About
Balanced Horsemanship
Linda Clark
Equine Coach
Since 1977
Linda Clark has been a professional in the horse industry for 43 years. Her passion for horses led her to attend Nova Scotia Agricultural College right out of high school. After she received her Horsemasters certificate her professional journey started in Riverview, New Brunswick where she owned and operated Horizon Farm for 18 years. Operating on a large scale at the Farm, those 18 years provided the hands-on opportunity to learn much about horses and their riders. The Farm facilitated a lesson program that trained 90 students a week and cared for 15 lesson horses and 10 boarding horses.
Linda is now settled in Norton, an inspiringly beautiful place, from which she travels to coach students throughout New Brunswick. Linda has 4 horses on her farm. Here is where she has had the time to expand her knowledge and education on the understanding of the horse and rider. Combining that knowledge with her years of experience gives her the wisdom to understand many different horse and rider situations.
Over the years Linda has competed in the disciplines of Hunter, Eventing, Barrel Racing and Team Penning. She is a Certified Equine Canada Competition Coach and throughout her 43 years of coaching has taught students from varying levels and disciplines. Her students have competed at local, national and international levels. Most recently and importantly her students are creating connections with their horses that is producing more unity and joy in the time they spend together.
When Linda isn't researching, teaching or studying she is out trail riding, team penning and kayaking. She also enjoys writing; those of us who have had the opportunity to gain some of her insight and knowledge of horses hope she will someday write a book.
Most of us are drawn to horses because we want to have a close relationship with these magical animals. Horses are very intuitive and sensitive. If we want to develop this kind of close relationship with them, we need to understand and speak their language. They are not like dogs or people. If we want to be true partners with our horses, we need to do more than control them through exercises and forcing movement. We need to understand how they think and communicate, in order to help them come to us from a place of mental and physical balance. Understanding all the aids and being a “good rider” is not enough to create this kind of relationship. Even with a “well trained horse” there is often something missing. Understanding how horses think and learn is the first piece of the puzzle that builds into a strong connected partnership.
Horsemanship
Philosophy
