| Heidi
strives to improve the human/horse
relationship by encouraging her students
to see things from the horse's perspective.
A true advocate of the horse, Heidi
emphasizes how strongly our minds,
bodies and emotions influence our
horse's behaviors and reactions. She
gains great insight by applying the
parallels between her work with horses
and her training in the Martial Arts
and Yoga.
Heidi's
experience with horses started when
she was a young child growing up in
New Hampshire. After many wonderful
hours trail riding at a local ranch
she was “hooked” and realized
that horses needed to be part of her
life.
By
the age of 13 she had saved $350 and
purchased her first horse. Thunder
was a pure white, 7 year old, 16-hand
grade horse. During the summer of
1974 Thunder became her primary teacher.
“We spent most of that summer
in a rearing or reverse situation,
with him stating that he couldn’t
possibly leave the farm without his
equine buddies.” Equally stubborn
and determined to trail ride with
her new friend, Heidi would walk him
to the top of the mountain and then
get on and ride him home. As with
most professionals, she looks back
and realizes education is bliss -
"If I had known then . . . ”
She
spent most of her teen years at the
trail riding ranch where Thunder was
boarded. In addition to helping lead
the rides Heidi also enjoyed competing
at local horse shows in Western Pleasure
and Gymkhana.
For
her 16th birthday her parents surprised
her with a 6 month-old Appaloosa colt
she had come to love at the ranch.
He was hers to raise and train. These
two horses became Heidi’s first
lesson horses in 1994 when Maple Ridge
Stable was established in Southern
Vermont.
Maple
Ridge is now a training, boarding
and instructional facility. Over the
years it has seen many changes and
experienced much growth. Maintaining
the facility and caring for the horses
would not have been possible without
the commitment of the entire family.
Heidi's husband Rob and the three
Potter children, Aaron, Chelsea and
Tyler have contributed greatly to
its success.
In
1997 Heidi took her first Centered
Riding lesson with Senior Instructor,
Lucile Bump, at Southmowing Stable.
She immediately knew that this was
the type of instruction she wanted
to grow with and share with her students.
Teaching the principals of CR gave
her a way to combine her training
in the martial arts and her work with
horses. “It all fit so perfectly,
and the humans and horses loved it."
By late 1998 Heidi was teaching and
training full time, six days a week,
in a newly constructed indoor arena.
She became a Centered Riding Instructor
herself in 1998 and is currently one
of 16 Level III CR Instructor/Clinicians
in the United States. Heidi is especially
thankful for the times that she was
able to study with Centered Riding
founder, Ms. Sally Swift, who resided
in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont.
In
June of 2000 Heidi became a CHA (Certified
Horsemanship Association) Certified
Instructor. Four years later she received
her Master Level certification and
in 2006 was honored to receive her
Clinic Instructor certification. As
Clinic Instructor Heidi participates
in staffing clinics which evaluate
and certify riding instructors around
the U.S. CHA's program is designed
to help ensure the safety of riding
programs and the ethical treatment
of horses. Heidi has also co-taught
vaulting classes and worked with emotionally
disturbed and learning disabled children.
She found this work especially rewarding.
In 2005 Heidi became a CHA Certified
Level II Recreational Vaulting Coach
and Assistant Vaulting Clinic Instructor.
Heidi attended a John
Lyons symposium in the early 90's
and got her first look at the "Natural
Horsemanship" style of training.
Since then she has spent a great deal
of time studying and practicing a
variety of these training methods.
There are several trainers that she
greatly respects and enjoys learning
from. These include Mitzi Summers
from Fort Plain, N.Y., Jon Ensign
from Belgrade, Montana and Dr. Jeannine
Berger, DVM, DAVCB of Sacramento Veterinary
Behavior Services and UC Davis-California.
Heidi
shares a lifetime of horse experience
with her students, helping them gain
new insights, build confidence and
improve the overall relationship with
their horses. She continues to train
in the martial art disciplines of
Shorin Ryu Karate and Aiki-Budo, along
with Ashtanga Yoga. All of these activities
have a strong influence on her work
with horses and humans. The key element
of her program, In Harmony With Horses,
is to teach students to be mindful
of themselves, realizing the effect
their bodies and minds have on the
horse. She is known for her gentle
and empathetic approach to both horse
and rider. Heidi instructs full time
at Maple Ridge Stable, offering horsemanship
classes and workshops in the winter,
along with a full teaching and training
schedule throughout the riding season.
She travels to give clinics year round
and offers instruction and training
at other facilities.
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