References

References

Ann Lovegrove -Madison, WI
At the tender age of 68, I decided that I wanted to learn to ride a horse!
I initially took some lessons on a Quarter Horse. I did not like the
bouncing I experienced and knew that posting was going to be a
challenge. The trainer suggested I try riding a gaited horse and referred
me to Cyndi Plasch. With my first ride on her Missouri Foxtrotter, I
knew I was hooked. My initial trainer had mentioned that at some point
I might want to buy a horse if the right one could be found. I now own a
glorious sorrel mare. Because of Cyndi's expertise with Foxtrotters and
their unique gaits, she was able to describe to me what Mackey was
doing and how I could recognize the gait from the feel in the saddle and
what I could look for as Mackey was moving her head and shoulders. I
feel it would have been very confusing to me without a fully qualified and
experienced Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer taking me through the basics.
It also kept me from giving Mackey conflicting/confusing messages and
letting her slip into some bad habits or miss gaiting.
We are two very happy mares!!!!!

Nancy Sielaff - Mineral Point, WI
As a long-time dressage rider, I didn't know anything about gaited
horses - in fact, I didn't even understand the term. Aren't all horses
"gaited"? What I wanted was an even-tempered, smooth horse who
would take me on trail rides. I learned about Cyndi through a friend who
had the same goal. We both bough young, unbroken Missouri
Foxtrotters after Cyndi evaluated them for their potential. Then we
asked her to train them for us. I was amazed at how quickly she had my
horse ready to go. The next step was maybe the hardest. Cyndi had to
teach me how to tell the difference between the gaits so I wouldn't allow
Missy (my Foxtrotter mare) to slip into an "in-between gear" or to pace.
Cyndi uses a simple, logical approach to training Missouri Foxtrotters
and teaching riders to ride them. After taking a few lessons from her, I
felt I understood the basics. I'll probably use a few dressage aids as I
move along with Missy's training, but I would have never figured out the
gaits on my own.

Donnetta Foxx - Madison, WI
After always having a love for horses, my dream came true at
age 45 when I purchased my first horse - a 5 year old Missouri
Foxtrotter mare. Being an older and inexperienced rider, having never
even sat on a horse before, I chose this breed because of the smooth ride
and their wonderful disposition. I knew starting out that I was going to
need help. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Cyndi Plasch, a
Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer/Riding Coach, who works with both horse &
rider. We started from the ground up. Step by step, Cyndi helped me
learn how to teach my Foxtrotter mare proper ground manners and
earn her respect. Under saddle I am learning the importance of having a
balanced set to help my Foxtrotter mare gait properly, and the
importance of having soft hands and contact. Cyndi's straight forward
style has helped me to become more confident and comfortable in a short
period of time. I feel it has been so beneficial to work with a
Trainer/Coach that is a "Foxtrotter Expert" so I could "get it right the
first time" and not waste my time or money undoing all the training and
natural ability my mare came with.

Barb Burdulis - Madison, WI
At the age of 51 I bought my first horse, a beautiful red Missouri
Foxtrotter gelding - a two year old. I wanted an untrained horse so I
could learn with him. I would have never gotten a two year old,
untrained and undisciplined, if it had not
been for Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer/Riding Coach, Cyndi
Plasch. She trained Amigo (my gelding) and I right from the
start. I learned how to ride a Foxtrotter by taking lessons on
one of her well trained horses, while she worked with Amigo.
As a novice rider with a novice horse, we were a great
combination. Cyndi encouraged me to have confidence in my
expectation of safety, that he would do what I asked and that
mutual respect and clarity would be our foundation. Feeling
that flat foot walk, learning to hear that 1-2-3-4 was what we
worked on and worked on. After walking and walking he came
into his other gaits, his fox trot, running walk and his lovely
canter. Having a Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer/Riding Coach
train him and me together has helped me to be a confident and
disciplined rider. It has now been 3 years, and Amigo and I
have spent many wonder hours and miles on the trails together.

Lara Curry - Middleton, WI
I have always wanted to own a horse and have had little to no
experience in ownership or for that matter, horsemanship. I
wasn't even sure of the type of horse that I wanted, I only knew
that I liked to trail ride. Then I met Cyndi Plasch, an experienced
Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer. She introduced me to the breed and the
ride, which is all it took for me to be hooked! I leased one of her school
horses (Missouri Foxtrotter) and am taking lessons learning how to ride,
balance, and how to properly gait this wonderful breed. She has made it
seem very simple and easy for me to learn. I now own a 3 year old
Foxtrotter mare - "Cameo Doll" , and a 2 year old Foxtrotter gelding,
Gambler. I purchased both of these horses knowing that I could have
Cyndi train them and work with me at the same time, so that there
would be symmetry through the process. I am confident that what she
teaches my horses, she will teach me, so I will be confident with them
and not confuse them. Together my horses and I will act as one in
unison rather than two different pieces that just don't quite fit. It is a
unique experience to work with one person that has trained you and
your horse.

Kym Rappert - Green Bay, WI
The love of my life is Deek, my 6 year old Missouri Foxtrotter.
Deek is my second Foxtrotter. I loved my first one so much I
had to have another. Deek had only been ridden eight times
when I purchased him. The search was on to find a Missouri
Foxtrotter Trainer. Missouri Foxtrotter Trainers are unheard of here in
Northeast Wisconsin. My "regular" trainer was great with natural
horsemanship training but knew nothing about Missouri Foxtrotters or
"gaiting". I was referred to Cyndi Plasch, a Missouri Foxtrotter
Trainer/Riding Coach, and decided to put my gelding, Deek, in training
with her. Cyndi worked with him and I together. In just three short
weeks I was amazed at how much progress we had made. I learned
what his gaits were, how to hold him in a frame and help him to work
consistently. This gaiting is different from the regular horse world, seek
a Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer!!

Sheila Thakor - Madison, WI
At the age of 45, I decided that I wanted to get a horse and do
competitive trail riding. I didn't even know where to begin, since I had
never rode a horse before. I met Cyndi Plasch, a Missouri Foxtrotter
Trainer who suggested that I take some lessons and learn more about
horses before purchasing one. Well, that was 3 years ago. I am now the
proud owner of two beautiful Missouri Foxtrotters. I have "Gracie",
who is my 7 year old, beautiful pink champagne roan mare and "Scout",
who is my sweetheart 5 year old buckskin gelding. I have been
fortunate to work with Cyndi over these past 3 years to learn all the
skills necessary to be a confident, successful Missouri Foxtrotter rider. I
even beat Cyndi in a Missouri Foxtrotter fun show down in Missouri!
Cyndi has shared her extensive knowledge of this wonderful breed and
has the ability to convey that knowledge to even the most novice, riders.
Her techniques of developing a partnership between horse and rider
have given Gracie and I the bond that enables us to be confident
partners on the trail and go beyond what I could have ever imagined.

Annette and Robert Huske
I have shown Saddlebreds for many years and over the last
couple of years I have focused on trail riding. My husband has
become interested in camping so we bought him a horse that we liked
because of his conformation and personality. He is a Missouri
Foxtrotter. I knew nothing about the gaits, which made it frustrating for
him and us. Several people have helped us along the way, but the only
time that we were able to truly learn and know the gaits was when I was
referred to Cyndi Plasch, a Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer/Riding Coach,
through the Upper Midwest Foxtrotter Association. She put me on one
of her Foxtrotter mares that she uses for lessons and schooling, and I
was able to feel the different gaits, as Cyndi explained them to me. She
then had me ride our Foxtrotter and helped me set his head and put him
in a "frame". Then she showed me how to ease him up into his in his gait
and progress to a flat foot walk. He could do the different gaits, but was
not consistent. I couldn't tell you 100% when I was in a foxtrot vs a flat
foot walk vs a fox walk…..I believe you need to learn by riding a horse
already trained and set in the gaits in order to feel and identify the
different gaits. When you work with someone like Cyndi who knows the
gaits and can tell you over and over what gaits you are in and helps you
to identify them, it helps tremendously. Knowing the different gaits,
takes practice and working with someone who can demonstrate, coach
and help you work with consistency.

Terry Sayre - Edgerton,WI
I have had horses all my life and love to trail ride and enjoy the
outdoors. I purchased my first Missouri Foxtrotter 5 years ago and
enjoyed him so much, I have purchased 2 more. My young gelding,
Knight, had been professionally grained, and I felt that he was the horse
of my dreams. I had encountered some problems, and went to seek
help, from good, professional people that were excellent at what they do,
but were not familiar with Missouri Foxtrotters. Things went downhill
fast, and some trainers even told me to get ride of Knight. Heartbroken,
I continued riding, building my confidence and comfort level with
Knight. A year had past and my bond was even stronger, but I still felt
as though I needed some professional instruction. It was hard for me to
tell whether my horse was gaiting properly, while on him. Some of my
other concerns were: how to set his head and keep him moving at a
foxtrot or a flat foot walk, what bit to have in his mouth and how to use
it. Help at last, a friend recommended that I spend some time with
Cyndi Plasch, a Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer/Riding Coach. She was very
energetic, compassionate and knowledgeable about the Missouri
Foxtrotting horse. One of Cyndi's schooling horses, Black Beauty, was
very patient with me and helped me to "hear" the rhythm, and feel the
movement of the different gaits - what a confidence builder it was!!!
Cyndi then worked with Knight and I one on one, and the way he moved
took on a whole new meaning to me. We were "foxtrotting"!!! I have
never been so confident and felt so good about the way I ride, after one
session with Cyndi, and Black Beauty. The are both wonderful teachers
and Cyndi is very easy to communicate with. I will continue to work
with her to improve my riding skills.

Benefits of working with a Missouri Foxtrotter Trainer