I was 9 years old, looked at my instructor and suddenly I knew:
this is what I want to be when I grow up!
Hi, I'm Rosan.
A visual thinker who quickly makes unexpected connections; my children say I should write a book called "My Strange Associations."
I can't go a day without tea.
I love action, I like to be busy AND I'm very good at doing nothing.
It's possible I never fully grew up, because my favorite books are children's books.
At one point my parents were still hopeful that horses would just be a phase.
Riding lessons were too expensive, so I started my journey at the library, where I read every horse book 10 times. For practical training, I practiced on a chair with homemade reins and stirrups.
This attitude to life characterizes me: I always find a way.
When I was finally allowed to take riding lessons at age 9, I was thrilled. Already during my first lessons, I realized - it really was a knowing - I want to be an instructor!
Soon, though, I started to feel uncomfortable with the way things were at the riding school.
Most af all, I wanted to understand and comprehend the horses, so I could build a bond with them. But that wasn't what I learned there. I had to be "the boss," and the horse just had to obey.
I didn't want it that way.
I looked for other ways, found those, and tried them out. First on the riding school ponies and later also on the ponies of others that I cared for.
I was often told that I was ‘too nice’ to the horses and the other children thought I was a bit strange.
But I felt from the ponies that it was right.
It soon became clear that I had a bit of a knack for horses. I started seeking out horses that were struggling. I noticed I was getting better at reading them and I could actually help them.
I became very fascinated by the work of Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, who combined a natural connection with training in collection.
With my own horse, Ciaran, I was finally able to put everything into practice. But it was incredibly challenging at first. I thought I was good with horses, but my horse didn't want to do anything.
And with Hempfling and all those other horse people, it all seemed to come naturally. I often cried because I felt like a failure.
I wanted to feel a heartfelt connection with my horse so badly, but he mainly ran away.
I didn't feel at home with 'regular' instructors and I also believed I had to solve it myself.
Until I really didn't know what to do anymore, and I decided to take lessons from someone who thought like me.
This was a turning point.
For the first time I felt what a good instructor can do:
To give you the feeling that you don't have to do it all alone. That you get a hand on your back, so to speak, making your bumpy learning process a lot easier and you feel more and more confident in the choices you make for your horse.
I took a deep dive into all kinds and forms of 'Natural Horsemanship', which was booming at the time.
I became fascinated by the academic art of riding and the knowledge of the old grand masters.
This combination of connecting with your horse AND seriously working according to the teachings of the old grand masters ultimately led me to Straightness Training.
This is where I came home.
Not that I was done learning then. Haha, quite the opposite! When I first started Straightness Training (ST), I felt like a beginner. There was still so much I didn't know!
At the same time, everything fell into place. I had gathered a lot of puzzle pieces, but thanks to ST, I was able to put them all together. It fit seamlessly with what I was already feeling and doing.
In short, I was hooked. And from here, things took off.
I started with Marijke de Jong's (founder of Straightness Training) online program, took lessons with her with Ciaran, and joined her instructor training.
I graduated as an ST Instructor (Grade 2), and at the same time, Marijke asked me to become her personal assistant. I got to know Marijke and ST very closely and have been 'close to the fire' for over 10 years.
Besides teaching hands-on in the Netherlands and Belgium, I'm learning to evaluate online videos and teaching combinations all over the world this way. I've seen people and horses from literally every continent!
In addition, I become Mentor Instructor for ST trainee Instructors, and I teach already graduated instructors.
On top of that, I also coach and guide other (Mentor) Instructors in online teaching and evaluation.
Because I often found life complicated myself – I haven't been born in the easiest family constellation – I have always been very concerned with personal development and dealing with emotions, stress, trauma healing, and physical limitations.
My own path gives me a vast scope of understanding. I have room for so much. In addition to being an expert by experience, I am developing myself as a coach to better guide the people I work with.
And then everything came to a full stop.
I got long covid and suddenly couldn't do anything anymore. It was raw, painful, lonely, boring, and I'd never cried so much as I did then. I didn't know if I would ever get better.
But during these years, everything has deepened immensely. I've shed about 30 skins. I feel stronger, lighter, softer, and for the first time in my life, I have genuine self-confidence from within.
I learned to work with energy and heal myself at a deeper level. Slowly, I started to get better.
And with all this embodied knowledge and experience, both about people and horses, I step back into my work and life mission.
It's my deepest desire to guide people and horses toward a sense of joy, freedom, and deep connection with each other. A place where we can feel beyond the surface AND get down to work, allowing the horse to become its most powerful, supple, and vibrant self.
From the heart, with ambition!
I do this by combining my years of experience, extensive knowledge of ST and horses in general, with my innate talent for sensing what is happening in the undercurrent.
I'm still friends with Marijke, we are in regular contact and I'm well informed about the latest insights in ST. With me, you'll experience ST at its purest. At the same time, I teach in my own unique way.
Want to know more? You can find an overview of my experience and qualifications HERE.
Curious about my lesson offerings? Then take a look HERE.
Finally, I love connecting! Not just with horses, but with you too. Feel free to send a message via social media or email. You will find all details HERE. Welcome!
