Testimonials for Powder Monkey's Business

We have not solicited testimonials, but have recieved a couple anyway which seem worth putting up on the site...

On Allie and Powder Monkey...

I have been riding Powder Monkey for several months. This is a horse that is unique in that he can adapt himself and way of going to any rider, from nervous beginner to advanced level competitor. I have had the opportunity to see this horse in competition, at riding club, at lessons and in training. A safer conveyance would be hard to find.

Powder Monkey offers only what his rider is capable of, and what his rider asks for, as long as the rider asks properly. In my initial rides on Powder Monkey, when I failed to apply the canter aids correctly, I was rewarded with lengthened/medium/extended trot/passage – anything but canter.

Ally Booth, by comparison, is probably one of the best instructors I have had the privilege of being instructed by, and I have been instructed in Europe by A grade show jumping and dressage instructors, Lucinda Prior-Palmer Green, and in Australia by Olympians, Brian Schrapel, Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer, Level 3 EFA coaches Marion Malecki and Mary Hovers, World Cup rider Tad Maclean, class eventing riders including Guy Wallace and Anna Savage.

Ally Booth at all times puts safety as her top priority. She displays great empathy to her riders, asking only what they are capable of and providing motivation and a positive environment for learning and achieving. Bullying riders into achievement is not in her instruction manual. Neither should it be in any instructor’s manual. Unsafe riding practices are not condoned by her.

Her students are happy and confident and eager to learn because they are taught in a friendly, positive, encouraging and safe manner.

Exerts of letter from Linda Orlando 2008

On PMB's Breaking / Starting and training methods...

“Appaloosa  Ranch”

                                                  27^th February, 2007

 M/s Allie Booth

Pipers Flat

Dear Allie

I had the pleasure the other day, to attend a dressage competition at Bathurst. I said pleasure because you had entered two of my horses in the second level (not the first) and they finished in a very good position. This must be a feather in your cap, as both horses are stallions and a couple of months ago they where running wild in the paddock, unhandled.  This is a remarkable, achievement on your behalf.  It clearly shows the effectiveness of your breaking in methods, which I really should call “gentling in”.  It has been a great pleasure to watch the patience and love with which you handled them and the way they adore you with complete trust.  You can be assured  that in the future nobody else but you will be breaking in my horses.

        I have written this letter to thank you for the professional and expert manner in which you have handled everything you have done, and to express my gratitude to you for it.  Sending you my warmest regards I remain yours faithfully

 Ivan Denes-Kleist