Fiona Dent is a Freelance Instructor who specialises in teaching the correct foundations of confidence, balance, and co-ordination in training both horse and rider. She is based in Edenbridge on the Kent, Surrey, Sussex borders. She is unusual in that she uses an audio system which enables her to teach from anywhere in the school. She can check straightness and symmetry, the rider can hear easily, and her voice has no input on the horse! She also takes short clips of film of the rider to demonstrate positional or technical points, which they can see during the session.
Fiona has a variety of different flat work exercises using poles to improve both horse and rider balance and dexterity, as well as keeping lessons interesting, fun and confidence giving. She has recently gained two of the new UKCC level 3 Coaching Qualifications and uses rider profiling to motivate and measure rider progress ,and plan training programmes. As well as being a UKCC examiner, she is a Pony Club examiner and Riding for the Disabled Instructor for Kent
Her competition experience includes riding club team level for show jumping and eventing, Medium Advanced level dressage and showing at county level. She has also competed in driving trials, long distance riding and Le Trec, as well hunting with the local pack of hounds.
"It is my belief that both horse and rider must be treated as individuals to reach their full potential, and that the basic building blocks of communication, control, and confidence are essential for a happy horse and rider combination."