ABOUT ME
Icelandic Horses became part of my life when I was eleven years old. I grew up in Switzerland, where the Icelandics are quite common and so it was easy for me to find experienced, specialized riding instructors.
When I was 21, I bought my first horse, Bjartur, who I brought with me when I came to California in 1996. Because I had to get a Green Card before I could stay permanently in California, I decided to make use of the time in Switzerland to get on with my riding training.
I spent four years living and working on an Icelandic Horse farm. There were approximately 100 horses on that farm including school horses, breeding horses, competition horses and boarders. I worked with the horses - training and feeding them. Mostly I worked with people, teaching children and adults on different levels from lunging lessons to basic dressage lessons and tolt lessons on the oval track and out on the trail.
To become a professional trainer, I had to undergo several tests. I was lucky that my supervisor, a FEIF-certified instructor was able to train riding instructors. After having passed three preliminary riding tests (see list below), I started my education under her critical supervision.
I passed the final test in 2001 and am now a licensed Trainer C IPV CH. (IPV CH=Icelandic Horse Association of Switzerland)
After moving to California, I met Peggy Cummings and was introduced to her work. Connected Riding is a great influence on how and what I teach now and I am working on becoming a Connected Riding Instructor.
Further explanation of my Swiss diplomas:
- Brevet I SVP the first general riding test done in Switzerland, regardless of breed. It marks the end of basic training and enables the rider to continue their education. The test includes basic dressage exercises, jumping and handling horses.
- Brevet I IPV CH the first specific riding test, designed for Icelandic Horses. Includes riding gaits, and focuses on trail riding and endurance.
- Brevet II IPV CH the second specific riding test. This test is the last test before training as an instructor and includes riding all the gaits on several different horses, advanced dressage exercises, higher jumps and an oral exam on horse keeping, feeding and riding theory.
- Trainer C IPV CH the first test for instructors. Includes riding gaits on different horses, judging of a horse's state of training and ability level by riding and watching it, giving lessons on all levels (longe, basic dressage, tolt, competition training on basic level), oral and written theory exams, an oral presentation on a topic chosen by the judges, giving a theory lesson to students.
After the tests, two fourteen-day internships have to be performed, one of them on another farm. One I did in Switzerland and one in Germany. The Trainer C IPV CH equals a Trainer B license in German standards.