WELCOME
Ernest the Coach
Ernest is one of the countries most respected coaches. He conducts clinics worldwide and throughout the UK. Ernest is highly qualified being one of the few Show Jumping Specialist Fellows of the British Horse Society. He is a UKCC Level Three Showjumping Coach and an Accredited BS Coach. He is also a British Eventing Master Coach and a UKCC Coach Educater.
Ernest has trained with some of the most respected riders and coaches in the world encompassing all three disciplines. He is a lucid coach with quick observation and attention to individual needs both for the horse and rider. He is direct and to the point but applies logic and simplicity to his easy to understand system of work. His success rate with his riders is impressive having coached riders from the very Novice level through Pony Club Championships, Amateur and Professional, Intermediate and Advanced all the way up to International Grande Prix and Four Star Event Riders.
His care for the well-being of the horse and the importance of correct and progressive work guarantees the building of confidence and physical fitness of both the combined horse/rider athlete. One of his attributes is a good sense of humour and understands that a happy rider is a relaxed rider.
Ernest is currently based at the very prestigious Quainton Stud and Training Centre in Buckinghamshire UK where he conducts one/two/and three day clinics. he also teaches regularly Private, shared and Group sessions both Jumping and on the Flat at every level of competence. Contact details can be found on the contact page.
Ernest has trained with some of the most respected riders and coaches in the world encompassing all three disciplines. He is a lucid coach with quick observation and attention to individual needs both for the horse and rider. He is direct and to the point but applies logic and simplicity to his easy to understand system of work. His success rate with his riders is impressive having coached riders from the very Novice level through Pony Club Championships, Amateur and Professional, Intermediate and Advanced all the way up to International Grande Prix and Four Star Event Riders.
His care for the well-being of the horse and the importance of correct and progressive work guarantees the building of confidence and physical fitness of both the combined horse/rider athlete. One of his attributes is a good sense of humour and understands that a happy rider is a relaxed rider.
Ernest is currently based at the very prestigious Quainton Stud and Training Centre in Buckinghamshire UK where he conducts one/two/and three day clinics. he also teaches regularly Private, shared and Group sessions both Jumping and on the Flat at every level of competence. Contact details can be found on the contact page.
Ernest the Author
Ernest is the author of the extremely successful book 'THE COMPLETE SHOWJUMPER'. A training manual containing lots of high quality photographs, sound bites and detailed training advice. A must for every riders bookshelf. In fact it should not be on the bookshelf but in the riders hand.
Ernest The Poet
A HORSES PRAYER
DO I LOOK LIKE A HORSE,
DO I MOVE LIKE A HORSE
DO I EAT , DO I SMELL AND BEHAVE LIKE A HORSE?
I AM ONLY SUPPOSING YOU KNOW WHAT I AM
BUT ONE THINGS FOR CERTAIN, I AM NOT A MAN!
I’M NOT A MACHINE OR A LAPTOP PC
YOU CAN’T SWITCH ME ON AND JUST PROGRAMME ME.
I CAN’T THINK LIKE YOU, TO REASON, DECIDE,
I JUST SMELL THE LION AND THEN RUN AND HIDE.
THE FEELING I GET WHEN I’M RIDDEN ABOUT
BY A CLUMSY, UNBALANCED, UNFEELING GREAT LOUT,
IS CONFUSION AND FEAR. SEE,
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU MAKE LIKE YOU HATE ME AND SCREAM IN MY EAR.
I’M NOT OUT TO GET YOU, WHY SHOULD I, THINKS I.
IF YOU HIT ME I FEEL IT AND TRY TO THINK, WHY?
AM I SO BAD, AGGRESSIVE , DELIBERATE OR MEAN,
THAT YOU BLAME ME FOR TRYING, COME ON NOW, COME CLEAN.
IS IT YOU THAT NEEDS HELPING, TO FOLLOW THE RULES,
AND REMEMBER THE WORKMAN, AND ALL HIS BAD TOOLS!
CAN YOU LOOK IN A MIRROR AND TRY TO EXPLAIN,
WHY YOU CAN’T SEE YOUR SHORTFALLS AND TRY ONCE AGAIN.
PUT YOURSELF IN MY WORLD
FEEL YOURSELF ON MY BACK
TRY TO PONDER THESE FEELINGS WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON A HACK.
GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THE FEELING THAT IF YOU COULD CHANGE,
WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU COULD MAKE, WHAT YOU COULD REARRANGE.
I CAN TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN AND THIS ISN’T A LIE,
THAT THE BEST FEEL I COULD HAVE, AND DON’T ASK ME WHY.
IS A RIDER THAT LOVES ME,
WHO CAN SIT IN THE TACK,
WITH A STILLNESS AND SOFTNESS THAT WON’T HURT MY BACK.
WITH SOME HANDS THAT ARE GENTLE, NOT ROUGH GREAT BIG FISTS,
WITH A SADDLE THAT FITS ME AND NICE EASY BITS.
WITH SOME AIDS I CAN SEE THROUGH IN A LANGUAGE I KNOW,
WITH A PATIENCE THAT’S TIRELESS, AND WON’T END IN A BLOW.
SO COME ON YOU RIDERS, AND DON’T LAY THE BLAME,
ON A POOR DUMB OLD CREATURE THAT ISN’T INSANE’,
WHAT IS IT YOU ARE SEEKING, WHAT IS IT YOU WANT,
TELL ME HOW CAN I HELP YOU,
IT WOULD MEAN SUCH A LOT.
REMEMBER THESE FEELINGS WHEN YOU CLIMB IN THE SADDLE
LET US BE PARTNERS AND MY MIND, DO NOT ADDLE.
DON’T RELY ON MY BRAIN POWER, JUST MY MEMORY IN FACT,
I'LL REMEMBER THE BAD THINGS, WHICH IS WHY I REACT,
IN A WAY THATS CONFUSING, IN A WAY THAT MAKES OUT, THAT I’M CRAZY OR LAZY
AND I’VE NEVER BEEN THAT!
I NEED UNDERSTANDING
A HOME AND A BED
AND A RIDER THAT LOVES ME
AND KEEPS ME WELL FED.
YOU CAN DRILL ME AND SCHOOL ME, DISCIPLINE I CAN TAKE,
DON'T BEAT ME OR MISTREAT ME IT WAS JUST A MISTAKE.
Ernest Dillon 09-06-2019
DO I LOOK LIKE A HORSE,
DO I MOVE LIKE A HORSE
DO I EAT , DO I SMELL AND BEHAVE LIKE A HORSE?
I AM ONLY SUPPOSING YOU KNOW WHAT I AM
BUT ONE THINGS FOR CERTAIN, I AM NOT A MAN!
I’M NOT A MACHINE OR A LAPTOP PC
YOU CAN’T SWITCH ME ON AND JUST PROGRAMME ME.
I CAN’T THINK LIKE YOU, TO REASON, DECIDE,
I JUST SMELL THE LION AND THEN RUN AND HIDE.
THE FEELING I GET WHEN I’M RIDDEN ABOUT
BY A CLUMSY, UNBALANCED, UNFEELING GREAT LOUT,
IS CONFUSION AND FEAR. SEE,
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU MAKE LIKE YOU HATE ME AND SCREAM IN MY EAR.
I’M NOT OUT TO GET YOU, WHY SHOULD I, THINKS I.
IF YOU HIT ME I FEEL IT AND TRY TO THINK, WHY?
AM I SO BAD, AGGRESSIVE , DELIBERATE OR MEAN,
THAT YOU BLAME ME FOR TRYING, COME ON NOW, COME CLEAN.
IS IT YOU THAT NEEDS HELPING, TO FOLLOW THE RULES,
AND REMEMBER THE WORKMAN, AND ALL HIS BAD TOOLS!
CAN YOU LOOK IN A MIRROR AND TRY TO EXPLAIN,
WHY YOU CAN’T SEE YOUR SHORTFALLS AND TRY ONCE AGAIN.
PUT YOURSELF IN MY WORLD
FEEL YOURSELF ON MY BACK
TRY TO PONDER THESE FEELINGS WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON A HACK.
GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THE FEELING THAT IF YOU COULD CHANGE,
WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU COULD MAKE, WHAT YOU COULD REARRANGE.
I CAN TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN AND THIS ISN’T A LIE,
THAT THE BEST FEEL I COULD HAVE, AND DON’T ASK ME WHY.
IS A RIDER THAT LOVES ME,
WHO CAN SIT IN THE TACK,
WITH A STILLNESS AND SOFTNESS THAT WON’T HURT MY BACK.
WITH SOME HANDS THAT ARE GENTLE, NOT ROUGH GREAT BIG FISTS,
WITH A SADDLE THAT FITS ME AND NICE EASY BITS.
WITH SOME AIDS I CAN SEE THROUGH IN A LANGUAGE I KNOW,
WITH A PATIENCE THAT’S TIRELESS, AND WON’T END IN A BLOW.
SO COME ON YOU RIDERS, AND DON’T LAY THE BLAME,
ON A POOR DUMB OLD CREATURE THAT ISN’T INSANE’,
WHAT IS IT YOU ARE SEEKING, WHAT IS IT YOU WANT,
TELL ME HOW CAN I HELP YOU,
IT WOULD MEAN SUCH A LOT.
REMEMBER THESE FEELINGS WHEN YOU CLIMB IN THE SADDLE
LET US BE PARTNERS AND MY MIND, DO NOT ADDLE.
DON’T RELY ON MY BRAIN POWER, JUST MY MEMORY IN FACT,
I'LL REMEMBER THE BAD THINGS, WHICH IS WHY I REACT,
IN A WAY THATS CONFUSING, IN A WAY THAT MAKES OUT, THAT I’M CRAZY OR LAZY
AND I’VE NEVER BEEN THAT!
I NEED UNDERSTANDING
A HOME AND A BED
AND A RIDER THAT LOVES ME
AND KEEPS ME WELL FED.
YOU CAN DRILL ME AND SCHOOL ME, DISCIPLINE I CAN TAKE,
DON'T BEAT ME OR MISTREAT ME IT WAS JUST A MISTAKE.
Ernest Dillon 09-06-2019