Testimonials
Lisa Cartlidge - agister & student
February 2010
"Unique". This, to me, is the ideal word to encompass all that Ardis Equestrian Centre has to offer.
Soo recognises that every horse and rider is unique, and she has a real empathy with both. She can intuitively "read" each one, enabling her to bring out the very best in each case.
Lessons always have an objective, which is determined either by Soo, or rider, or both. She has an exceptional ability to break down your goals into smaller, achievable components, so that by the end of your lesson, you have always made good and recognisable progress. Soo also facilitates and encourages regular entry into various competitions. Whether competitive or not, this is another excellent way to analyse your riding progress.
An unparallelled degree of care and attention is given to all horses and ponies at Ardis. Soo and her staff appreciate that each horse is an individual, with individual needs. These are efficiently catered for, and include everything from a specific diet, to the teaching of equine good manners where necessary!
Soo's unrelenting attention to detail in all area's must surely play a huge part in the success of Ardis Equestrian Centre. Certainly I could never imagine having lessons or agisting my horse anywhere else - Ardis is THE place to be!
Kathy Sullivan - student & lessee:
January 2010
Ardis is a truly wonderful place to come if you are a horse enthusiast and want to learn to ride. Since arriving at Ardis 6 months ago as a ''mature student'', I have loved every minute of it. From never being on a horse (ok about 25 years ago!), I have accomplished more than I could have ever hoped for. This is all down to Soo's terrific instruction and also her patience in all aspects of riding and horse training. The level of care and dedication to both students and horses is tribute to Soo and of course Tori. The professional manner of Ardis combined with the friendliness of everyone has made the last 6 months absolutely incredible. I have taken part in jumping clinics which was a test for my nerves and for Bucc! I am now part leasing Bucc and I hope with Soo's help to start competing during this year. All this from a ''mature student''! I look forward to many more years of being a member of the ''Ardis Family''.
Jacquie Thomson - owner & student riding coach:
January 2010
I have known Soo and the Ardis team since early 2009 when I purchased my gorgeous welsh cob mare, "Froben Park Chandon Berry" (aka Chandon) through Ardis Equestrian.
Soo immediately impressed me with her honesty and sense of humour. Since I took my happy mare home, we also have remained in contact because of her equestrian skills, knowledge and fine horsemanship.
Soo is the sort of person you can trust fully with your horse and who will teach you something each time you spend a moment with her and a horse. Lessons at Ardis are a great mix of fun and learning, and both the school and agistment horses are treated with great respect, kindness and skill. I am happy to very often recommend the Ardis team to people who are looking for lessons or agistment in the Sydney area.
Vivien Bunt – owner:
February 2009
Soon after my then 9yr old son Sam commenced lessons with Soo in 2007, we made the decision to buy him a pony. As we have property in Gloucester, we purchased 'Wally' through a local horse dealer. Wally is a Blue Roan, standing 14hh & at the time was 6yrs old. His background was totally unknown to us.
We brought Wally down to Soo shortly after so Sam could have his lessons using his horse & thereby getting to bond & know each other. When Wally was delivered to Soo, her expression was “What have you brought me!” as while Wally had no vices in biting or bucking, he certainly had attitude & behavioural problems e.g. rearing whilst being lunged, pushing through gates & was quite strong willed.
During the course of the following months, watching Soo work with Wally was a real experience. The methods she uses gave Wally rules & guidelines that taught him behaviour that was acceptable & safe for people & other horses. While there was no doubt left in his mind that he was expected to behave & obey these rules, these lessons were given to him with such confidence & genuine affection.
Soo would show Sam what she was doing & then teach him how to get the same result. This gave Wally respect for not only Soo, but Sam as well.
Over the next 6 months Wally changed from a “very rude pony” to a very confident horse who is easy to catch, groom, tack & can be ridden either in a lesson in an arena, to a trail ride in the bush, to letting other children ride him for their lessons / camps with Soo.
Wally spent just over 12months with Soo when we decided that it was time to take him back to Gloucester & it was a very emotional farewell. Sam now has a pony who still has a playful attitude to life, but who now also has rules & guidelines to keep both rider & horse safe.
Soo’s methods are a mixture of respect, control, safety & affection to which horses respond & I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Karen Griffin – agister & student:
August 2008
Ardis is my sanctuary! It's that little piece of heaven hidden away from the rest of the world. There is nothing I would rather do after a busy day than to turn up at Ardis to see my horse and my other 'family'. Even if it is just a quick visit on my way home from work you are always made to feel welcome and part of the team.
Soo and Tamsin provide the ultimate care for our horses, their advice and help is always readily available. Soo is also an amazing instructor, I have not only become a better rider but have a greater understanding of my partnership with Jimmy thanks to her training techniques and natural horsemanship skills.
Eileen McIlwain – agister & student:
June 2008
When I came to Ardis I was blown away with the level of care given to the horses. I know my horse is getting fed exactly what she should be and I know that she’s well looked after when I’m not there. Recently I was out of Sydney for a day when I received a phone call from Soo telling me that my horse had a scrapes on her knee & leg from being silly in the paddock. I knew there was no way I would be able to get back in time to see her that afternoon. Straight away Soo offered to go to the vet and pick up some medication, as well as dress and bandage her leg for me. Not only that, but Meredith had already been cold hosing my horse’s leg to help bring down the swelling. Talk about going the extra mile!
I was so moved that Soo and her staff cared so much about the horses at Ardis, as well as being so thorough in their care of them. It means a lot to me to know that I can trust them to look after my horse when I’m not there. Also having lessons with Soo has given me a fresh perspective on my riding goals and what I want to achieve with my horse. Her teaching methods go beyond the basic “do this, do that” approach and she really takes the time to explain in detail why things are done a certain way.
Thanks Ardis!
Amelia Coates - agister, student & stablehand
April 2008
Ardis is my home away from home. It's the place I love to go to distract myself from the monotony of day to day life. You're always made to feel welcome, by Soo, the other agisters, and even Jimmy the yard "dog". Ardis is professionally competitive, we don't ride for the blue ribbons (although they are quite nice every so often), but we aim to improve ourselves in all areas of horsemanship. To ride better every time we're on a horse, to handle horses more confidently, to earn a horse's respect. Not only has being in this environment taught me great horse skills, it's also taught me to be independent and mature. You have to grow up rather quickly when you're handling half a tonne of muscle and energy. At Ardis we don't just ride horses, we experience them.
Taygan Pearce, 12yrs - student & helper
April 2008
Ardis is a warm, comfortable place where I feel at home. As I walk down the driveway I feel like I’ve come home. I am welcomed and greeted with a great big smile. I love the horses and even the agisters are great!
Soo is a magnificent person. She is a great role model and instructor. She has taught me stuff which would be impossible to just pick up on. Her talent has got her so far and will take her even further. I find it mesmerising how well she handles the horses and everything around her.
Her genes have been passed to Tamsin, her daughter, who also has a natural ability with all the horses. It comes from herself, not from what she has been taught, although she is an amazing, strong and confident rider. She is also a great friend & a person I get along with very well.
I love Ardis and I wish I could live with the horses, Soo and Tamsin.
Soo, Wally & Me ... Sam Bunt, 10yrs - student & agister
April 2008
Last year I started at Soo's riding school, Ardis, which was my first time horse riding! Soo has taught me a lot about riding & being safe with horses. Now I have my own pony, Wally, who was referred to (lovingly) as “the Demon Child”. I keep Wally at Ardis.
With Soo teaching me & working with Wally, and with Tamsin’s help, Wally and I are up to cantering, jumping & cross country. Soo only asks you & your pony to do something if she thinks you're ready. If it wasn't for Soo I wouldn't be riding as well as I am, having so much fun and enjoying my time with Wally.
Kay Coates - agister & student
April 2008
"It is reassuring to know our horse is always well looked after at Ardis. We can travel overseas or go away on holiday with peace of mind knowing he is having the best possible care. Soo treats all the horses as she would her own."
Fiona Haslam
April 2008
“I started having lesson instruction from Soo about 6 weeks ago – after having approximately a year’s riding experience I was looking for more individually focused tuition. Soo has given me this, she explains things thoroughly and clearly and I feel great improvements each lesson both in horsemanship and riding. A friend who I regularly ride with recently commented on a trail ride how my riding position had changed and how I now looked poised and secure in my seat from behind. This was a great compliment and I cannot wait to see further improvements in my riding over the coming weeks!”
Nicola Taylor – agister and student
March 2008
"Soo is a fantastic instructor who has changed me from being a passenger to actively riding & working with my horse. She is always willing to give thoughtful advice when asked about a problem. Over the last year I have become more confident & gained greater enjoyment in riding my first horse as a result of her instruction."
Pete Stephens - father to 10yr Brooke & 7yo Pippy
February 2008
Listening to Soo teach my girls makes me want to take up riding myself"