Create the PARTNERSHIP of your DREAMS through CONNECTION, LEADERSHIP with LOVE, and great SKILL development.
Develop an amazing bond and relationship through connection and feel.
Develop your skills - physical feel, timing and balance, rope handling, body language, cue communication, energy awareness and energy projection as well as your intuitive skills.
Set your horse up for success by developing his or her posture, strength and athleticism through groundwork therapy.
Where and When:
Que Sera Farm ( Indoor Arena)
611 Biddaddaba Creek Rd,
Biddaddaba QLD 4275
Feb 24-26 ( 3 days)
9:00 - 5:00
This course lays the foundation for beautiful partnerships with horses - mind, heart and soul connections with horses. It is a groundwork only course.
Respecting the horse as an equal, respecting their higher consciousness, spiritual essence and their purpose in the world, whilst at the same time meeting them at a physical level is what is required if we are to have a truly holistic - mind, body, spirit connection and partnership with horses. To me this is the ultimate - the highest level of connection we can achieve and what I believe we all should aim towards attaining. When we remember that we are not a physical being having a spiritual experience but a spiritual being having a physical experience, we can appreciate that acknowledging the spiritual aspects of horses and horsemanship is critical to having happy, fulfilling relationships and experiences. My teaching integrates all perspectives of Mind, Body, Spirit.
Learn how to connect, communicate and understand your horses - why do they do what they do, how do they learn, and what needs do they need met?
Develop your Intuitive Sensing and Energetic Awareness
Learn the ever elusive quality of feel that horses love.
Learn Practical Horse Handling Techniques
Start developing your horse's posture for optimal biomechanics
Set up a foundation in groundwork for your horse to develop good posture and optimal biomechanics for a happy, healthy, sound and athletic horse. In future courses learn riding techniques that support healthy biomechanics and where you can ride as one, in total synchronicity with your horse.
Be nurtured and guided to develop yourself, mentally, emotionally and physically to become the person you need to be to be a great partner for your horse.
This course teaches the philosophy, core principles 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. A partnership like this is created not bought, it is also not directly transferable from one person to another. Even if you bought a horse 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 these goals.
Learn more about the course content...
This course will begin to teach you how to understand horses 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
This course is groundwork only. However, it is preparing you for Riding in Synchronicity. '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.
The learning and development of good biomechanics and posture initially needs to be done through groundwork not riding. However it needs to be very specific groundwork that is always targeting optimal posture and good biomechanics. A lot of the groundwork that people do, including lunging when it's done inappropriately and too early in the horse's development, is actually detrimental to the horse's posture.
The horse needs to develop the strength to carry themselves and their own forehand in an engaged way (meaning that the HQ's is doing more of the weight bearing/support and initiating the forward propulsive force for locomotion) BEFORE adding the weight of a rider and a saddle. The heavier the person and less experienced they are in assisting a horse to find HQ balance and self-carriage the further the horse needs to be developed and strengthened on the ground before riding. During this time and through this process the human can also be developing themselves.
A good rider is also a good athlete. What do we need to do to develop ourselves ? Lose weight perhaps or increase our mobility, flexibility, symmetry, strength and balance ? Developing our body awareness and the feeling of connected, fluid movement flowing through our body so that movement feels smooth, effortless and easy is essential. Doing a groundwork program with your horse is a great way and a great time to also develop your own physical fitness and skills.
This is FEEL GOOD HORSEMANSHIP - it causes horses and humans to FEEL GOOD !!!
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:
Come with your horse - 3 days $615 EB (early bird). Full price $715
Come without your horse - 3 days $300 EB Full price $330
Come with your horse - 2 days $495 EB (early bird). Full price $595
Come without your horse - 2 days $250 EB Full price $270
EB prices must be paid before Feb10th. A 50% deposit will secure your spot but full price will apply if total amount is not paid before Feb 10th. Horse spots are limited to 8 so get in quick.
I format my courses to be 3 days minimum in length because the third day makes all the difference in the world to the benefits people and horses get out of the course. Day 3 really consolidates everything and helps integrate all of the philosophy, theory and skills learned into the physical experience with your horse. However, I know that for some people getting that third day off work can be hard. So, if it's impossible to do the third day you can just do the weekend. However priority of spots goes to those booking for all 3 days.
These courses are intimate groups where people receive lots of personal attention. As well as participating equally with those bringing horses in all the non-horsey activities (of which there are a lot in this course) there will be opportunities for you to ask questions about your own horse and have discussion on how the course content might need to be adapted to meet your horse's and your own specific needs.
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.
Details about the venue and human accomodation...
'Functional Saddling' consultations, THV (BALANCE) saddles, Private lessons & Bodywork sessions -
PRIVATE SESSIONS for all breeds and disciplines are usually available the day after the course or sometimes in the morning or late afternoon of the course days. Receive individualised support, whatever level you are at. Great opportunity to bring your young, or green horse along for an outing and positive experience in a supportive, fun, respectful and safe environment. Ideally you will have participated with or without a horse in the prior course.
Private sessions could include help with groundwork, floating, saddle fitting, riding, postural development (biomechanics), problematic behaviours, confidence building, relaxation, calmness and strengthening your relationship with your horse.
I will assess the horse/ human partnership, pinpointing core issues to focus on to progress, problem solve and work out a pathway to success, harmony and partnership.
Make sure you book these private sessions in advance, especially if you are interested in the saddle fitting so I am sure to have the saddles with me that may be required. Also so that we can book the venue.
Find out more details about these sessions
