There aren't too many riding instructors who can say they trained under the legendary Gordon Wright, revered as the founding father of hunter seat horsemanship--but Phyllis Kane is one such rare person. Besides the five years she spent at Wright Way Farm in South Carolina, Phyllis also trained with George Morris, the current chef d'equipe of the U.S. Olympic Team. For over 20 years she has been bringing to her students the wealth of knowledge and experience that she gleaned from those early formative years.
Though her instruction is not geared entirely towards showing, she has taken her students to the highest level of competition, qualifying for the Medal, Maclay, PHA, and USET Finals as well as the National Pony Hunter Finals, Pony Medal Finals, and Zone 2 Hunter Finals, where one of her students rode to the reserve championship. Teaching both children and adults, Phyllis believes the most important aspect of teaching is safety which is accomplished by emphasizing strong basics. She does not believe in overfacing riders, but instead she gives them the tools they need, along with encouragement, to be the best riders they can be while enjoying themselves and having fun.
Phyllis also instills consideration of the horse in all her lessons. "I teach my students to look at riding and any particular situation, not from their own point of view, but from that of their horse's."
Beautiful Day Farm is located at Mecox Bay Farm and offers boarding and lessons for all levels. For beginners, the farm has several experienced school horses that have been to the finals and are perfect mounts to help a new rider get started the "Wright" way.
- B.G.M.
