Sophie & Ubrique, John Lassetter's Variety Performance, Merrist Wood, 24th Nov.

Sophie & Ubrique are very proud to be participating in the John Lassetter Variety Performance at Merrist Wood Equestrian Centre on the 24th November. Sophie & Ubrqiue have had a very successful first season showing and in Working Equitation and this will be an excellent opportunity to see them in action. Tickets, to include one free glass of mulled wine per ticket: £25 in advance, or £30 on the door (subject to availability) For further information, please call 01483 884147 or book securely via our website www.merristwood.ac.uk Click here to see poster with further information

Marcia's Christmas Meal Friday 10th December

Marcia would cordially like to invite all her clients to a Christmas meal out at The Tree, Cadmore End on Friday 10th December. Dinner is £21.95 for 3 courses, deposit for each booking is £10. Please email/text Marcia asap if you would like to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.

Liz Smith

"I have a talented but green 6 year old PRE gelding called Matrix with a very active mind and we have been training with Marcia for around 10 months now. Since we began working with her the difference in my horse is absolutely amazing. Marcia has taken him back to re-establish the basics, incorporating lunging, as well as in-hand and of course ridden work".

Liz & Matrix Training above

"This planned but varied approach has meant that she has been able to work with Matrix's mind as well as his body to begin to achieve some great results. Marcia's belief is that all horses should learn to work correctly in order to build the right muscle and thus maintain their mobility and health throughout their life. (Her approach and results have been confirmed by my Equine Osteopath, Claire Short of The Ashgrove Clinic). Marcia has a great wealth of knowledge and a wonderful way of explaining things regardless of the level at which she is teaching. Her patience and ability to instil confidence is wonderful and whatever a horse may throw at her she never seems phased by it! She has given me techniques and skills that have improved my riding considerably. Whilst I know that the journey for myself and Matrix is a long one, its been made much more enjoyable and achievable through Marcia's help".

Meadowbrook Stables

"I have been training with Marcia since 2007 with 5 different horses up to Advanced level. She has helped me immensely with in-hand, ridden, competition and Working Equitation training. Lessons are always fun and we have always achieved what we set out to do. Marcia is very approachable with a great sense of humour, a fantastic horse trainer and adapts the training for each individual horse to achieve positive results for their level. Marcia is very confident and positive which makes every lesson positive. Marcia gave me moral support in our visit to Portugal at the beginning of 2008 to buy my dream horse, Atinada, a Lusitano mare, which I'm looking forward to furthering her education with Marcia's help. I can truly recommend Marcia highly as a Horse and Rider Trainer for all levels and am grateful for all the help she has given me and I look forward to this continuing".

Martina Glover and Marmite

"What I love about Marcia is her whole approach to getting the very best out of both you and your horse. Her training methods adopt the Classical Dressage approach more commonly seen in Portugal and Spain. But what amazed me was that these traditional methods worked just as well on my welsh cob mare. I had owned Marmite for about 7 years before I met Marcia yet within 6 months Marcia had transformed Marmite into a willing, talented mare with a soft outline, lovely paces and a huge desire to impress. My plan is to compete at Working Equitation next season. Marcia gives you a belief in your abilities and a desire to achieve much more than you ever thought possible. I started riding as an adult about 12 years ago, and never dreamed I would be out there competing".

Martina & Fidias competing above

"Thanks to Marcia I now also own a Spanish PRE, Fidias, and we are out competing BD dressage and BD music freestyle, aiming to enter Medium classes in the winter. And onwards and upwards from there! Marcia will ask you and your horse to work hard, but both my horses are now as passionate about riding as I am! And if you are willing to put in the hard work, then ultimately what you get in return is a partnership with your horse that is both very beautiful and very special".



Michelle Watts & Ruby

"I have owned Ruby for 4 years. She is an ex-racehorse and was a very difficult mare to understand. I used to dread schooling her and never seemed to get anywhere, so we just focused on the jumping and hacking. This was until Marcia came long. Marcia has totally transformed Ruby and me and I can't thank her enough for this. For my first lesson, I asked Marcia to get on Ruby to see what she could do with her, I really didn't know what to expect. Straight away, it was like watching a different horse and this was even within the first few minutes. Marcia read Ruby straight away and understood her likes and dislikes and knew exactly what buttons to press. She just seemed to have that natural understanding and a very soft approach and asking not telling Ruby. Marcia continued to school Ruby for me a few more times and Ruby just got better and better. It was so nice to see Ruby happy in her schooling and actually relaxing and seeing her ears pricked forward. It was then my turn to get on and have a lesson with Marcia and I have continued with these ever since. I love the way Marcia teaches, she has passed down to me exactly what I needed to do with Ruby for her to continue to enjoy her schooling and she always gives me different things to work on. Marcia always explains things to me in an easy to understand way and if I don't get it straight away, she is patient and full of praise and is positive throughout the whole lesson. Marcia has taught me to understand how important it is to have a supple horse and if you have a supple horse, you have a happy horse. Marcia also understands that ultimately my passion is show jumping so she works me towards having Ruby supple and balanced enough for this discipline. Ruby has now completely changed shape and has worked up the correct muscle tone just within a couple of months. I still have a way to go, but with Marcia's help, I am looking forward to the road ahead and I am so thankful that I started to have lessons with Marcia and after 4 years of owning Ruby, I can finally enjoy schooling her. Thank you Marcia, I couldn't have done this without you. "

Lorna Hall & Amado

Marcia has the ability to spot and correct problems others overlook, she has great insight and empathy with the psyche of a horse and works very quietly, at the same time, and perhaps because of this usually has the rapt attention of her subject. She is good at spotting any stiffness that might need manipulation. I am very impressed with what she achieved with my horse.

Scorpius Astraea - Marcia's future dressage champion

Marcia & Scorpius Astraea Souvenir x Hauptstutbuch Prestige Lady   Marcia & Scorpi Marcia Purchased Scorpio from the Elite Auction in Verden in 2006 as a four month old foal. Marcia brought Scorpio as a project to bring on and train in dressage. She decided to buy a Hannoverian as she felt it would be a different challenge to the Iberian horses that she usually trains. Scorpio arrived with in December 2006 as a very nervous scrawny long legged foal, as a yearling Marcia took him to some in-hand shows to get him used to getting out. Through the years Scorpio grew upwards very fast but still needed to fill out, so Marcia left him until he was 4yrs to start breaking him. Marcia finally backed him herself in November with the help of friends, which has gone really well. Marcia is looking forward to the year ahead and getting him out to some young horse dressage classes. Scorpio at the moment measures just under 17.2hh with still lots of growing to do and as you can see he is a pretty handsome chap.