Testimonials

Testimonials

Jill Poe is genuine-a true horseman, we first met over ten years ago, and maybe more I'm pleased that our paths have crossed again in the horse world. She's better than ever. Her quirky old horse Sam is still doing his thing, albeit on a semi retired, just for fun basis but I remember stories of Sam in his glory days when he went foxhunting in the morning and came back to piaffe in the afternoon. That's classical horsemanship.

In fact one day when I arrived at A Quiet Place Farm to work on her horses I saw a sight I'll always remember. Jill was riding a lovely bay horse while she held a Jack Russell Terrier in front of her. They were cantering around the front field on a long rein. I did a double take when I realized the horse was Sam. He looked young again. He's 27

Jill understands and honors equines. She knows how to “fix” riders. IF they are willing participants in the process, She's funny committed and honest as the day is long. She also understands how to train, and she will be the first to tell you that there are no quick, overnight fixes. Her latest rehab project is a Connemara who was to be euphemized because he was considered dangerous. He has made awesome progress since in her skilled care.

Re: Jill's credentials She graduated from Morven Park Equestrian Center's Instructors program. Rated as the top producer of riding instructors in this country. It was formed to create Olympic caliber instructors It was very difficult to be accepted to be a member of this program. She has trained with the best you can read them for yourself. Let me put it this way: lots of people take music lessons and some play better than other others. If Jill were a musician, she would bring damaged instruments back to life. But she's a horseman, the old fashion kind that harks back to the time-honored principals of Xenophon. She can do it all and the competitive world should be glad she isn't interested in trophies and rosettes.

She does what she does very well out and she's devoted to horses.

Jill Poe is my kind of horseman.

Lauren Giannini
(Who lives in the heart of Virginia horse country)
Associate editor Sidelines Magazine
Staff writer In and Around Horse Country

My 15 year old son, Nick, has been riding with Jill Poe for a year and a half, and both he and his horse have benefited greatly from her teaching. He now is actually interested in dressage, instead of thinking of it as drudgery that has to be tolerated in order to do the "fun stuff" like galloping and jumping. I started taking lessons with Jill when I started my 4 year old Arabian under saddle this spring, and have learned things that I had never picked up in over 40 years of riding and traditional "hunt seat" type lessons. My horse is getting an excellent basic education which will prepare her well for whatever we do in the future.

Karen Wade

As a student of Jill Poe’s I have enjoyed learning the basics of classical riding. I have no aspirations of showing I ride purely for pleasure- mostly on trails.

Through Jill’s tutelage Classical riding is helping me in a number of ways. I feel my body position is improving as is my ability to feel the horses movement. Along with these changes comes an improvement in communication with the horse. My very inexperienced, and easily distracted quarter horse is beginning to listen to me both on the ground and under saddle. She is using herself more athletically and is no longer “strung out” and on her forehand all the time. This makes for a more enjoyable ride for both of us!

One of the things I like best about Jill’s classical teaching riding is that we do not use any horse training method or gadget to force the horse. There are no short cuts or quick fixes- The horse is truly learning as opposed to being coerced and physically constrained. As my riding and training skills have improved I have been able to have a willing, responsive and safe trail riding partner

Lucy Berstien
Owner
Unison Farms
Round Hill, VA

Jill has been a wonderful instructor. I had another wonderful lesson today. Although some of the ideas and practices of classical horsemanship are new to me Under Jill’s direction It has given me an incredible lightness of being. Butterflies fluttering to ballet music. I begin each lesson with a sense of pleasant anticipation that it may further be shaped and encouraged. WHAT A JOY!

Deb Bauserman

I've been riding almost all my life, and have two grown children who inherited that same love of the sport (although they also inherited from somewhere, a natural ability to feel a connection with almost any horse.) I have always worked a bit harder at that "connection" thing, but with some instructors, thought I was doing a pretty good job.

Then, my horses and I met Jill Poe! Not to sound like a snake-oil salesman, but it didn't take long for me, and my Connemaras, to realize we had been working long and hard, but we hadn't accomplished a whole lot. With Jill, we've learned the value of longeing a horse properly, of working confidently on the ground (well, at attempting to do it confidently), and to ride with lightness as a goal.

Many of us schooled in the forward seat equitation, have had a tough time learning to come to a balanced and light place in the saddle. I still have a long way to go, but my riding has improved at the same pace with the abilities of my horses. That shouldn't be much of a surprise, as the change in my position has "allowed" my horses to follow my aids, and to "come through" as all the dressage riders espouse, with strength and power from behind. It's a revelation -- that riding can be almost effortless if we learn to move with our horses -- and give up that compunction for control!

Jill has a natural ability to "feel" a horse and its movements. She is excellent at sharing her talents while she patiently tries to make it possible for her students to "feel" in the same way. It's a subtle part of riding, (not just classical riding) but is one of the most important aspects of success with any style of riding.

My horses and I are enjoying our time together. We can enter and succeed at a dressage competition because our basics are true to the classical method of training and riding. We can also go foxhunting, and trust each other while we're cantering across a field. Classical excellence is, to me, riding excellence, and striving to be better each day when we tack up and look forward to the time in the saddle.

Marynell Eyles