Amy Carson Equine Trainer

07/04/2026

That was a fun cross country!! Ronaldo is becoming more confident and bolder. We were well down the field after the dressage, against experienced and capable riders, on beautiful horses too. Although not a good result on paper in places it came together and there were small improvements.
The showjumping wasn’t an easy course with many horses having rails, and I rode one turn not precisely enough or accurately enough so we had one rail down at the start of a double.
Ronaldo seemed happy and came out of the event looking good, so I am glade about that…Saving my pennies to buy the diesel if there is any left…for the last two events of the season.

16/02/2026

Lovely enjoyable way to be with a competition horse.

14/02/2026

Breaking News: The Horse Has Voted. It Does Not Care About Your Moral Label.🤯

Apparently the horse world is now a spaghetti western.

On one side, the Gentle and Kind.🫶
On the other, The Villains. Twirling moustaches. Plotting cruelty before breakfast.🤠

It is a great story.

It is also nonsense.🙄

Most horse people are gentle and kind. Especially women. Socially conditioned to care. Biologically wired for it. Many of you apologise to inanimate objects when you bump into them .😆

But horses do not sort humans into moral categories.

They sort us into predictable or unpredictable. Clear or confusing. Secure or unsafe. Non-threatening or threatening.

That is it.

You can be deeply kind and profoundly confusing.😕
You can mean well and still create insecurity.😕
The horse will not think, “She means well.”
The horse will think, “I do not understand this person and I feel threatened.”

Here is the real spectrum of "gentle and kind people"...

At one end - Gentle, kind people without skill hesitate, second guess, apply pressure accidentally, release it too late, panic, then feel guilty. Conflict grows.

At the other end - Gentle, kind people with skill are clear, timely, and deliberate. The horse feels secure because the communication makes sense.

Same kindness. Different competence.😎

Horses do not prefer “gentle people.”
They prefer skilled ones.

Gentleness without skill is not ethical. It is good intentions colliding with reality.💥

Ethics is not a label. It shows up in ex*****on and outcomes. Being ethical is an argument, not a statement of fact based on some ideological belief.

So ask yourself one honest question.
Has your quest to be gentle and kind resulted in your horse being calm, willing and confident to handle and ride? Or are you struggling?🤔

If you are struggling, you are probably not unkind but you are likely under-skilled.

And if the path you tried kept you stuck, maybe you do not need more gentleness.

Maybe you need a better teacher (we are out there!).

Hit save. Share wisely. No moral capes required.

Collectable Advice 157/365. Please no copy and pasting, hit the share button instead.

14/02/2026

26/12/2025

Auckland Showjumping last weekend — Ronaldo’s first amateur class and my first in many years. He’s a wonderfully steady fellow, and it was great fun. The atmosphere was fantastic, with lovely riders and beautiful horses all around.

I hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing break. Looking forward to celebrating the ending of the Year with you all.

27/10/2025

Ronaldo and I came second in the 1.10m speed championship. We really nailed our round. The course was a bit harder than Saturday’s, and the first-place rider was two seconds faster — I would’ve liked to see their round.

I was lucky to get a video from our round on Saturday. It’s good to watch and reflect — to stay aware of what feels natural and supportive for us, and also notice what we might like to adjust to keep the ride balanced, enjoyable, and continuously growing.

11/06/2025

Bonding with Your Horse Using Sincerity

Horses are incredibly perceptive. They respond not only to our actions, but to the intention behind them. Sincerity is one of the most powerful ways we can build trust and connection with our horse. When we approach our horse with a genuine heart—free from hidden agendas, tension, or emotional clutter—they can feel it.

True sincerity is calm, open, and steady. It means showing up with presence, not performance. When we are honest about how we feel, clear about what we’re asking, and grounded in a respectful connection, the horse becomes more willing to meet us in that space.

You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to be real. A sincere moment of quiet, a gentle breath shared, or a heartfelt thank you after a ride can speak more than a thousand techniques.

Bonding isn’t something we do to a horse—it’s something we allow to grow, moment by moment, through our sincerity.

26/05/2025

This is Ronaldo and me during a dressage lesson with Jo Rothery. It’s good to receive support as we move toward the new place we’d like to be. Now, it’s about gently continuing to return to that new place—so it can gradually become our new normal.

29/03/2025

Taster one day course with your horse

10-3.30pm please come earlier if you need to to settle in.

Talk about what a Healthy experience for you and your horse could look like.

Introduction to a short effective moving method that can help your mind, body, relaxation and riding.

Private time with your horse to help with the calm state while riding…then
A lovely hack out together through trees and over the farm and a healing with the horses.

April 20th 10-3.30pm
$80 with a horse provided
$60 when you beingg your own horse
$55 Joining In and not riding
Limited spaces
Please register by the 15th April with payment to secure your spot.
Bring a lunch to share💚
PM for more Information or ring
02040941406
[email protected]

28/03/2025

It’s been a while , with moving a few times , now I’m settled into a lovely place with the horses. I have an adult course coming up! Detailed coming in the next day or so.

11/02/2025

A happy looking horse with amazing body extension look at those open hips. He looks like he loved and trusted his rider.

Stroller the Olympic Wonder Pony
Despite being significantly smaller—often eight inches shorter than his nearest competitors—Stroller could leap as high as the best in the world. In the 1960s and 70s, if you were passionate about show jumping in either England or North America, one name stood out among the rest. During a time when major league sports dominated cable television, and hockey and baseball were broadcast around the clock, show jumping in Great Britain enjoyed an unparalleled following. This was an era when top riders published books and annuals, delighting their devoted fans, while company-sponsored jumpers proudly carried their sponsors' names as part of their own. Enthusiasts even wrote in to request locks of hair from their favorite equine stars.

Amidst a sea of tall, long-legged show jumpers, an extraordinary talent emerged: Stroller, a 14.1-hand Connemara-Thoroughbred mix, who seemed to have been touched by the magic of genetics. He possessed both confidence and remarkable jumping ability, allowing him to compete with the best, despite his smaller stature.

Born in 1950, Stroller was initially purchased in a bulk deal from Ireland by a dealer and later sold to Ted Cripps for his daughter. It didn't take long for Ted to realize he had discovered a true gem. He sold Stroller to Ralph Coakes, a farmer from New Milton who had a solid understanding of horses and the show jumping scene. By acquiring this little pony, Ralph and his daughter Marion were about to embark on a journey with a star that would shine brightly for the next 15 years.

While Marion had two brothers, John and Douglas, who were part of the British Show Jumping Team, it was Marion who possessed the innate riding talent to truly connect with Stroller. Although it seemed natural for her to eventually transition to riding a horse, Marion and Stroller were destined for greatness together.