Martina Pork was my coach and trainer in Canada for over eight years. During that time, she
brought me from a novice rider to showing Second Level in Canadian Gold shows. I earned both my
National Bronze Level Equine Canada Award and National Silver Level Equine Canada Award.
I was also the Reserve Champion of our Canadian Dressage Club (Cadora) in Training Level.
My success was due to her detailed and thorough instruction.
She also coached me in the purchase of my horse, Landino. We acquired him in Germany from Munster
Handorf and he came to Canada as my dressage horse in 2005. He is now on his way to the International
FEI Tour in Florida this coming year with hopes of him representing Canada in the 2015 Pan Am games.
It was very sad to have such a well qualified and talented coach leave our country, but our loss is
Germany's gain. You are very fortunate to have someone as wonderful as Martina to coach and train
your dressage riders.
You can watch
Landino on Youtube
Konra Young, Kelowna BC Canada
I started riding before I could walk, my grandfather was a strict old German who was set in his ways about
how to correctly ride dressage, I would call it "classic, classic, classical dressage", however he always
encourage me to ride and my parents being extremely supportive if I was interested they would provide,
when I was about 10 years old my mother signed me up for lessons with a tall German lady named Martina
Pork and let me tell you, it was the best thing for my riding that ever could have happened, I would
call Tina the perfect twist on Classical dressage with a Modern touch and aloud voice guiding me through
the arena.
I have trained with Martina for over 10 years now, the knowledge I have gained is unforgettable and has
established me with a confident foundation in all aspects of not only riding but training and building
myself and young horses to develop a successful dressage partnership. Throughout the years she has helped
me through many challenges that have faced me and taught me to ride my horse CORRECTLY and solve the
problems without cutting corners. Although many times the results I wanted took longer than I hoped,
it paid off and I was rewarded with the ability to work as a team with my horse and demonstrate the skill
in a correct manner, with my horse working from behind over the back to the hand in an uphill fashion.
I still can hear her voice ringing in my head "hands together!!!" ...well maybe more like
"HANDS TOGETHER!!!!!!!" Her excellent guidance in training me, not only as a dressage rider but also
training me to train my horse and work as a team in FUN yet CORRECT manner have paid off at home in the
barn and in the competition ring throughout Western Canada. When my horse and I had trouble instead of
the easy way, by her just getting on and correcting the horse then hope it works better for me for a bit,
she would make me stay on and work with my horse and I together to get through the problem so we could
correct it and move on which yes, took longer but it the end left me with the knowledge to solve upcoming
problems on my own and become an independent rider with the skills to work through problems on my own.
With Tina‘s help I have achieved many championships from Training level to Third level. With my horse Romi
(Rotspon) we accomplished Reserved Champion in Western Canada at only her 3
rd show at training level. At
home in the barn training with Tina‘s guidance I have trained my gelding Alex from A level right through
to S level. Alex and I were Medium level high point winner in all of Canada for Canadian Warmblood
Achievement. We were also Reserve Champion in Western Canada in Third level. I have a closet full of
Championship blankets, trophy‘s and first place ribbons from many local and provincial horses shows
where I competed at over the years with my horses Feeby, Alex, Romi and Romeo. Above all the trophies
and ribbons, the greatest accomplishment for myself is that other than my first mare Feeby who I got when
she was 4 years old and had some training on her( I was only 10 years old) I have started, trained and
competed all my horses being the only rider on them, In the last few years I have also started many young
horses and put them on the right path to becoming successful dressage stars and I could have never done it
without in my opinion the best coach in the world Martina Pork!
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Martina also rode and trained a mare called Annie for my mother, in the last year that Tina and I toured
around and competed it seemed like they were unbeatable, at Amberlea Meadows CDI Tina and Annie were second
level Champions and at Alberta Provincials and Western Canada they also finished the year with another 2 more
Championships. Annie has an excellent foundation due to Martina‘s superb guidance as trainer and partner to
her horses. Annie is now training amateur rider Nina von Seydlitz who also used to ride with Tina the ropes
of dressage through the eyes of an experienced horse and loves to show Nina how she can do flying changes☺.
We all miss Tina very very much and are so excited that she will be visiting us in Canada this summer after
almost 2 years away in Germany. The knowledge I have gained is irreplaceable! Don‘t miss the chance to ride
with Tina, ask her lots of questions as she is full of knowledge to guide a horse and rider partnership
through the levels of dressage starting with a correct foundation.
Roxy Schippers
I am honored to write a letter of recommendation for my mentor and close friend, Martina Pork.
I have known Martina for my whole life, once she came to Canada I rode with her for 6 years
until I had to leave to university. Under her tutelage Martina taught me invaluable lessons
in dressage, jumping and also in life. As a little girl all I ever wanted to do was compete
in jumping; Martina insisted that every rider, regardless of discipline, have a solid
foundation and good seat before they can really grow as a rider. Somewhere between mastering
the "swinging hip" required for sitting trot and feeling passage for the first time, I fell
in love with dressage. I dabbled in doing some jumping but focused most of my time and energy
on excelling at dressage. By the time I was 15 I had a client's horse in training with me,
with Martina always close by whenever I had a question or needed a set of eyes on the ground.
I competed in countless competitions all over British Columbia, from Smithers to Vancouver.
I attended the BC Dressage Championships twice during my riding career, and would have gone
more often but it was a 2260 km round trip and hard on everyone, especially the horses.
Some of my achievements at competitions included winning Basic 1 & 2 Junior Champion, Medium
1 & 2 Junior Champion and Medium 1 & 2 Adult Amateur Champion at a large EC show in northern
BC. I trained up to 4th Level on my quarter horse cross gelding with Martina and on this same
horse jumped up to 4'3".
Martina is one of the most dedicated and determined individuals I have ever met; her passion
for the sport is incredibly infectious and inspiring. She has a knack for explaining how a
movement is supposed to feel and look, from knowing when to give the aids for a flying change
to 'steering' the horse with only your seat into a 8m volte she can explain it all. She is a
wealth of knowledge and has a great eye for details others would often overlook. Even though
it's been 7 years since I had to quit training dressage, all my memories from training with
Martina have solidified dressage as my greatest passion.
Claudia Brietzke
Linda Hunter, Prince George , BC, Canada
Martina Pork-coach-reference
Martina was my instructor for almost 10 years-she is the best! She builds confidence in
the student, is technically proficient, has a great sense of humor and always maintains
the integrity of the horse. My horses loved her. Lesson days were the highlights of my week.
Difficult to top this one. And, she is a great friend. Can hardly wait to have lessons with her again.
Linda Hunter, Prince George BC Canada
Kathy Dohler, Chrystal Blackett, Smithers, BC, Canada
OUR LESSONS WITH MARTINA
We have ridden under Martina Pork's instruction for several years learning to be relaxed
riders in balance with our horse. Our riding has improved a lot with her help and we
have enjoyed working with Martina.
Martina's lessons consist of many aspects of riding and horse training:
- Help with training the horse
- Rider position and balance
- Effective communication with your horse
- Innovative solutions to problems with horse and rider
Lesson‘s with Martina can turn problems into opportunities for both horse and rider.
She is an allround trainer and instructor. We will miss her not being with us as
much as she has been in past years.
Kathy Dohler, Chrystal Blackett
Barbara Kinsey, Smithers, BC, Canada
My first lesson with Martina was the night before she flew back to Germany.
I consider myself very fortunate
for having ridden with Martina. She trained two of my horses, and oversaw the training
of five other of my horses. I wish it could have been more. She is so
generous with her knowledge.
I used her lessons with every lesson I gave and every horse I rode.
I consider Martina to be a great instructor because of her
dedication, knowledge and willingness to learn. As a student I felt it was important that I
also continue to read, to focus on my lessons, and to do my best.
My advice to people thinking of taking lessons from Martina is to consider yourself very
fortunate, be a good student, learn your theory, and enjoy. Take
advantage of what Martina has to offer. Watch her lessons, take notes, read up on the
lesson for the theory, and apply what you are learning to your horse.
Your horse will love you for it.
Barbara Kinsey, BHSAI, BFA, BEd
