Trainers in Ireland

[gerry]

We at Five Oaks Ranch pride ourselves on being the longest approved (AIRE) establishment in Ireland specializing in western style riding. We also breed purebred American Quarter Horses and Appaloosa. Over the years we have seen many come and go. Some arrived with a massive splash but generally they just disappeared or faded away. I'm talking by the way about ,Trainers.
We have seen all kinds of clinics held here in Ireland with huge advertising. We have even seen clinics and demonstrations been offered by people who have only recently learned to ride! Have a look at a couple of pieces on you-tube of so called clinics and demonstrations held in Ireland. What are these people trying to demonstrate?
We, have only recently discovered one of Ireland's hidden pearls. Sean Fitzgibbon. Back in early August Sean came to one of our training days at Five Oaks Ranch. This man is a natural horseman. He not only talks the talk but he does walk the walk. Sean has been there and done it with horses.
He and Liam Clancy joined us again this past weekend for a training weekend. This kind of a weekend proves that true horsemanship is about working with horses and not restricted by disciplines or styles of riding. Over the last couple of years a fad seems to have emerged of 'Clinic junkies', where the number of clinics attended and who's clinics, seems to have become more important than actually working with the horse.
So right under our noses here in Ireland, without any glitz and glamor or huge advertising campaigns is a true horseman called Sean Fitzgibbon.

[Elaine]

Hi Gerry, I hear you're doing great stuff up in Donegal! Sean's skills are quite amazing. The first time I met him, he had asked me to give him a lesson. Of course he wouldn't tell me anything about what he'd done... so I went out not expecting much (previously I'd gone to Australia to train with horsemen of his caliber) and suddenly I find myself, jaw dropped, sitting on a barrell, watching canter pirourettes at liberty and beautiful ridden work.... anyway, needless to say he's now the one teaching me!

Great to hear you're having fun up there! Now we just need PICTURES...............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
;D

[gerry]

Hi Elaine,
Yes our mission over the years is that everybody should enjoy horses. Our priority is our horses. They provide that enjoyement. Will get some pictures to you. Yes we hope to have many good days up here.
Gerry

[liamclancy]

Welcome Gerry to the Irish Horsemanship site. A big thank you for the outstanding hospitality shown to sean and myself last weekend, perhaps one day you could bring a couple of your exceptional horses to one of our fun days and give us chance to return your kindness.

[circlej]

I must agree with what you're saying about these so-called "clinics" in my experience they fall far short of the mark, no real understanding of NH especially what the horse actually needs, there is no real understanding of the communication process between man and horse. I've tried to set myself up as a natural trainer and have had some success with the horses I've worked, but it's the owners who need the most training but they don't see it, although I don't teach English riding, I do teach Western riding, but the natural training philosopy applies to all horses irrespective of breed or equine discipline, I've worked both voluntarily and paid in the US where I was trained in NH by Tennesse renowned trainer Mr Bill Gray a Richard Shrake certified resistance free trainer. While there are loads of clinic junkies here and they all express great interest in NH, they aren't willing to pay for proper training and worst of all they are not prepared to spend the time and patience required to fulfill their horse's potential, which is a big disappointment to me. BTW thank you Gerry for providing the service that you do, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be where I am today in my horse journey, I learned to ride at your place 3 or so yrs ago before my trip to Montana which opened up a whole new world to me, I have been blessed by further opportunities to visit and work with horses Stateside and more recently here in the north. Cheers Jim (Circle J Equine Training)

[amanda1066]

Dec 18, 2009 10:56:54 GMT circlej said:

but it's the owners who need the most training but they don't see it,

This is so true!! I'm not a Professional but an owner who has made so much progress since I realized it was me who needed to do the learning!