in the making of this site.
I also have 3 lovely, crazy children and 2 grandchildren who I am very proud of.
My Vision
Most of the centres I have run have had about 25 horses kept there, and I have trained many working pupils and apprentices for their BHS exams. Many of the liveries start as riding school clients that then progress and buy a horse to keep at the centre as a working livery, before taking the plunge to care for them themselves. I have seen that they really struggle, as do others who are just coming into the horse world. This is because God did not send down instructions with horses, and these lovely animals can not speak up for themselves. As a result it is very easy for people with little knowledge to convince these newbies they know best, with the horse ultimately suffering. The equine world is full of opinionated people who all are convinced they know exactly what is best for your horse. These “experts” contradict each other, causing total confusion, conflict and pain for you and your horse.
My way is to try to give the facts and this allows you, the owner, to make your own intelligent decisions. I would like to think I have helped many people to become better horse carers, thinking about what is said to them and not just accept it as gospel. My aim is to give you the knowledge to be able to care for your horse in the best way possible.
With this site you will gain a better understanding and relationship with your horse, and be able to make good choices about their welfare. If problems arise you will be able to break them down so you can solve them. You will have the knowledge to question the yard bullies and “experts”, and be able to give a reason why you are not following what they have recommended.
The ultimate result being a happy horse and happy owner.
