Dear Mel,
Thankyou to you and Tony for such a wonderful learning experience at Banyandah. I started to learn so much about myself in that few days it was just amazing and I couldn't believe the change in my horse when I got home. I rode him early the next morning .....his energy and ease of movement when getting the cattle in was like he was reading my mind. Our relationship has escalated to another level. It's just so special and to think he wasn't there physically with us (180kms) away in his paddock at home, yet our conection was still there the power of focus! Even my pain I feel I have been able to manage so much better
.-Tina Bell (NSW)

The ultimate Horsemanship experience at the beautiful Banyandah for 5 days (Oct) was just that the ultimate horsemanship experience. With my best intensions packed I enjoyed the unique expertise of both Tony and Mel, who are a brilliant instructor tag team. Firstly we were helped to SLOW DOWN, to acknowledge and connect with our horses and ourselves, this alone was very powerful. Tony and Mel through simulation and practical sessions were able to set up both the horse and the human Mentally, Emotionally, Physically and Spiritually to bring down barriers that were blocking true harmony. A great group of students attended, they were supportive, opened mined an a hole lot of FUN we laughed and learnt so much with each other. I want to thank Jane Reid for her warm and wonderful hospitality and sharing herself and “Banyandah” with us.
-Sue Storrier (Crookwell, NSW)

It was a ripper course...I was so glad that I was able to make it even for the short bit that I did.  It really blew my mind.  I must admit that if I hadnt seen the changes in Bobby...OR...participated in / witnessed the human demos (cups of water & love/hate paper), I would have thought it was too AiryFairy for me.  Anyway, I made some HUGE personal changes for a big skeptic, I didnt realise how much I have been suppressing my own emotions, I also didnt realise how wound up I was...so it was nice and relaxing to realise that I can wind down inside.
-Jodie Heald (VIC)

I started doing "natural horsemanship" a few years back after going to a Monty Roberts Clinic. I worked at a traditional horse riding centre and was allocated a horse ( read-lost a bet over a pool game) that they had been given as a "difficult" horse and no-one had had any amount of success with. It took me 2 full years to get my Parelli Level 1 as the horse had so many problems that to achieve safe partnership took a lot of patience (and wonderful support from Michelle Carter and the Nambucca Club!) The owners gave me the horse as a prize for all my hard work when i left. All seemed to be fine but no matter how much work i put in i never seemed to be making any further progress, i still had impulsion problems, lots of problems with canter either on the ground and when ridden, and while i felt safe there was certainly no harmony and no sight of refinement. I even (shock, horror) turned to traditional methods for answers but that didn't help. I was getting reluctant to take the horse to any events as the horse seemed to be getting more cranky the harder i tried. Eventually I took my horse to one of Mel's informal days at Moonbi where she took one look at the horse and suggested he might be having some physical problems and booked me in there and then for a clinic with Tony. I also attended a riding clinic and she suggested where my saddle was possibly causing some problems.
Well, in the last 6 months i have changed the saddle, continued using the Bodywork concepts regularly, changed the feeding, and had riding sessions to put into practice the theory from the clinic ( thank you Jenny Blair and Spooky for a humbling but highly entertaining lesson in steering dynamics!) and i have a completely new horse!
I realise that the "problems" that i had were not problems but just symptoms and the horse was trying to be honest in his feedback. i thought my horsemanship skills were good enough to know what to do but Mel has started to fill in the blanks about why to do it and when. I was missing the knowledge to look at the problems from outside the usual square and now I can finally see that when the horse is free of physical restrictions, confident, emotionally connected to you and ridden in a way that makes sense to him then all the other parts just come without trying. It's not about the canter, it's not about the flying changes and its not about collection, if there are no physical and mental barriers between the horse and rider then I can personally testify the canter will be easier, the changes just come and the collection will be offered. Even campdrafting was successful!
Obviously things still don't go to plan every day- my horse and I change every day- but now I'm learning to read the feedback from the horse more accurately and try to change things accordingly.
I will certainly be going to Mel's clinics again to keep increasing my knowledge and fill in more of those blanks.
Its just a shame I didn't do it earlier!
-Althea Lean ( Alfie) and "Pickle" ( Uralla NSW)

Hi Mel,
I have been meaning to write to you and Tony to thank YOU.  The week was just fantastic!  What you teach is so Banyandah.  It combines horsemanship and energy work in a way which changes people and horses forever.  The changes are embedded!  I feel completely different now about my connection to horses as well as to my body position when on them.  I made the shift, but it was you both who made it safe and opened the pathways to do this.  THANK YOU.
Jane Reid ( Howlong, NSW)

Hi Mel and Tony
Thanks so much for such an inspirational 5 days. It was amazing!  It certainly has filled in some gaps in my understanding and relationship with my horses. I am able to look at my horse and understand a little more about why things have been difficult for them and  me. It is such a new awareness! Not to mention the self awareness issues!! It was great to be able to feel more in time with my horses movements, not to mention feeling taller!! I am looking forward to the changes I can help Sprite with. When he came to me he was rather zoned out. He had a very blank expression and was just switched off. Through our understanding he has learned to look for the rewards and play again. Now hes teaching me to look further! 
Anne Gaddes ( New Zealand)

After doing lots of friendly passenger game, with my bareback pad on (because my saddle is in sydney!) I moved on to giving some direction, pedalling and moving each hand with the front legs focusing and guiding the leading leg as we go. Bloody brilliant!! All braces in me and in Oscar fading away, fantastic stuff!! You have no idea how excited I am! I have owned him for 2 years now and finally I feel like I may be able to ride my horse instead of sitting on his back being tense and making him feel the same way. I feel he's starting to listen to my ideas of direction instead of bracing against them. It is so cool!!
Louisa Ellison and Oscar. (Orange, NSW)

“Mel’s clinic was fantastic. I learnt so much about how my horse should move, and how I can influence her to move better. I also learned to ride more harmoniously. By working on improving both aspects the outcome is amazing. Mel is a very skilled instructor and I cannot recommend this clinic highly enough.”
- Anne Marie Stringer (Adelaide)