MeLissa Tindall, USDF Bronze Medalist

We welcome Melissa to our farm family!

Melissa Tindall has been riding horses for 40 years and earned her USDF Bronze medal on her self-trained mare. She is the Coach of the UConn Dressage team, has managed and been head trainer for several young horse training and sales barns, but her true passion is teaching. 

She was an apprentice with FEI rider and USDF Instructor faculty member Melanie Tenney, where she went through the British Horse Society Instructor Training Program. 

Melissa began her riding career in hunter jumper and eventing but has concentrated on dressage for the last 25 years. She focuses on positive teaching and training methods utilizing in-hand work, in addition to mounted work, to encourage connection and understanding of both students and horses. She is currently competing at 4th level in dressage and schooling Prix St. George with the goal of earning her USDF Silver Medal. 

She has ridden in clinics, lessons, and demonstrations with many national and international instructors, including Jan Ebeling (US Dressage Olympian), Eric Horgan (Irish Eventing Olympian), David Marcus (Canadian Eventing Olympian) and many more. These influences and her interest in the biomechanics of riding have helped shape how she teaches and trains today.

Private Hour- $80 per week per hour

*Ship-ins are welcome and school horses are also available

Hour can include any of the following (or combination of):

·Mounted lesson in either dressage, western dressage or jumping/polework

·Unmounted lesson for student to learn- classical dressage based in hand work, lunging and/or long lining

· Training ride by Melissa (horse evaluation session required first if new student)

· Groundwork Training Session by Melissa - classical dressage based in hand work, lunging and/or long lining

Semiprivate/Group Hour - $60 per week per hour

Students and horses need to be similar in level. Ship-ins are welcome. If using a school horse PFEC will try to find an appropriate group. Group placement is first come first serve with a maximum of 4 students. Group lessons can consist of the following:

· Mounted lesson in either dressage, western dressage or jumping/polework

· Unmounted lesson for students to learn classical dressage based in hand work

 *Several Lesson and Training Packages available.  Please reach out for details. 

*Training Board is currently also available. 

 *There is a 175lb weight limit for riding and several diagnostic contraindications.

Payment Info:

• Payments can be made via Venmo (@Tamatha-Peck-1 or 860-771-0071) 
• Check (made out to Peck's Farm)
• Credit Cards (CC processing fees apply-call for payment) 
• Cash 

*Please note that there is a $10.00 late fee (administrative fee) for payments not made on or before the day of services. 

*24-hour cancellation notice is required.

Besides riding instruction, Melissa specializes in unmounted training techniques aimed at creating a better partnership and understanding of the aids. Groundwork can benefit horses and riders of all levels of training and disciplines by clarifying the lightness and timing of aids while being able to see from the ground. Unmounted work helps the student and horse develop better balance, connection, focus and understanding of the aids needed in mounted work to achieve a true partnership and light aids. Transitions, ring figures and basic lateral movements can be taught at the walk and basic trot work in hand to get you started!

If you are around horses you do some form of groundwork!

Lunging,  longlining, leading, ground driving and all in hand work.

· Safety

· Communication

· Training

• Allows you to change your horses body language and create suppleness and focus
• Safer alternative to riding through fresh behavior
• Can address problems with horses biting, crowding, kicking, pushing
• Develop a leadership role to reduce horses anxiety, spookiness or nervousness under saddle
• Teaches horses to trust and follow their human leader and eliminate trailering and mounting problems
• Allows handlers to learn the timing of aids for lateral movements while being able to see horses body position from the ground.
• Horses learning lateral movements learn more quickly from the ground. They already know how to move laterally in everyday stable management