FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Horses are big business in Australia and women make up the majority of the recreational industry as riders. One horse and rider trainer has brought to light the lack of confidence that many Women feel while riding.
Sandi Simons is based in Drysdale, Victoria “I have loved horses all my life but have had to have time out of the saddle due to a busy career and having my children” she said. “The last time I came back to riding I just wasn’t feeling safe, in fact I was terrified”. Luckily Sandi is married to Australia’s only John Lyons accredited Trainer, David Simons, and together they were able to design a training system to meet the needs of women in Sandi’s situation.
The Sandi Simons Confidence Clinics were started in 1998 and they have grown with Sandi travelling all over Australia, New Zealand and the USA, helping Women and their horses. Clinics are attended by 10-12 riders and are held for the two days over a weekend. “Groundwork is always the basis of what I do; your horse has to be safe and predictable on the ground before you put your butt in the saddle. I have a system to ‘ask’ the horse if he or she is ready to be ridden, are they listening, do they have established safety cues and responses when you’re in the saddle?”
One of the things that Sandi sees is the emotional connection with the riders and their animals. “If you have a little dog that’s being naughty you can pick him up and scold him, with something that’s 500 kilos it can be a little harder and certainly more dangerous. A lot of women’s emotions often come out in the Clinics. Sometimes it’s got nothing to do with the horse and rider, it might be coming from external sources like jobs, families or the pressure of looking after your children, losing yourself in life” she said. “I’ve had women who haven’t recognised these and are reduced to tears when they realise how lost they have become, that’s when I not only offer training but emotional support and coaching to the attendees. Mostly, when they have a good relationship with their horses then this can rub off in to other areas in their life and make them feel ‘ whole’ again.”
A big part of Sandi Simons’ busy schedule is being a guest presenter at Horse Expos like Equitana in Melbourne and others here and overseas. She has just returned from Canada’s Mane Event and was voted the best presenter of the Expo. In November Sandi will be a presenter at Equine Affair in Massachusetts in the USA. With negotiations already started with several of the big Expos in the USA and Europe in 2017 Sandi’s time training in Australia is going to become more limited.
Sandi travels the countryside hosting 2 day and 5 day clinics, For more information you can go to her Facebook page www.facebook.com/davidandsandisimons
