Course Venue
"Banyandah" Howlong, NSW/VIC border
5527 Riverina Hwy Howlong
Banyandah is a purpose built horsemanship centre on the Murray River with many great horse training areas, and obstacles to play with. It also offers superb accommodation or options to camp. For more details about this contact Jane Reid horseheaven@albury.net.au 0428 537 977
Start & Finish Times 9:00-5:00
COURSE 1 - NOV. 19-21
THE FOUNDATION - CONNECTING AND FUNDAMENTAL FEEL IN GROUND SKILLS
This course lays the foundation for beautiful partnerships with horses - mind, heart and soul connections with horses. Learn how to connect, communicate and understand your horses - why do they do what they do? Learn the ever elusive quality of feel. This course is also Part One of the Postural Development and Biomechanics Groundwork therapy course and the pre-cursor for the Riding with Synchronicity courses, Liberty work, Engagement and Collection & Confidence Courses.
Learn the philosophy and foundational techniques of "Connecting with Horses and Riding with Synchronicity" - the art of creating beautiful partnerships with horses. Inspiring and supporting horses and people to become confident and empowered, to be together in harmony, and move with freedom, balance and athleticism. With softness, gentleness, kindness and love, you can have leadership and develop a magical bond with your horse, a true friendship. Connect to your horse's mind, heart, body and soul.
How good would it be:-
To feel safe and to feel that you and your horse could communicate clearly and understand each other?
To have a horse that is a willing partner and wants to participate?
To have a calm horse who at the same time is magnificent, expressive, energetic, graceful and a physically strong, powerful athlete who could safely carry you down the trail or be a performance horse ?
This is my dream horse. And a horse like this is created not bought. Even if you bought one that seemed to fit the bill, unless you learn the skills, that horse won't maintain those qualities. They can't. They will fall to the level of skill and be affected by the mindset and the energy of the person they are with. We have to develop ourselves. This teaching addresses all areas of mind, body and spirit to help horses and people reach their highest and most magnificent potential and achieve your goals.
This is FEEL GOOD HORSEMANSHIP - because it causes horses and humans to FEEL GOOD !!!
Learn more about the course content...
This course will begin to teach you how to understand horse's minds, emotions and their physical bodies. It also goes deeper into the spiritual nature of horses and the deep connection between horses and humans. This course teaches the core principles of centering, breathing, body scanning, energy awareness and body language which are all essential keys to success with horses. Begin the journey to becoming a "true" horseman. "True" meaning with the qualities that the horses themselves would choose to have in a horseman.
Whilst we work with the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects this course is at the same time is very practical. Teaching a quality of FEEL in working with horses that most people never learn in a lifetime. FEEL is the HOLY GRAIL of horsemanship, it is the fundamental essence of all great horsemanship. Some believe that it can never be taught, that it is just a god given talent that some people have and others don't, but I have found a way to teach this intrinsic and elusive quality and make it available and attainable for everyone that has the commitment and dedication to learn.
Here is what you can learn at this course:-
Connect with your horse's heart and mind and learn to listen and feel.
Develop skills to develop the centered, still and present "way of being" that horses love - the qualities of great leadership.
Learn the ever elusive and commonly unteachable qualities of FEEL - mental, emotional, physical and energetic feel
Learn the art of nonverbal communication - thoughts, energy and body language
Learn how horses learn
Learn how to problem solve and understand your horse to resolve any behavioral/training issues that you are having.
Develop safe horse handling skills and habits on the ground to set you up for any activity or handling that you may need on the ground and which also translate into aids and skills needed in riding.
Learn techniques on the ground that lead to horses using their bodies with healthy biomechanics, developing good posture and having hindquarter engagement.
Come along with or without your horse.
Of course if you can bring your horse along your learning will be maximized as nothing beats hands on experience and having direct feedback from a supportive instructor to accelerate your learning. However the other option for attending these courses is to come and participate without a horse, in which case you would actively participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, most simulations as well as watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice the techniques. People coming without their horses are not just fence sitters. All of these "non-hands on" with horses sessions actually make up a big percentage of this course so the fee is priced appropriately.
Investment The cost to come with your horse is $595 for 3 days EB (Early Bird) Price if FULL payment is made before Sept. 16th. After that the price is $695. A 50% deposit will secure your spot and balance of payment is required 2 weeks prior to the course start date. Horse spots are limited to 8. Book early so you don't miss out.
The cost to come and participate without your horse is $75/day for day 1 and day 2 and $55/day for day 3. Total of $205 for 3 days - EB price If paid before Sept. 16th. After that price is $85/day for day 1 and day 2 and $65 for day 3.
Day 1 & 2 have a lot of non-horse activities that you will be fully participating in, equal to those with horses. You are not just fence sitting. Day 3 has more hands on horse horse time - so you will be doing more watching than participating that day.
PLEASE NOTE: No stallions without prior permission. For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel 0428 385 745 mel@melfleming.com
Please scroll down for booking forms.
COURSE 2 - NOV. 22-23
INTRODUCTION TO RIDING WITH SYNCHRONICITY
Prerequisites for this course...
'Riding with Synchronicity’ means to ride in perfect synchronicity and harmony, becoming like a centaur where you become part of the horse and the horse becomes part of you. To achieve this we need to understand the horse’s physical body and the biomechanics of how their body works. It is vitally important for horses to be ridden in correct posture and biomechanical balance if they are to enjoy the experience, stay sound, be healthy and reach their highest athletic potential.
This course teaches the fundamental principles and “how to” of learning to ride with harmony, effortless and ease. Learn the secrets to happy and successful riding partnerships with horses. Whether you just want to ride for pleasure or have high aspirations for competition these secrets will be invaluable. These fundamental keys will be imperative to develop yourself to be a great rider. One that allows the horse to move as nature intended and to be the best athlete that they can be - maximising performance in any field and keeping them happy and healthy. I believe this teaching will be of great benefit whether you are relatively new to riding or had many years in the saddle. Even high level competition riders and folks who have "lived" in the saddle, have greatly appreciated and benefited from this teaching.
Learn more about the course content...
There are some common principles that are found at the highest levels in all great sports people – athletes, martial artists or dancers – these principles also apply to horsemanship and riding. I have learned these principles through feldenkrais and martial arts, as well as what I have learned with horses. These principles lead us to riding in complete balance and harmony with the horse and without any brace or resistance to the horse. They include being centered, aligned and using our body in a fluid and unified way - this occurs when we are relaxing completely - the opposite of being in a state of contraction or tension.
We are sitting on a horse's "moving" back. Their back moves in combinations of 6 directions. This correct and uninhibited movement in a horse's back is critical for the horse to move with good biomechanics. Our responsibility as a rider is to stay out of the way of this natural movement and not impede it. We have to sit and move in a way that doesn't block the movement but instead synchronizes exactly with it, rather than brace, hold or lock up against it. We have to follow and sometimes lead the horse into this movement if they have lost their naturally correct movement.
A lot of horses have lost their naturally correct movement because of badly fitting saddles and riders that impeded the small but critical movements in a horses back. If the horse's movement has been corrupted, which is very common, we need to help them recover their natural movement patterns again. We need to lead them into it. The more we understand the directions of movement the more we can train our body, especially the torso, to go with the horse. It is a lot of very small subtle movements in our spine and torso, which then flow on into the arms and the legs. The movements I am talking about are so small that when we are on the horse it should look like we are not really moving. They are more like internal micro movements but they make all the difference. These movements lead horses into roundness, balance and hindquarter engagement without us forcing them into a frame or a posture. These same internal micro movement patterns are what will also keep us sound, healthy and happy in our own bodies when we are walking, riding or doing our everyday activities and sports.
Come along with or without your horse.
Of course if you can bring your horse along your learning will be maximized as nothing beats hands on experience and having direct feedback from a supportive instructor to accelerate your learning. However the other option for attending these courses is to come and participate without a horse, in which case you would actively participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, most simulations as well as watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice the techniques. People coming without their horses are not just fence sitters. All of these "non-hands on" with horses sessions actually make up a big percentage of this course so the fee is priced appropriately.
Investment The cost to come with your horse is $440 for 2 days EB (early bird) Price - if full payment is made before Sept. 16th. After that the price is $550. A 50% deposit will secure your spot and balance of payment is required 2 weeks prior to the course start date. Horse spots are limited to 8. Book early so you don't miss out.
The cost to come without your horse is $75/day. Total of $150 for 2 days - EB price - if full payment is made before Sept. 16th. After that price is $85/day.
PLEASE NOTE: No stallions without prior permission. Ideally bring the horse that you had in the preliminary courses so you are ready to progress. For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel 0428 385 745 mel@melfleming.com
Please scroll down for booking forms.
COURSE 3 - NOV. 26-30
INTERMEDIATE COURSE
This course can be taken as a separate course or combined with the Introduction to Riding with Synchronicity Course and even the Connecting and Fundamental Feel Course, both of which immediately precede this course. Combine them to make an 8 or 11 day accelerated, intensive learning bonanza. If you are interested in doing this extended option contact me before registering so we can chat and make sure that this learning package is right for you.
The Postural Development and Biomechanics Groundwork Therapy and the Advancing Groundskills are also ideal to have done first but not essential if you already have a calm, connected horse with no extreme postural issues. All horses must already be started under saddle. If the rider is very inexperienced or very unconfident please check with me before booking so we can make sure this course is right for you and that we can accomodate your needs.Prerequisites for this course...
All of the teaching will be based around further building the connection and relationship with your horse and developing the horse’s posture, and your own, to improve the horse's biomechanics and their level of hindquarter engagement. Better biomechanics will will make everything more enjoyable, pleasurable and safer for both you and the horse. Better biomechanics will also help your horse to become more athletic (better performance) and stay sounder for longer. Whether you are a competitive rider or a pleasure rider the things learned in this course will be incredibly beneficial.
Learn more about the course content...
We will begin by reviewing, expanding and improving upon the core concepts learned in the Introductory courses and then advance things with more precision, more responsiveness and with a better understanding of the biomechanics of the horse.
Both the human and the horse will develop confidence and feel safer together. You’ll learn exercises to improve riding balance and learn more about riding dynamics and how to flow with the horse in perfect harmony, this includes learning about trot diagonals and canter leads for example if that knowledge is needed.
Because participants will already have a core base of knowledge in my teaching I can be quite flexible with what is taught in the intermediate level courses. After assessing the group as a whole and individually I will form a program to meet the needs of those participating. If you have a specific area of interest that you wish to learn about please let me know via email.
Areas of learning CAN be the following :-
Reading and understanding your horse more accurately.
Deepening your Connection with your horse, developing intuitive communication.
Getting your horse more calm, connected, responsive and athletic.
Developing Feel, Energy awareness and how to use energy.
Becoming clear and more precise with Body Language.
Using ground skills as a diagnostic tool and for your horse’s emotions and as physical therapy for your horse.
Exploring transitions, changes of direction, sideways and using longer lines on the ground.
Liberty
Positive Reinforcement and Marker training
Using obstacles to create visually clear mental pictures and “games” to help your horse learn.
Putting ground skills to purpose eg. trailer loading, crossing bridges, creeks etc.
How to better “go with” your horses movement.
Helping the horse to better follow your focus and line of direction.
Riding from your centre with a unified body.
Refining your aids, by using your body more and the reins less.
Learning meditation techniques to clear emotions and heal traumas for your horse and yourself – mentally, emotionally and physically.
Learning bodywork and horse care practices to improve your horse’s physical health and well being as well as improve and develop their physical capability, athleticism and performance.
To set you up and prepare you to get the most out of this course, retaking the prerequisite courses are a great idea. It is amazing the depth you get out of doing them second time round. The foundational concepts are the keys to building the more advanced techniques so the better you understand and can apply them, the easier it is to proceed. You never take it all in first time round, a large percentage goes over your head or is forgotten.
Come along with or without your horse.
Of course if you can bring your horse along your learning will be maximized as nothing beats hands on experience and having direct feedback from a supportive instructor to accelerate your learning. However the other option for attending these courses is to come and participate without a horse, in which case you would actively participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, most simulations as well as watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice the techniques. People coming without their horses are not just fence sitters. All of these "non-hands on" with horses sessions actually make up a big percentage of this course so the fee is priced appropriately.
Investment
The cost to come with your horse is $990 for 5 days EB (early bird) Price - if full payment is made before Sept. 16th. After that the price is $1090. If you can't do all 5 days it may be possible to do lessor days if space permits. Horse spots are limited to 8, so book early so you don't miss out. Priority goes to those booking all 5 days.
The cost to come without your horse is $75/day. Total of $375 for 5 days - EB price - if full payment is made before Sept. 16th. After that prices are $85/day. Total $425 for 5 days.
PLEASE NOTE: No stallions without prior permission. Ideally bring the horse that you had in the preliminary courses so you are ready to progress. For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel 0428 385 745 mel@melfleming.com
Please scroll down for booking forms.
'Functional Saddling' consultations, BALANCE saddles, Private lessons & Bodywork sessions -
These sessions are available the day before or after the course or in the mornings or evenings of the course.
Find out more details about these sessions
To get more details or book a saddling consultation, private lesson or bodywork session email Mel or call 0428 385 745. Letting me know as soon as you can if you are interested in one of these sessions will help me schedule things to make sure I can fit you in. These sessions are available the day before or after the course or in the mornings or evenings of the course.
