Karen Hopkinson – Canada

Hi Nicola, hard to get a photo of me riding but here are two recent ones. My lovely mare is 13 years old, 16.1 hh and an Irish Sport horse. I’ll be 70 this year and while I’ve been “riding” all my life, I have really learned this past year how much I didn’t know! But yes, your program has been a wakeup call. Not sure how I found it – probably on facebook, but I’m so glad I joined up. I especially love the progression of the yoga sessions – they are my favourite. I’ve found that because of your program, I sit straighter in the saddle, my hips and spine are now more flexible and I can feel my horse better now than ever before. Plus being stronger and more supple, well, it just helps your whole experience on the horse.

For me, the DRT AND hiring a trainer AND buying a very lovely dressage saddle has made the world of difference in my riding and in making my horse happy. Kilby is now getting clear aids from me, I sit lighter, and we actually work a program in the ring and then oftentimes we go ride the nearby trails. I may even try for a beginner dressage test! Except here in BC we’re on a lot of restrictions because of the COVID pandemic. However, thankfully, we are able to keep our normal barn routine going.

That’s about it!