The workshop was great! You brought to my attention the way I was always ahead of my horse in my mind and my body. During the exercises on the horse you accurately and sensitively gave me feedback as to when I was fleeing and when I was tapping into a more relaxed and centered way of being on the horse. The horse was a great teacher too, in that as I found that place, she became less unpredictable and more responsive to my cues. It was especially fun to tune into the horse while kneeling and standing! I also learned a great deal from watching you work with others as you helped us see how the rider's relationship with the horse influences the horse's performance.
As I reflect on this learning experience, I now realize this "fear" I was experiencing was an intelligent response to a very precarious situation. With me off in my head planning things for the unpredictable, the horse had no one really in charge. That, of course, made the horse unpredictable which then contributed to falls and struggles with the horse. This, then, reinforced my anxieties. My reflection also has brought me to the conclusion that I have had an inaccurate notion about the role of technique in riding. I previously had thought that it was by strengthening my riding techniques that I would master my anxieties. Now, I believe, that technique can only support but not supplant the importance of creating and sustaining a strong relationship with the horse. I need to start there for now.
There's a lot to work with here. I'm grateful for your helping me unlock the mystery of my persistent anxiety and look forward to many more years of horseback riding. The tone of my letter doesn't capture well the fact that all this learning took place in the safe environment (both physically and psychologically) you masterfully created and that, more simply put, it was a heck of a lot of fun to work with you!
Thanks to all,
Jo Anne B
Tina, I still remember the very first conversation that we had almost 2 years ago. You asked what my goals were - I was tentative and didn't really have any set goals other than picking up where I left off. Wow - looking back, I realize how unrealistic that goal was and how I was setting myself up for an immediate, initial failure. You knew this, but yet you took me in and put me on good ole Max (poor Max!) and I was totally upset with myself - upset that I hadn't remembered anything, upset that I looked so bad, upset that I couldn't get any energy, upset that I was overdoing the wrong things because I was so nervous - basically upset because I had the unrealistic expectation that after 10 years, I would just be able to ride this bike like I hadn't ever quit! You helped me to strip down all of the negative thoughts and self-analyze - you have the ability to read people and to read exactly what they need to do the "right" things for the horse and for themselves. You also have a unique and unparalleled focus on the horse and their needs as well as a focus on teaching students why you are teaching them to use each aid and the thought processes behind the aids - by relating the aids to the horse. In barns I previously rode in, I did not get that type of training - I was told what to do with barely a thought as to why it was impacting the horse the way it was - without a thought as to the body mechanics of the horse and why these aids worked the way they did - and since it worked most of the time, my mind-set was one of a "push-button" and I rode exactly that way!
Through growth, I know (because I am older and because of listening and watching you) horses are not push-buttons and the most exciting and exhilarating rides are when I am not on a push-button horse and am utilizing both my mind and body in order to have a pleasurable experience on and WITH the horse I am riding or working on the ground. Today I ride with more thought on the horse I am riding - taking into account attitude, body mechanics, my attitude, my emotions - all criteria that relate to a ride... not just getting on a machine and pushing the GO button. Today my days are filled with small victories in the ring - which leads to small victories outside the ring.
Through your guidance, I am becoming a new and more alive person. I haven't often showed my weaknesses around the barn (in itself a weakness) and I am not sure you were aware of how fragile I was when I first started, but I want you to know that I have changed and improved dramatically on the inside. I have a new lease on life thanks to you and our four-legged friends - for this I am eternally grateful. Throughout this journey of self-discovery, I have also had the added benefit of becoming a part of the barn family - it's been such a blessing and I can't tell you enough how truly honored I am. At this point, I am sobbing hysterically (albeit quietly) in my cubicle here at work while I type this letter. I am getting ready to leave for lunch to head to the barn and teach a beginner lesson - for that is another gift you have given me - you have allowed me to share with others the wealth of knowledge you have passed to me. Your heart has no bounds, your honesty has no match - you are truly one of a kind - as is Azgard Farms and the barn family!
Your Grateful Friend and One of Your Biggest Fans!
Roxanne
When I was 12 years old I started to ride in the best Dressage barn of my surroundings in my home country of Austria. After riding for some years, I began to be dissatisfied with myself. Everybody said that I was a good rider, but I was missing something. One day I saw "our Cowboy" doing lateral movements with his horse and I thought: "Why can't it be that light and easy in the Dressage?"
Years passed and I came to the states as an Au Pair. I don't remember what brought me to Azgard Farm in the first place, but after my first talk with Tina - which lasted 1 hour or even longer - I knew: I'm riding here or nowhere! But after my first lesson my self-confidence was absolutely destroyed. Seven years of riding and I couldn't even get this horse to walk in a straight line, almost fell off posting and I was even far away of wanting to canter. I was ready to give up, but then I realized, that her way of riding was exactly, what I had been looking for so long. Unfortunately, I had to admit that it wasn't half as easy as it looked, especially, when you had learned riding the "easy way" for years. But Tina believed in me all the way. She convinced me with examples and long explanations, why I should do things differently than I had learned them. But actually she taught me more then just riding. She taught me self-confidence and the endurance to see hard times through and there is no way, that I can ever repay her for the things she has done for me. She got me to the point where I finally could say, "alright, it was not what I wanted, but I can mold it that way." It was quite differently in the beginning. I remember that one lesson on Della I had. At the end I was crying because I thought, that nothing had gone right and I had lost control over everything - I was panicking inside. Tina pointed out, what I could have gotten out of the lesson, and there were lots of positive things. Finally she said: "Stop being your own worst critic!" And I tried. Tina doesn't praise a lot, but I got to the point, where I didn't need her to praise me. I want to learn, and just praising doesn't teach. I now know how to pick out positive things for my confidence and not so good things for my learning. If I would have to list names of people who had a positive influence on my life (relatives not included) the first and biggest name would be Tina Gary.
I can't wait to come back "home" to Azgard Farm!
Dearest love,
Maggie
P.S. There are tons of things that I could not express as a letter it would have become a book.
When we finally came to the realization that Zoe really wanted lessons, and was really serious about wanting to ride and keep with it, we looked at 7 stables in and around San Antonio and chose you as the best for our Zoe. I visited your place 2nd and found myself constantly measuring every other place against the "Azgard" standard. I kept coming back to my number one criteria, which was, "Will the owners care about Zoe's experience and progression?" In most cases the others were content to skim the surface of horsemanship, what I called, "sit, kick and split locations." In addition of all of the people I talked to you are the only person who talked about their personal riding philosophy.
Over the course of the year+ we have been fortunate enough to be coming to Azgard our whole family have come to regard you and your work with amazement. There are not many people in this world who are as consistently giving and understanding as you have been.
Over the last year+ I have appreciated that you teach much more than horsemanship skills. Life Skills are very much in evidence in every aspect of instruction. This is such an enormous aid in our teaching Zoe that life, like horses, has things that we may not like but we need to work through to get where we want to be. Zoe has a life view that problems are to be overcome and you have to think them through. In fact many of Zoe's discussions about problem solving start with, "Tina says..."
Several times you have told me about the complainers who love to complain... I think back to my first time at your place and being so impressed by the quality of the animals and an established facility. My previous experiences in the horse world told me then and tell me now that some places may be "nice" but places are never special without the people who make the place special.
So all in all, long and short... Thank you for all you have done for us, it has and continues to make a difference in our lives.
-John Bragg, Laurel Bragg and Zoe Bragg
Zoe has been a student for approximately 18 months, and has benefited immensely from the instruction she has received from yourself and your instruction staff. She has a greater confidence in and out of the saddle which has translated to a "Can do" attitude in every aspect of her life.
Zoe has had an expressed interest in horses since she was 4 years old when I took her for her first pony ride at the park stables. From that start she has progressed to where she is today, able to handle and problem solve with all sorts of horses.
As I have told you in the past, when we were seeking an equestrian riding program we visited many stables in and around San Antonio. From Kirby to Boerne to Bandera and as far north as Round Rock. Of all of the stables we visited the program at Azgard made the most sense in its logical progression and consistent instruction. At several of the stables we visited we found their progression to be characterized by what I call the "Sit, Kick and Split" philosophy, where the student participation is relegated to that of a passenger as opposed to a pilot. Riders at Azgard are taught translatable skills as opposed to tricks to force the horse to perform. Forcing the horse in my estimation leads to injuries for the horse and the rider.
Many stables tout "Horsemanship" as the hallmark of their program and fail to actually teach what Horsemanship is all about. Generally horsemanship is the ability to work with and handle a horse in a skillful or masterful manner. The program at Azgard goes beyond mere handling of the animal and extends to a working horse and rider relationship. In this relationship the human component is constantly learning about not just the horse but about the rider themselves. The horse gives subtle clues/cues which indicate that the horse is having a problem OR that the rider is having a problem which is causing the response from the horse. This is where the consistent instruction across the entirety of your staff pays off, by eliminating instruction variance; problems are quickly pinpointed and corrected.
A case in point would be the stables that Zoe rides at in Houston. They offer trail rides and have a number of "Endurance riding champions" as instructors and trail wranglers. On an occasion in November Zoe went with an instructor for a "Hack". An hour later they came back and I found out that the horses had been spooked by some squirrels and a falling tree. Both horses reared but Zoe was able to keep her seat as she had received superior instruction from you and staff which gave her the ability to maintain control.
Zoe and I are immensely pleased with her instruction and her progress.
John Bragg
Can't wait for all the years we have ahead of us!
Love,
Karen S.
You and your family have become so dear to me over the years that I've been with you. I never thought that I would ever become so close to someone else's family. On the many occasions that your family has included others and myself from the barn on weekend trips, you have exposed us to learning so many new things. I have had some really great and wonderful experiences with you, your family, the horses and EVERYONE! Just to name a few, swimming with the horses at the lake, that's great, hehe. Umm, Ron trying to teach me how to water- ski and that fish was biting my butt. Well that wasn't so great, me almost drowning your son screaming, climbing up and over and standing on him, while trying to walk on water running back to the boat! But I couldn't help it, that "Evil Fred the Fish" was going to eat me! However, the tube! That's a great tube. Then there is the sand storm sunburn while camping on the beach. Ice cream fights at 3am! We've had a lot of fun and I look forward to many, many more years of it.
I thank you so much for everything you've taught me about horses, life, myself. I am just so glad that I have you and the barn and the horses! As you know I love a challenge and you have definitely given them to me. I remember the first, or one of the first times I rode Studman and he wanted to go play in the field with the other horses and you told me that it was gonna be me or him, and from then on, I think, my riding was very different. Now he and I get along fine! Hehe. Once again, I am very grateful for everything you do and continue to do for me.
Love,
Jenna Abrevaya
Tina, at Azgard Farm has the unusual, spectacular ability, or rather gift, to read a student from the first encounter and develop a sense of the student's needs, fears and issues. These impressions are picked up from bits of conversation, behavior around horses, and even the walk and carriage of someone. The key is that she reads the student as a person, not as a monthly or weekly barn fee. What happens because of this innate read, is that the student soon understands that she/he can trust Tina's impressions, and thus her ideas for her riding and instruction. Tina has no rushed, pre-set agenda with her students. With infinite patience she helps you articulate and achieve your goals.
What I also learned is that riding is one's life, and what ever issues one brings to the table (i.e. saddle!) will greatly affect his/her ability to ride.
Also too, what I never understood until now is that riding means developing a relationship with your horse. If you come to the saddle with a myriad of issues, you're not available to be in the moment with the horse. It's like trying to listen to your kid's plaintive cues and communications, and you're distracted by something else. The trust one develops with Tina is critical, and is a feature rarely found at other barns. The trust allows the rider to confront her/his fears, needs, issues - whatever they may be. This trust also allows the rider to push herself and stretch herself with riding skills, that otherwise she would want to back away from.
Tackling these riding issues has been a spectacular addition to my life. I have gone from sitting absolutely panic stricken on a horse during my first lesson with Tina in the fall, to riding a variety of horses twice a week, walking, trotting and a little cantering!
I have learned to ride in the moment and focus on that moment. I am a fledgling, hoping to be a professional writer, and that has helped me to be "in the moment," with my fiction writing. I've discovered a greater outpouring of work since riding. I can't recommend enough Azgard Farm as the place where you will truly see and do horseback riding as it is intended to be.
Lisa F.
Your Friend
Katie S.
Upon receiving your recent brochure for Community Education Classes, I looked through it expecting to enroll in dance classes. Maybe I could learn to Salsa, surprise my husband and sweep him off his feet. I didn't have a partner to accompany me to the class though, so I needed to decide on something else. I am considering purchasing a horse and want to prepare myself, so your two classes, Basic Hormanship and Overcoming Your Fear of Riding Horses, at the Azgard Farm looked promising.
The instructors at the classes were knowledgeable, patient, and offered opportunities at hands-on experiences with the horses. I came away with information that gave me more understanding of the responsibility of horse ownership, but also a need for more information and more hands-on experience. Obviously, everything one needs to learn cannot be accomplished during these basic classes; however, three class sessions and one with a large enrollment, left me feeling like a fourth class would facilitate the students more fully. Please consider changing the format to four (4) sessions for upcoming classes.
Thank you so much for offering these classes. Thank you for finding this group of instructors. I was swept off my feet.
Barbara S.
Two years ago, when my husband and I retired to the Texas Hill Country, I thought it was a great chance to return to riding, without the pressures of youth, time, or competition.
Through your guidance and approach to horsemanship, I am learning that although riding is simply the "art of not falling off", horsemanship is so much more.
Your approach to the total partnership of horse and rider has brought great benefits to my learning experience. Books and videos that supplement your instruction have expanded my awareness ten fold. Your insistence on learning the nature and skills of the animal has given me a true picture of this wonderful connection between man and horse. As far as I have reached out to meet the horse, on the ground, as well as mounted, you have exposed what a great gift the horse brings to me, in spite of his true make up and abilities.
Although I am progressing slowly as a rider, I believe you have given me the great benefit of learning horsemanship, and a real appreciation for the horse, its care, history, and relationship to man.
Many thanks!