Hollie McNeil: Senior Instructor & Manager
40 Fundamentals of English Riding, written by Hollie
Riding Author
Hollie is the author of 40 Fundamentals of English Riding, the bestselling equestrian book/DVD published by Storey Publishing. All the teaching at Riding Right reflects the same approach to riding which is emphasized throughout the book, marrying classical techniques with up-to-the-minute biomechanics and sports physiology, organized in a careful, systematic approach.
The book - published by Storey Publishing - provides detailed explanations for 40 fundamental ideas and techniques for all types on English riding, whether dressage, jumping, or even just a relaxed trail ride. It also includes a 90 minute DVD, which takes the same 40 topics and explores them in moving images. (It is available in Cambridge at Battenkill Books, and from Amazom.com.)
Hollie recieving her Trainer's License from Chief Olympic Ground Judge Martin Plewa
FEI Recognized Instructor
Hollie holds a Trainer's C License from the German National Riding Federation, one of only a handful of Americans to earn this prestigious certification. The examination included written, oral, and practical testing on Dressage, Stadium Jumping, Cross Country, Stable Management, Equine Physiology and Behavior, and Sports Education. To earn her German License, Hollie took extensive training and testing at the German National Riding School, in Warendorf, Germany, and the Westfalen Riding School in Munster, Germany.In connection with her German qualifications, Hollie has also been recognized as a certified instructor by the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the international body governing equestrian sports. Hollie received her equestrian passport, which entitled her to teach internationally as well.
Hollie teaching at Equine Affaire
Clinics and Presentations
As a skilled presenter (her background prior to riding was as a television reporter, anchor, and producer), Hollie is a popular speaker and clinician at equine events, such as Equine Affaire, Lendon Gray's Annual Weekend Equestrian Educational Program for Dressage and Event Riders, the Saratoga Horse Symposium, and others. She gives presentations and clinics on classical horsemanship, dressage, use of dressage techniques in other riding disciplines, riding position, the mind-body connection in riding, horsemanship in history and its effect on modern riding, and many others.
Her work as a clinician includes a focus on body-awareness for the rider, traditional English riding clinics, and most recently her innovative 'instant replay' clinics, combining traditional instruction with instant video playback in slow-motion, allowing the rider to see their riding in detail and make changes while still mounted.
German Performance Medals
German Riding Medals
Hollie has also been recognized as a rider (rather than as an instructor) by the German Equestrian Federation, which has awarded her the Small and Large Bronze Performance Medals (see right), after she passed comprehensive examinations on dressage, stadium, and cross-country riding, as well as extensive equestrian theory subjects.
WRGB-TV
Hollie was asked by WRGB-TV (CBS 6, in Albany/Schnectady/Troy) to write for them on equestrian topics, which has evolved into her "Riding Right" blog for the station, one of its most popular.
Balimo Instructor & Other Experience
With over thirty years of riding experience, Hollie has trained horses and shown in dressage through the FEI level and jumped competitively. She has coached riders who have competed at Pony Club Nationals and the Lendon Gray Youth Dressage Festival. Hollie is also a Graduate Riding Instructor of the innovative Balimo Riding Program. Hollie's horse-related studies also include work on equine physiology at Cornell University, natural horsemanship seminars, and many, many others.
Lessons Blog
If There’s Trouble
There’s a old saying, that if there’s trouble a horse is going to find it. Truer words have never been spoken.
Take a look at the picture here. This is Oakie, our school horse, firmly attached with not one but two blanket attachments to the so-called “safety” fence in his paddock. Now, you’d think we were starving the poor boy because this all happened as a consequence of him reaching over this fence to get to that little bit of dry, withered grass on the other side of the fence. Trust me, we don’t starve our horses. I think he’s just into survivalist mode. You know, the people who have perfectly good food on the table but opt to go out to the woods for a week to prove they don’t need modern society to survive.
Upon finding Oakie snagged to the fence you might think it was just a matter of unhooking the snaps. Nope. Can’t be that easy. Every time I tried to unlatch the snap Oakie would pull back in his effort to free himself from his imprisonment. Tension is not what you’re looking for here. Solution for freeing him was to take the blanket off him- not the fence. He ran with glee to return to his herd and eat the hay that is generously provided.
The next quest was to free the blanket from the fence. Easier said then done. I don’t know how he managed it, but those snaps were around two sections of wire fencing where the wire squares come together as a knot. I couldn’t do that with the dexterity of all my fingers so I haven’t a clue how he managed with no fingers at all. Getting it off the fence was about a 10 minute enterprise, where I even contemplated getting out the wire cutters.
As the saying goes- if there’s trouble.
Hollie McNeil-Owner/Trainer:Riding Right Farm, Author:40 Fundamentals of English Riding
Cool Mo-Cap
The technology that is turning movie making into a computer project, almost rather than an acting project is the future. Take for instance, Tin Tin, Avatar, and Lord of the Rings. It’s the melding of what’s real and what’s not and sometimes and it’s tough to tell the difference. For our Fun Friday today a look at how one film company took on the project of motion capture with horses. This is some fascinating video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeRjfEPkw
-Hollie McNeil, Author:40 Fundamentals of English Riding, Owner/Trainer:Riding Right Farm
2011 at Riding Right Farm – Cambridge NY
A tradition at Riding Right, we do a year-end video to take a quick, fun look at the past year. And what an amazing year 2011 was! Take a look:
Thanks to all our great riders, clinicians, readers, fans, helper, and horses for making it another wonderful year.
-Hollie McNeil, Owner/Trainer:Riding Right Farm, Author:40 Fundamentals of English Riding
The Halloween Show Photos and Results!
Even though our Halloween Show was delayed for a week by an unseasonable snow storm, the weather for this show couldn’t have been better: perfect blue skies, and warm temperatures combined with great rides for a wonderful day. Plus, of course, the always-fun costume class. Photos are on-line now, as are the show results.
Halloween Show
Buddy & Hadley
There’s something a little ironic that one of my favorite costumes at yesterday’s Halloween Horse Show was Christmas themed.
The show was supposed to be last Sunday, the day before Halloween. But as we all know, a huge Nor’Easter decided to slam us with a considerable amount of snow. Postponing the Halloween Show for a week was the only good choice. (And really it was a good choice given yesterday’s stellar weather.)
The costume class is a “must have” at our annual Halloween Show and there were some really creative, fun, costumes. (You should check out our website photos to get a full taste of the fun we had). We had pirates, Shrek with Donkey, a horse turned into a fluffy, white sheep complete with a dog and Little Bo Peep (who was a teenaged boy). And then there was our long time school horse, Buddy, dressed up with his rider, Hadley, as a Christmas Tree. At this point in life, not much fazes Buddy. He’s pretty much seen in all. Having huge Christmas Stockings hanging off his body is just another day at the farm for him. You just have to love these tolerant old school horses.
-Hollie McNeil, Owner/Trainer:Riding Right Farm, Author:40 Fundamentals of English Riding
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