Kirkcarrion Highland Ponies

Welcome to the new Clinics page

Over recent years I have taken time to go and see various clinics and demos by a range of practitioners, from Monty Roberts to Nicci Mackay, including those who treat problem behaviour and those who treat physical problems. Good, bad or indifferent, these people have shaped my views in various ways and the reports that follow are purely a personal viewpoint on what I witnessed on what was in some cases a single occasion. All comments are meant to be read as such and not as judgemental of the skills of any individual. Everyone that I've seen work with horses has taught me something, from the days when I was a helper at a riding school and livery yard, to experiences on various livery yards over the years as a pony owner, to instructors, clinicians, and many others. Most of all I have learned from the animals I've tried out many of these things on, whether under guidance or on my own, and I have to say I have usually been second rate if not worse! So all those that I have learned from have succeeded in making me think, which is the most important thing. I cannot claim that any of them have helped me do it right, not yet anyway, but sometimes I get a glimmer of light and think "aah, yes, that's like it!".

No criticism is intended of any individual or organisation - what I thought I saw and heard is clouded by my personal experience, sometimes a distant memory and the usual arse/elbow conflict that most of us know only too well! I apologise unreservedly for any misinterpretations of what I have seen or heard, or even for witnessing a "bad day" amongst the many years of good ones elsewhere! I offer no recommendations to see or not see these people, its entirely up to you to go and see those you are interested in. I'm merely using the power of the internet to give a personal opinion to anyone fool enough to read this far!

OK, enough intro and disclaimers. The list is not yet complete and I hope never will be - but its what I've written up so far.

Monty Roberts (the man who listens to horses - US) Gleneagles around late 1996
Nicci Mackay (horse whisperer - UK) home visit summer 1997
Gavin Scofield (cranial osteopath - UK) home visit 1998
Mike Barker (Pat Parelli trainer - Australia) Aberdeenshire, summer 1999
Liz Eddy (Shiatsu practitioner - UK) clinic, Borders 1999, and home visits, spring 2000
Mark Rashid (western horseman - US) clinic, Lothian, spring 2000

E-mail: a.douglas@dundee.ac.uk
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