Sophia Pugh - Academic Art of Riding

It’s always been about these moments for me 🤍

Moments that make your heart feel like it could burst, moments of connection, moments of trust 🤍

The toppling off the pedestal…

It was a really really long time ago for me that the superstars that I had put up there on their pedestal came toppling off with a big bump, crash, bang, wallop… after working, having lessons and treating horses in competitions yards, I very quickly knocked them off their pedestals… it became abundantly clear that if my priority was horse respect, horse love and welfare then competition riding was not the place to be… as crazy as it sounds; Thank god my horses body was ruined by the event rider that had him before me, because that was the reason I found a better way, when looking at ways to rehab him…

The recent News…

Am I surprised - no
Am I sad and disgusted - yes
Does she deserves to be bullied - no
Are other “pro” riders presently sh****ng themselves about a ‘me too’ movement - highly likely
Are these actions ok - no
Are these actions common - absolutely
Do we need to remember our humanity right now - yes
Do things need to change - yes
Do I feel for what CD is going through right now - yes
Did this need to come out - yes
Was the person brave to release this video - yes
Is it a good thing she has been suspended - of course
Have we all done things we regret - yes
Have I beat a horse with a lunging whip like that - no
Has she done some good in the equine industry - yes
Are we rubbish at handling conflict - yes
Should it be pushed aside - no
Can it be ignored - no
Does competition dressage need to change - yes

Some will defend, some will persecute, some will villify, some will victimise, some will rescue…

But when we step out of that game and allow ourselves to feel all the feels about this situation, and allow ourselves to stop making it so black and white, either/ or and let ourselves say AND, then and only then can things change…

I feel sad/disgusted AND she doesn’t deserve to be bullied

It is absolutely wrong to treat a horse this way AND we can treat another human being with respect

She is just one woman that has been made into some kind of goddess by the system and has now been made the villain… but in reality she’s not the only one training this way…

let’s be honest, this happens in all disciplines, at all levels, at all ages… I’ve seen much worse AND if you are surprised by all this - where the bloody hell have you been?!?!?!

What we cannot do is change what has happened, and will throwing hate around on the internet help that, no not at all, the question should be instead what do we do moving forward… now what…

BIG CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN AND WE NOW MIGHT JUST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT… AS THE WORLD IS FINALLY WAKING TF UP AND WATCHING!

🤍

My gorgeous SJP Bitless Bridles/Cavessons are back in stock 🎉 Made in the UK

- Metal Free Noseband
- Padded headpiece and noseband
- Quality leather
- Muliti-functional - lunge, lead, ride, groundwork

Check it out here www.sjpequestrian.com

Any questions send me a message ✨

Soooo true, Shout out to all my fabulous students that keep going even when it gets tough and crunchy! And still choose to find the magic in the mundane and the hard times, I love being on the journey with you ✨✨🔥🔥

Acquiring students is easy - keeping students is hard

The initial excitement, the enjoyment that comes with experiencing those changes- the light bulb moments, feeling the horse soft and easy and happy with a little adjustment. It’s really fun to watch those in the initial lessons, to make a little tweak in the riders position or mind frame or approach and see quite a change in no time at all.

But time goes on an excitement fades as the work becomes work: it stops being magic and starts to roll into laborious and tedious awareness, habit development or habit changing. You might hit a wall and plateau in development, and have to watch your friends all progress past you while you plug away at learning to not pull when you pick up your reins for example.

Its the difference between chasing a thrill and chasing development- the thrill seekers will be on within a few lessons to something else that gives them a quick burst of “magic,” until the thrill fades there too.

The horsemen and women don’t panic when they’re buried in details, because they know mastery of riding is mastery of details- doing basic things with perfection. They are there when it gets hard and stops being glamorous, and they are the ones their peers will call lucky when it looks easy on the other side.

The after riding b***y scratch 🤣 Arcos favourite moment 😅

Bitless Bridle - www.sjpequestrian.com

🐴 Bitless or bit, so many opinions... It’s the communication you’ve developed that determines how much ‘control’ you have… People often presume I’m against bits because I ride bitless. I’m not. I chose bitless with Arco because she wasn’t keen on the bit. We had already trained with a cavesson, so we continued to develop that.

The key is the common language you create with your horse. 🐎 Whether you use a bit or go bitless, it’s about the connection and understanding you build. If you switch to a bitless bridle and your horse doesn’t respond as they did with a bit, it’s because you haven’t taught them what it means. You kinda do have to teach them, you can’t just expect them to understand😉 Think of it as learning a new language together.

Bitless Bridle @ www.sjpequestrian.com

Brilliant Saturday spectating this wonderful clinic, such a great day of learning all about liberty with AAOR, such a pleasure to watch!😍 Thank you for a great day ladies! Horse Vision AB Jacquie Billington R+ & AAoR

In case you needed this reminder today…

✨Stop being so damn hard on yourself ✨

I’ve spoken to a lot of horse women recently who are really worried they are fu***ng up their horse, getting it wrong, not doing well enough, sooo many doubts coming in…

STOP IT!!!!

Because you are probably doing bloody amazing with your horse, if you are worrying and pondering these things then I’d say you definitely are!! Simply because you are questioning.

Yes we are all still learning and unlearning, it’s a lifelong thing… You are doing your best, you are learning, growing and evolving and I celebrate the f**k outta you!
Focus on, and compound all the things that are going great, all the improvements, all your little wins instead, and you’ll enjoy the journey a whole lot more!

Sending you all so much love in this crazy horse world!

Sophia x

Last week I had the pleasure of spending 2 days with Helen Thornton Sports Therapy & PEMF Musculoskeletal Therapist UK & Europe, she came to Devon for a day of Osteo/PEMF treatments at my yard and then I attended her somatic workshop. What a treat it was, it was so great to share knowledge and see her work her magic on my horses!
It was incredibly Fascinating to see her working with the body as a whole, linking together all the systems; from organ function to cranial work and gelding scars, it is all connected after all!

Everything she said about Arco and Kristoff made so much sense with what I have been experiencing and the releases and changes I have noticed in them both are bloody amazing!
She Will be back in August again, send me a Dm if you are interest in your horse having a session!

I struggled to find a cavesson that ticked all the boxes for me;

~ Metal Free noseband
~ Padded headpiece and noseband
~ one that stays in place well and fits well
~ with bosal rings as well as cavesson rings

So I created one, maybe this is just what you have been looking for ✨ Link in bio

Or visit www.sjpequestrian.com

I love running small intimate spaces for women to grow together with their horses ✨

My spaces are a unique blend of academic art of riding inspired dressage, rider mindset, somatic techniques and energy coaching, I approach horse training from a whole human and horse perspective,
Because everything is linked, who we are being, how we are showing up, who we are showing up as, our body patterns, our energy, our mindset, how we see ourselves, our fears, our doubts…
They all have an influence on and in our relationship with our horses, more than I think we even realise!

And it isn’t an easy path to take, or one that is travelled often, every single one of these women have had to dig mother fu***ng deep within themselves, to walk through frustration, difficult and fearful times with their horses, self doubt, horse injury, facing themselves and I’m so proud of them for showing up every time with so much devotion ✨

And on the flip side they have walked through so many magical moments, tears of joy, heart felt connection moments, insane moments of togetherness, feeling so confident and really embodying more of who they truly are!

Social media we often only see the shiny, great moments, but everyone has the knees on the earth ‘I can’t do this anymore, shall I just give up moments’ and that’s life, it’s the brave and courageous ones that in that moment through the pain, the self doubt, the confusion - they refuse to give up.
This is a world of polarity we live in, it’s in how much you can keep devoting, learning and growing through it all that’s gives a life of deep fulfilment with our horses… riding through it all no matter what ✨

Photo taken from out Empowered Equine Retreat a couple of weeks ago 🤍

Feelssss so damn good to be back behind these ears today 🤍
My gosh has it been a long winter, and I have hardly ridden Arco, the sun was shining today and it felt so good to be back up there, very grateful for my gorgeous spanish lady 🙌

I also love my SJP Bitless Bridle 😉 Link in my bio check it out…

Coming up in April… ✨

One Day Empowered Equine Clinic
A whole day to immerse yourself in learning with your horse, you can work on your groundwork, lunging and/riding. This is dressage with feel, build good communication skills, help your horse to move well and softly, deepen your relationship with your horse and have lots of fun with like minded people!

Includes 2 x private 30 minute lessons, theory session and lunch. Plus learn from watching everyone else’s lessons

Price ~ £150

No experience necessary, just an open heart and mind to learn ✨

Sharing all the client love today - last weekend we had our 2 day Empowered Equine Retreat and it was incredible, the way these women show up inspire me so much 🤍 Ive been walking around ever since on cloud 9, so grateful I get to do this work and witness so many powerful transformations between horse and human ✨

Client love -

“What an amazing weekend! 😆 Awesome (final) Retreat at Beardon Farm! (hopefully many more at other venues). I’m feeling exhausted but energised and inspired 🥹

Thank you so much Soph and Helena for your incredible hospitality and generosity 🥰 Incredible AAoR teaching and energy coaching with Sophia (with many significant moments of understanding for me that will be crucial to my work with Dante and Lorca), fabulous sound healing session with Nicky and so much great sharing and discussion (and of course wonderful food). 🤗 “

Happy Spring Equinox 🌿🌿

I love this time of year, it feels like there is magic in the air ✨
A time of rebirth and renewal!
This weekend we have our 2 day Empowered Equine Retreat and I have so much magic planned for the ladies attending ✨
A weekend full of laughter, deepening connections, relaxation, great food, sound healing and having fun with our horses!
🌿🌿🌿

The pathway to a more fulfilling and connected relationship with your horse is immersing yourself in spaces that live and breathe this journey…

We are all about connection first, fulfilment first, for you and your horse, as well as correct, healthy movement for our horse friends,
This weekend retreat is for you if you desire to learn about groundwork, lunging and riding in a soft and harmonious way and at the same time deepen the connection to yourself with sound healing and energetic coaching sessions… because pssstt the better connection you have with yourself, the more deeply you can and will connection to your horse 🤍

Send me a Dm for more info or to have a chat to see if this is your next step in your journey with your horse, I can’t wait to welcome you 🤍

Gorgeous weekend with , beyond grateful for this incredible woman, horses, epic chats, lots of laughs, soooo much food and baileys hot chocolate
🥰♥️✨🤍

Ps if you are in Cornwall and desire an epic hoof trimmer, get in touch with Emily!!! 😎😎

Such a Fab Day near Cirencester on Saturday, teaching these lovely people, all except 1, completely new to me and The Academic Art of Riding.
Huge transformations in just one day, and I’m always so inspired when people show up so open minded and willing to learn 😍

Feeling Stressed and disconnected after your day… and about to spend time with your horse?

Want to feel connected, centred and ready to meet your horse from a heart centred place?

Get this gorgeous 10 minute meditation, after this you will feel so different…

Calm, peaceful, Heart centred and ready to connect with your horse ✨

Only £11 -Link in Bio

Sit back, close your eyes and enjoy…

Putting professionals on pedestals is your problem…

You doubt yourself so much because you literally give your power away…

You are searching for the answer and the permission from someone outside of you…

You do know what feels like the right thing to do with your horse…

You are just terrified to trust yourself in case you get it ‘wrong’…

Or break the trust you have built with your horse…

The thing about putting other people on pedestals is you are automatically putting yourself below…

And the more you outsource your power, the less you trust yourself and the more you doubt yourself…

So start trusting you, start feeling into your gut and listening to it…

Start listening to your horse…

Allow yourself to experiment, get curious, allow yourself to play…

Follow your inner guidance system…

Put yourself in places where people guide you to your inner knowing, not their opinions…

Seek professional guidance but don’t just blindly hang on their every word…

Stay true to you, for you and for your horse…

It feels so damn good to trust yourself!

When we humans master our connection to our own inner world, connection with our horses is otherworldly✨

Forever grateful and so much love for this fiery special Spanish soul - Arco 🌹

I can’t believe we have been together for 10 years and what a ride…

I’ve really had to dig deep and face myself at a depth I didn’t know was possible in my inner world to be able to have the connection and relationship we have now 🤍🤍

I wouldn’t change any of the challenging moments (I definitely would have at the time 😅) as the most beautiful blissful moments of connection we have today just wouldn’t mean so much without them✨

And I simply wouldn’t be the woman I am today!

Arco, I’m glad my younger self was a little crazy and after just a few photos and emails, you were on your way to the UK from a mountain in Spain 🌈

📸Jasmine Styles

THIS 🙏🏻✨ This is what we witnessed this weekend at our Clinic with Eef Nibbelink - Everything coming together - A lot of the women that were there, I have been working with for the last year (some longer) and I am so proud and privileged to work with gorgeous women that are prepared to put in the work of great basics… and this weekend we witnessed, felt and enjoyed life changing moments with our horses 🤍

It’s simple, it’s meaningful, it’s subtle -

It’s not magic- it’s attention to detail and good basics. It looks easy, fluid, and boring. There need not be talking up of it, or hype, or feeding the student the belief that it’s mystical or something that it isn’t.

But, if the student pays attention, if the student is receptive, it is deep. It’s profound in its simplicity, it touches every aspect of life. The magic is in the profound quiet of balance : how everything comes together with the smallest details done with care. It doesn’t boast or promote itself to be special, but it is moving, life changing and profound.

It doesn’t belong to me, to you, to anybody: they are simple truths that belong to the ages, repeated by those who looked and saw a horse, maybe worded another way- but a common thread runs through.

There is no need to talk it up, or make it into something bigger, because it’s bigger than life itself, and it’s secret is in humble details.

Part One - Last Month we had our First ‘Empowered Equine 2 Day Retreat’

My intention for the weekend was to invite these beautiful women into a space of relaxation, fun and deep connection!

Sometimes us humans, that deeply care about the connection with our horses first and foremost can get a little lost in the desiring to get everything ‘right’, not wanting to f**k it up and often blaming ourselves for any hiccups, it all gets a little serious…
When we take the pressure off, exhale and relax in to who we truly are, we connect more deeply to ourselves, each other and our horses… all the while having more fun ✨

This weekend was fun and deep and emotional and transformational…

And hard to put in to words…
I am beyond grateful for these women!
Part two coming soon…

My friends, we now have 2 rider places available for this clinic, unfortunately one of the riders horses will not be well enough to attend.

Do you fancy joining us? It promises to be an incredible weekend of learning with Eef Nibbelink - Academic Art of Riding
You will have massive breakthroughs in your training, connection and communication with your horse!

DM me for more info or to book 🤍

THE Bitless Bridle/Cavessons are here!!!
Gorgeous leather, beautifully made in England, Chain free padded cavesson nose and padded headpiece!

Available in Cob and Full Size,
£165

All details here (link also in comments) - https://mailchi.mp/4cf6247021a4/sjp-bitless-bridle

Possibly the sweetest horse in the world…
She belongs to my mum and isn’t she just gorgeous ♥️🤍🌹💫