Legup Equestrian/Carolyn Goldstraw provides the following types of training:

Rider Training

For details and dates of the latest group training events go to the events page. 

To book a private or shared training session phone 07740 178790

Lessons may last 30, 45 or 60 minutes.  Private sessions if you don’t want to ride your horse or are unable to ride I am happy to school your horse for you.   No Transport for your Horse?  Don’t worry I can come to you.  

My Aim

To give riders of all ages valuable skills in an encouraging manner. Alongside this confidence is found and the horse and rider relationship improved.

Who Am I?

• BHS qualified trainer with over 15years experience
• Experienced rider of most types of horses and ponies.
• Experienced all round competition rider.
  (see about Carolyn page for additional details)

What can I do for you?

• Increase your confidence.
• Enjoy your horse more.
• Develop your understanding of how to train/manage your horse.
• Improve your competition results.
• Help take your first steps towards competitive riding
• Help you to tackle specific problems with your horse or your riding.
• Help to advise and inspire you along the way to achieving your ambitions.

 

Read about the Journey Of One of Carolyn’s Clients

How It All Started   Unlike many, I started riding as an adult I had a very quiet and gentle Anglo Arab Mare, I then took on a youngster who turned out to be very bolshy. After a freak incident between my 2 horses in the field I lost my Anglo Arab mare to a broken leg. This started to have an effect on my nerves around Horses.  I was then also trampled by someone elses horse ( which I was holding on a lead rope not riding ), this made me loose my nerve altogether.

I had to sell the youngster as he knew I was nervous, and I was encouraged to buy a new horse by a lady who was giving me lessons.   She was supposed to be helping me get my confidence back but this was not working. We soon found out that the new mare had serious issues about being ridden.    I stopped my lessons as I was getting worse not better and plodded around on my own and occasionally riding with friends who did an excellent job wet nursing me. I decided not to have any lessons with anyone else as I had decided that they would all be the same and I would be even worse off even though I really longed to ride my own horse who I thought was like this due to sensing my nerves.

My very close friend Karen turned up to our farm one day and said “ I thought it was time you had a kick up your arse, so I have booked you a lesson with Carolyn Goldstraw.  As Karen had booked it I felt obliged to attend. This turned out to be the best thing I ever did.

The Start of Change  After the first lesson with Carolyn she told me that my horse had a serious attitude, after a three or four lessons Carolyn informed me that she was not the horse for me and things with this horse would not ever be straight forward.   I eventually took all this on board and after much deliberation and discussions with my horsy friends I made the decision to buy a new horse. I looked at a few Horses which were not suitable, then I came across an Appaloosa called Theo. He had the wow factor in my eyes, but I was reluctant to buy in case he too, was the wrong horse for me,  my self confidence was still so poor that part of me also feared that someone would say it was me that was wrong and that I would never ride any horse correctly.   I told the seller that I would need to let Carolyn see this horse before I made my mind up as I had already decided that Carolyn was going to give me an honest opinion as I had started to trust this ladies opinion. Carolyn looked at Theo and said he needed some schooling and bringing on but she could see something worth working with. Decision made I was now the proud owner of Theo. Starting to ride as an adult was not easy but now I had a lovely horse but at 40++…..nothing was easy. I had no desires to jump or show, all I longed for was to be able to tack up at home and go riding in any direction instead of thinking “I can’t go down there in case I meet a tractor, I can’t go there in case there is a lot of traffic, if I go there I will have to cross a main road” etc……The only thing I could do well was mount my horse from the ground which Carolyn said “ was not bad for an old bird”.

Making Progress  I had regular lessons with Carolyn, who was treating me carefully so as not to knock me backwards, I started to find some confidence ( very small amounts) but I was moving in the right direction. Carolyn even had me going over a small cross pole, this was the scariest thing I had done. I could not breath till it was all over but what a feeling of relief to find I was still sat on the horse. This continued and I then realised that Carolyn had been pushing me without

me knowing it. From originally just wanting to be able to hack out, I then had a go at attending one of Carolyn’s shows at Bromley farm. I was amazed to find myself in the line up along side my good friend Tonya, (who had been one of the friends wet nursing me). She was way out of my league as I thought, but here I was next to Tonya getting a rosette.  My next event was at a jumping show at Myrefield. I was so nervous I felt sick, anxious and had palpitations, I over heard someone say “Why is she putting herself through this if it makes her feel so bad?” but all I longed for was to be able to say I had done it. I managed a clear round, even though I had not taken a single breath from entering the ring to leaving it.  Another  spectator I had seen a few times, then said to me while patting my knee “well done you did it” How daft did I feel at 40+…..finding myself crying because I had done it. Tears of joy along with tears of relief. From then I continued to have regular lessons with Carolyn and friends started to tell me that they could see a difference in both my riding and my confidence, I was doing things that I could not have imagined I was capable of.

Theo needed schooling as getting him straight and in to the bridle was near impossible, Carolyn rode him and then passed information for dealing with this one on to me. Carolyn had her hands full teaching me as I had so many issues in my head that were in the way of my progress and none of it was coming naturally to me. Theo started to improve and so did I. It was all onwards and upwards from here. With Carolyn showing me how, Theo started to make a nice shape but considering he was used to going with his head in the air and drops a shoulder, very slyly to avoid his riders aids this took a long time to get the desired look.

Present.    After owning Theo for 2 ½ years, I have just had a successful season, winning 2 show cross events ( minimus and novice), Riding club horse at Honley show, a show jumping class at Carolyn’s show along with some ridden classes and having some good comments in Dressage. I have also had some eventful times including a unexpected dismount in a very un lady like fashion at the Team show jumping event at Bromley farm, but I got back on and went straight in to the warm up arena and jumped the jumps clear, entered another round so that Theo had to do it before going home. 2 years ago this would have been enough to stop me from ever jumping again. But now I had the confidence and the knowledge to push back at Theo to do the jumps again.

Testimonial All my success this year is down to Carolyn and her teaching, She has given me the confidence and knowledge to be able to have a go. I have a great deal of trust and respect for Carolyn and her ability to deal with both her pupils and the horses, she is very patient but encouraging. During my time at Leg up I have watched several riders improve their ability and confidence along with their horses ability improve. Carolyn has also helped to see me through a horrible year by supporting me to ride through some bad personal issues, I have

rung her on several occasions for advice and tips on feeding, riding, equipment and she has always given me her time and knowledge. Thanks to Carolyn I now take my horse anywhere I like and enter lots of events and I really enjoy my horse riding without thinking that I am just surviving. I now think that I am thriving. All of this I owe to Carolyn, to whom I will be forever grateful. Carolyn explains thoroughly ( in language I understand) how to do something and explains why it should be done. She also gets on and shows you how to do it as well, which sometimes helps make things clearer. Even at shows Carolyn will still help and support when and where she can and has always been consistent in her approach. My horse trusts her as she has never miss treated him or made him feel nervous around her. I have found myself out on hacks thinking I can deal with this, Carolyn would say….more leg, keep him listening, don’t give him time to take opportunities, I am more important than the scary object. This proves to me that I have benefited tremendously from my lessons and I will continue to have them, as me and my horse learn so much and enjoy them.

S. Mitchell

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‘I have known Carolyn for the past 18 months as she has backed and schooled on my youngster. I have found her to be not only an excellent instructor but a friendly approachable person and I would recommend her for horse training and teaching as she has a calm and professional attitude at all levels.’

J Wright

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‘Carolyn has given our nervous daughters the confidence to enjoy their ponies.  Carolyn’s time, patience, expert tuition and advice has given us all encouragement to keep moving onwards and upwards.’

A Brook

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