Client Testimonials
Katie and Dee
Client Testimonial - Katie and Dee
Dee was notorious at my farm for being "evil;" people called her "Princess Poo" or "Moo Cow." I couldn't even count the number of phone calls I received from people telling me she had kicked someone or bitten someone. I dreaded talking to people sometimes because I knew they were just going to tell me a horrible story about my horse. To put it simply, she seemed to hate people.
I still absolutely loved my horse though, and my trainer put up with her because she was so good under saddle (once we got past the dirty stopping)… until she began bucking every time I got on. I couldn't even trot her, much less ride for longer than twenty minutes. I became so frustrated I stopped riding her and rode other horses. I hated it. I wanted my horse back, the beautiful, kind-eyed mare I had bought 4 years previously, but I didn't know how to get her back. It killed me to see my horse so unhappy.
Read the rest of Katie's Story
Client Testimonial - Susan H.
I would recommend Canterbury Farms and Paula Danyi to anyone. Paula is a patient and dedicated teacher. Safety is one of her main concerns, and this is especially important to me due to a recent riding accident. I was thrown from my horse, landed on my elbow, and broke my shoulder. This required major surgery and lots of physical therapy to heal.
Once my arm healed, I was very hesitant about riding again. Luckily, I found Paula and Canterbury Farms. I explained my situation to Paula and she was the answer to my prayers. She was very patient and helped build my confidence.
Read the rest of Susan H's Story
Susan S. and Tigger
Susan and Tigger
When we went to Canterbury Farm the first time, we were visiting to meet Paula and decide whether to bring our horse Tigger there for training. As we pulled up the driveway, Paula's husband John was working a horse in the round pen and my ten year old daughter Heather's mouth dropped as she said "Did you see that? That horse is cantering around the ring with no halter or anything and all he did was point and it changed directions!" I was thinking the same thing, even though I already had an idea of natural horsemanship training techniques.
In addition to Paula's evident knowledge and skill and the beautiful facility, one of the things that impressed me on this first visit was that Paula was very clear about her expectations for commitment and involvement from the horse owner in the training process. I wasn't looking for a place to just leave my horse and then pick him up a month later with current problems solved. After our visit, the question was no longer should we bring Tigger to Canterbury Farm, but rather, how soon could we get him there!
Read the rest of Susan and Tigger
Cindy Flinchum
When I began working for Paula I was very afraid of horses. I had no idea it was possible to communicate with such a large animal. As I began petting the horses and spending more time with them, I finally gathered the nerve to go into a stall with one of them. The more time I spent touching the horses and being around them I got a sense of their power to make me feel calm and peaceful. I learned that horses are a lot like people, with their own emotions, fears, and strengths and this really helped me gain a better understanding of them.
I really feel that horses have the power to heal us emotionally and spiritually. I felt a great sense of accomplishment by slowly letting go of my fear and it has also helped me to let go of fear in other areas of my life. I sometimes cannot believe that I can control a big old horse!!
Debbie Ring
Trust. Mutual respect. These are the cornerstones of Paula Danyi's technique of training horses. I have ridden for forty plus years in a variety of venues and have never experienced natural horsemanship before meeting Paula.
Paula has a firm but gentle approach using such techniques as body language to train. Certain "tests" are performed to see if the horse is ready to be mounted. I always feel safe and relaxed when riding at Paula's and have encountered some of the most loving horses ever.