CONTACT

Judith Smith

Stonehenge West Arabian Farm

Bethany, CT

(203) 393-1590

Judith's Bio

Judith Smith has been riding since she was five years old. She had some fine lessons during her early years, but most of her experience was informal trail riding on leased horses. In 1989, she was finally able to purchase her first horse, an Arabian Horse named Lyftoff. He has been an inspiration ever since.

Judith began her formal training at Teikyo Post University in 1995 when she returned to college as a sophomore transfer student in the Equine Program. Three years later she completed her work, earning a Bachelor of Science in Equine Management degree. Her main interest and focus with horses is communication - understanding and using the horse's natural body language and philosophy.

In 1997, Judith and Lyftoff participated in a five day training clinic conducted by John Lyons. They have also attended several training weekends with GaWaNi Pony Boy, plus numerous other clinics and events to learn about the interactions between a horse and the handler.

For a number of years Judith worked as the Assistant to the Equine Program Director for Post University (formerly Teikyo Post) in Waterbury, CT. She also gave seminars, private lessons, and taught a class for Post. She is a long-time member of the Post University Equine Resources Committee, The Bethany Horsemen, and the Bethany Horse Council. Judith is now concentrating on her own business, Horse and Handler, continuing the previous lesson/seminar format, and adding to her services an aid to help the horse's body heal itself, - the STS-2 Sumerel Therapy System (see Light Therapy).

The horse's natural way of communicating with body language intrigues Judith. As her education, both formal and through individual study, continued, she realized that there was a structure to the use of the round pen not clarified, understood, or taught. Judith began teaching private lesons in 1998, and shortly after began conducting seminars to educate people in the principles of communicating with a horse through body language, using the round pen as a classroom. For Judith, learning is both a joy and a life-long process. She enjoys sharing new insights and her knowledge with others.

Judith's 'teaching assistant' is Lyftoff, her 24 year old Arabian Horse. Purchased when he was 7 1/2 years old, Lyftoff had been kept as a backyard pet and knew only how to be led with halter and lead line. Judith began his training, only to discover that Lyftoff had much to teach her, too! They covered miles of trails and participated in local parades and horse events, each learning from the other. When Judith returned to college, Lyftoff went too. He is a 'graduate' of the Teikyo Post riding classes offered in the mid '90's, Hunt Seat Equitation I and II, Basic Dressage, and Introduction to Combined Training. Lyftoff's daughter, LiHi Heather, also assists in the Horse and Handler instructional effort.

Pictured on the Home Page is Judith on Lyftoff, ready for a winter trail ride. The bay is LiHi Heather. Lyftoff will carry Judith on the trail out; she will switch horses; and Heather will bring her home. Thus Judith exercises and enjoys two horses at the same time.