OUR STAFF

The Sandow Staff are a dedicated and friendly team. Our policy is to provide and produce qualified Instructors, safe coaching methods and structured lessons. Safety is of paramount importance to us, as is providing a suitable environment in which to train. Staff members hold comprehensives first aid certificates.

If you are a competition rider, a nervous beginner or returning rider, our aim is to assist you working toward your own personal riding goals. Our philosophy is to share the knowledge and passion that we have gained for our diverse equine sports. We look forward to sharing this exciting world with you.

The Profiles below are of a selection of our large team of instructors.

Lynda Barrington BHSAI, SSAI, BDS, ABRSA. Owner and Director

Lynda takes great pride in being Owner and Director of Sandow Riding School. Having trained in the United Kingdom, her qualifications and experience include British Horse Society and Side Saddle Association Instructor certificates, many years of experience as an examiner for the British Pony Club and British Horse Society Riding and Road Safety.Other Equestrian certificates - to numerous to mention them all include further Carriage driving and Side saddle Certificates.

Lynda has over 25 year experience working in the Equestrian Industry. Past work experience includes preparing British Horse Society Instructors for examination, and coaching completion riders internationally and has been a member of the Sandow crew for the past ten years.

Having trained British Horse Society member in preparation for Instructors Qualifications and worked as an equestrian unit standard assessor for an English Agricultural college, also having world wide experience running commercial riding centres.

BHS Eventing in England and Wales – Gatcombe being a favourite. Carriage Driving extensively through out the United Kingdom including Horse of the year success at Wembley on numerous occasions, other highlights include being presented to the Queen at Smiths Lawn. Lynda states, “I enjoy showing horses and ponies both astride and Side Saddle at National level“.

Lynda’s role at Sandow is varied and includes instructing the elite Side Saddle lessons, organising exam preparation, administration duties, including coordination of Sandows Competition teams, Canterbury Special Olympics Equestrian team who are preparing to compete in Greece 2011.

Lynda’s passion and expertise lye in the training of horse and rider in unison. Sharing the successful partnership improvements at all levels gives Lynda immense pleasure.

Marie Clark - Instructor

Marie is a qualified equestrian coach under the NZ Standards and Level 3 Sport Horse National Certificates. As a national equine student, Marie had the opportunity to Groom for two Canterbury polo team members competing at the South Island Championships.

Marie has also trained and taught Western riding in Canada. Marie’s experience of training young horses includes starting untouched high country station bred horses. Marie has also worked in the thoroughbred racing industry and a short period with standardbred trotters and pacers, driving and preparation of yearlings for the annual sales.

Marie coaches at Sandow, which she describes as a unique school, which compliments its learn to ride programmes with pre-school and primary classes, training days, adult private and group lessons, Canterbury Special Olympics equestrian team and Sandows event team.

Marie has had a diverse range of success in various equine disciplines and is building a good partnership with a ‘young minded’ hack, progressing primarily in dressage however, most recently gaining placings in Ladies side saddle classes at Amberley A&P show and Canterbury Royal show 2007 and horse and rider placing at various shows, dressage and show jumping events which include champion show hunter 2006, Champion ‘rider over jumps’. We look forward to watching this partnership in the very near future at National events.

Thomas Oldridge - Instructor

Thomas has C+ Riders certificate and D Instructors certificate and is new to our coaching team. Thomas has been riding for 14 years and brings vast experience to Sandow with dressage, show jumping and round the ring events, competing at 1.10m Show jumping, 1.05m Round the ring, Eventing to open level and Dressage at novice level. In the past Thomas has competed in Collier trophy, Windsor teams show jumping and South Island show jumping championships and is currently the Canterbury riding club ‘one jump, high jump’ champion. We are very pleased to have a male equestrian role model for our young males to aspire to.