Testimonials

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 "I am a firm believer in emotional well-being when riding a horse.  Cathy at EquiCoach has helped my students identify their strengths and weaknesses but most importantly she has offered them tools to problem solve, ways to find solutions and we a Team have produced positive resolutions.  She has a charismatic way of explaining how a riders feelings affect their horse and their performance.  The results I've seen from those committed to excel and take ownership of their ride have been astonishing.  

Additionally, Cathy has offered support to my professional colleagues when this business has them feeling less than their best.  I recently put my seat back on the tack and I'm feeling more confident every time thanks to Cathy and the EquiCoach workshops I've hosted at Seoul Creek Farm." 

  "During my riding career I have put into place a holistic approach for my horses, competition goals and myself…and Cathy has been that missing piece. I began working with Cathy through the Energy Leadership Index, and in continue to have one-on-one coaching sessions with her. Through this work, Cathy has helped me unlock my success factors, which has helped me increase my confidence and feel with my horses. During one-on-one sessions we make objectives that are relevant and applicable to my riding and my life. I have truly enjoyed and benefited from Cathy’s role in my life. I have and will continue to recommend Cathy and her services, your life will be forever changed for better." 

 "Cathy was recommended to me by a riding friend. My friend had been watching me struggle with my confidence--something that was extremely new to me, and which spiraled out of control with shocking speed and growing strength— and correctly judged that I needed help. Prior to this rapid deterioration, I had always been one of those “faster, higher, longer” kind of riders, who loved to event, ride any and all horses, and would travel around the world to try different styles of riding. When I was introduced to Cathy, I had become the woman who cried and gave up if my horse “trotted too aggressively”…or was, in my opinion, THINKING about trotting too aggressively.

Cathy helped me understand my emotional starting point using the initial personality questionnaire, which was surprisingly non-judgmental, and extremely accurate. By immediately recognizing myself in the results (and agreeing with the assessment), the questionnaire allowed me to feel an initial confidence in the program, and begin to benefit from Cathy's coaching right away, because I felt like it gave her a solid and honest introduction to who I was without having to wade through weeks of getting to know me.

Cathy introduced me to the idea that I was allowed to have feelings (all the feelings), but in having them, I was responsible for them, too. She asked direct, sometimes uncomfortable questions, pushing me to be honest with my answers not for her sake, but for my own. We talked about horses, work and family, and I grew to see that they are all significantly connected. My horse issues had far less to do with horses than I ever expected. And over the course of our weeks together, I cried a lot—out of fear, out of emotional pain, and, ultimately, out of relief.

I am still in recovery—confidence is a hard thing to rehabilitate—but Cathy gave me many of the tools I am using on a daily basis to balance my personal energy, and remind myself of the difference between reality and expectation. I am now finding joy with horses on a daily basis. There is no greater testament to her coaching than that.

I am extremely grateful to have been introduced to Cathy. And because the program is so uniquely tailored to the individual, I believe that everyone can benefit from her coaching---whether you are coming back from a setback (like me!), or looking to achieve the next level of your riding."

 "I was referred to Cathy by a trainer friend of mine when I was having confidence problems with one of my students. She was a young amateur adult who took an unfortunate spill off of one of her horses. It was nobody's fault, just one of those things. She had always been a tentative rider mentally, very capable physically. She went from showing in the Adult Am. classes to barely making it into the 2'3" ring at our local shows. This is on her older horse, whom she has never fallen off of. Her anxiety level was high and her fear was real. 

She avoided the end of my arena. It had been over a year since she willingly rode any horse there without much prodding on my part. After a little over a month of sessions with Cathy, I watched her canter her horse to the end of the arena. Not once, but over and over. I was so happy, I was in tears. The next week during her lesson she was cantering courses. I cannot explain the relief I had, I was so proud of her. 

We still have moments where she questions herself and she is still talking with Cathy. I hosted a clinic with Cathy and learned more about how to handle my students in these situations. Now my student and I can talk things through and set our goal. If she wavers, I am more equipped to help her though it. 

I would recommend Cathy's program not only for riders but just as importantly for trainers. It is so important for us to know where are riders are at in their own heads. In this situation, no matter how "tough" I was as a trainer, I was not going to be able to help her through this by myself. She needed the tools to help herself."

  "I've struggled with nerves for years and started working with Cathy when my fears started to impact my ability to ride and enjoy my dream horse. We were in a downward spiral – I would get anxious, he would sense this and become spooky and I would become more fearful (rinse and repeat). 

Cathy helped me get to the root of my fears and understand the pressures I inadvertently put on myself and my riding. She also gave me tools to help me recognize my triggers and to change my response to them. 

As a result, my confidence in myself and my horse has grown. Our partnership has blossomed and he trusts me implicitly as his “leader” and dance partner. I can ride confidently through any situation, sometimes with a little help from the mantra I developed through Cathy’s coaching: “I trust you (my horse). I trust myself.”

 "Cathy introduced me to this method of thinking/training and perspective analysis after an equestrian accident that I was certain had ended my career. Not because of physical injuries or restrictions, but because of the paralyzing fear that ensued. Truthfully, I never understood why people tried to ride while crippled by fear until it happened to me. During that time, I felt the hopelessness of depression and had the desire to change but didn’t know what direction in which to even step. I was lost. I had no idea who I was if I could not be the rider, trainer, competitor that I was before the accident. I started working with Cathy and quickly understood my fear (and all of the other emotions that were controlling me). I learned that they all have their place, their function, and learned how to recognize and define each. We defined my core values and set some goals. The process that she used gave me the insights and tools to put myself in control of my thoughts and emotions and to start taking strategic steps in a direction that was in line with my core values while working towards my short and long-term goals.

5+ years later I’m utilizing the system in all aspects of my life and assessing my thoughts and energy almost daily. I feel I coach my students more effectively because I understand what they are feeling whether it be fear, “horse show nerves”, limited thinking/beliefs, body image issues, or lack of confidence for any other reason. I’ve found a level of peace and happiness in life that I didn’t have even before the accident, and I know this is just the beginning. Everyone deserves to be able to approach their lives with this level of thoughtfulness, acceptance, and fearlessness!"