Turn YOUR Dreams into REALITY
when you immerse yourself in the longer learning modules at “Alchemy Place”.
From FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATIONS to ARTISTRY in Horsemanship
ALCHEMY PLACE means place of transformation.
Facilitating TRANSFORMATION for both you and your horse.
So often most people’s horsey dreams turn into nightmares – they have fear, or feel like it is a struggle or a fight as they try to coerce or force an unwilling partner. Maybe for you it is not that bad, but you would like to experience more in your partnership with your horse – more connection, more joy, more fun, more safety, more physical power and peak performance. Perhaps you are looking for, a kinder, more compassionate and understanding approach. An approach where you can have an AMAZING RELATIONSHIP with your horse, RIDE and have your horse WANT to be ridden and develop your horse into a POWERFUL and EXUBERANT ATHLETE. That was my dream and now it is also my reality.
CONNECTING WITH HORSES & RIDING WITH SYNCHRONICITY takes horsemanship into ART form. Starting with a FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION and taking things to the level of MASTERY – ELOQUENCE and ELEGANCE with horses. It turns ordinary into EXTRAORDINARY and most of all…. HORSES LOVE IT.
YOUR DREAM may be to just feel safe, confident and connected on the ground, or to feel safe, confident, balanced and in harmony in the saddle on a trail ride. But maybe, like myself, you want to go further and become an Artist with horses, achieve the highest levels of skill and athletic performance and become one with the horse – moving fluidly together. Being totally connected in mind and body, enables you to reach the highest levels without force, but instead, with honour and dignity for the horse. Whatever your level of desire, these courses will set you on the path to achieving YOUR dream and who knows, once you get started and get “hooked” on the great feeling of connection with your horse (it can be addictive) who knows how far you would like to go.
The six, week long modules, are designed to fully immerse you with a longer learning experience. They will incredibly accelerate the development of your horsemanship and make a huge transformation in your partnership with your horse. If you are unable to do the full 6 weeks it is possible to do just one or any number of the modules – however, priority is given to those booking the full program or a lengthier combination of modules.
The full six weeks –
The ULTIMATE HORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCE
September 6 – Oct 15
INDIVIDUAL MODULES OR 2 WEEK BLOCKS ARE:-
Week 1 – ” Connecting, Communicating and Fundamental Feel” Sept 5 – 9
Week 2 – Ground skills – Part II – “Postural Development & Biomechanics – Groundwork Therapy”
& “Positive Reinforcement and Marker Training” Sept 12 -16
Week 3 – Progressing groundwork and Introductory Riding – Part I Sept. 19 – 23
Week 4 – Progressing groundwork and Introductory Riding – Part II Sept. 26- 30
Week 5 – Intermediate Ground work (includes Liberating with Liberty) & Riding – Part I Oct. 3 – 7
Week 6 – Intermediate Ground work and Riding – Part II Oct. 10-14
Some of the things that people love most about my courses are the INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION that they receive and the FLUIDITY and ADAPTABILITY of the course content to meet the individual needs of those attending. I make sure that people and horses get what they NEED – I don’t adhere to a rigid structure. Sometimes what is needed is not what people think they need or want – my job as your coach and mentor is to guide you from my higher perspective, firstly to keep you safe and then to truly get you and your horse on track with your goals.
About Mel and her teaching– Perpetually on a quest to develop her own horsemanship skills, Mel traveled the world learning and then as a coach. Well recognized for her own horsemanship skills, Mel also has the ability to teach the intrinsic qualities of connection, feel, timing and balance to others. She realized that teaching TRUE horsemanship was not just about teaching mechanical techniques but getting people in the right place in their minds and bodies and unlocking, re-balancing and reconnecting people to their physical bodies. These courses consider all aspects – mind, body and spirit – and therefore invoke tremendous transformation for both horses & humans.
Suited to all levels from beginners to advanced students, the courses help people and horses feel safe, feel confident and lead to the development of beautiful partnerships together. At the advanced levels they give people and horses the skills to reach the highest levels of athletic performance. All that is required is an open heart and mind, a deep regard for the horse and a commitment and dedication to learning.
Our state of mind and body, determine our success in any field, and it is none the less when working with horses.
There are so many facets to this learning and in longer term courses, we can delve deeper and build understanding and skills layer by layer. The longer time frame allows us to go into great depth so you can truly change patterns and habits. By unlocking the mind and body with mind and body awareness processes, clearing limiting beliefs and releasing the physical restrictions that are hindering you, you will be greatly empowered.
The principles learned here will benefit all areas of your life.
It teaches:-
- How to connect – meaning know your horse on the inside – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
- How to read horses. How are they feeling and what are they thinking ?
- Energy awareness and how to use energy.
- How to communicate with your horse energetically as well as with your body language and tools. The language of energy is in fact the universal language. Energy precedes and leads body language and movement.
- The quality of FEEL that all horses love.
- How horses learn.
- Centering and Grounding – How to still the mind and calm the emotions.
- Body awareness and balance – How to move in a unified, effortless and free, flowing way.
- Ground skills:- for basic handling; as physical therapy/rehabilitation, exercise and postural development; to build confidence in horses and people; to prepare horses for riding; for liberty work and simply to just play and have fun with your horse.
- Riding Skills:- Developing an independent seat, balance, coordination and body awareness. To ride with the qualities that horses love – softness, rhythm, flow, balance, harmony and healthy biomechanics.
- Horses to use their bodies with correct biomechanics – to have balance, hindquarter engagement and athleticism.
- How to maintain the horse’s curiosity and enthusiasm in training.
- Positive Reinforcement and Marker Training – How to use intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- Functional Saddling – saddling for health, comfort and performance.
- Extra learning as needed and as time permits about physical care and health for the horse, basic feeding, stretching, and body work to maximize health and performance.
The courses will be taught from a multi – level perspective so people will work with the information at whatever level they are at. I have many students who are experienced horse people or who have done many courses with me before, come and redo the Introductory courses and they always say they get loads out of them because they learn and understand things at deeper levels and from higher perspectives. In fact, going back and starting at the start is extremely beneficial to your advancement as you will be guided to develop your feel, timing and understanding of body mechanics and balance to a much deeper level. Doing the most basic and fundamental exercises, with a GREAT quality of feel and understanding, is the most important key to doing advanced things well.
Each week of learning will be building on the previous week and each student will work at their own level and in an appropriate way with the curriculum, to best develop themselves and their horse. Core themes and fundamental philosophies will be carried through and expanded upon each week throughout the duration of the course.
Students and horses with a suitable standard of prior learning with Mel may be accepted to attend the latter courses without completing the first courses. If you are wishing to book for one of the latter courses and are not starting with week 1, please email for approval before booking, to ascertain that you have completed sufficient prior learning with me to the standard of the course for which you wish to book. I want to make sure that everyone gets the most out of their learning experience here.
To reap the full benefits of the experience we offer camping (tent, horse float, swag or caravan) on site so you are able to stay fully immersed in the atmosphere.
The prices below include your horse yard and you camping with an unpowered site. If you wish to plug into power the cost is an additional $5/day.There is a fully equipped kitchen for you to self cater, with fridges, freezer (limited freezer space), stove top, oven, microwave, kettle, toaster, sandwich press, cooking utensils, plates, cutlery etc. as well as toilet & shower facilities.
Investment :
I look forward to helping you achieve your dreams and I want to make sure that this is the right course for you. So if you have never previously attended a course with me, please email or phone so we can book a time for a phone conversation and make sure that this is right for you.
HELPERS NEEDED
If you have had a desire to attend the 4 or 6 week courses at “Alchemy Place” but haven’t had the funds available to make it possible, I have some positions available where people can “participate without a horse” in exchange for helping out during the course. Duties will include horse care, feeding and yard cleaning, tidying of kitchen, bathrooms and classroom areas, preparation of the facility before the course – cleaning, gardening.
Participating without a horse is a lot more than just auditing or fence sitting. You would actively participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, body awareness and balance sessions, healing sessions and simulations, as well as watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice and experiment with the exercises and tasks. You don’t necessarily have to be available for the full 4-6 weeks, however priority of position will be given to those who can do a longer time frame. Contact me for more details.
LEASE HORSES AVAILABLE
I have some opportunities for people to lease horses for the ground work components of the course.
Contact Mel mel@melfleming.com