Mandy Pretty

Born and raised with horses, Mandy was literally riding before she could walk. Her exposure to the horse world was somewhat unconventional. Daughter of clinician Robyn Hood, and niece of Internationally renowned horse woman Linda Tellington-Jones, meant that her norm for handling and interacting with horses was several decades ahead of its time. Long before equine chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists were main stream, Mandy and her family were looking for tangible physical and emotional reasons for unwanted behavior. They began phasing out black and white behavioral labels like “stubborn,” “lazy” and “disrespectful.” In Mandy's family, horse behavior was viewed as reaction to a concrete catalyst, requiring looking at balance, pain, fear, fear of pain and issues of rider communication.

At the age of 4 and a half, on the way to her first Advanced TTEAM^® (now Tellington TTouch^®) Training in Boulder, Colorado, Mandy first met Peggy Cummings, the founder of Connected Riding.

For over a decade Mandy was schooled in Centered Riding and influenced by top Icelandic riders and clinicians. She was immersed in the world of horses, helping to start youngsters, exercise sales horses as well as participating in demonstrations and competitions with some of her parents' Icelandic horses.

Then, at age 17 Mandy met Peggy Cummings again. Although initially skeptical of Peggy's Connected Riding® concepts, Mandy soon understood the influence of posture and its effect on the horse underneath. The proof was in the pudding as it were, and she was soon a “convert” to Connected Riding®. Peggy became Mandy's mentor and riding coach, expanding her knowledge of equine/rider bio-mechanics and ideal function under saddle with Connected Riding.

Mandy trains and teaches all breeds and disciplines full time; incorporating the Tellington TTouch^® Method-Connect to train young horses and re-school older horses alike. In addition to training at Icelandic Horse Farm, Mandy travels to teach clinics featuring the Tellington TTouch^® Method and Connected Riding. Mandy has taught independently in Mexico, Australia, the US and several Canadian provinces as well as assisting Robyn throughout Europe, South Africa, Australia and North America.

Mandy creates a positive experience for horse and rider; improving performance without compromising physical, emotional or mental well being. Her clinics easily apply to an all breed format although often geared toward the Icelandic Horse. Mandy teaches one to five-day workshops throughout the year, offering several at The Icelandic Horse Farm. She is available for demonstrations, riding lessons, lectures and clinics.

Mandy is a Tellington TTouch^® Equine Instructor and a Certified Connected Riding Practitioner. She lives near Vernon, BC down the road from Robyn and Phil (aka Grandma & Grandpa) with her husband Walt and two young sons on their "Faux Farm." Visit her own website: www.intouchwithyourhorse.com.