Horse Australia 2008 - Seminars & Workshops

www.davidsimons.com.au

David and Sandi Simons live at Drysdale near Geelong, Victoria, where they run private training. 

David is one of Australia's leading horse and rider educators and conducts regular clinics and symposiums all over Australia. His training caters for all disciplines at all levels, and is easy for amateur horse people to apply.  He is Australia's only accredited John Lyons Trainer.
A sympathetic, tactful and successful instructor in her own right Sandi’s clinics are an opportunity for women riders from all age groups to get together to learn, discuss and overcome problems, improve their riding skills and above all have fun!

www.equex.com.au

Steve Jefferys is a professional horse trainer, entertainer and public speaker from Sydney in NSW.  One of Australia’s most versatile horsemen, Steve is renowned worldwide as the man who opened the Sydney 2000 Olympic games as ‘The Man from Snowy River’.  In 2006 he was the Horsemaster for the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Asian Games in Doha and in 2007 prepared the NSW Mounted Police for their role in the APEC Heads of Government conference in Sydney.  Steve is a very successful competitor in many disciplines and conducts clinics and seminars throughout Australia catering for riders of all levels and disciplines.

www.equiculture.com.au

Jane Myers has a Masters degree in Equine Science (University of Wales) and taught Equine Studies for seven years at University of Melbourne (Glenormiston College).
She is the author of two books Managing Horses on Small Properties and Horse Safe and co-author of Horse Sense (2nd edition), all published by the CSIRO. She runs clinics/workshops on sustainable horse property management and preventative horse care. She works closely with Local Authorities, Water Catchment groups and Landcare groups delivering workshops and producing booklets aimed at developing sustainable horse management practices.  She also teaches riding, specifically Independent Seat Clinics.  Jane will present Managing Horses on Small Properties at Horse Australia 2008 courtesy of the Fitzroy Basin Association and the National Landcare Program.

www.guymclean.com.au

Guy McLean is an accomplished, self taught, thinking horseman as well as 2 time Australian Bush Poetry Champion and accomplished whipcracker culminating in a unique blend of Australian entertainment,  horse "starting" demonstrations and horsemanship lectures.  Guy's methods have helped him build a relationship with his horses allowing him to entertain bridleless and saddleless at events such as Horse Australia 2005, Equitana Asia Pacific, Sydney Royal, Adelaide Royal and the Brisbane Ekka over the past nine years. Guy's mixture of bush poetry, horsemanship and crowd interaction is a crowd pleaser no matter who you are or what age you are or whether you are from the bush or the city.

www.qhorses.com.au

Ian Francis specialises in basic horsemanship, reining, cutting, campdrafting and stockman's challenge events and is based at Murgon in south east Queensland. Ian has won the coveted NCHA Futurity three times on Gidgee Coals in 2005, One Hell ofa Spin in 2003 and Spindle in 1991 - all three fillies have been by Doc's Spinifex.   He was reserve champion in 1993 on Doc's Desert Rose, equal 2nd in 1999 on Oak's Melody and third in 2005 on Dixie Chic O Lena.  Additionally, he finalled Doc's Wild Orchid in 1993, QP Spin n Win in 1998 and Tassa's Chic in 2000.  This doesn't include the Derby which he won in 2004 on One Hell ofa Spin and finalled in 2002 on Roc Me Gently. 

Photo © Marg Oakden

Equi-Graphics

John Howe has been a professional horse trainer for over 30 years with clients ranging from private individuals to large pastoral companies.  John is currently a Senior Horse Instructor at Australian Agricultural College Corporation's Emerald Campus.  He specialises in Cutting, Reining, Challenge and Campdraft horses. His Cattle Working Clinics are designed to give a basic and thorough grounding allowing a performance horse to go on into any cattle working field.

John will present at Horse Australia 2008 courtesy of the Australian Agricultural College

Michelle Dennis has over thirty years experience in many horse-related areas.  She has been a jillaroo, a trail riding leader,a Lighthorse troop member and ridden trackwork on race horses.  She has also competed in a number of disciplines including pony club, western and eventing in addition to breeding, starting and training her own horses.  By studying her horses communications and motivations and testing and using ideas from some of the leaders in natural methods, she has developed a system of training her horses that invites them to participate by their own free will. This has resulted in opportunities for work in film and television, live shows and demonstrations, starting and training horses for other people and recording her own horses’ amazing feats on DVD.

Michael Sekulich conducts horsemanship clincs for all ages and disciplines throughout Queensland and NSW using training methodologies based around pressure points.  Recently, rodeo audiences have been treated to his 'Rings of Fire' show which he has ambitions of taking to Europe and setting a 'Guiness Book of Records' record with.  Michael has competed in show jumping, endurance, cutting and campdrafting events in addtion to breeding and training his own horses.  Since 2005 he has operated his equestrian centre 'Planet Horse' on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.