Portia Kennaway

I first met Georges Dewez and Jane Lloyd Francis at Carreg Dressage six years ago, when a mutual friend advised me to take my mysteriously unsound Lusitano carriage horse to Georges for remedial schooling. This horse had a lot of problems, arising from traumas he must have suffered as a very young horse working in a team or pair. Georges' sensitivity and kindness really impressed me, and when combined with his firm, precise schooling and insistence on "correct" work, progress was achieved and I saw what I had begun to doubt would ever be possible - straightness, rhythm and a happy, grateful horse (and owner!). Meanwhile, Georges gave me lunge lessons on feisty, adorable Braico and I began to understand issues about the horse's movement and back, and to improve my position and my hands. Georges' teaching allowed me to understand technical things I had heard about so often but not managed to really grasp as he patiently went over the basics with me and demystified terminology and techniques that I had previously found intimidating.

More recently I took my young Welsh Cob (another ride-and-drive) to Georges for schooling. Georges engages as fully with this hairy, leg-at-each-corner cob (with good conformation and paces of course) as with any other horse, and his aim is always to get the most that the horse has to offer with firmness, kindness and sensitivity.

Last summer I bought a beautifully mannered four year old Lusitano stallion from Georges and we now go for lessons every week or so to Carreg Dressage, and Universo will be going to Georges for longer periods of schooling. Without Georges' support and treaching I would not have had the confidence to take on a young Lusitano, and, six months on, I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. Time spent at Carreg is extremely productive - whether having lessons myself, seeing Georges schooling my horses, or Georges and Jane schooling their own and other clients' horses, or just being on the yard amongst contented, well-mannered horses. Georges and Jane are friendly and approachable. They are willing to give as much time as it takes to explain an issue, so I never leave feeling that I haven't grasped a point - no question is considered stupid, horses and people are treated with the same patience and sensitivity, with the aim to get things right and work correctly to the highest standard of which we are capable.