Since a very young age, I always loved horses, although I was not at all a country girl. However, at the age of 14, I was able to convince my parents to let me take riding lessons.
Equitation training was very strict, very focused on basics, with in mind all the principles of “La Haute Ecole” and Francois Robichon de La Gueriniere. Dressage was the base of all equitation lessons, and this remains for me the key to successful riding and competition achievements.
Medical school and practice after that kept me away from riding for many years, but I was always ready to get on a horse if the opportunity presented. An enormous change in our family life, provided me the opportunity to get back in the saddle in 2004; with my husband and my 3 children, we moved, “temporarily,” to the United States. Years later we are still here, love it and enjoy every moment.
In 2007, I became the proud owner of Ambre, a very well bred Arab, 19 years old at the time. With him I spent nearly all my mornings trail riding in the beautiful woods around metro Cleveland. Ambre helped my 3 children to get confidence and adventurous minds outside the comfort of a closed riding arena. He is still with us and still enjoys his outings, even though he is less spirited than he was before, but he is the Perfect horse!
My 3 children became progressively members of the IEA over the years. Those years in the IEA, as a parent, taught me a lot about horses, equitation, conformation, behaviors…
In 2012, we acquired Baxter a 10 YO thoroughbred, full of energy and quite embarrassed by his body, but his willingness to learn and do well compensates for the rest. He taught a lot to Heloise. He is the Perfect teacher!
In 2014, a new turn happened in my horsewoman life: Barry Dornon, horseman of exception, crossed my path when our relations with Baxter were becoming a bit problematic. This guy has a sense for horse’s emotions and feelings like I never found before. In one day, he turned Baxter into a very obedient and relaxed horse. I had heard of Buck Brannaman, but seeing what this kind of horsemanship is capable of doing was very enlightening. After that I couldn’t stop reading all Buck’s books, watching his “7 Clinics”, and finally met him in person in Livingston, MT in 2015. What a great rider! He dances with the horses, literally.
That same year, I became friends with another great horseman of a different kind, French like me, who can understand my equitation background. Alain Seheut took the challenge of training Baxter to his best potential, willing to trust him and giving him the confidence he needs to achieve what nobody would think he could: jumping a 3’6 course.
Finally but not least, in 2015, I became the lucky owner of a colt by Soprano o/o Balouette du Rouet, bred by Alain Seheut. He is very gentle and well behaved, thanks to the training sessions he had with Barry, Pierre and now me. We are very excited to see how he will develop and maybe become the Perfect stallion.
And the family is still growing…
From medicine to horsemanship there were just a few steps, many years and a lot of love, passion and dedication to those beautiful animals.
I hope AOPF Stables will reach and exceed your expectations.
Have a safe and beautiful ride,
Florence Germain