More About Claire
Claire Lilley has been teaching riding both overseas and in the UK for over thirty years She offers classical tuition for both horse and rider from novice to advanced levels in dressage and jumping.
Hi. Welcome to my web site. Here is a bit more information about me and what I do!
I am a riding instructor based in Wiltshire at my own training centre.
I have been teaching riding for more years than I care to mention! I was a working pupil in my teens working for my BHS exams. I learnt to ride at Suzanne’s Riding School, Middlesex, and competed in local pony club and riding club events on the school horses and ponies.
After having a ‘proper job’ as a draughtsman for a number of years, during which time I bought my first horse, I ended up in Germany. During this time, I virtually re-learnt all I had ever known, spending hours on the lunge to improve my seat, under the tuition of Herr Hans Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen at the Landesreitschule, Hoya near Verden.
Later, I worked at the*Reitverein Oberwesterwald* training as a professional riderunder the watchful eye of Herr Jurgen Duecker where I learnt how to train young horses. I was pretty good at show-jumping and got to grade A level, but after one accident too many, became hooked on classical dressage . I competed on the young horses in my care, and could ride the Grand Prix horses in the stable competently before I returned to the UK.
I teach riders with the aim to improve their position and aids, which in turn improves their horses. I focus on ‘fine-tuning’ the rider’s seat to get the best from the horse.
I compete when I have time- when I am not busy teaching everyone else! My horses vary in age and ability- some days it works, and some days it does not go to plan! The fun is in improving each horse day by day.
I believe that training should be enjoyable for everyone to achieve their goals and take a*sympathetic approach* to training horse and rider. I think that lungeing and in-hand work should be part of every horse’s schooling.
Here I am with Heinrich at novice level as a 6 year old
Heinrich three years later learning piaffe. he is now competing at Advanced medium level, aiming for Grand Prix in 2012!
Claire has trained with Arthur Kottas for the last sixteen years at the Teachers of Tomorrow Trust in Guildford, Surrey. Previous trainers include Sylvia Loch (eight years), and occasional help from Jennie Loriston-Clarke.
Fine-tuning from Arthur in a lesson!
Other career highlights;
Claire is a qualified fitness trainer concentrating on good posture with The Fitness League. (www.thefitnessleague.com)
Here Claire puts her Swedish students attending a clinic through their paces after breakfast, correcting their posture and suppleness before they all go out to ride. It is just as important for the riders to loosen up as it is for the horses!
Chief Instructor and Yard Manager of Orchard Cottage Riding School in Surrey, which was voted Riding School of the Year during her time there.
A freelance trainer and author, Claire is a regular contributor to equestrian magazines and has written several books.
Translator of equestrian books from German to English including Ingrid Klimke’s Basic Training of the Young Horse.
Listed dressage judge Claire also judges dressage competitions locally and finds that it is a great responsibility to send each rider home with a score sheet that makes sense, and helps each competitor to improve on their training for next time.
Here is Dangerous Liason (Norman) at his third dressage outing with Claire
Here is Claire with her Grand Prix horse Amadeus in the Mary Poppins Quadrille which reached third place at the Quadrille final at Olympia in 2000
Riding as a group in a Quadrille is all part of the fun. Dressage to music is a popular request at clinics and at Claire’s yard.
A quadrille team in Sweden after a great afternoon!
The Animals
Sammy the standard poodle is 6 years old and loves to be involved in everything we do.
Cat Dee
Dee Cat is Ruby’s stable companion, and she came with Ruby in the lorry when she arrived at the yard. She is really friendly and runs up to me chatting away at what a great time she has had in the night!
She always finds a cosy place to sleep!
She is very good at catching mice. Here she is lining up dessert after eating her biscuits!
We will be out and about to shows and demonstrations in our lorry which has been custom built for us by champion horse boxes, so look out for us and come and say hello.
Claire is sponsored by horsedata.biz
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