When I first saw Barry it was as a rider taking his horse smoothly, efficiently and very fast through a tricky combination of XC jumps whilst I was jump judging. Although probably the most effortless looking round it was also the fastest of the day - despite his having taken the "slow" route. Having impulse-bought a relatively unhandled three year old Anglo Arab mare and kept her at home for a year we were looking for a calm sympathetic person to break her in. Tina Ure (Ely Eventing Centre) recommended Barry to me but I didn't immediately make the connection! The mare, Sprout, having grown in confidence, had become bargy and somewhat self-opinionated on the ground. When Barry first came to see her I warned him about this and he dealt with it immediately, gently but very firmly making her understand that there was "her" space and "people" space and that she had to respect that. Barry spent a couple of weeks working with Sprout on the ground, getting her completely happy with everything that they did together, teaching her to stand and wait for help if she was in a situation she was worried about, before getting her working on long lines. I have to say that although Barry is immensely tactful and intelligent with horses, the mare was a little star as well - only having one big objection, bucking furiously on the longline for a good five minutes. Barry's reaction was to let her settle and then carry on working her calmly through it. Having made her feelings known Sprout has not felt the need to do this again. Riding Sprout followed naturally and gently on from the work on the ground and Sprout seems to have enjoyed working and learning. Our aim was to get her riding on both reins at walk, trot and canter and to have taken her on the road and to have had my 15 year old daughter riding her as well before turning her away for several months over the winter. Aim very definitely achieved. In the spring Sprout was brought back into work, with Barry starting her back from the beginning, making certain that she was completely relaxed and happy at all stages, before getting on her and riding her away. We then had a week or so handover to my daughter as she took on the role of main rider. Sprout has become a happy, confident mare, keen to get out and see life, but with fantastic manners on the ground. She's happy to hack first or last, will canter away from her friends and is enjoying her ongoing education. We have asked Barry to oversee how she is brought on, he has done a fantastic job for us so far and his experience has been and will be invaluable for a rider inexperienced with young hot blooded horses!
And the short version: Within a few weeks Barry has turned our bargy, flighty, unridden AA mare (Sprout) into a beautifully mannered young lady! Barry's blend of tact, intelligence and horsemanship has been impressive to watch in the transformation. Sprout has been given confidence that her human partner will always do their best for her and she, in her turn, will always try to please. This is not a mare that has been "broken"; she has been encouraged and allowed to learn and understand what is wanted from her and she has enjoyed the process. I am delighted with what Barry has done for her and for us and have no hesitation in recommending him.
And the short version: Within a few weeks Barry has turned our bargy, flighty, unridden AA mare (Sprout) into a beautifully mannered young lady! Barry's blend of tact, intelligence and horsemanship has been impressive to watch in the transformation. Sprout has been given confidence that her human partner will always do their best for her and she, in her turn, will always try to please. This is not a mare that has been "broken"; she has been encouraged and allowed to learn and understand what is wanted from her and she has enjoyed the process. I am delighted with what Barry has done for her and for us and have no hesitation in recommending him.
