Introduction
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ashleigh Sanderson and I am a riding instructor, qualified with the British Horse Society, the South African National Equestrian Federation and the International Group of Equestrian Qualifications. I have over 20 years of full time teaching and riding experience, working with everyone from children and naughty miniature Shetlands in back gardens through to Olympic hopefuls.
More than that though, I am an instructor who teaches biomechanics, body awareness, spatial awareness, point of reference learning amongst other barrier- breaking techniques. I am in a rare position having trained as a three day eventer, followed by classical dressage before moving into the specialized world of biomechanics and the “how’s” behind good riding.
The thing that makes me different? I come to you! From Africa to Asia, from Europe to Central America, it’s on my route. If you need help with your riding in your back yard, contact me for dates and costs, and we can make a plan.
Training with Kudaguru
Coaching
If you are looking for coaching, then you’ve come to the right place. As a British trained and based instructor, I’ve turned coaching on its head, re-examined it and figured out a different better way of teaching. So if you want coaching that is clear and better than most, come and talk to me.
Take an online Stable Management Course with Kudaguru
Level One Stable Management
Level one starts at the very beginning and works its way up to Pony Club D test. It covers other tests along the way – Check out “How the Tests Fit Together”.
Level Two Stable Management
Level two is stepping up a gear in being safe and practical around horses. During level one you will need to be supervised at all times while you are around the yard and horses, but once you are working on level two, you should be able to do some tasks by yourself, even though there should still be people on the yard with you.
Level two covers Pony Club D test to Pony Club D+ test. Check out How the Tests Fit Together.
Have you seen our Membership Options?
It all starts with a fabulous free option and then just keeps getting better.
If you already work with me, sign up now, if you’d like to work with me come and have a look – but there’s a limit on how many people I can add to our Ultimate Membership – when its full, its full.
To view all the Membership options visit our Membership Page now!
Membership Options with Kudaguru
Standard
£0.00 now.
This is totally, absolutely free! Good news in the cash-strapped world of most horse owners. All you need to do to access this free membership, is fill in your email address, and confirm that you are human by hitting the link in my email, which will appear in your account. Easy! (But, pretty scary that we have to confirm that we are indeed human…)
Why would you do this? What benefits would you get?
Each and every month, you will receive a short newsletter giving details of where I will be going, and upcoming clinics. This way, you can plan your timetable ahead of time, for when I will be in your area. It will also include a few ideas that are floating around in my head at the time. Such as stable management or riding tips.
Your free account will also give you access to your own, personal page. This page is password-protected so that you and I (and anyone you give your password to) can see what’s there. Often during lessons, I take photos or video clips, and this is where they will be waiting for you. As I said, only you and I can see these, I won’t share any videos, photos or information about you, your horse or your lessons anywhere public. Who you choose to share these with, though, is up to you.
Enhanced
£4.99 per Month.
With Enhanced Membership, you get everything that Standard Membership has and a whole lot more.
What do you gain?
The above, monthly newsletter and access to all your videos and photographs. You also receive a monthly theory lesson delving into the depths of something that I teach during my actual classes, such as straightness. By explaining in a clear, logical way the step by step basics of a subject, a lot of information that we instructors presuppose becomes clearer, which will help immensely when you are then actually riding.
Also, if you are thinking of signing up for one of my online stable management courses, being a member gives you a sizable discount.
Ultimate
£14.99 per Month.
With Ultimate Membership you get everything from Standard and Enhanced Membership and then some!
What do you gain?
Monthly newsletter, access to your personal page, the monthly theory lesson and discount on courses, all of the above. What else? This is where things start to get interesting! With this option, you can send me two, 15 minute long videos each month. This can be anything that you choose – your tests at a dressage competition, your jumping rounds, a schooling session, how your horse refuses to tie or drags you to the paddock when you are leading him. Why isn’t he cleaner when you have groomed him? Any horse related issue that you are struggling with, or an achievement that you are particularly proud of. In return, I will send you a report back about what the issue could be, how I would try to resolve it, or a thumbs up telling you that absolutely you deserved that 75% score on your dressage test! You choose the subject and get a virtual lesson feedback.
The other thing that you get, is a discount on your actual lessons when I am teaching in your country. 5% off five or less lessons, 10% off 6 or more lessons. Your membership can be paid back in no time!
Testimonials
Ashleigh taught me for 9 month in SA. And wow what a nine months it was. In fact I see it as a gestation period from which I emerged a new person. For 22 years I have been a dressage judge and I have instructed for 27 years. After lessons with Ashleigh nothing has been the same for me again. She has changed the way I ride, the way I think, the way I teach and judge. She has shown me the flip side of riding. And I can honestly say that she has shown me the meaning of true horsemanship. It was something I thought I knew but now realise how clueless I was. She is to me the way forward the shining light in the darkness, my hero. I want to thank her for my rebirth in the horse world and my pupils and competitors are benefitting every day from what Ashleigh in stilled in me. I am forever grateful to her!!!
I had the opportunity to have lessons with Ashleigh for 9 months and I had learnt so much in that short time. Ashleigh is a fantastic teacher who is very patient and encouraging. She is an effective communicator and has an incredible eye at picking up and correcting both the rider’s position and the horse’s way of going. She is able to come up with exercises that help the rider and horse to improve and explain/demonstrate them in simple terms that are easy to understand. She always knows how hard to push both the rider and horse in a quiet and gentle way so that every lesson is rewarding and a great experience. Ashleigh engages the riders mind teaching body awareness as well as tries to teach the feel of how things should feel like so that they develop the right muscle memory and are better prepared to handle similar situations on their own.
It was a pleasure to meet you! Again thanks for making my stay in Bali even more perfect, I left both your classes with a huge smile on my face. I learned from one class with you than I have learned during the last 10 years when it comes to how to use my body to impact the horse more correctly. Your eclectic, bio-mechanical, logical and visual approach proves to be much efficient and it was amazing to feel the difference on the horse’s reaction on even the slightest of changes in posture from my side. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to take part of your learning system including your very thorough, relaxed and positive approach. I feel I got a new set of tools that I can use on any horse back, I wish many others to also get the same sense of revelation as I did.
Picking up a sport like horse-riding is a challenge for most people. As an adult learning to ride a horse, I found it particularly difficult because it’s just so scary. When I did my lessons with Ashleigh, I was but a beginner. But, with her patience and encouragement, I completed my sessions with her feeling – and riding – like a novice. Ashleigh employs empathy and quiet encouragement in her lessons, which are essential to giving riders the confidence they need to keep going. Equally important is the care she gives to the horses. I’m looking forward to more lessons with Ashleigh!