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About Julie
Having initially completed her BHS exams, qualifying as an Intermediate teacher, Julie decided she wanted to concentrate on dressage. As a rider she's competed to Prix St George and can ride all the Grand Prix movements, having trained with Vicki Winfield-Thompson, Isovel Wessels and Jean Puerre Foltiere.
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Julie does not consider herself a naturally talented rider, so has spent most of her life trying to understand what it is the talented riders do in order to achieve the results they do.
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She is very classically trained so endeavours to ride with minimum force and in a way that the horse understands with a logical progression in his training.
Julie is passionate in believing that the horse is only as good as his rider and that it's the rider's responsibility to train themselves to be able to ride in a controlled and effective way. She is constantly looking for effective ways to enable her clients to work in harmony with their horses and progress towards the advanced movements.
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Julie has trained 2 riders (Kerry Mackin & Matt Cox) during their early careers, both of whom are now successful riders and trainers to Grand Prix. She has also helped many 'normal' horses and riders achieve flying changes, piaffe and other advanced movements.
Julie has given 3 ridden demonstrations to over 200 people, plus a demo for Your Horse magazine at one their events. She also trained the Chipstead Riding Club Team who won the quadrille at the prestigious Olympia Horse Show.
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Julie now has the use of Mavros the equine simulator, who allows her to really show and explain to riders how important their position is, and how they can affect their horses' way of going in a more positive way.
Her aim is to let every rider experience the thrill of their horses moving in an effortless way and enabling all types of horses and riders achieve their dreams and goals.
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Julie offers private 1:1 lessons on Mavros for 30 or 45 minutes, and can transfer the lessons to teaching you on your own horse.
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About Ciara
Ciara is a Chartered Physiotherapist and Veterinary Physiotherapist. ACPAT (Cat A), RAMP registered, as well as member of the HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council) and CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy).
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Ciara is passionate about equine welfare, where she strives to provide musculoskeletal care with horses' psychological needs also being met. She believes in Positive Reinforcement and always listening to what the horse is trying to tell us.
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Ciara has extensive experience treating humans, where anybody can turn up with a pain in any part of their body, and Ciara will assess & explain the problem, then provide the most effective course of treatment.
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She has transferred these skills to animals (with her second Physiotherapy degree in the Veterinary field), along with knowledge of equine behaviour, to be able to pinpoint sources of pain in horses. Her favourite clients are those that seek help wanting to know if their horses' problems are due to pain or behavioural, and getting answers to complex cases as part of a team with their Vet. She takes great pride in being the horse's advocate, to get their problems addressed and helping their worried owners to stop stressing.
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Ciara is able to put her multi-species Physiotherapy skills to great use when treating both horse and rider combinations. There has been a lot of evidence recently that the rider affects their horse's symmetry and way of going, which can become a vicious cycle. Ciara aims to reduce strain on the horse from wonky or unbalanced riders, as well as helping the person with any pain issues.
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In addition to this clinic, Ciara can come to your own yard to treat your horse (approx. 1 hour appointments), or both of you, where a full human appointment normally lasts 45 minutes.
Training with Julie on Mavros has been a great addition to my training on my position. It is so much more effective when you can just concentrate on your seat alone once in a while. And Julie does not miss a thing! Highly recommend!
-Elke
I’m absolutely delighted to have found Merlin Physio, Ciara is so knowledgeable, thorough, helpful and caring, she has treated both my horse and myself and I feel she has given me back my horse, he is so much better: and my knees have stopped aching, which is wonderful. Highly recommended.
-Anne