Silversand Horsemanship

My journey with horses started thanks to my younger sister who had always been dreaming about having a horse. She’d talk about it all the time, so I also had to try. “There must be something about it”, I thought. And there surely was! Many years later I am still doing it!

In my horsey history I was a groom, riding instructor and therapeutic riding instructor. For three years I was working with stunt horses preparing them for movies and shows.

Few years ago I met two very special mares that changed my life with horses. They were both very intelligent, sensitive and… difficult and I couldn’t cope with them using my traditional skills. They made me think and seek for new solutions, work more on myself and learn. One of these mares is my horse now. She’s still a great teacher.

In the year 2002 I had opportunity to spend a month with Mr. Wojciech Mickunas learning horsemanship from him. Some time later he lent me Steve’s Basic Programme and videos of Philip Nye and Magic. I was thrilled. I knew I had to learn it. I took my mare to Steve’s clinic in Poland. I ended up coming to Australia and staying in Silversand Horsemanship Centre for few months. Kindness of Irena and Steve and all the people and animals I had opportunity to meet there made this part of my life very special. I hope to be able to return regularly to develop my horsemanship further.

My experience with horses over the years and things I learned in Silversand taught me to be more humble and appreciate small steps and changes. My goal now is to learn to understand horses better and work on my horsemanship skills in as many areas connected with horses as possible.

Monika Damec
?omianki k/Warszawy
Poland
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mobile 0048 0601963146

I started to ride when I was 10 years old. I did some jumping and dressage and at the age of 23 I bought my own first horse.

It was a 2 year old, un-started, warm blood mare who turned out to be quite a big challenge to me and with whom I wasn't able to get on using my previously obtained skills. She was very emotional, panicked pretty quickly and we had a big problem with trailer loading. None of the so called "traditional people" known to me at that time were able tobgive me any clues on how to improve our relationship and communication.

A few years ago I was asked to be a translator during the first PNH clinic which took part in my region and in this way my new horsemanship journey began.

In 2004 we founded with a few friends of mine the Society of Natural Horsemanship which main goal is to make the world a better place for horses through promoting good horsemanship and partner approach towards these wonderful animals. Our motto is an Arabian proverb: "Win thy horse's heart first, then speaketh to his brain, thou will be then able to exploit his strength".

We decided that one of our activities would consist in organizing clinics with different horsemen in our area and in this way I met Steve and Irena in 2005 during the first Silversand Horsemanship clinic in South Poland. I was impressed by the way Steve was able to communicate with horses and help people to understand them better.

I took my mare to the clinic with Steve in 2006 and in 2007 I was able to spend a few weeks in the Silversand Horsemanship Centre as a working student. I learned a lot during these few weeks, but I realized how much I had learned when I was back in Poland and started to ride many different horses and started to do more teaching as well. I also realized that the horsemanship is a life long journey and I decided to fly again to Australia to Steve and Irena in 2008.

I was very pleased to be asked to become an Associate Instructor, as I believe in the Silversand philosophy and I would like to try to help as many people as possible to understand their horses better to make the world a better place for these wonderful animals.

Address:

ul. Kajty 7
31-463 Krakow
+48 503 563 750
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