Saddling Services Offered
- Saddling Consultations
- Distance/Remote Saddling Consultations
- Saddle Checks & help for those who have previously bought BALANCE saddles
- Lecture-Demos and Workshops/Courses/Clinics
- Coaching & Support for those helping their horses through the BALANCE Remedial Process
- Follow up support using Skype/Facetime/Videos and phone calls
- Mel is based at Moonbi (near Tamworth in NSW) where she has facilities for people to come for courses, lessons and to try the saddles. There is also overnight accommodation if people are passing through or have to travel quite a distance and need to leave their horses overnight.
Other Services Offered
- Courses and private lessons in the following
The Foundation – Connecting and Fundamental Feel in Ground skills - Horse and Rider Biomechanics – Beginning to Advanced
- Postural Development and Rehabilitation Groundwork Therapy
- Problem-solving behavioural issues
- Developing Confidence for horse and rider
Areas Covered
Throughout Australia.
Meet Mel!…
Get to know a little more about Mel by watching her online chat with BALANCE Co-Founder, Lesley Taylor-Brett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HesR6s_6Evc
History with BALANCE & Equestrian Experience
“It is close to 20 years since I test rode my first BALANCE saddle and I have been sold on them ever since. I have been teaching horsemanship for many years now and come across many saddles from all different disciplines including English, Western and Aussie saddles and have never come across saddles that horses like better than BALANCE saddles.
“I have a very diverse background of experiences which began with stock work (bush riding) and then evolved into becoming an EA instructor (Equestrian Federation of Australia) equivalent to the BHS in the UK. I competed extensively in dressage up to advanced level and also evented and show-jumped. Vaulting (gymnastic on horses) was another great learning experience for me – learning another level of balance in riding and biomechanics in humans.
“I became interested in natural horsemanship and western riding and became certified as a Parelli instructor. It was during that time that I met Carol and Lesley, Co-Founders of BALANCE, who gave me an understanding of biomechanics for horses. No one had been able to explain that clearly to me before. I think mainly because I hadn’t met anyone else that truly understood it. I believe it is, in general, a VERY misunderstood subject. What they taught made sense and the horses that I tried it on liked it – the horses know the truth and what they need. It was Carol and Lesley’s knowledge of the true biomechanics of horses that led them to make such amazing saddles.
“Carol and Lesley gave me concepts to begin to help horses find better posture and balance and I have continued to experiment and evolve this for many years now, with many horses. My process to help horses achieve this is constantly improving as is my ability to teach it to others.
“I am very grateful to Carol and Lesley for this information and for developing the BALANCE saddles. Their information steered me in another direction when I realized that correct biomechanics was essential for all horses happiness and wellbeing and the lack of it was the source of many behavioural and soundness issues in horses. Good biomechanics was not just for dressage or show horses !!!!
“I studied with Carol and Lesley whenever the opportunity presented, when they visited the USA when I was living and working there, and I have also had several trips to the UK to learn and study with them and Equine Osteopath – Gavin Schofield .
“I have been on and continue to be on, a quest for kinder and gentler ways to be with horses. I wanted to understand them deeply, in every aspect of their mind, emotions, body and spirit and find the best ways to work in harmony and have great friendships with them. Horses have been my greatest teachers in this process – they show me when I am on the right track and when I am not.
“The evolution of all my learning which includes a very strong influence from the BALANCE organisation, has led me to develop my own program ‘Connecting with Horses & Riding with Synchronicity’”.