Hi Amanda, I have to thank you for a wonderful day on Saturday. You certainly had a
job on your hands battling the cold and the wet ground. Kate came home so happy with herself, the confidence you gave her in one day will stay with her for a lifetime and that was the bridge we needed to cross. Thankyou for taking us there.   Dianne Boyd    *******************************************************************************************************

Amanda, Thankyou for Jenna’s  wonderful riding lesson. She has had many instructors over her years of riding, Sarah Venemore, Les Friend, & the Macleans to name a few but she said her body felt so much more comfortable and secure on the horse with you.  Jenna has been an elite athlete as a gymnast and was also offered scholarships for cycling and diving. I don't think her previous instructors were able to "manage' her body posture very well.      Belinda Moore

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Amanda, Can I just say that Monty and I love you!!.... I rode last night for the first time since his holiday, we stayed in the round yard so that I could concentrate on my arms and legs etc and not worry about direction... Well... we were awesome!!  Okay we were good...  I  held our 'frame'  up and used my leg aids to get the contact back.               Line Thyne 

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Another successful training day was held at the Bungendore Showground on Sunday 19^th March. The day started with showjumping instruction in the morning with Amanda Graydon. She instructed 10 riders divided into 2 groups. We had a number of riders out on their first or second outing with their horses, or riders feeling a bit apprehensive/nervous.  Amanda soon put all that to rest with her ability to build confidence in riders and their horses no matter what their level. The aim of the day was to set you and your horse up for success.  The main focus of the instruction was the Jumping Position and riding the ‘lines’.  The aim of the exercises was to assist us in achieving the correct position and to be able to balance ourselves and our horses first over poles and cavalletti and then to proceed to complete a mini showjumping course. The jumps started at 30cm and went up depending on the horse/rider confidence. Every rider went away with new ideas to improve their riding and relationship with their horse. And plenty of confidence was brimming over by the end of the lesson as was indicated by all the smiling faces. A big thank-you to Amanda Graydon for her professional and cheerful instruction.  Editor – BARC Newsletter

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Question (BCHD) Posted August 22^nd 2006 Q. Since changing horses and started using a wider saddle, I just can not keep my legs still and my ankle aligned. I have mastered it in the walk and canter but in the trot my legs are everywhere!! My ankles are having this tendency to poke out and I am over correcting it by poking my toes in, and when doing this my heel comes up and my legs are flapping in the wind. Not a good look. what can I do
A  -  When you think about the mechanics of your leg in the trot, as you rise, your thigh describes an arch around your knee.....picture your leg with a subtle 'Z' shape, (and I said SUBTLE)....as you rise, your leg 'straightens' while remaining soft and open at the knee, so, as it straightens it also lengthens.....the extra length should go DOWN and make your ankle flex (not UP and make your head bob...and this is where your leg will come off and your heel come up)... so as you 'rise' think, pelvis softly forward, ankles flexing down, and don't loose it on the 'sit' (which is where the ankle will turn if your heel HAS come up) then remember that, the horse and the (wider) saddle have moved forward underneath you, so don't try to sit back down where you came from...just softly 'drop to your knees'.

 BELLE 18  -  That is great advice Amamba, funnily enough I can understand just by reading it. I will give it a whirl tomorrow and see if I can improve this problem. Thank you BELLE 18  -  well Amamba your advice I tried and..............it worked!! Even my instructor was impressed at the improvement. I had to lengthen my stirrups a bit too. So all is travelling ok for now! Thank you  ALLIEB  -  And I tried it too - my current project is improving my position. and the ankle trick of Amamba's is giving my legs the steadiness they have needed.