Edinburgh, Scotland

"The only complaint I have about Wiola is she is not based closer to where I live! Wiola is the best instructor I have ever had and her knowledge of rider and equine biomechanics is excellent. As well as helping me to improve my riding she has also taught me a great deal about training horses and truly understanding why they move the way they do and have so called evasions.. I hope Wiola represents a vision of the future where the standard of riding instruction is greatly raised from the kick and pull culture which seems so common in this day and age"

Oslo, Norway

"I've learnt so much during my first Aspire Equestrian Virtual Coaching programme. The videos and your feedback made me more aware of how I affect Chagall's behaviour and made me understand that in many cases the fault lies with the rider and not the horse. 

It has been inspiring. 

I would like to sign up for another month when I finish my exams in June. Then I will have more time and in the meantime I can continue with the exercises you have given me as I still have a lot to work with here"

USA, California

Hi Wiola,

Well it looks like I have come to the end of our 2 week virtual training with you! I cannot even express what a fantastic and wonderful experience it has been for us!

My trainer here in California is focused purely on show performance, so it was very valuable to me to be able to ask you detailed questions about Bentley’s health, hooves, movement, personality, etc. without being concerned that it would annoy you. I have been so impressed with your knowledge of horse and human biomechanics, and I have been sharing your insights with everyone.

I think that working with you at this time has been particularly valuable with a new horse. I have gotten to know him well enough to be able to share our training issues, but I am also at the beginning stages of creating a long and short-term plan for his well-being and his performance. Your insights helped me craft those plans.

I have saved all of your insights and exercises in a file and I will continue to go back to them and review them; I also plan on continuing to videotape.

I was very happy with his performance at the show this past weekend! We did not do well enough to get a ribbon (he was actually too mellow in the show ring – I wouldn’t have expected that!), but he was so obedient and thoughtful and willing to please. I know with a solid foundation we will improve by leaps and bounds.

While I loved all of your instruction, some of the things that stand out the most were:

1. Help getting his hooves on track (particularly your diagram drawn on his hoof photo)
2. Working in hand/ watching the youtube videos/ your still clips of when I was doing it right or wrong
3. Addressing issues of Bentley’s right side, including still clips with diagrams of his hind leg movement, seeing the tightness in my right hip flexor and pointing out I collapse on my right side, and discussing his lack of straightness in backing up

I still need to accomplish some of the tasks you gave me, such as longeing exercises and seeing my chiro for my body alignment/ hip flexors. And I am also excited to continue working on straightness, in hand work, and transition work (that helped him so much!).

I would love to check in with you in 3-6 months to give you a progress report and hopefully sign up for another evaluation period with you at that time. (And I do have a Pilates ball at home, so I would love to see the exercises you have in mind!)

I am so fortunate to have won the Hay-Net contest, and I look forward to reading your helpful blog posts and going through your resource library. I will continue to refer as many people as possible your way.

Thank you for your attentiveness and expertise these past two week- you have helped Bentley and I set out on a path for great success together!

Corinna

Oslo, Norway

“One word: inspiring. I learnt a lot, and to really reflect on what I am doing at every single moment, how even the smallest thing affect my horse and how to ride him more effectively”

The programme has given me a new perspective and for sure made me work harder. 

I would really like to sign up for another month to continue improving with my horse, Panache."