Laura Claman Equine Solutions

 

About Me

Formal Education

•  B.A. at ECSU in psychology. 1991

•  Connecticut state teacher's license. Middle school language arts and social studies. 2001.

•  M.A. in gifted and talented educational  psychology. UConn 2007

I began training horses and riders in 1983. Between 1975 and 1985 I rode more than 86 horses with many trainers and instructors. My experience ranges from my days swimming with horses at SJ Riding Camp, showing and fox hunting with Shallowbrook Equestrian Center, having a horse at home since 6th grade and galloping through the state forest with Reddington Rock Riding Club.  I designed tack with Smith-Worthington Saddlery, managed a tack shop for 6 years, ran my own consignment tack shop for 3 years, and have fit tack to schoolies and summer camp horses for more than 30 years. 

After starting riding western at age 4, I then began hunt seat at age 11. I developed my dressage skills beginning at age 17, and finally, eventing with its cross-country excitement, grabbed me at about age 20. I apprenticed with a reining trainer while in NY at 19. I participated on a show team, fox hunts, drill team, horse training, and eventually taught riding at Shallowbrook Equestrian Center in Somers, CT.  At other facilities, my job duties have included managing a large group of horses, scheduling 50 girls riding twice a day, taking out overnights, overseeing (I was a lifeguard for 30 years) swimming with the horses, and training other riding instructors. Involvement as a young girl with 4-H and FFA was beneficial.  At 18 and 21 I participated in two CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) instructor clinics at SJ Riding Camp in Ellington, CT, to become an English and western First Class Certified Instructor. I have been teaching riding since 1983.

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I served on the Board of Directors for Connecticut Dressage and Combined Training Association (CDCTA) as secretary and then as the editor of the newsletter over a course of 15 years and most recently as the 2018 President. I volunteered many hours organizing clinics and horse shows.  I've participated in the training for the "r" eventing judge's license with the USEA and USEF for three years. It was a great experience. I focus on training and less on showing and judging; although, I am available for judging schooling shows.   ​​

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Of course having a horse at home was and is an educational experience. You learn horse management and experiment with horse riding. My house is right next to Shenipsit State Forest. When we were kids, we would come home from school and go galloping bareback around the forest. These days the idea of youngsters running around on horses with no helmets seems inconceivable.  Well, that was the late 70s, and safety has thankfully come a long way. 

The style of teaching that I use combines my years of riding, teaching, and study of educational psychology. During my 40+ years of riding I have been a western rider, hunt seat rider, reining trainer, eventer and dressage rider.  I've been taught by Olympians as well as many other instructors not as famous but equally as important to my education. My training philosophies are influenced by trainers such as Warwick Schiller, Billy Smith, Sylvia Loch, Denny Emerson, Charles de Kunffy, Henry Wynmalen, and Sally Swift. I sit down with new clients and make-up a plan with goals specific to their needs. As an instructor I'm patient yet demanding, I encourage the positives and have a large bag of exercises for every issue that needs attention. My lessons are safe, fun and informative. 

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