About our Founder Marji Armstrong |
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About our Founder Marji Armstrong |
| A Brief Profile Marji Armstrong is the proprietor and principal trainer at Yardah,
an Equestrian Centre at Cranbrook in the south west of Western Australia. She is also
Founder and President of Classical Horsemastership International. She now travels
extensively through Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Austria, Italy, America, Canada,
Africa and Asia teaching & sharing her philosophy and broad knowledge of horse
mastership.
Marji trained for several years with both the late Franz Mairinger of Spanish Riding
School, Vienna and Mestre Nuno Oliveira, of Portugal. He inspired her with a philosophy of
working in harmony and co-operation with the horse, rather than by domination.
Following his death, Marji trained with Nuno’s son, Joao and was invited to
train for a short period at Ecole Nationale d’ Equitation (Le Cadre Noir) Saumur,
France. |
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| Now most European visits include time in Portugal, where she increases
her knowledge and skills in the classical methods of training interacting with other
trainers of horses & riders. This includes both riding and in-hand techniques. Before Marji became involved with teaching, she competed successfully in F.E.I. dressage, the show ring and horse trials. For some years she held an International Competitors Licence. |
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Yardah’s principal stallion, "Dulcero" a Spanish
Andalusian, trained by Marji, won every ridden stallion event (against all breeds) at the
Perth Royal Show FOR SEVEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS. (1985-1991). As further proof of
Marji’s successful training methods, Dulcero (at age 17) won 1996 Australian National Champion Ridden Andalusian. In addition, her Yardah Stud won the 1996 Australian National Leading Andalusian Exhibitor Trophy. |
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| Much of Marji’s time is spent teaching a dedicated and
growing number of students around the world. Marji’s clinics are much more than
just "dressage." They’ve been described as A Unique Five
Day Learning Experience C.H.I. now offers an Accreditation Programme which allows students work towards formal recognition of their achievements. A whole spectrum of horsemastership in the training of both horses and riders is explored. This includes, lunging, in-hand work and in depth riding techniques. C.H.I. is proud of the fact that people of all ages, from 7 to 70 attend. Participants include World Championship medal winning endurance riders, horse breakers from the Snowy Mountains, National Champion Western competitors, three day eventers, pony clubbers, F.E.I. dressage competitors and even nervous novice adult riders. All have found great benefit and a value from the clinics. Marji isn’t just a horse trainer, but a people person too, with a high degree of skill in encouraging and nurturing people, assisting with their motivation and challenging their personal boundaries. Those who come for the first time are amazed at the results even a beginner (horse or rider) can achieve by working in the soft, relaxed manner - as espoused by the Classical Masters. Many "problem" horses (all breeds, sizes and ages) are brought to clinics as a last resort. After five days the riders leave having gained the necessary "tools" to work with their horses in harmony. Considerable time is also spent working to assist riders find their natural self balance through a deep and relaxed position. To do this very simple body awareness exercises are introduced. Marji is continually being requested to include her specialised five day intensive clinics on the international teaching circuit after having been well received in the United Kingdom, Austria, America, Africa, Canada, New Zealand and of course, Australia. Shorter clinics (say three days) have been organised successfully to introduce people to Marji’s teaching and training concepts.
In her "spare time" Marji oversees a Spanish Andalusian stud. She breeds Andalusian/ Thoroughbred cross sport horses, which are fast gaining a reputation in the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping. She was the National Vice President of The Andalusian Horse Association of Australasia 1995 - 1996. At Equitana Australasia 99 a team of Marji’s students performed a very popular 18th Century Carousel in The Mane Event. Marji also presented a daily demonstration of the In-Hand work achieved by C.H.I. students. |
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