‘Ride Your Horse Soft and Sound’ A 6 month course, with attendance for one weekend a month
After many years of working with people and horses, we believe this is the best way for horses and riders to make significant progress. Over 6 months we provide a real insight into what you need to know to train and ride your horse in a way which is going to keep him mentally and physically healthy; and how you need to ‘be’ for this to become a reality.
Six months of study and work enable horse and rider partnerships to really develop, with ongoing support and teaching. We use a mix of
teaching methods including theory, ridden work, in hand, DVD’s,, person-person activities, amongst others.
Ride your Horse Soft and Sound is primarily aimed at advancing your learning about training a horse – we will not be looking at significant behavioural problems or rider issues such as major losses of confidence.
This year’s course will start at the end of May – For more information, please contact us for a course outline.
‘Horsemanship First’ – a two day clinic for all
Without good horsemanship you and your horse will never reach your full potential. Across all disciplines, master horsemen and women understand this and whether they are performing high school movements, herding cows, or hacking they all have the relationship with their horse firmly established, enabling both horse and rider to be safe and relax.
Good horsemanship cannot be taught, but it may be learned, and this two day clinic will give you the opportunity to practice developing your feel; understanding and applying boundaries, discovering what ‘kindness’ is in horse terms, and what he needs from you to feel better.
Some things this course will cover are;
Learn more about what your horse really needs from you to feel ok, rather than some idealised version.
How can you be effective without being crude?
How do you develop a firmness behind the softness?
If your aim is to enjoy a long relaxed ride, or perform soft flying changes, you are going to need to have the fundamental building blocks of how you and your horse relate to each other established.
March 10th/11th/ April 7th/8th/ May 5th/6th
Weekend clinics
For those who want to find out a bit more about the way we work; or for existing clients who wanting to improve their horsemanship and riding whilst learning from watching others.
These two day clinics are for 4 -6 riders and include an individual lesson each day, theory sessions and/or demos.
Lessons and intensives
Individual lessons – or combine a number of sessions over several days for your own bespoke ‘intensive’. This can be a combination of riding, in hand work, lunging and pole work, theory, and accompanied hacks over the moor.
These are usually based here on Dartmoor, but we do sometimes go out to work at people’s own yards-
March 17th/18th; April 14th /15th/ May 12th/13th
In hand and lunging
From our own experience we have become well versed with the use of quality In Hand and lunging work. It is a skill that all riders should develop, and not only has huge benefits for horses with physical issues in terms of rebuilding, developing suppleness, and strengthening, but should also be built into the education of all horses. Work on the ground can help with balance, bend, teaching cues, and developing a calm and concentrated mind. Two days with either your own horse or our school horses.
Talks, Demos and Fun days
Check out our home page to see what talks and demos we have coming up
Confidence workshops
Details to follow
Horse Camp – Second week in August, one whole week!
A week long camp, full of all things horse. Lessons, rides to the pub, demonstrations, talks from practitioners, and much more. Join us for a week on Dartmoor enjoying your horse. More details will be posted later in the year.