My first recall of myself as a rider is sitting on the garden wall, which was made of stone and rounded with cement on top. Along with my little sister, we would tack up our wall ponies with string for a bridle and old towels making do as a saddle. This wall taught me a great deal, such as posting trot, canter position, jumping position and how to hold the reins. I was born and brought up living in England and when sitting astride our wall horse, often a horse and rider would come by, out for their daily jaunt. I loved to hear the clip clop of shod feet on the road and the polite cheery "Good day young ladies," from the rider. All I can say, horses made me tingle all over.
Miss Joyce Kemp: My very first riding teacher, a teacher dedicated to all aspects of horsemanship; she followed the true values and lived by them in her everyday life. To those of you who are familiar with Norman Thelwell, the English cartoonist, Miss Kemp, her ponies and all the kids, including me is the type of experience he based his characters on. Let me tell you that those times in my life were every bit as funny as his cartoons are today.
Dan A'haroni: I came to know of Mr. A'haroni as a late teenager, I frankly pestered the life out of him to teach me. He was in fact giving up his riding school to go back to work as an accountant. By my sheer tenacity and the skin of my teeth did I manage to persuade him. I remember our first lesson well; he with a twinkle in his eye told me I could not ride one side of a horse. Therefore, I suggested that he teach me, and my journey into Classical horsemanship had really begun.
Erik F. Herbermann: I came to know through Dan A'haroni. In 1980, I was competing at a horse trial and I happened to visit a book vendor. I picked up the first edition of Dressage Formula I thumbed through it, I liked what I read, looked in the forward and saw an acknowledgement to Mr. A'haromi and simply knew I would become a student. When I next saw Mr. A'haroni I told him so, he laughed and told me that Mr. Herbermann did not clinic. In the next little while, Mr. Herbermann arrived in England to give a clinic I received an invitation via Mr. A'haroni to ride with Mr. Herbermann, I accepted, and to this day, I still am a student of Mr. Herbermann.
Miss Pat Manning FBHS: I came to know of Miss Manning through Mr. A'haroni. It was at his suggestion that should I wish to continue to study for my instructors certificates, Miss Manning was the person he felt to be the best choice. Miss Manning followed the true classical values into all areas of horsemanship including teaching how to teach.
Herr Egon Von Neindorff: Through Mr. Herbermann, I received the honor and invitation to ride at The Riding Institute of Egon Von Neindorff. Shortly after arriving at the Institute, I received an invitation to ride under Mr. Neindorff's tutelage. It is, and will always remain an unforgettable experience, with a profound influence on my personality as a classical rider. I was privileged indeed over the next ten years to witness some of the very best riders and some of the very best riding. It has been an honor to have been quietly taken under the wing of such incredible horsemen.
Mr. John Pullen: Mr. A'haroni and Mr. Herbermann introduced me to Mr. Pullen. He was a wonderful complement to these other two, with a hilariously funny personality, which would assist me in finding new ways around challenging problems, and there were many. Mr. Pullen, along with a student of his, also accompanied Mr. Herbermann and me to Mr. Neindorff's in 1986. A great experience of horsemanship shared with great friends.
These horsemen have certainly been the greatest influence upon me. Though I must point out, that Mr. Erik Herbermann continues to be my friend and instructor to this day. The road I have travelled has been very rocky at times and my good friend has always been there to help steer the way, without ever taking control. I am eternally grateful to him and the others.
