A. Student Information
Each student will be assigned two horses, more if desired. He/she will be encouraged to spend time caring for these horses in the yard and observing them in the fields.
The rider will be introduced....
1.... to the horse's dual nature (in the wild and in man's tent). This information is elementary for working with horses on the ground.
2.... to the concepts of static/dynamic balance, both in the rider and in the horse. Added will be the rider's means of communication (seat, hands, feet, balance, core activity).
3.... to movement exercises, which will make for flexibility and ease. Added will be seat exercises, which enhance balance and provide familiarity with the horse's movements.
4.... to directing and sensing the horse in the walk, the halt and simple lateral movements.
Student's summary. First Semester.
The rider will be introduced to working with horses on the ground. Under close supervision he will mount, experience the horse's movements and learn the sitting trot. He will, in theory and practice, gain a clear understanding of the horses' dual nature and of human/equine balance. Information and experience will be provided in parallel. Mind, body and senses thus join in building authentic knowledge and know-how.
The rider will be introduced to the means of human/equine communication. He will gain experience with competently directing a horse. Each rider will work progressively at his/her own pace, completing one step at a time. He/she moves on to the next step only after horse and rider have achieved complete ease and confidence. The latter is an important building block for further learning. Control sessions and trouble shooting are part of the learning process.
B. Staff Information
.... 1: preparing for work on the ground:
- The central role of the inner hind leg.
- The education of the foal (grooming, leading, attaching)
- The language of the herd (natural horsemanship)
- The horse's well-being and consent (authority and tact)
With this introduction students learn to handle horses on the ground. Goals are: one, the horse's complete ease and flexibility (moving around like a plastic duck in the bath tub) and two, its full consent (something like the emotion a foal displays towards the brood mare).
.... 2: preparing for the saddle
- Feldenkrais/Anat Baniel
- Yoga
- Rolf structural integration as needed
- Classical seat exercises (DVD-NSAE)
Riders will gain flexibility and ease. They will learn to synchronize with the horse's movements in the saddle.
.... 3: introducing balance and communication
- The human's upright and the horse's horizontal balance
- The horse's postures and means of power
- Human body language and the language of the aides
- Human and equine core activity
This basic information on the physiology of equitation is taught while riders tackle the sitting trot and continue seat exercises. And before they take over control.
.... 4: in the saddle being in control
- walking on straight lines
- turning
- stop and go
- turn on the spot and side-step
Riders will learn to competently and confidently lead and direct the horse from the saddle. They will begin to tune into the horse and - from a state of unity - demand movements, which foster the horse's suppleness and the rider's control.
Staff's summary. First Semester.
Working horses on the ground and developing them in the saddle will be done individually under general supervision. Seat exercises and frequent control units will be done one-on-one. Time for trouble-shooting is available as needed.
Ideally things will work hand in hand. In the beginning everybody wants to get to the horse. Therefore we start with ground work. Students oxygenize and gain fitness while they experience how horses move, react and learn under the wide open skies of Normandy. After first excitement has settled students are introduced to concepts of balance. They begin body work. While gaining insight into the physiology of riding they in parallel start seat exercises. These serve to encourage the continuation of body work.
As soon as students have tackled the sitting trot and understand the basics of human/equine communication they take over control. They will learn to tune into the horse and ride on straight and curved lines. They will be introduced to turning on the spot, backing-up and side-stepping.
These skills will permit them, in the next step, to take horses out.
