About Cindy Alikaj

BRCA Ranch Horse Champion in October 2004                                    WHA Keyhole Champion 2004                                                              BRCA Orsplay High Points Games Trophy 2005                                  BRCA Orsplay High Points Games Trophy 2007                                  SCWRC Western Pleasure Show High Points Champion 2007                   BRCA Bar S Rodeo All Round Show Champion 2007                                  SCWRC Games Day Champion 2007                                                         BRCA Yellow Grade Senior High Points Trophy 2007                       SCWRC Games Day Champion 2008                          

USA qualified Western and English Instructor CHA MACI
Cindy is a CHA Master Instructor which is Advanced English and Western Instruction. She first became certified by the CHA in the USA in 1993. In 2002 she was also selected as a CHA clinician to work for the CHA in the United States training and certifying other riding instructors. Certified as an MACI (the only one in England) Cindy is able to teach all over the world and has taught in the UK, Australia and the USA. She goes to America on a regular basis to assist in the training and assessment of prospective CHA Western and English Instructors.

UK qualified riding Instructor BHSAI
Cindy is also a qualified BHSAI which she gained in 1993 after spending 3 years at various Training and Competition yards throughout the UK. Cindy started riding at the age of four and carried on riding until starting her British Horse Society training at Moorside Equestrian Centre on Baildon Moor in Yorkshire. Cindy also went on placements at Riding Centres, Livery yards and working as a Show Jumping Groom for Sam Whittaker.
Cindy also spent 2 years as a working pupil at the Windmill Riding School, livery yard and Competition yard in Cambridge, completing her training qualifying as a  BHSAI. Cindy moved back to Yorkshire to Teach Freelance, riding, and part time on a stud/dealing yard. www.bhs.org.uk 

USA
Cindy spent 3 years teaching in Vermont USA at a riding camp with up to 60 horses and 90 young riders of all abilities. As Barn Director, Cindy ran the Barn and riding programme at Camp Catherine Capers www.campcatherinecapers.com  It was there that Cindy first was introduced to Western Riding and qualified as a CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) English and Western Instructor. Cindy competed at Pond Hill Ranch www.pondhillranch.com where she also found Cee Tamulena her Cutting horse.  

Show Jumping Groom
After working for Sam Whittaker, Cindy was groom for Freddie Welch in Hampshire who is the well known trainer of Nick Skelton, Tina Cassan and other top UK riders, and owned horses like Everest Dollar Girl. During her trip to Australia Cindy groomed for Ronnie Easey, who was in the 2000 Australian Olympic show jumping team.

Time in Australia                                                               Cindy taught Western and English lessons and took out trails at Jackaroo Ranch in NSW where they also had a Quarter Horse Stud where Cindy helped with the breaking and schooling of the youngsters. In Narrabri NSW Cindy helped on a large property working as a ranch hand with cattle and sheep and travelling to rodeo's with her friends who were Saddle bronc riders. While Cindy groomed for Ronnie Easey she was responsible for 10 horses at the major shows up and down the East coast of Australia. Cindy also worked as the ranch hand with cattle and sheep on the stock horses, schooling and exercising the jumpers & training ex racehorses to be riding horses, jumpers, western or stock horses.

Back in Yorkshire
From 1995 to 2003, Cindy had her own farm in Yorkshire where she kept her horses and as a Freelance Western/English rider and instructor, taught at Equestrian Centres and all over Yorkshire, Humberside and Derbyshire teaching and training individuals. Cindy did Lecturing and training BHS & CHA students. Western Equestrian Society (WES) had a number of members in the Yorkshire and surrounding areas, and Cindy helped with teaching Area 5 WES riders and Showing at WES events www.wes-uk.com

Polo player
Cindy played polo for 7 years and was a member of Toulston Polo Club  near Tadcaster Yorkshire. www.toulstonpoloclub.com. Cindy played up to 4 goal polo and owned 7 polo ponies that she played in her partners DTP polo team and for Toulston Tigers Ladies Polo Team.

Cindy with 4 of her ponies(1997)

Equestrian Artist
Cindy got her A level in art before working with horses. She combines her two passions by painting Equestrian art. Her collection includes Polo, Western, Jumping, Eventing and Dressage. Cindy has done many Commission Painting for horse owners including Race Horses. If you would like a commission or would like information of her collection of artwork, stationary and giftware of all equestrian disciplines. Look on the For Sale page for details or contact Cindy by phone or email.

Moving South
Cindy is now based in Surrey since moving from Yorkshire in 2003. Cindy has  been encouraging more people to ride Western in the UK by offering Western lessons, Livery, Trail Rides, clinics and Demonstrations. Cindy also set up the Southern Counties Western Riding Club so more people can enjoy Western from all areas of the South.

Cindy's horses

CT TAMULENA (CT)                                                                           American Quarter Horse 15.3hh 11 year old Liver Chestnut Gelding Sire:Tamulena (Doc O'Lena x Tamu Holly Rey) Dam: Eclipse Cutter

CT is a Western Cutting Horse brought over from America, He was bred by Cutting Horse Breeder and trainer Steve Miles in Asher Oklahoma. CT worked and competed as a Cutting horse in the mid west. He was Bought in Texas by the O'Rourkes at Pond Hill Ranch in Vermont. Cindy went to VT to do a CHA clinic in 2002 and wanted to rent a horse off Pond Hill for the week and chose CT. Cindy fell in love with CT from the start even though he had a bad reputation and nick named Psycho, CT seemed to trust Cindy and after only 3 days she knew she had to bring him home. He finally made it to England and is now competing and doing demonstrations with Cindy here in the UK. Not only does he perform in his cattle classes and was the BRCA Ranch Horse Champion in October 2004. Cindy has also trained him in equitation and speed Games and has Won Open Pleasure, Horsemanship,  and is a fast contender now in Barrels and Pole Bending. CT was the SCWRC Western Pleasure Show High Points Champion 2007, the BRCA Bar S Rodeo All Round Show Champion 2007 and won the BRCA Yellow Grade Senior High Points Trophy 2007.

CT and Cindy competing at Bar S Ranch (Oct 04)

Dynamite PT (PT) Argentine Criollo 15.2hh 23 year old Bay/Brown Mare

 PT was bred in Argentina for Polo, she was brought over from Argentina and based at Ascot Park Polo Club. Bought by Cindy's partner Howard Hall who playing patron for DTP Polo Team, which with the help of PT won every tournament in the 1996 Low Goal Polo season. After that tough season they put her into foal in 1997 and 1999 to produce 2 fantastic polo ponies which are named Chiquita and Bruza. After 1 more season playing polo with Cindy in 2001 she tried PT round the Barrels.... aged 23, PT is now Cindy's speed game horse and one of the fastest in the UK at Barrels, Keyhole, Pick Up and Pole Bending. WHA Keyhole Champion 2004. Winner of the BRCA Orsplay High Points Games Trophy 2005 & 2007. SCWRC Games Day Champion 2007

Chiquita (Cheeky) Criollo X TB 15.2hh 9 year old bay mare

Chiquita is PT's first foal who's sire was Olympic Times an American Steeple Chaser. Chiquita has been trained for both Western and Polo and is currently playing polo in Yorkshire.

Cruzin for a Bruzin (Bruza) Criollo X TB 16.2hh 7 year old dark bay Gelding

Bruza is PT's second foal and is full brother to Chiquita. Bruza has been trained for Polo and Western, this year he has taken a year off but will be back playing polo next year.

Harry Houdini (Harry) English TB 16.1hh 17 year old Liver Chestnut Gelding

Harry was a 5 year old national hunt horse before Cindy and Howard trained him to polo and in his first season was playing 8 goal tournaments up and down the country. He is a strong willed horse and loves working. He got his name from always getting out of his stable and fields when he was younger. He is now retired from polo and is enjoying competing in the western speed games.