3 day Basic Course

No prior experience is required for the 3 day basic course. Its designed to give you plenty of information and ‘tools’ to be able to develop and strengthen the relationship with your horse for coming months! It will touch on all the basic elements of groundwork, leading and riding. This course aims to give you enough knowledge and experience for you to independently develop free dynamic groundwork, lead your horse in all conditions, and start with the beginnings of free riding (with tack).

Course content

Day 1

In relation to ourselves:

  • We’ll work on refining our perception; what type of character does your horse have? What is your horse expressing and communicating?

  • Explore the distinct difference between training (monologue) vs. interaction (dialogue).

  • Groundwork exercises: personal space, guiding your moving horse and the impact of sending signals with pressure (tension) vs. using an impulse (relaxation).

In relation to our horses:

  • Gain the interest of your horse by having a neutral, calm, (mentally) independent presence.

  • Become more meaningful to your horse, offer leadership by affirming and protecting your personal space.

  • Allow for connection and closeness to grow by entering a dialogue where the horse is free to express itself and where we carefully listen to what it is saying.

Day 2

In relation to ourselves:

  • Develop your self–awareness through introspective exercises, physically and mentally. How do certain narratives influence how you relate to your horse?

  • Where do you get stuck? What are your weaknesses & strengths?

  • What helps you to be in the right state of mind to effectively work with your horse?

  • Groundwork exercises: leading, free groundwork skills such as increasing and decreasing circles, bend and balance on a circle.

  • Reflect upon leadership. What does leadership mean to you? How can you further develop your leadership skills and characteristics.

 In relation to our horses:

  • Learn how to offer leadership by correctly guiding a moving horse in freedom, using distinct body language and positions.

  • Continue to earn more trust and respect by giving your horse more safety and clarity through leading it in a horse-oriented way.

  • Depending on the location and horse-human combination, we may go for a communal (nature) walk. We may also address any separation anxiety issues and walk independently with your horse.

Day 3

In relation to ourselves:

  • Break through mental obstacles. Revive, renew your belief systems and thoughts.

  • Take a small step outside of your comfort zone, face fears and experience your first victory!

  • Groundwork exercises: change the direction of your horse on a circle, riding aids, seat.

 In relation to our horses:

  • Address any mental unbalance, distress or trauma in your horse by giving it space and by truly seeing your horse without wanting anything.

  • Evaluate the physical health of your horse and explore ways to holistically support your horse’s body.

  • Discover the profound influence your body position and expression has on your horses expression, movement and balance.

  • Start to play with body language so your horse can move or flow freely around you an unhindered and natural relaxed state and posture.

  • Witness how a strong and balanced connection on the ground with your horse naturally sets the stage for riding your horse. Through mutual trust experience the first few steps to free riding in an enclosed area. Learn about natural seat, weight and leg aids to stop and turn.

Details

Each day we will balance personal reflective exercises, groundwork exercises without our horses, with sessions with our horses. Participants with a horse will ‘work’ with their horses twice a day.

We’ll start at 09:00 am and finish at about 19:00 pm each day. We’ll take a break from around 13:30 – 15:30. On very hot days (35 C +) we will start earlier, take a longer break and finish later.

Please take your own sun protective clothing, drinks, snacks and lunch. Depending on the location there may be a possibility to go out for lunch.

*Note: At our courses and seminars there is no such a thing as a “fence sitter” or “spectator”, you are still an active participant and will join us for all the exercises! :)

Price

AUD $ 550,- / EU € 450,- with horse, AUD $180,- / EU € 150,-  without a horse.

Minimum number of participants with a horse = 3 (incl. host) – max 6 / Maximum number of participants without a horse = 1 0.

You will be required to fill out and sign a waiver form before commencing riding activities.