The content of this course will be based upon the following, but will be adapted to specifically target the needs of the horses and riders that are attending.
- Building the connection and relationship with your horse,
- Developing your feel and accurate reading of the horse.
- Learning and developing ground skills for safety, communication, connection and just for fun.
- Developing your riding skills so you can ride in Synchronicity with your horse and be the least inhibitive to the horse's naturally correct biomechanical movement with the goal to be able to enhance and empower the horse's power, strength, athleticism and movement.
- Developing your horse's posture (and your own) to improve the horses biomechanics and 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.
Both the human and the horse will develop confidence and feel safer together.
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 areas 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 techniques to clear emotions and heal traumas in 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.
Of course if you can bring your horse along your learning will be maximised 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 along as a participant without a horse where you will participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, most of the body awareness and balance sessions and simulations (although this may depend on numbers as some of these sessions might need to be restricted to those bringing horses), watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice and experiment with the exercises and tasks.
Investment
The cost to come with your horse is $1095 for the 5 days if you pay in full before Sept 9th (Early Bird Price). After that date the price will be $1250.
The cost to come without your horse is $75/day if you pay before Sept. 9th. After that date the price will be $85/day.
PLEASE NOTE: Your horse must be started and rideable unless you just choose to do the groundwork components. No stallions allowed without prior permission.
For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel mel@melfleming.com
Venue
Barbara Cooper's property
463 Gladigau Rd
Woodside/Harrowgate
08 8538 7291
0492 444 562
barb.cooper.463@gmail.com
Contact Barbara to find out venue details, camping availability and fees and options and fees for horse stay o/night.