Testimonials
I’m the first to admit, that I’m pretty fussy when it comes to my dressage horses. I wanted the best start possible for my young warmblood & I did quite a bit of research before deciding on Nicole & Brendan McOwn at Mellizo Park Equestrian. I was looking for someone that was calm & patient with a natural horsemanship approach. At the same time I wanted a fair but firm trainer to install good manners, good ground work basics & training with my young horse. Nicole & Brendan did all of this & more! They welcomed me at any stage to come along & watch (& learn) the process & answered all my questions as well as providing regular updates on my horse's progress.
On top of all of this, Nicole & Brendan were able to make sure my horse had good exposure to hacking out, floating, being ridden in company & even desensitizing him a little to noise (I had mentioned he was noise sensitive so they calmly introduced him to flapping bunting & even the stock whip, which he took all in his stride). Last but not least they train performance horses so I was pleasantly surprised to find I could ride my young horse in a soft, steady contact & that he accepted my leg, not only to go forward but also to bend & yield from. I could not be happier with the job Nicole & Brendan have done & highly recommend them to all my friends.
Cheers,
Kylie Calderwood
Dear Nicole and Brendan,
I can't thank you enough on a fantastic job you did on breaking in Shaquil. My handsome Friesian x Warmblood, 3yr old standing at about 17hh. I had to be very careful on whom I got to break in Shaquil as I have had a spinal fusion in my neck and now have had to have another two disc replacements above my spinal fusion. If Shaquil had not been broken into perfection for me to be able to ride him I was going to have to sell him and I was going to give up riding all together.
This broke my heart as I love my horse so much and riding.
I searched around for a horse breaker, made a lot of calls. Then my luck changed I
came across Nicole and Brendan. My fiance and I went to see them and I spoke
about what my problem is and how I wanted Shaquil broken in calmly and not
rushed. Nicole and Brendan were great they explained the way they broke in the
horses and are such lovely caring people.
I dropped Shaquil off to them. I was able to see him anytime and Nicole gave me
updates, which I loved to receive. Wow what a fantastic awesome job they have
done. They had Shaquil going so calmly. When they opened any gate Shaquil had
to wait for the right que to be able to walk thru and then stop and wait after
going thru the gates so there was no rushing. That was while being led and
ridden. Then while riding Shaquil when they got on him they would turn his head
around to the left then right no rushing off in any way. We went and watched
Nicole ride Shaquil in the pouring rain and the wind was blowing a gale. Like
Nicole said this could happen on a competition day, How true!! Nicole and
Brendan both ride so soft and forgiving. By the end of Shaquil's breaking in
Nicole was having him come on the bit and off the leg with ease. He was easily
ready for his first Dressage comp. When it was my turn to ride I couldn't wait I was so excited. He was fantastic to ride, his mouth was soft, you could ride him straight, then he would come down on the bit and off the leg. I have ridden other horses that had been broken in but I have to say he was the best ride I have had on a young broken horse. My friends came to see the awesome job Nicole and Brendan did and my friends 9yr old daughter had a little ride on him on the lead with the wind blowing her skirt across Shaquil's back. He didn't bat an eyelid.
Thank-you again Nicole and Brendan for helping make my dream come true. If Shaquil could talk I know he would be thanking you to for being so gentle and understanding.
Love Always Tracey, Doug and Shaquil xoxo