Testimonials

"Bridget Nolan is far and away the best trainer that I've ever had for my Welsh Ponies. She has the ability to bring them to their full potential, and do it in a way that keeps them happy and loving every minute of their training, so they end up becoming truly fantastic children's Hunter ponies in every way. I've been breeding top quality Welsh Ponies for over 24 years now, and I've had my share of experience with trainers. Bridget Nolan’s is the only place where I'll be sending my ponies now, and in the foreseeable future."

                                     -         Elisabeth Utting, owner at Maranatha Meadows

 "I have spent years loving horses and studying training styles.  It is a special person who brings compassion and understanding to horses and humans, and brilliance to training and riding.  Bridget Nolan combines all the best secrets with brilliant ideas, smiles and enthusiasm;   it is training with heart and smarts!

Four years ago I found myself the 40 year old proud owner of a baby thoroughbred mare.  My childhood dream come true.  “Sweety” is an unraced rescue.  She trained up beautifully as a promising hunter-jumper but presented us with puzzling lameness issues. We saw vet after vet, trainer after trainer.  Sweety endured 6 weeks of stall rest, shoes on, shoes off, tests for EPM and Lymes…the list was expensive and without result. Ultimately I had her on field rest for 6 months in despair.  However I have learned there are two roads that lead to Rome, one is a step and the other, 3000 miles…

Meeting Bridget Nolan was that step. I was facing defeat and exhaustion…our last trainer said Sweety would "never be sound" and that we were "wasting our time…too many issuses, she’s finished" he said…"you ought to just put her down…"  Bridget hugged me, and looked at me with her bright blue eyes…I’ll never forget her words, “that is ridiculous.  Let’s just start with what we have, and go from the facts”.  Within 3 weeks, Sweety was a different horse. Bridget sifted through the negative defeatist nonsense, the misinformation that labeled Sweety as unsound.  She systematically adjusted feeds, shoeing and patterning with extreme attention to little details others might not have seen.  These tiny details revealed a sound (and I mean sound!), lovely, 7  year old who loves her “job” and is now ready to show!  Sweety is magnificent, sound, moving out, jumping and developing muscle…in addition, all of her “resistance” to training has left! She is happy and comfortable!

Bridget’s formula begins with an unswerving focus on the goal…with smart and consistent food supplementation, corrective shoeing and careful attention to behavioral changes, we have quickly, affordably and accurately fixed our girl.

Our 9 year old daughter is now fortunate enough to be training with Bridget.  As a trainer, Bridget is a lovely woman with her “eye on the prize”, a firm but loving heart and a dead-on  eye for corrections that work!  She is a role model for all…including the mother on the ground!  As my daughter says, “it is awesome to just do what Bridget suggests…it ALWAYS works!!” 

My mother always pressed me to be an “uncommon woman."  Bridget Nolan is surely that…Bridget’s magical language is never impatient or tired…she bridges the equine and human experience making training for both pony and rider pure music.  An uncommon woman who rides as beautifully as she teaches…Bridget’s enthusiasm builds confidence in both horse and rider. It is rare to be in the presence of “the best that there is”…if you are fortunate enough to work with Bridget Nolan, you are in the presence of pure brilliance and in my opinion, “the best that there is”!

 -                Christine McGowan Malvern, Pa