Instructors

Lyz Rudolph-Michaels

Riding with Alignment for Natural Balance

Lyz has been involved with horses as long as she can remember. They have been her passion and her inspiration.

It wasn't long after finally acquiring her first horse, that she began sharing her passion by training and coaching others.

Lyz has been a certified CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) level 2 English and Western coach since 2002 and has been a Chris Irwin certified coach and trainer (silver level) since 2004. Chris Irwin has a unique approach to horses that helps people deepen the bond between themselves and their horses: Chris Irwin has spent 30 years developing an approach with horses that addresses this missing link: learning to speak a horse’s body language so well that we truly”hear” how they feel about being handled and ridden, then developing the skills to give a horse what it needs so that he or she will happily give us what we want – a solid connection that engenders a willingness to enjoy safe, comfortable, relaxed rides wherever we wish to go.

Lyz was certified as an Equine Therapist by the Helen Woods School of Equine Studies in 2010, and has been providing massage and structural alignment treatments to horses ever since. Lyz uses her work with Chris Irwin and with Helen Woods to help develop the perfect balance between each horse and rider, to optimize performance and comfort for both.

Lyz also holds a diploma with distinction in Equine Studies and a certificate with distinction in Equine Business Management from the University of Guelph.

The Horse Protection Society of BC is proud to be working with Lyz. She offers her own brand of fun and exuberance - the horses love her, and so do the kids!

SARAH CRAWLEY

Sarah has been involved with horses for most of her life. She is dedicated to finding the best approach to fostering a happy relationship between horse and rider/handler. Sarah's work on grants has been invaluable in putting HPS on the map! Sarah is always willing to help with fundraising activities, she does hours of research for us, including many fact finding phone calls, to help us hone our approach to future development. Sarah is also one of our instructors, and she helps with riding some of our more challenging horses.

Ian Veenendaal
Born and raised in Umtali, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Ian completed his Tertiary (college) education, receiving a Zimbabwe Diploma in Agriculture – October 1984.
Employment ranged from Farm Manager on the family farm to sales rep for a local agricultural pharmaceutical company. Later he worked for family in the construction industry, and finally owned his own Construction Company. Ian Left Zimbabwe in December 2005, due to the unstable political situation and emigrated to the United Kingdom. In Sept 2008 he visited Canada and decided that this is where he wanted to be.

EQUESTRIAN RIDING BACKGROUND

At the age of 10, Ian was introduced to riding by a family friend who competed at novice level. He was able to show one of her horses at the local Agricultural show as a junior, and then started weekly riding lessons at Brockley Stables. By the age of
16, he was competing regularly at junior level. At 17 Ian had 3 JA level horses on the circuit and competed successfully for the remaining 2 junior years in both show jumping and in 3-phase competition.

In Zimbabwe show jumping is too small to be a professional sport. However, holding down a full-time job and competing at the highest level on a couple of horses was Ian’s way of supporting the sport he loved. Prior to and through sanctions in Zimbabwe, he enjoyed a very competitive A-grade (1.40m) circuit with regular international outings.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

1985
Represented Zimbabwein show jumping in Austria
(Nations’ Cup)

1986
Represented Zimbabwe in show jumping against
Australiain Zimbabwe (Nations’ Cup)

1994
Represented Zimbabwei n show jumping against
South Africa in Zimbabwe

COACHING

During the latter part of Ian’s competitive riding career he got actively involved in junior coaching, culminating in a very high standard in Zimbabwe of children and junior competition from the late 1990’s to 2005.

Ian has also been very active in Pony Club. He was DC for the Umwinsidale Branch of the Pony Club, and was very active in instruction and testing up to A Test. He was also instrumental in the setting up of and maintenance of testing and examining standards within the Pony Club of Zimbabwe.

Included in his coaching program was voluntary coaching for under privileged and physically challenged children of Zimbabwe. The program included supply of lesson ponies, tack, transport to and from lessons and coaching time - free of charge.

Children that showed potential and talent for the sport were integrated into the Pony Club of Zimbabwe and were sponsored by special fund raising events to cover basic costs in their chosen disciplines.