Craft your Rides – Arena Patterns & Exercises – When, What, Where, How and Why ? Glenorie, NSW – May 24-26

Create the Partnership of your Dreams through
LEADERSHIP with LOVE

Create an Extraordinary Bond through Connection and Feel
Set your horse up for success—whether your path is pleasure or performance—by developing their posture, strength, and athleticism through optimal biomechanics and functional movement.

MULTI – LEVEL COURSE –
Arena Patterns & Exercises – When, Where, How and Why ?

Whether you’re restarting a horse under saddle, building your own balance and confidence, riding trails, or advancing into refined work—like collection, hindquarter engagement, or preparing for competition—riding the right patterns, shapes, and exercises is a game changer.

It’s not just about what patterns or exercises that you ride, but when, why, and how you ride them.

This understanding transforms arena riding from boring mechanical repetition into a crafted meaningful and purposeful dialogue — that is fascinating and mentally and physically provocative and stimulating, accelerating your progress towards dream rides on a calm, balanced and happy riding partner.

Why Patterns Matter

Many resources provide patterns, figures, and exercises—books, competition tests, or clinics—but often with minimal explanation of:

• When to use them
• Why they matter
• How they influence your horse’s body, mind, and emotions

When I ride, I don’t use a pattern just for the sake of it.

I use a pattern or exercise to create a result. And once I’ve achieved that result—I stop or change.

If the horse shifts their balance or behavior, I shift what I’m doing to support or counteract that change.

To someone watching, it might seem like I’m randomly changing things. But in reality, I’m responding and adjusting all the time – thinking my way through the ride.

Once you’ve started to master the art of flowing (or synchronizing) with your horse, the next step is learning how to think your way through a ride—planning and adjusting moment to moment to meet your horse’s needs.

That’s where this course comes in.

An Individualised Approach

In my clinics and courses, every horse and rider receives individually tailored guidance. The course format will entail a combination of group coaching and individual coaching.

You won’t all be doing the same thing—because no two partnerships are exactly alike.

You’ll learn how to choose the right pattern or exercise for your horse in that moment, and I’ll help you understand why that choice works—whether it’s about calming the mind, engaging the body, or encouraging emotional regulation or all of the above.

We’ll explore:

• How patterns affect biomechanics and emotional states
• Why transitions, circles, straight lines, and directional changes matter
• How to support softness, stability, and engagement through movement
• When to shift tasks, or pause with purpose

My Own Learning Journey

Like many others, I began (over 30 years ago) riding shapes I saw in dressage tests or textbooks like 101 Arena Exercises, with little awareness of their deeper purpose.

Everything changed when I began asking:

What can I do right now to shift or improve what I feel in my horse?

That question changed how I rode—and it changed everything for my horses, too.

Once you understand the why, arena riding becomes purposeful, rewarding, and endlessly interesting.

Even if you’re “just a trail rider,” the foundational skills you develop in flatwork or arena-based exercises will enhance safety, comfort, communication, and biomechanics in every setting.

Real-World Application

Here’s a practical example:

Learning to ask for a subtle shoulder-in or shoulder-fore can be a literal lifesaver on the trail.

If your horse becomes impulsive, anxious, over-excited, or loses balance, this gentle movement can restore calm, balance, and connection—but only if you have the skill and feel to apply it with finesse.

This is what I want to help you develop.

Some of the Movements & Exercises We’ll Explore:-

• Straight lines — when, why, and how long are the lines
• Circles — size, direction, and their purpose
• Rib bends & hip mobility
• Hindquarter (HQ) & forehand (FH) yields
• Sideways movements & leg yields
• Lateral work (in general)
• Spirals
• Turn on the forehand
• Zig-zags vs serpentines
• Transitions — timing, frequency, and intent
• Pole work…To name just a few.

Where and When:

Gracelands Equestrian  Indoor Arena
2 Gracemere Crescent
Glenorie, NSW

May 24-26    9:00 – 5:00

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 $660 EB for 3 days – if paid in full by May 1st.
Full price is $770. There are payment plans available if required.

There is only one horse spot currently available. So register early to avoid missing out. Your deposit will hold your spot.

The cost to come without your horse is $55/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.

‘Functional Saddling’ consultations, BALANCE saddles, Private lessons & Bodywork sessions –

PRIVATE SESSIONS will be available the day after the course. Make sure you book these 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.