I first met Fiona some 4 years ago when I was a writer for her at a dressage competition. I enjoyed writing for her so much
and learned so much that when I discovered she was a teacher I asked her for a lesson. I had been battling away with my sensitive
warmblood mare for years having lessons with various teachers and still feeling that I was "never going to get there". "There"
being affiliated dressage.
Within 6 months I was at my first affiliated competition and soon gained points and within a year
won the Prelim Petplan Local Qualifier. A big fat rosette and lovely sash - I never thought I'd get there. It was the
first rung on the ladder. I have been with Fiona ever since and competed at Elementary although now temporarily halted as my mare
is in foal.
I believe my dedication to her and admiration for her not only as my trainer but my friend are down to a number
of factors which are absolutely vital to achieve success. The most important of which are as follows:-
From the very first lesson
she has never made me feel stupid or inferior.
Fiona seems to be able to balance what needs to be taught to either horse or rider or
both but clearly her emphasis is on the rider to enable the horse to work correctly.
She always works with you according to the Scales
of Training and never pushes you or your horse beyond what they are capable of.
She teaches the lesson for as long it takes.
Sometimes we have done half an hour and that's been enough and sometimes an hour and a half to achieve our aim.
She has boundless patience
and will always try a different way of explaining things to get the message across. At the same she won't tolerate anything
but 100% effort. You have to want to learn.
I am sure there are countless other things that have enabled me to learn from
Fiona but I think the most important is that she is a "teacher". She has had to go through the same trials and tribulations
in her competitive career and has had good "teachers" to help her. This enables her to pass on this information to her pupils
in easy to understand normal rider language!
There is no doubt Fiona has changed my riding forever - thank goodness! I
will continue to have lessons with her and am confident that although it will be a long road I will get to wear that top hat and tails
eventually!
Ffiona Pegrum