Gail Hooper BHSII
GH Equitation
GH Equitation is a professional service for horse owners. Freelance riding tuition, schooling and clipping available on the Cornwall/Devon border.
Services
Tuition
As a BHSII I am able to coach riders and train horses to BD Elementary, BS Discovery and BE100. However I have vast experience teaching pony club, riding club and in riding schools so am very happy to teach all sorts. Everybody is welcome including tiny tots & nervous novices. I am also on the register of instructors which means that you’ll be in safe hands. Being on the register means:
•Professional Qualifications
•Safeguarding & Protecting children certified
•First Aid trained
•Fully insured
•CRB checked
I also attend regular CPD Days to keep pace with new thinking and techniques.
Clipping
I have many years’ experience clipping – working on a large equestrian centre means that I clip 40+ horses per year. I clip with a pair of quiet Lister Liberty clippers which are amazing as they run on mains, a battery pack and off of a car lighter (if all goes wrong!) alongside a small pair of liberty face trimmers for any difficult to reach areas! I aim to work in a manner that keeps horses quiet and enjoying the experience. But if all else fails I do come armed with a minty ‘lickit’ as bribery where necessary!
Schooling
I love schooling horses! It's my favourite thing. I am available to school/exercise horses where necessary. I have many years’ experience with a variety of horses and ponies and enjoy all disciplines.Helping the horse to learn new things, applying specific movements and exercises in relation to a conditioning / rehabilitation program or just teaching them to be better balanced. The aim is to improve the horses understanding and therefor giving you - the owner (and feed provider/bill payer) a more pleasurable experience when in the saddle. I particularly enjoy show jumping and have done a lot of workers in my time. And don't tell anyone but I'm a sucker for a cute coloured cob :)
You and your horses needs are the most important, all services are adaptable. Just call / text / email to discuss.
Get Involved
GH Equitation training dates
All sessions are designed on a client led basis. I attempt to get groups of like minded people with similar goals together. I aim to never have more than 5 people in one session - anymore and there is too much standing around. If you would like to get involved drop me an email or call me
December, 30th 2016
Pole Work
Location - Duchy College
9am for DIY and Working Liveries, using poles to create suppleness and elasticity of the paces
December, 31st 2016
Arena x-country clinic
Location - The Grange Equestrian
10am, 11am,12pm slots available for clients wishing to participate. (5 in a group max)
January - Date TBC
Showjumping Clinic
Location - Tall Trees Arena
Experience and Qualifications
Further Education
Advanced national certificate in the management of horses
Advanced national diploma in the management of horses
Higher Education
FdSc Equine Sports Performance and Coaching
BSc Equitation Science 2:1
Post Graduate Certificate in Education
British Horse Society
BHS stage 1 Riding and Care
BHS stage 2 Riding and Care
BHS stage 3 Riding and Care
Preliminary Teaching Test
BHS stage 4 Riding and Care
Intermediate Teaching Test
Work Experience
Wheel Buller Riding School (instructor)
Penewin Riding School (instructor)
Lynher Valley Stables (backing, breaking and sales)
Hayes Farm Riding School (instructor)
Eqwest Equine Clinic (clinical assistant)
Duchy College (instructor/technician)
Camp Arcadia - Maine, America (head of riding)
About Me
I grew up in the depth of Cornwall with very non-horsey heritage. Not a smidgen of Whitaker blood (for shame!) is the first thing I must admit to. By the age of 10 though; with the same grit determination only ever used to remove a hefty Connemara from a hedgerow of succulents, I had convinced them that I should ride at the local riding school once a fortnight and I promised my fearful non horsey parents that I would definitely NOT fall off .... Things stepped up a gear - much to their disgust - when an obese Shetland pony that went by the name of Pearl and a 16hh Cob mare appeared in the field adjacent to our house. With a firm 3 months of riding school experience under my belt and feeling like a pro I convinced a friend that we should channel our inner Emma Massingales' and tackle said pony. After all, a ride is a ride when you are 10 years old. Predictably I knocked up the 1st of the ‘it takes 7 falls to make a rider’ falls that day …
The Saga Continues
Which has anyone ever noticed, the number increases exponentially when you hit the ground for 8th time and a cheery instructor picks you up and say’s … ‘No, I heard it was 8 times to make a real rider!’ As they wipe the tears from your eyes and replace your hat silk so you don’t look like a very sad, red, wet faced, egg. Needless to say things improved. Particularly with the help of some now very close friends who had a penchant for breeding Connemara's and were kind enough to take in a stray girl with a love for horses.
Now my main goal is to provide a professional service with a personal touch.
23.12.16
Pole Work Lesson
Duchy DIY's
Basic Price List
Tuition
•£25 an hour (private)
•£30 an hour (shared)
•£40 for (3 or more)
Includes travel.
(Own horse and surface must be provided)
Reduced rates if lesson at Duchy College or in the Stoke Climsland area.
Clipping
•£35 – Full Clip
•£30 – Hunter/Blanket/Trace/
Chaser/Neck and Belly/Yin&Yang
•£5 – Mane Pull
Reduced rates if horse is at
Duchy College or in the Stoke Climsland
area or for multiple horses at the same yard.
Schooling
•£15 (half hour)
•£25 (hour)
Reduced rates at Duchy College
or in the Stoke Climsland area.
Travel
•Within 15 mile radius of pl17 8na no charge
•Within 20 mile radius of pl17 8na additional £5
•20 miles radius plus available by negotiation
Examples of my work
Which clip for your horse?
Full
Best suited horses in hard competition work with no turnout throughout the winter
All the coat is removed, including the legs, head and ears. This clip leaves the horse with no protection or warmth so requires careful stable management to ensure the horse does not get cold or suffer other ailments, such as rain scald or mud fever.
Hunter
Best suited for horses in medium to hard work
Although most of the coat is removed, the hunter clip gives the horse protection from the saddle and helps keeps the legs warm and protected. I tend to leave half of the head on for extra warmth and protection.
Blanket
ldeal for horses in medium work with some turnout
By leaving some hair on in an area not prone to sweating, the horse gets extra warmth but without excessive sweating when working.
Chaser
Best suited for horses in medium work
Very similar to a blanket clip but helps keep the muscles on the top of the neck warm too.
Irish
Great for a 1st clip
There are many adaptations of the Irish Clip. Great for horses that are in medium work. Takes off hair from all the important areas but leaves them with warm loins - useful for young/cold backed horses/ponies.
Client Testimonials
Gail kindly came and clipped my somewhat temperamental mare who can be very impatient and opinionated. Gail assessed the best clip for our needs and performed a flawless clip very quickly and efficiently so to keep the mare happy and comfortable. Gail was very sensitive to the mares mood and adjusted her approach as necessary to keep the horse happy. She did a fantastic job with perfect finishing touches. I would recommend her clipping skills to everyone especially anyone with a sensitive mare!! 5 ⭐️ and a very reasonable price xx
Natalie Moore - North Cornwall
Hi Gail
A word of thanks for the lesson, delivered with a skill set and patience that solved my problem, you made it so easy to realise where I was going wrong without making me feel stupid. Everyone needs someone on the floor to see where those small changes, make all the difference. I would recommend you to anyone, thankyou
Jo
Jo Dawe - South West Cornwall
Just wanted to thank Gail for helping me with my confidence when schooling over fences, after having some not so helpful instructors in the past my confidence got knocked a lot, but since having Gail teach me I can see how much I have improved in such a short space of time. Gail is very calm and patient and is excellent helping both horse and rider achieve there goals.
Thankyou
Emma Richards - Devon
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Opening Hours
Do pony people ever sleep?
I'm available most evenings and weekends. Occasional Monday and Tuesday day time and by advanced arrangement in school holidays.
Please call / text / email for availability