Sam Jamieson, Horse and Rider Trainer and Saddle Fitter

Kate Vickers: I started having lessons with Sam in 2007 as I needed to brush up my riding in preparation for my BHS Stage 2 exam. I decided on Meadowbrook as it seemed to stand out from all the other riding schools in the area. My initial plans were to have lessons until I had passed my exam, however I really enjoyed my lessons and I was actually learning more than I thought I would. I am still having regular lessons now and enjoy the more rider focused approach that Sam uses. Through coming to Meadowbrook Stables I have increased my knowledge about how the riders position affects the horse, how to feel the horses movement, and a kinder way of riding. I have been able to use what I have learnt when teaching my own pupils. Sam is always accomodating in any requests I have made about what I want to learn. I have improved my jumping, lateral work, lungeing and theory based work for the BHS PTT exam. Sam has also helped me to continue riding through injury, and a major loss of confidence. When I returned to riding after a bad accident I knew that Sam would be able to help me get back on a horse. She was very understanding and let me go at my own pace. I hope to continue training with Sam for many years to come, both to improve my riding and in preparation for exams. Kate Vickers Ashleigh Lawrence: Booking my first lesson at Meadowbrook was a bit of a leap of faith. For years, I had been having lessons on my own horses, and prior to that, my experiences of riding schools were ‘mixed’ to say the least. However, before I even left the comfort of my own home, I had a lengthy telephone call with Sam. This allowed me to explain that I had just come back to riding after having my first child a few months previously, as well as having had my confidence completely destroyed by a riding accident at home. Sam listened to this with empathy and understanding, explaining that both were issues that she had had to face herself. We also had a long chat about my level of riding experience, and what I wanted to achieve from my lessons. This phone call made a lasting impression upon me. Sam really took the trouble to get to know me as a client, and have some idea of how to tailor my lessons, before I had even booked one! Having ridden for twenty five years or so, I have inevitably picked up some bad habits along the way. Sam has an uncanny (and slightly scary) knack of being able to tell what you are doing with your body, even on the side of the horse that she can’t see. Sam is able to point out faults tactfully and with humour, explaining why things are not so good, and give you simple, step by step advice to help you correct your riding, in a supportive and encouraging way. Every step of the way, I have felt that Sam has been an immensely knowledgeable, yet kind and considerate instructor, who wants her clients not just to improve their riding, but importantly to enjoy themselves while they are doing it! Sam is both incredibly encouraging, yet exacting in her standards. Having enjoyed my ridden lessons so much, I was also inspired to ask Sam to help me fulfill my dream of being able to work my horses ‘in hand’. Sam taught me that this is an accessible form of training, that anyone can learn, and not some mysterious art that only the chosen few can grasp. Thanks to Sam, I now have an added dimension to the work that I can do with my own horses. I have also had lungeing lessons with Sam, and fully intend to attend her sessions on longlining and free-schooling. I am also looking forward to the time when my son is old enough to start having lessons there as well! From the moment you walk on to the yard, it is clear that Meadowbrook Stables is an establishment that is run with professionalism and attention to detail. All the horses are immaculately kept, and clearly content. The atmosphere is calm, and all the staff welcoming and friendly. I would wholeheartedly recommend Meadowbrook Stables to anyone who wants to have enjoyable, informative lessons, with instructors who have a genuine interest in helping their students make real progress with their riding. Ashleigh Lawrence Clare Faulkner: I cannot rate Sam and her team at Meadowbrook Stables highly enough. The relaxed, welcoming atmosphere immediately puts you at your ease and every effort is made to ensure you achieve your goals whilst enjoying the experience. As the owner of a 16hh, 9 year old ID x TB “problem” horse, I contacted Sam with a view to her having Coco for a few weeks to work on and hopefully iron out some of her hang ups. This was never going to be an easy task but Sam willingly accepted the challenge. Coco was at Meadowbrook for 3 months and during that time was and given every opportunity to progress and work through her issues at her own pace. Sam noticed some stiffness and on her advice she was checked by an equine specialist and areas of concern were located and worked on. Never was my mare asked to do more than she was capable of and when Sam felt Coco had reached her potential she said so. When Coco came home she was vastly improved and for the first time I was able to lunge her in the field without incident, a major milestone for a mare that 3 months earlier viewed a lunging session as an excuse to perform her version of the wall of death for 20 minutes! At this point the attention was turned to my riding skills – or lack of them! Sam took me back to basics and worked on everything from improving my seat and leg position to giving the clear aids at the right time. My confidence had been severely knocked by Coco’s antics but Sam patiently worked with me to restore it through knowledge and encouragement. The care, attention and instruction Coco and I received was exemplary and I recommend Sam and her team to anyone who wants to improve their riding and / or build a better relationship with their horse. Clare Faulkner & Coco Zoe Cummings: Hi Sam, Just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you’ve taught me. I thought I could ride before I came to you, but now I’m so much more aware of my position and how much the slightest alteration can influence the horse – still trying to use this to my advantage rather than the other way round! I have to say that I find it quite amazing that you see so much – you even see things that I am not aware I’m doing which gives me a lot to think about and to try to improve on. I think the biggest thing for me is that I have been able to take what I’ve learnt and practise on my own horse who has come on leaps and bounds. We are now riding in an outline (sometimes!) and bending properly! We are doing little bits of leg yielding and she seems a lot happier that I am now taking some of the responsibility rather than just sitting there and hoping we get it right! My long-term aim is to be able to complete a dressage test and achieve decent marks. I am sure that one day, with you and your beautifully well-trained horses who also teach me a lot, I will be able to do this. Many thanks Sam and Archie! Zoe Cummings Jacquie Smedley: I have been having Enlightened Equitation lessons with Sam Jamieson at Meadowbrook Stables for almost 2 years and I feel that my horse Breeze and I have made huge progress during this time. I have been riding for many, many years but was taught the old-fashioned way. This was fine as I was fortunate enough to have ridden well-schooled horses in the past but things changed when I became the owner of Breeze, a young horse spoilt by a heavy-handed and inexperienced rider. It soon became obvious that we needed help and it has been a huge learning curve for both of us. Breeze's progress has been marvellous - she has changed from an awkward, unbalanced 'thug' into a safe, well-mannered hack and she really loves her 'holidays' with Sam. I also feel my confidence has returned after some very dangerous experiences with another horse. Sam gives a wonderful service and I am looking forward to the lessons and groundwork classes that have been planned for this year. I thoroughly recommend Sam and her staff - we are very fortunate to have people of such a high calibre in our area. Best wishes Jacquie Smedley Jo Robson: After going to & trying many different riding schools I now know that I have found the right one at Meadowbrook stables. I have had such a warm & friendly welcome & made to feel at ease, by Samantha Jameison & all her staff. I have only had about 4 lessons so far with Samantha herself and wow what a difference. I have learnt more here in these lessons then I ever did anywhere else. I now know that I am being taught the correct way to ride. Samantha is a lovely person who explains everything to you step by step in a way that you can understand from our point & a horses point. She has lots of good knowledge & knows exactly what she's talking about. All her horses are wonderful & so well kept. The stables & yard are also up to a high standard with excellent organization. I'm sure that I am going to enjoy learning & improving my skills here for a long time to come. I would highly recommend these stables to anyone who wants to be taught the correct way! HAPPY RIDING! Jane Robson Emma Curtis: I can highly recommend Meadowbrook Stables for riding lessons. Sam is a very encouraging and patient teacher, who gives great confidence to those who are lacking. The teaching is of the highest quality, my seat has improved considerably and I actually understand the reasons why I should be doing things now. I have been to many riding schools but Meadowbrook is the only stables I have visited where the ethics and welfare of the horses are the number one priority. Emma Curtis Sharon Patrick: Hi Sam, I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for all the help you have given to me and my horse Honey. As you know I had serious confidence issues and I had been to several other riding schools for help without success. I was at a point with my riding where I was beginning to think I may give up. When I came to you I was so nervous and I didn't know what to expect. You were completely sympathetic and understanding, taking things at a pace I could cope with. Gradually you built up my confidence and it wasn't long before I was enjoying riding again. I feel I have learnt so much since coming for lessons with you, about both my riding and my relationship with my horse. I then began to have problems with my horse Honey who would frequently drag me around, barge into my space, mug me for food and she was also displaying unwanted behaviour when being ridden too. I no longer felt I could cope with Honey when she came to you for schooling. During the time she spent with you she became a different horse. She is now well mannered, she has progressed well in her education and is now enjoyable to ride. I can't tell you how many people have commented on the change in Honey since she came to you. I can't thank you enough Sam, you really have made riding a pleasure again. Regards, Sharon Patrick Ang Ducy: Hi Sam I’d just like to thank you for all the help you’ve given me over the past few months. When I first started riding at Meadowbrook you asked if I wanted to be a passenger or really wanted to learn to ride. Since then I’ve learnt so much and hope that I’m now much less of a passenger! Despite all my excuses you’ve always been patient and understanding. I’ve laughed while I’ve learnt and enjoyed every lesson. Your professional approach is second to none. Please could you enter this on your testimonials page as I cannot recommend Meadowbrook stables enough to anyone else interested in riding. Thanks again, Ang (Peterborough) Lyndsay Black: I have been riding at Meadowbrook stables now for over 2 years. I first went to see Sam hoping she could help me with my confidence, which had hit an all time low as I owned a naughty horse and was getting nothing from the lessons I was having at another riding school. Sam has been fantastic, I am now at the point that I have put my mare into foal! Sam helped me with my naughty horse, who turned out to be unsuitable! After building my confidence and realising that he wasn't the horse for me, I sold him, none of which I could of done alone, as I was so convinced I was doing something wrong. I also fulfilled one of my major goals which was a sponsored ride at Burghley of all places! - with Sam at my side! I will never forget the adrenaline I got from that, I have since done other xc rides! I have also been to the beach with Sam - another experience never to be forgot! I would recommend Meadowbrook to everyone! The calming atmosphere there is great and the advice endless and extremely helpful. The best thing for me has been the confidence that I have been given. Lyndsay Black Laura Prew: Hi Sam Firstly, I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying my lessons I'm having at your stables - I really am learning so much more than I had been doing at other stables, and hopefully in the future would like to join some of the courses you offer. Also, Could you tell me what age group of children you generally teach? My niece, who is 5, is coming to stay with me next week, and I've promised her I will pay for her to have a riding lesson. Thanks Laura Prew (Peterborough) Steph Kelly: I worked at Meadowbrook Stables under Samantha Jamieson as a working student from 19th October 08 until 23rd July 09. The yard has a relaxed and friendly yet professional atmosphere that makes you feel welcome and at ease whatever you are there for. The horses are treated as individuals with the respect and love they deserve which they in turn put in to their work. They are all really well mannered and friendly and an absolute pleasure to work with. The staff and helpers are absolute stars with a fab sense of humour! Everyone tried really hard and succeeded in making me feel welcome when I started which was important as I was moving away from home and they all became my family, or I became part of theirs. New and potential clients are made really welcome too and feel they can ask any questions they might have regarding anything that might cross their mind. People who lack confidence or have the odd ‘I can’t do it!’ moment (like myself) are given the encouragement and confidence they need to continue through choice words and taking things at the clients pace. Whether the client is having a ridden lesson for the first time or are regulars to the yard, learning ridden, inhand, lunging or stable management, everything is explained step by step in a way each individual will understand. Absolutely fantastic if you genuinely want to learn or find out if riding is what you want to do. At the end of each lesson it is ensured by the instructor that it ends on a positive note and that any questions or worries are answered and addressed. The horses are kept well groomed, up to near competition standard for lessons. The yard and everything on it is kept as tidy as possible with jobs being done as they come up to ensure the high standards are kept up. Equipment well cleaned at least once a week maintaining the high standard. The school horses standards are maintained throughout the week through being worked by Sam and staff. I totally recommend Meadowbrook for anyone starting out with horses, wanting to fine tune skills you already have, or wanting to learn something new. The standards are excellent in all ways and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back for lessons whenever I get the chance. I’ve learnt so much at the yard and made some friends for life. Out of all the riding schools and other yards I have worked at, visited and had lessons, Meadowbrook Stables outstrips them all by miles in every aspect. It was an absolute pleasure working there. Steph Kelly Braintree, Essex Laura Newton: Sorry i haven't been in touch sooner, been very busy with tana trying to maintain all the fantastic work you done with her in the month that she came to you. She settled into your yard almost instantly and I knew that she would learn a lot from you because she seemed so relaxed, and i think that she has really enjoyed the work you put in, it has given her something to think about and focus on. She is doing so well at home and I cant wait until she's able to come back to your yard to finish her schooling. I would also like to say a big thankyou for being very patient with me on my lessons, having ridden for so many years myself i have developed some bad habits, and you have a lot of patience with me and understand how difficult it is to 'un-train' your body from what it knows and get it to work correctly!! I cant wait until it all clicks into place and I can one day bring tana with me to lessons so we can continue our training together with you making sure we don't get any new bad habits!! Since starting my lessons with you, my older horse at home has really noticed the improvement, and accompanied by his new treeless saddle is a much happier laid back chap, much more willing to work with me and i cant wait to try and improve on my dressage scores next year with him. I couldn't recommend you more for the way you train both horses and riders. You take the time to explain things and make sure that people understand, and your wonderful schoolmasters are brilliant teachers in their own right (even if they do grass me up to you EVERY time i do the slightest thing wrong!!) my lessons are fun and informative, and also the way in which you explain how the horse moves in relation to how you use your aids correctly has really helped me progress in my equine massage course, understanding the feel and the movement from on top of a horse has helped make it clearer how much we put our horses through, and made me appreciate these wonderfully patient animals even more than I already did. Thankyou again, and I look forward to my next lesson. laura. Sam Newland: Wow what a great lesson! Sam really set me at ease as I have a tendency to get very tense when being taught. Within minutes I had relaxed and felt very comfortable. Beach and I started off in trot and Sam helped me get a nice active working trot just by altering a few things. I was confusing impulsion with speed, so Sam explained to how slightly slow the trot. This was simply done by holding with my core muscles and asking for more energy.... it was a light bulb moment..... he became lighter and really felt good. We then went on to work on our canter. Beach has a tendency to lean on me in canter so Sam worked on getting me to stay toned (not tense) through my core muscles and not allow him to try and pull me forward. I had to gently take with the rein (very small finger movement) and then immediately drop the contact so that as he leant on me he suddenly found my hand was not there.... It really worked by the end of about 5/10 mins Beach was holding himself and he had lifted up in front on me and I could feel him stepping underneath a lot better. It was like Beach had said "well I can not rely on you Mother to hold me up so I will have to do it myself " which is exactly what we wanted. I also worked on my canter lead left which I have a tendency to cause Beach to strike off on the right when asking for the left. Sam noticed that as I asked for the canter I pushed my right hip forward slightly. So next time I asked I slipped my left hip very, very slight forward instead (which felt weird at first) and Beach struck off on the left lead. I knew it was me, I just couldn't feel what I was doing wrong. I am really looking forward to going back for more lessons and even if I can not get transport to take Beach over, I will have a lesson on one of Sam's lovely horses. I have so much I can now work on in the mean time .... Beach's hacks will never be the same again but everything I learnt are things that I can work on on my own. Sam is great at explaining exactly what is happening and how to rectify the problems. I can not recommend Sam highly enough and I can't wait till I go again! Sam and Beach (Cambridge)

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