Hello! The following is a little bit about my history with horses and my philosophy regarding them...I try not to define who I am with what I do...what I do is not who I am, so for that part, you need to meet me! Maybe someday we will...and for those who do know me...sorry about that! (LOL! Just kidding!). This page will also have info on regular contributors to the Academy newsletter and people who come on board as staff/volunteers.
Principal: Janene Clemence
Newsletter contributor, Soils Alive!...soil expert: Bryan Peterson.
Assistant: Rosie Bason
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Hi! It is always difficult to write about yourself. To make things harder, what I may have done (or not) in the past doesn't neccessarily have a great deal to do with now! Some of course would argue this. First though...my philosophy...
PHILOSOPHY
Well, that has changed and morphed as I have been around horses! Initially it was about learning to ride, 'doing' something with the horse. I went through my competitive stage as most have but that basically left when I started working with the methods of Ken Dromgool. And now...even those techniques have morphed into something a little more different than then.
Now, it is solely about the awakening of the horse-human relationship. For many years I have been moving towards bitless and bridleless as I wanted something MORE than just being able to do this or that with a horse...even though very early on to ride bridleless in full collection was a goal. Now, I still have that goal...haute ecole bridleless, but it means something else. So...
Above all we must meet the horse, learn to be still within ourselves, and consider the horse in all that we do around him, at all times. When working this way the desire to be competitive simply drops away, as you learn there is nothing to prove; only what there is between you and the horse on any given day is important.
There is a tremendous opportunity to heal when working with horses, both for the horse and the human. Horses have the ability to show us another way of being...a truer more complete way of living. The way we are with and around horses does spill over into our daily lives, if we are prepared to listen to the horse, we may learn a a great deal about our inner self. This is because the horse sees through our daily bluff, and into the core of our being, where our truth resides. In that way the horse shows the path to healing ourselves and developing true humility,harmony, joy, integrity, and love. On that path the horse grows too, awakens, if you will. Then all manner of amazing things are possible, for both.
We do NOT have the right to cause pain to the horse any more than we have the right to cause pain to another human...this means removing the bit and other artificial equipment that essentially forces the horse to DO what ever we want it to. It also means adjusting the way we work with him, how long, how hard..and HOW we work with him when we do. Endless lunging, working a horse till 'the sting is out of him', draw reins, side reins, lunging apparatus that puts the horse in a set position...all of these things (and more!) must go. A horse that is not ready physically (atrophied back , neck issues etc) should not be sat on. End of story. The welfare of the horse in terms of husbandry is also priority, it is neccessary to learn about the horse from the inside out...without truly knowing the pyschology, anatomy and physiology of the horse you will fail to fully understand how to work with the horse in a way that keeps him sound in body, spirit and mind and thus healthy. Consideration to all points must be given...and if you aren't prepared to do that, then for goodness sake get yourself a PICTURE of a horse to look at and don't torture the real thing.
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And, for those who need or want to know the "where have you been, what have you done" thing, here following is a quick run down...
n Basically I have about 28-29 years of experience with horses (as of 2010). I started with a little Welsh Pony who took great satisfaction at stopping mid canter to eat grass! She was a great tutor. I had the good fortune to somehow meet the right people at the right time…and even though sometimes not all of the experiences were nice ones, I sure learnt a lot! I rode track at 13yrs old, drove standardbreds, and always seemed to have at least one ‘old timer’ around who loved sharing his old and invaluable horse stories and remedies. There was of course the obligatory stint at Pony Club where I did all the certificates and also taught up to B cert. At 18, after doing a stint in the army I began Coaching and starting young horses to make a living, since then my experience has included the following:
6-7 years with Equestrian Entertainment Ltd:
Gala of the Royal Horses, Lipizzaners with the Stars, Equestra , El Caballo Blanco
2 years with Fernando Alvarez and The Dance of the White Horses.
While with these companies my basic 'job description' was as follows:
Principal Rider, trainer and Performer
n Training of horses to Haute Ecole.
n Training movements such as lie-down, sitting, rearing, hindleg walking, Spanish walk and trot and etc.
n Perform in shows in group and solo, specialty acts (Australia and New Zealand).
n Management of horses in transport (land and air) and veterinary issues
n Stallion Management.
In between touring I worked at Emerald Valley Farm Tennessee Walking Horses and I also spent some time on Warmblood and Thoughbred Studs foaling down and handling youngstock. My job duties then included...Manager, trainer
n Starting and training of young horses
n Broodmare management pre and post foaling
n Hand serving and stallion management
n All normal stable management and horse husbandry
n Office management ie filing stud records, recording veterinary procedures etc
I spent 12 years as a Coach prior to starting touring over here (Started Self Employment at 18years) and starting young horses, re-educating spoilt or difficult horses, teaching at Pony clubs in both North and South Island of New Zealand and competing in Eventing, Dressage, Showing, Driving, and Showhunter (American and Hunter). Riding instruction to Medium-advanced level dressage (including driven dressage), Intermediate NZEF Horse Trials, also instruction at various levels in American showhunter, showing, reining, Pony Club certificates to A & H (100% pass rate from pupils at all levels).
5 years Bait and Livery Carriages (New Zealand)
Owner/Manager
* I ran Bait and Livery Carriages while continuing to teach and start young horses as well as competing and breeding horses. I ran up to 4 Standardbreds and 2 Clydesdales as well as having access to several Ponies.
n Driving (singles) in main city centres, maintenance of carriages.
n Weddings, Film, Promotional work and etc
Miscellaneous Experience/qualifications
I have spent some time filming in documentaries, mainly travel and promotional films and a few fictional works, always with horses. Of course the usual Coaching at Pony Club, all levels including examining Pony Club pupils. I also gained my New Zealand Coaching Level 1 cert., and judged Dressage through the North Island. Several times I enjoyed grooming at National level Combined Driving (NZ), and learnt to drive pairs and 4-in-hand. I have studied Veterinary Homoeopathy and a Diploma of Psychology and spend time continuing my own education in anatomy and physiology of the horse, and of the old masters of classical riding.
Before doing the Dip Hom, I worked alongside and held clinics with Tony Hill, a vet (NZ) who specialised in Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and who from 20 years of his own research developed his own different methods of ‘realigning’ and treating horse’s discomforts and lameness, very successfully. Our clinics covered anatomy and physiology of the horse, the digestive system, biomechanics and the Psychology of the horse.
One of my favourite horsemen in NZ is Ken Dromgool, I thoroughly enjoyed participating in and hosting clinics for him. Ken is a marvellous horseman in the true sense of the word, he has worked with Ray Hunt and a few other great horsemen. There is a link to his site on the links page.
Early on I was a working pupil for Christian Thiess, a German International Dressage Instructor, my first real taste at 'dressage'! Punishment extreme, but learnt a lot!
Some time later I spent time training with Ramon Guererro, Spanish Riding Master from the Spanish school at Herez. I first attended clinics when he visited NZ then had more regular training while he was living there. His own methods that he has developed since leaving Spain are also unorthodox but again, work! Ramon has trained countless horses to High School Level. His methods are a perfect ongoing complementary form of education with the methods and philosophy of Dorrance, Hunt and Dromgool (and Thus myself!). Also, although they were developed with the bit, the method works well bitless too!
So you see...all valid experience with horses, but not really who I am with horses today!
Well, that’s about it really! There has been I don’t how many clinics with visiting Judges, Coaches, trainers and etc too, and plenty of reading, horses are a lifelong study! I particularly have interest in the work of Nevzorov and Hemplfling, and study horses as much as possible each day, both the real horse in front of me day to day, and the theoretical in reading text on and offline (real books, how about that! LOL!).
Ok!! Nuff about me!
If you have any questions you would like to ask me...just email me equinearts@bigpond.com
I hope you enjoy this site, and I hope you find something valuable to take away from it...
With Love, Janene
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"SOILS ALIVE!" EXPERT BRYAN PETERSON...............
(too shy for a pic yet!!)...come on Bryan!
Not only does Bryan supply our "Soils Alive" articles; he is a wonderful artist (steelwork) and makes superb wrought iron furniture, braziers, and metal sculptures. He also does excellent structural work and general steel fabrications. He makes wonderful pedastals, can whip up round pens at the blink of an eye and is the man to go to if your float floor needs repairs/rebuilding. A multi-talented man!
About the Author.
Bryan Peterson began his working life with a cadetship to CSR in 1971, completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical and Fuel Engineering at UNSW in 1977 and an energy Management certificate at Sydney TAFE in 1982.
Aiming to establish a more sustainable lifestyle for himself and young family, he moved to Byron Shire in 1983, purchasing a neglected banana plantation in the Mullumbimby hinterland. Resolving never to use synthetic chemicals on the land, Bryan began to explore alternative agricultural practices. He joined the Tweed Richmond Organic Producer’s Organisation (TROPO), ultimately serving a term as president, and got his property certified organic by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA). Bryan became an organic farm and processing inspector with NASAA performing more than 200 farm and process inspections from 1992 to 1998.
Between 1997 and 2003 he contributed to curriculum development, taught, tutored and demonstrated organic farming and other sustainability related subjects for TAFE and SCU at Coffs Harbour’s CHEC campus, while completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture From USyd.
In 2003 Bryan returned to full-time residency of his Mullumbimby property to pursue his other great passion – the gentle and ancient art of blacksmithing – Bryan creates both artistic and functional works in metal from staircases, to candelabra and cutting edges by combining ancient smithing techniques and modern technologies.
2005 saw Bryan’s life take on a new dimension with the arrival of the love of his life – Shalisha Blom. Her lifelong connection with horse has given Bryan a unique opportunity to explore the joys of a more natural connection with horse. The parallels between conventional and organic agriculture and conventional and natural horsemanship are not lost on Bryan and provide the inspiration to write this series of articles.
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Rosie
has been helping me out with the team since mid 2009, a great woman
with an excellent feel for the right herbs, I've been really lucky to
have her around. She is also a bit of a master at making sure I get
enough liquids and food at clinics...and that I finish on time (some don't see that as helpful, but they do understand I have to eventually go home, hehe!)
In pursuit of a life-long interest in
natural and herbal remedies, Rosie Bason received her Diploma in Herbal
Medicine in 2008 from the Waikato Centre for Herbal Medicine, New Zealand, where she graduated with honors.
Rosie uses high quality, human grade, organic herbal
tinctures and dried herbs. Continuing her equine education, Rosie is undertaking an Advanced massage course, again
from Equinology, and enjoys working together with Janene, being inspired by the
progress each individual horse makes.
After working in the "traditional" way of riding and training horses,
Rosie quotes "the methods I have learnt since training with Janene, have
changed my way of being around horses. Riding is no longer a priority,
rather the comfort of the horse is the first and foremost important
thing. Since my further study of Anatomy and my attendence at Janene's
clinics, I am proud to say, I will never use a bit on my horse ever!”
"I get great pleasure in working with the horses, assisting them with herbal
medicine, be it for a liver detox - to assist the horse with all the
accumulations of toxins, skins issues, or for almost any ailment - along with
equine body work, massage and stretching to release any tension."
As horse owner and rider for the past 20 years, she earned a certificate
in Equine Bodywork from Equinology (with world-reknown 'Dr Deb' - Debranne Patillo) and now treats horses with herbal medicine
and bodywork. 
