Mary Shannon, CHA Certified Riding Instructor,
Registered Nurse, BS Cornell University, Human Development & Family Studies
Some people are 'naturals' at riding, but most of us have to learn how to balance and how to cue the horse. Learning to relax, breathe, and think are essential to gaining your balance, staying centered, and moving with the horse.
Gaining the horse's cooperation is done through pressure and release. When the rider wishes to tell the horse what to do, the rider applies pressure with her legs or hands. The rider must pay careful attention to when the horse obeys the command given. If she releases pressure at that moment, the horse will continue to cooperate.
I like to trail ride, work with the horses in the ring, and I also like to show our Tennessee Walking Horses. But one of my favorite things is to teach beginner riders the basics and ride with them until they are ready to be on their own. Please come join me and see how much fun it can be!
Adrienne is only 10 years old, but she has been riding Buster independently in the arena and on the trails since she was five. She and Buster are an amazing gymkhana (barrel racing) team; they have palced at the New York State Fair 4-H competition in 2008 and 2009. She has started lessons with Nancy Shook of Lightning B Stables in Clayton to learn the finer points of 'turning cans.' Adrienne also showed her Tennesee Walking Horse, Jazz, in the open division at the State Fair this year and placed consistently there too.
Nicole Gonio
Psychology Student, Potsdam State University
Member, Equestrian SUNY Potsdam Equestrian Team
Nikki has been riding with me for years. Not only is she a great rider, she is a really nice person. She will help you any way she can, she is easy going, and she is great with children. Nikki was here at the farm all dummer, working hard at PonyLoverz Camp, and riding Copper to make him into a good lesson horse, and starting him over jumps. She is back at Potsdam for the college year, but we'll see her for vacations and next summer.
Adrienne Shannon Beebe
Junior Assistant Instructor and Demonstration Rider
Adrienne is a great assistant at Spencer Valley. Not only does she work in the barn feeding, watering and mucking stalls, she grooms and tacks the lesson horses and helps everyone with anything they need. Sometimes she rides during lessons to demonstrate the movements and patterns that the students are trying to master.
