Confidence and capability are keywords in 20 year old hunter/jumper trainer Andrew Casey’s philosophy. “Everything I do is geared toward that,” says Andrew, who moved his growing business from Malibu to Southland Farm in Agoura Hills last summer. “Confidence comes from knowledge, experience and understanding to create competence.” That’s not just talk for the likeable and talented young professional.
Since opening his barn two years ago, the Pony Club protégé has built his business with the same degree of patience, practicality and thoroughness that are hallmarks of his teaching and training style.
He foresees that most of the riders in his 20-horse barn will focus mainly on Southern California’s B circuit this year, with carefully plotted forays to a few A-rated competitions. That was the main mode for students in Andrew Casey Show Jumping in 2007. With typically two shows a month and regular visits to all the Interscholastic Equestrian League events, the plan moved everyone along nicely in their riding goals. This year, four students are targeting the Onondarka Medal Finals.
“I try to place my students where they’ll do well and be happy,” he says. “We’re not the barn where every kid goes to the A shows, whether they’re ready or not.” Andrew anticipates that many of his show-oriented riders will be ready for a shift to more time on the A circuit next year. He looks forward to that, but admits that the main rewards of his work are not tied to a certain circuit. “When you can relay a passion and excitement to your students and see them take on that same feel in their riding and horsemanship, it’s very cool,” he explains. “Seeing the work we do at home pay off is very rewarding.”
Andrew prides himself on taking an individualized approach to each horse and rider. “Any program with a horse and rider needs to acknowledge that there are two living beings involved,” he says. “Anyone who tries to tell you there is one way to fix a given problem is lying. There are always many ways to address something. Of course you try to stick to certain methods, but you start at the top of the list and go down.”
Knowledge Rules
Horsemanship knowledge is another keyword at Andrew Casey Show Jumping. “Riders who completely understand what’s going on every second that they are riding their horse are more comfortable,” he says. All horses in his care are in a full-grooming service, but even the busiest student, who doesn’t often have time to tack up her own horse, learns why the horse was put in a particular bit that day or lunged before a lesson. In conveying such information, Andrew makes his do-it-yourself Pony Club upbringing practical for today’s time-pressed riders. “Even those who can’t be so involved with their horse’s daily care will get the knowledge of why things were done the way they were done.”
Andrew taught Pony Club students for several years, then spent one year as an assistant to dressage trainer Jane Arrasmith. Since going into business for himself, initially at Zacharosa Ranch in Malibu, Andrew has honed his ability to match horses and riders. “It’s a matter of finding the strong and weak points of both the horse and the rider and making sure that they match up perfectly,” he says. He has a wide range of students and several lesson horses who’ve taken their charges from beginning lessons to first show seasons as leased mounts.
In his own riding, the Grand Prix ring is one of Andrew’s major long-term goals. He bought a 6 year old Irish Warmblood, McKinley, last year and is enjoying bringing him along. He expands his own learning curve by clinicing whenever he can, most recently including a session with USET chef d’equipe George Morris. “I loved it!” he says of his time with the famously tough taskmaster. As his own riders progress, Andrew looks forward to steering them toward clinics, too. “I think it’s important that riders have reached a level of consistency before putting them in that situation. They need to know how to mix and match what they’re being taught.”
Andrew had been happy at the beautiful and somewhat secluded Zacharosa Ranch, but is fully enjoying his new base at the busier equestrian center, Southland Farm. He likes mixing with other professionals and he and his students love the indoor ring that facilitates riding in any weather.
For more information on Andrew Casey Show Jumping, call 818-312-1474 or e-mail andrewcaseysj@sbcglobal.net.
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