Meet Our Riding Instructor and Horse Trainer, Wendy Elwell
Wendy earned her Young Equestrian Association Advanced Rider Certification for assistant hunt seat riding instructor, training, and barn management from Western Michigan University in 1968. Following her certification, she worked for three years as a volunteer for the P.T. Chef Foundation Handicapped Riding Center. The riding center was the first of its kind in the United States and was an excellent opportunity to learn about different approaches for teaching children and adults how to ride.

Wendy also began studying dressage in 1968, and was able to study with a number of excellent dressage instructors. The most important influence on her was Jean Froissard who had been trained at the French Calvary School in Saumur, France. Mr. Froissard published books on dressage, equitation, jumping, and the history of classical riding. He emphasized the importance of listening to the horses and working in harmony with them. The methods taught resulted in happy and responsive horses and happier riders. Mr. Froissard taught clinics and coached Wendy on a bimonthly basis for several years and his influence has stayed with her throughout her life with horses.

During the time Wendy was studying dressage and doing volunteer work at the Chef Foundation she finished her Bachelors Degree at Western Michigan University in 1969, majoring in sculpture with minors in drawing, design, and painting. After graduating she was a permanent substitute art teacher at Battle Creek Michigan’s high school. Wendy found she enjoyed it and earned a teaching certificate in 1972, for teaching kindergarten through high school art, plus added a major in ceramics to her undergraduate degree. In 1976, she received a Masters Degree in Education from Western Michigan University with an emphasis on pottery and art history. Wendy taught art at Bloomingdale High School in Michigan from 1972 until 1980. The teaching experience further helped with her teaching and coaching of riding students and her appreciation of how differently people learn.

In 1980, Wendy moved to North Carolina with her husband, Dennis Bern, and established BernWell Pottery. During the 26 years the pottery was in operation, Wendy stayed involved with the horse community, riding, training, teaching riding lessons, and coaching. In 1993, she began to study Natural Horsemanship and continues to study it, finding Natural Horsemanship is complimentary to the training and philosophy of classical dressage, as well as any form of riding.

Wendy believes the partnership between horses and humans must come first in order for riders to develop the full potential of the horses and themselves as a team, regardless of the discipline they are in. The safest trail mount has faith in its rider as a good leader, as does the hunter/jumper, dressage horse, western riding horse, and it is also true for the driver and the wagon horse. We are constantly asking our horses to do things that are not natural for them and yet they willingly join up with us to perform these tasks. We need to be certain when we ask the horses to perform that we communicate very clearly and consistently and then allow them to do what is asked without accidental interference from us. The relationship between horses and riders begins with developing trust and building upon it.

Horsemanship begins on the ground when we first think about going out and walking up to a horse to put a halter on, therefore Wendy prefers to start students out with teaching new riders how to approach, halter, and lead a horse safely. They also learn how to handle a horse safely on the ground and in the saddle. She works with all levels of students to develop an independent seat and clear communication with the aids, helping them to “ask and allow” the horse to perform. It is important to her the student riders learn at a pace matched to them because everyone has different abilities. Also, the horses need to learn at their own pace and people often are not aware of the readiness level of their horses. It is important to her to take the time and be patient with the students and the horses in order to have a safe and positive learning environment.

Wendy enjoys working with beginning riders as well as riders who are more advanced. She will also assist people who would like to start their own horse under saddle using the Natural Horsemanship methods. The facility at Cedar Hill Farm is great for learning as it has a riding ring and trails making it an ideal place to develop into a horse-person, becoming a partner with the horse.