Introduction to Riding with Synchronicity – Alchemy Place – Aug 27 & 28

Course Venue

"Alchemy Place"
413 Gaol Creek Moonbi NSW 2353

 

Start & Finish Times 9:00-5:00

Prerequisites for this course...

The Connecting and Fundamental Feel in Ground skills course is a prerequisite for students who are bringing horses. The Postural Development and Biomechanics Groundwork Course and the Advancing Groundskills Courses are beneficial 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. No stallions without permission.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 we can make sure we can accomodate your needs.

'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 have been greatly helped by 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 and 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.

We are sitting on a horse’s “moving” back. Their back moves in combinations of 6 directions and 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.
 
The techniques presented will lead to you becoming more balanced and that means safer and more comfortable in your riding, as well as allowing your horse to move with healthy biomechanics. Healthy biomechanics allow your horse to reach their highest athletic potential in performance but also result in them being calmer, happier, having less resistance and staying sound. Many problematic behaviours and resistances in horses under saddle are simply because horses are not comfortable with how people are riding them and if we understood and could implement how to ride in synchronicity with them, those behaviours would just melt away.
To achieve these aims, the course includes non-horse sessions – mind and body awareness and movement, body balancing exercises and theory sessions. I am very excited to share all of this with you. It will be a game changer for you.
This is FEEL GOOD HORSEMANSHIP – it causes horses and humans to FEEL GOOD !!!

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.

The techniques presented will  lead to you becoming more balanced and that means safer and more comfortable in your riding, as well as allowing your horse to move with healthy biomechanics. Healthy biomechanics allow your horse to reach their highest athletic potential in performance but also result in them being calmer, happier, having less resistance and staying sound. Many problematic behaviours and resistances in horses under saddle are simply because horses are not comfortable with how people are riding them and if we understood and could implement how to ride in synchronicity with them, those behaviours would just melt away.

To achieve these aims, the course includes non-horse sessions - mind and body awareness and movement, body balancing exercises and theory sessions. I am very excited to share all of this with you. It will be a game changer for you.

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 The cost to come with your horse is $440 for 2 days EB (early bird) Price - if paid before Aug 24. After that the price is $490.

The cost to come without your horse is $95/day. There are a lot of theory and simulations which those coming without horses will participate in, in almost equal capacity to those bringing horses. You will not just be sitting on the fence.

PLEASE NOTE: No stallions without prior permission. Ideally bring the horse that you had in the Connecting and Fundamental Feel course 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

COMPREHENSIVE saddling consultations where you test ride several BALANCE saddles or saddles of your choice take 1.5 to 2 hrs. and cost $185.  They involve riding in your own current saddle and experimenting with padding arrangements and or adjusting gullets (if possible) to see if  we can improve things with your current saddle. You can ride in several saddles of your choosing (that you bring along) and that you wish to get feedback on. We then test ride a BALANCE saddle to use as a comparison to determine how well your horse moves in its own saddle/s compared to a saddle that is known to be ergonomically designed for horses and riders to maximise comfort and performance.
 
Riding in the saddles is the best way to get direct feedback from the horse - this way we listen to the horse's opinion (and yours) rather than someone else's. Having a few saddles to feel as comparisons is important (BALANCE saddles or other) in this process.
 
If your horse did prefer the BALANCE saddle and you were potentially interested in purchasing one (second hand or new), we would then test ride several different models of the BALANCE saddles to see exactly which one is the best for both the horse and yourself. Interlaced into this session is advice on riding and biomechanics for horse and rider as required and as appropriate to the level of experience of the horse and rider.
 
MINI saddle consultations - It is possible to do shorter saddling consults where we do not test ride many or any saddles and I can just give you my opinion and recommendations based on my experience. This is priced according to the time taken. eg. $55 for 30 mins or $30 for 15 mins. Get in touch in you want advice on whether you need a Comprehensive saddle consult or if a Mini consult will suffice.
 
Private Lessons/ Training sessions  are $110/hr  (Coaching in groundwork, riding, trailer loading, problem solving, healthcare and management).
 
Bodywork   Energetic Bodywork and or PEMF  (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) treatments $110 Equissage treatments  $88

 

 

 

 
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.

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