Heidi Potter is an internationally known and respected Trainer, Clinician, Instructor and Author, sharing over 50 years of horse experience. Her teaching and training is strongly influenced by her practice in traditional Eastern Martial Arts. She is a Centered Riding© Clinician, Senior Horse Speak® Instructor, Holistic Horsemanship Trainer and CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) Master Instructor/Certifier.
Heidi feels blessed to have learned directly from her neighboring friend, mentor and the founder of Centered Riding, Ms. Sally Swift. Sally’s work beautifully and effectively blends Heidi’s experience with Eastern philosophies into her horsemanship practice. The Centered Riding basics of Soft Eyes, Breathing, Centering and Balance, along with Grounding and Awareness, lead to amazing results both, on the ground and in the saddle. Heidi has assisted riders of all levels and disciplines improve comfort, communication, confidence & competence in the saddle. She has experience working with a variety of horses including gaited breeds.
Heidi’s Holistic Horsemanship approach to training evolved from her education in Natural Horsemanship and her subsequent search for a calmer, softer, more empathetic approach to creating lasting relationships. She was driven by her desire to improve behaviors, safely create boundaries, earn mutual respect and establish connection, all while focusing on enrichment, for both horses and humans. Students across the globe have benefitted by her teachings and have been successful in building safer, more trusting, respectful and enjoyable partnerships with their equine friends.
In March of 2017 she began working with Sharon Wilsie, founder and author of the book, Horse Speak, The Equine-Human Translation Guide and Horses In Translation. Sharon’s step-by-step equine translation program has opened new doors for horse owners, trainers, instructors, rescue horse operations and those in the equine therapy profession. In late 2018 Heidi had became a Senior Horse Speak Instructor/Clinician and joined Sharon and Laura Wilsie to form the Horse Speak Educational and Certification Program. Visit SharonWilsie.com.
Heidi and her Cheval Canadian Riley enjoy pleasure riding, trails, liberty play and competing in Western Dressage. Their training in Western Dressage helps them both focus on improving fitness and mindfully working up the dressage training scale. Since they began in late 2016 they have enjoyed rewards:
NAWDA 2016 High Point Trax Live
Competition-Open Division-Intro Level
WNEPHA 2017 Reserve Champion-High Point Professional Division-Intro Level
WNEPHA 2018 Reserve Champion Professional Division & High Point-Intro Level
Northeast Western Dressage Champion 2018-Intro Level
Northeast Western Dressage Reserve Champion 2019-Basic Level
WNEPHA 2019 Champion Professional Division & High Point Professional Overall-Basic Level
WMADA 2019 Division Champion-Basic Level