I apprenticed with Trish from June 2010 until November 2010. In this short space of time I learned more about horses than I have in the past 15 years of owning horses and ponies.
Trish is a triple gold certified Chris Irwin trainer and in September of this year I achieved my silver in both riding and groundwork. While working here I was lucky enough to work with numerous different horses, all different breeds, ages and temperments. I believe it is because of this I was able to achieve my silver.
In the evenings I was also able to ride Trish's lesson horses so I could practice all the things she had taught me that day. Trish taught me to be more of a proactive problem solver and how to think like a trainer. Every question I asked was always answered with great detail and she would always explain to me why things were done a certain way. Trish has a great deal of indepth knowledge about horses from bits and teeth,to feet and conformation as well as both english and western riding techniques.
Trish is based on a beautiful farm in Duncan, on Vancouver Island. Trail riding was always good fun and I learned a lot about local wildlife, plants and herbs also. Trish has a great deal of experience trail riding, she has a lot of interesting stories from her travels and from listening to them I was able to learn a lot of valuable lessons when out on the trails.
Trish's herd of horses are probably the nicest and most sensible group of horses I have ever worked with. I did everything from round penning, lunging ,ground driving and riding with them and they taught me a lot too. Its a great place to learn as you will get to see lots of different horses in for training with different personalities and dispostions, I learned how to deal with everthing from the hot horse to the lazy horse and how not all horses can be trained exactly the same.
Trish is a kind and patient woman who will teach you all you want to know if you are willing to learn. I would strongly recommend apprenticing with Trish to anybody who wants to learn more about horse training, become a more confident rider or simply wants to learn about what it takes to have a career with horses.It truly was a life changing experience for me and if my work visa wasn't up and I didn't have to leave Canada I would stay there for as long as I could!
Roisin Brennan (Former Apprentice, Now Certified Trainer)
Hi Trish,
I just received your newest newsletter. I would like to say congratulations on your success! I'm so happy for you! I think it's amazing that you spend your life helping others, and helping horses. I think it's absolutely amazing, and the world needs more people like you. I'd also like to congratulate you on Roisin's certification! I'm so happy for the both of you!
Every day I miss horses, and miss the feeling I had when making progress with the horses, and myself. When I leave to go to work in the morning, I always look at my certificates on my wall, and have it as a constant reminder of what I want my future to hold, and the lessons I have learned.
I want you to know how much I needed you in my life. You taught me more in one year, than I could have ever learned in a life time on my own. I owe the person I have become, the person I am proud to be to the many lessons you, and the horses, have taught me.
You and the horses have taught me confidence. That if I suck it up, and stop making excuses to get out of hard work, that I can do anything. You taught me just what I was capable of doing. My life before you felt doomed right from the start. I felt that all I had in life was what my parents had laid out for me. That I was destined to become an alcoholic that couldn't hold down a job, and had to rely on men to get me through life, even if life was miserable. You, and horses, changed that for me. You taught me that life was whatever I made of it. That it was going to be hard work, but the harder I worked, the more gratifying it would be.
You taught me that I am my own worst enemy. A burden that I still carry, but am now aware of. That's another important lesson you have taught me. Awarness. To be cautious of my surroundings, of what others' body language is telling me, and what my own body language is expressing to the environment around me. The horses showed me this in explicit detail. If I was too big, too loud, too cocky, they would challenge me, and make work a lot harder than it needed to be. Or worse, they would try to run away from me, bang their hooves off of the round pen wall trying to escape my overbearing pressure. They really are a mirror.
You taught me how to calm myself. How to ground, centre, have soft eyes. To feel, rather than to look. The horses once again made me practice this lesson. If they came with an attitude, or were feeling a little full of themselves, or were even timid, as long as I breathed, felt where they were rather than looked at them, grounded myself, they would respond. They would let go of their tight neck muscles, their eyes would soften, they would lick and chew their mouths.
You taught me focus. That I could stand out in the rain, freezing cold, with an enormous, yearling studcolt in front of me, and as long as I was focused, he was focused. What an amazing feeling to have a warmblood studcolt feel that I am so focused, so aware, that he was safe to nod off for a nap under my care and watch.
Every day I keep the lessons you and the horses have taught me close. When I'm feeling stressed, and braced from the pressures of work, I remind myself to breathe, center, ground. I go from being braced and inverted, to soft, and calm. Able to handle the day's pressures with a level head, and to be able to lead my staff, as an alpha mare might lead her herd. When I'm feeling frustrated, or angry, and I am driving Dave away from me, I am able to breathe, centre, and ground. I change my body language, I soften my eyes, and am able to draw him back to me. I can admit my faults now. I can admit when I am wrong now, and am able to make a serious plan, a training program, for myself.
Here in the present, I am an assistant manager in a clothing store. It is what pays the bills, keeps me afloat, and allows me to pay off my debts for right now. In my future, I know I'm with horses. Whether as a trainer, a coach, or an owner, I am with them. But I am always with the lessons you and the horses have taught me. I have the happy (although horseless) life I had never thought possible for myself. I have the supportive, amazing boyfriend I had once before thought I would never deserve. I have confidence, self disipline, and the drive to always make myself a better person.
So thank you. Thank you for taking the time to be my mentor. You were more than a horse training mentor, but a life mentor as well. You have given me, and the others I share my life with, an amazing gift. I just wanted you to know.
Congrats again on your success, you deserve it! I hope your next year can be even better!
Candace Gibson (Former Apprentice, Now Certified Trainer)
After I saw Trish work with her horses at a free demo, I was hooked. She spoke the language of equs/horse with her body that was recieved with absolute respect and communication by her horses. The results seemed magical, I knew that this was the missing link with myself and my horse, I couldn't wait to get started!
I have spent a month so far training with Trish and the difference in my knowledge and the performance in my dressage prospect is thrilling!
The Chris Irwin/ Trish Hyatt system of training from the ground work up, including long reining, translates to the saddle smoothly for both horse and rider Our future looks very exciting now, it could so easily have been the opposite! I continue to look forward to many more training sessions with Trish in the future, thank you,
Anne Kerswell
Rewind to 6 months ago. I went from a died-in-the-wool horse-crazy girl, to a girl that was petrified to get on her own horse. I had only owned Lyric, my 5 year old Morgan/QH cross for 6 months, and things were going form bad to worse. I was getting pushed around, run over, and bucked off every time I worked with my mare. Most definitely enough to make me scared to get on her, let alone attempt the dreaded canter which always ended in me taking a very unwanted flying lesson!
Now fast-forward to today. I just finished a full 5-days of riding and training at Trish's farm... my mare and I can walk in frame, trot in frame, and most incredibly, canter without me ending up on the ground! We're working on cantering in frame as well. Trish has helped me through everything my mare has thrown my way, and in it all, has made me a better rider and horse-person. When all I wanted to do was give up, Trish would look at me and say "Jess. Get up there and ride your horse!" She knew what both Lyric and I needed and continues to help us excel in our training now.
Without Trish I would have most likely given up on both my horse, and my riding abilities. Now I am looking forward to progressing with Lyric and possibly showing her next year! Thanks so much Trish for all you've taught us!!
- Love Jess and Lyric
Hi Trish,
I attended your 'Introduction to 'Non Resistance Training' demo yesterday and I just wanted to say that I felt that you explained and demonstrated the importance of our body language and position when working with our horses better than any other clinician, book or DVD that I have seen to date. You also shared a lot of valuable information for a free demo, wish I could remember all that you said!
Thank you so much!
Kathy Peers
Hi Trish, Just wanted to thank you for the clinic yesterday, we all enjoyed it very much. I wanted to compliment you on the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere of your working arena and also on the lovely condition of your horse pupils!
It was most enjoyable and a reminder of the importance of body language and consistency in handling our equine friends.
Hope to see you again soon,
Lynn Bolton
Dr. Bettina Bobsien (Equine Vet) has a big smile as "Bug" enjoys her first water crossing.
Below, Brittany chills out with "Moose" at a horse show. He was the first horse I started for Bettina.
Happy, calm, willing Warmbloods!
