PattyTraining

Patty has been riding and training in New England for more than 20 years. Her interest in horses developed in a roundabout way: "I was not horse-crazy as a child," says Patty. "My older sister took riding lessons with the Girl Scouts. Being a jealous sibling, I had to have what she had. As it turns out, my sister moved on to other hobbies after earning her Horseback riding badge, and I haven't stopped yet."

"I was very fortunate to start out at a barn where I could ride many different types of horses and with a very common-sense-based instructor gave me as solid a set of basics as one could ask for. I remained at that barn all through high school and college and beyond."

Patty's competition career began in combined training. "I had a great little arab/QH gelding named Socks who was game for anything. His dressage was his weak spot and eventually it became more interesting for me than for him." At the same time that Patty was competing Socks, the farm acquired a black grade pony who failed at being a beginner school pony. Patty took over his training and a partnership was formed that lasted several years. The pony, affectionately named Snidely Whiplash, provided Patty's introduction to the world of competitive dressage and helped earn her the USDF Bronze Medal. "Dressage was Snidely's true calling. He was a peacock and thoroughly enjoyed being in the spotlight. We went everywhere together. It was a blast! That pony taught me so much about how to be confident in the show ring."

After Snidely's retirement, Patty continued to train horses for clients while looking for a mount for herself. She leased a Welsh Cob mare and enjoyed much of the same success in the show ring as she had experienced with Snidely. While her partnership with the mare lasted only a year, Patty fell in love with the Welsh breed and was determined to have her next horse be a Welsh Cob.

Along came *Gerrig Quest. "Quest was a once-in-a-lifetime gift," says Patty. "He came to me as an unbroke 7-year-old in desperate need of a job. He turned out to be the most loyal, hardworking and honest horse I have ever encountered. He had a heart that never quit. He tried to do everything I asked of him and more often than not succeeded. He earned me my USDF Silver Medal and so, so much more. We were together for ten years and schooling Grand Prix when I lost him. I miss him still."

Eager to fill his "brother's" big shoes is Summerbrook Maximilian, a young Welsh Cob gelding that Patty purchased a few months after Quest's passing. "Max shows a lot of the same qualities that I loved about Quest. He wants to work hard, enjoys learning new things. He's a clown. To Max, life is just a big party. I call him Balloons and Confetti."

As noted above, Patty has earned her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals. She is also a a graduate with distinction of the USDF "L" Judges Training Program. She is a popular judge for local schooling shows. "I love to judge the schooling shows because I love to help people make their horses better."

Patty competes throughout New England at USEF/USDF Dressage Competitions and coaches her students at both Open and Schooling shows.

At Kyriebrook Patty offers customized training packages to suit her clients needs. These packages range from one lesson or training ride per week to full training for horse and rider. Her goal is to help all of her clients become independent horsepeople, confident in the ability to ride and train their own horses.

Patty relies on a positive approach, always keeping in mind that riding is supposed to be enjoyable. "I am completely aware that riding is an expensive sport," says Patty. "That's why I want my clients to have the best possible experiences with their equine friends. I want them to be comfortable with their horses, confident with their horses. I want them to know their horses as well as I do and be able to problem-solve and make decisions. That's what riding is all about."

To set up an appointment to meet with Patty to discuss your Training needs