Kelly Lambresse and Dude

Jennifer Kopp

TESTIMONIALS AND
SUCCESS STORIES:

Dear Don and Rachel,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming to Rhode Island and for having such an incredible clinic. As an aspiring level three Parelli student, I am hungry for knowledge and have a deep desire to be the best horsewoman possible. The clinic was a great learning experience and addressed all levels students and horses, and everyone safely worked at our own ability without feeling any sense of competition. Your approach to teaching allows everyone to excel and to try new tasks while feeling supported and not judged. This is a true testament to the environment you both created- it is possible to be out of the box and have your hand held while you are out there.

It was wonderful to clean up some of the holes in my skills and to learn new approaches to old obstacles such as girthing. I understand “taking the time it takes,” but three years of cinching issues had me at the end of my tools. By the end of the two day clinic I could feel my horse say “will you just please tighten up my girth” - a simple task - but ever so important to building a great respecting relationship with my horse.

Thank you both for your commitment to learning, so that now we as students get to enjoy the experience and draw from your extensive knowledge base. Your years of learning shows in your skills and light approach - it is amazing how much you can get done with such lightness.

I am excited and enthused to say that I have decided to pursue my passion for learning with you both and have signed up to be a gold success pathway student. I believe if you surround yourself with the best you will become the best. It feels great to be supported while making my dreams come true.

You both are truly blessed and have the incredible gift to teach and I am honored to be your student. It was such a wonderful experience.

Thank you,Kelly and Dude

"I have been to three clinic's and I truly believe I learned more in the one hour lessons then the three clinic's. You are both excellent teachers and I really wish you guys will come back soon and often." M Chappell, RI

"Your instruction was very clear and I especially appreciated the repetition of steps of skills. For me to physically repeat the phases and do the action was very important." M Gaffney, RI

"I learned so much from these two days. I learned how to improve the simplest tasks, to better prepare myself for level 3. I had such a great time." M Chaplin, RI

"This has been a most enjoyable weekend. It's wonderful to see so many people learn so much to furher their relationship with their horses. Don and Rachel - you guys were aewsome!! J Chappell

"I cannot tell you how much I value what you taught me and helped me discover in April in Ocala--and it has little to do with horses.  The most important lessons have been about personal growth, leadership, staying the course and trusting myself.  Studying horsemanship with you was simply the path to these lessons(and what a fun path!).  Thank you for investing your time with me, for caring for me, and for celebrating my achievments with me. I will always be grateful to you for all these gifts and always pray that you will be blessed in return one hundred times over.

"The life altering impact of the fear makeover I did with Don has yet to leave me, and the confidence I gained in that short session(the beginning of which you saw when I rode my last two days in Ocala), has catapulted me to a state of mind now where fear--fear of failure, fear of injury, fear of mistakes-- is no longer the reigning emotion, and that has allowed my learning and enjoyment of Prince and of most other aspects of my life to expand enormously.  Fear is such a hobbling emotion and I never realized how damaging it is and how it stunts one's growth and imagination.  I was very self conscious that morning of the makeover.  People make all kinds of assumptions about me because I am a doctor, a trauma surgeon--nothing should scare me, right?  Well receiving a patient with a knife sticking out of his chest doesn't scare me, but the thought of riding my horse certainly did.  So I was embarrased that day in Ocala--embarassed to admit my fear, feeling quite childish.  But I realized that I would not benefit unless I was honest, even if it meant admitting my fear publically and never riding my horse.  Up to that day, I tried my best to watch enough DVD's, go to enough clinics and study with enough instructors to find the confidence and lose the fear, never realizing that I was looking for relief in the wrong direction--outside myself.  That day, I learned to look to myself.  During my year studying Parelli, you had given me the tools (most importantly, how to read the horse), and Don reminded me to trust myself and to be trustworthy to myself.  That morning I felt such a load lift from my shoulders and for the first time, not only did I love Prince, I liked him, because I gave up all my expectations.  I guess I had always done all my Parelli tasks with the intent that it would make him "ready to ride".  Truly that day I learned a deeper meaning of "it's not about the...":  it's not even about the relationship so that you can ride safely or be a competent horseman; it's just about the relationship, period.

"What is most beautiful is all that I have learned on account of my time with you will make me a better parent.  You have empowered me.  You taught me about recognizing boundaries so as to excelerate learning; about acknowledging and managing fear; about celebrating the small victories; and about manifesting and visulating the positive endpoints.  Now I am better equipped to start my daughter from a position of strength--it took me 40 years to get here, but imagine where she will go starting from a place ahead of the curve?  You are truly wonderful people.  Thank goodness for that day one and a half years ago when I bought the "wrong" horse! xoxo, Your biggest fans." Cathy Dudick and Prince

"Wonderful information, super at giving direction, correction and praise. I would love to see you again." K Shannon, CA

"I am amazed at the changes in me and in my mare since working with the two of you for just a couple of hours.  I really felt that you were sincere in your interest of helping our relationship progress, and you were incredibly supportive and insightful to work with.  Everything I do now with my mare has a calmer, more agreeable feeling to it.  She has softened and become far more responsive than ever before.  I can’t tell you what a pleasure the transformation has been, and I have you to thank directly for helping us get here!  Thank you.

As instructors, I am impressed with the way in which the two of you complement each other.  You support one another’s ideas and teachings in a way that offers students double the perspective on the same idea.  Your passion comes through your teaching, and I found your generosity of spirit and time to be remarkable.

Thank you for your kindness, humor, and knowledge: I look forward to more time together in the future!"

Jennifer Kopp

Napa, CA July 3-4, Executive Director, Napa Valley Grapegrowers

"I attended a Level 1 clinic with Don and Rachel Jessop in Minden NV  in July 2007 with my new 8 year TWH. This horse had been out to pasture for 3 years without human contact prior to my recieving him. He was afraid of everything!  During the two days with the Jessops, I was taught some tools and techniques that gave me the ability to be a better leader for my horse. By working with these tools and the professional yet very compassionate guidance we recieved from Don gave my horse and I the opportunity to work through some of his fright/flight responses and my confidence issues. We grew closer as partners and definetly increased the level of trust we have in each other.  I will continue to work with the Jessops through our PNH journey. They are exactly the kind of teachers and mentors I've been looking for!"
Cindy Hartzell, Truckee,CA. Veterinary Technican and Business Owner

"It was a great experience, I learned so much just as an observer. Will take this home and apply it. Thank you." Sherry Martin, WA, Customer Data Technician

"Great clinic! Don and Rachel are both very pleasant, knowledgable and great instructors! Thank you for coming to Olympia and you need to come back!"
Kim Mason, WA, Personal Assistant

"Loved it, learned so much about the big points and the fine points. Have a strategy!"Jean Roberge, WA, Graphic Designer

"Thank you so much for your time and patience. I feel my horse and I are better for this experience."Debbie Wilder, WA

"Now I know that I have to keep my horse responsible for their position. That will help with a lot of situations. Now I can work on patterns so Quincy can relax and we can both have fun."Catherine Linn, WA

"I wanted to thank Rachel in particular for the fantastic time learning.  Each passing day I realize more and more how much I really learned.  I have been working on the 5 riding tasks and already a huge improvement in our trotting of the pattern, so very soon you will see a video.  Bella and I cannot thank you enough for everything you shared."  Take care, Robbie and Bella, NV

"Now that my horse and I are home, we are really recognizing the extent of what we learned from you and it keeps expanding. Thanks to you, I have become fascinated about reading the horse and being in the moment with her and I often have your words in my head helping me to remember. Thank you for teaching me the importance of focus and awareness and for chipping away at the brace in us and showing us what is possible. That is what's been truly empowering. Thank you for helping totally change the way I play with, read and understand my horse.

Thank you for helping push me to have a real breakthrough in myslef. when I was having my meltdown, trying to sit the bareback trot. I thought I would never ever get it. You helped me to really understand that it is not about the bareback trot and that being direct line and self ciritcal never helps. Now that I really understand how to focus on our relationship first my horse is offereing a beautiful trot that I can sit to with ease and I will never forget you for helping me find this feeling." Sarah Grim & Lilly, VT

"I audited a Don Jessop clinic in Pennsylvania yesterday.  I went to see how Don would be in the clinic format as I had been impressed with his teaching and horsemanship at the Florida ISC.  He did not disappoint me.  His kind, soft and focused approach to horses and students is inspirational.  I came home excited to try to see how soft I could be to get my horse to respond with lightness and enthusiasm.   I look forward to seeing Don and Rachel again in the future." Fleta Sokal

"Rachel your instruction felt like what I see Linda do in her video. Positive information without criticism. You built upon the knowledge I had. Each session ended with tasks for me to take home and create improvement within my own time frame. This was the best instruction I have had yet." Kris Wells, Veterianian, WA

"I experienced huge breakthroughs with Cheswick and cannot wait to build on it all. I've never had such positive experiences with her, it was a most productive and satisfying weekend. As I mentioned, I've been trying for years, with countless different "techniques", and spending hours with dressage trainers to try to get Cheswick to respond to my seat instead of barging forward until I have no choice but to use the reins, and finally, Don, with your help it actually happened! :)

"We were both so very impressed with how much we learned over the weekend, and with you as an outstanding teacher: the way you applied the various techniques for including all the key phrases in your teaching really helped those concepts sink in." Jessica Sinnott, PA

Don - A million words can not express all the gratitude I have for what I have learned from you this past weekend at Lisa's. Calla and I are a new transformed team of hrose and rider only to get better with each step now we have some very important concepts ingrained in our minds. From day one the first time I ever went to a Parelli tour stop a few years ago, I felt I had finally come home to a way of being with horses that I had always dreamed of. And now to finally learn from a professionally trained instructor on how to connect with you horses and pinpoint some areas lacking...I feel completely different!

You are a truly gifted teacher...Your teaching style and techniques made it so much easier for me to understand and learn (with the repetition, simulations and breaking it down into small steps)...Thank you thank you for being the most positive teacher...You made us all feel so comfortable and at ease and yet you targeted our strengths and our areas of need individually - what a great eye! I had so much fun and learned so much. Now I have so much to move forward with. I still am amazed with just 2 simple games that you helped me to change my leadership and create a whole new relationship with Calla. (My other young horse didn't know who I was when I began to play with him the next day after our clinic with you. I have never had so much connection and respect as a leader with him.)

I really wish you and Rachel lived much closer, but I am so excited you and Rachel will be returning in the spring. Thank you again for being one of the best teachers I have had so far in my life...you are a true inspiration...it was a life changing experience for me. Take care and sincerely Dana, PA