Horsemanship and Riding Instruction Goals
A lesson plan is designed for each individual student to cover the topics that are of particular interest to you. The program can be designed to fit your goals, your schedule and proceed at your pace. Ed can provide lessons at our facility or yours.
Our lessons generally begin on the ground teaching six different exercises, known as the "Six Keys to Harmony", which help establish your leadership and open a bridge of communication with your horse. Then we will apply all these essential exercises mounted with consistent use of cues and body language communication. Much of the lesson emphasis is on rider safety, clear communication, light responses and quality of control of speed and direction.
Ed's teaching style is very clear and straight-forward, giving students a
methodical and systematic approach which is easy for both horse and rider to understand and apply. Ed's gentle methods have been proven effective by successfully working with hundreds of horses and humans. You will learn problem solving principles and teaching techniques that work with the horse's nature and instincts in order to overcome resistances with confidence, patience and understanding.Our lessons are applicable to any riding discipline. You will develop a better relationship with your horse- lighter responses, more respect, trust, and harmony. You will understand how your horse perceives the ideas you present to him and how to communicate with him in the way he communicates with other horses. This is all accomplished with respect for the horse by using gentle, natural horsemanship techniques.
Beginners as well as advanced riders have found the skills taught in our lessons to be very useful. Ed's system of working with horses builds confidence in handling horses on the ground and mounted, equips owners with natural communication skills and establishes their authority as a confident, consistent leader for their horse.
Our seat lessons, designed by Craig Stevens, help you find your balanced, independent seat so you feel more secure in the saddle. You'll learn how to ride from your core, anchored into the horse so you cannot be dislodged. You'll discover how to eliminate bouncing and flow with the horse by allowing him to move you with his rhythm. With the safety of being on one of our good, calm lesson horses and being on the lunge, you will be able to really concentrate on improving your centered seat. You'll learn how to loosen up, relax and absorb the motion of the horse in your middle body.
You cannot hope to control the horse if you cannot first control your own body. Having a sympathetic or independent seat means you are not interfering with the natural motion and relaxed stride of the horse by being tense or gripping with the hands or legs. By being in full control of your body you will have clarity of the aids by being able to use your legs and hands for clear communication to your horse rather than using them for keeping yourself in the saddle. These seat lessons have proven to be very helpful even for experienced riders.Our training and lesson facility is a beautiful, quiet place with a nice barn, shady pastures, large arena, round pen, big lake, wooded trails and our new "Adventure Trail Obstacle Course"!
We have plenty of nice lesson horses to help you build your skills and confidence.
_______________________________
Level 1 - Safety issues concerning horses. Explanation of horse psychology and natural instincts. Attention, approach, touch, halter, rub all over becoming familiar with the different areas of the horse, proper leading, proper unhaltering and releasing technique.
Level 2 - Grooming. Perform ground exercises on lead rope including: a) yielding hind quarters, b) yielding front quarters, c) backing, d) circling to the right and left at walk and trot, e) passing through a narrow space to the right and back to the left, f) sending through gate and g) side-passing. Properly picking up hooves.
Level 3 - Apply ground exercise maneuvers to successfully send horse over obstacles. Bareback riding- Demonstrate emergency dismount. Discuss being a good passenger, balance, posture and focus. Lead student from ground at walk having student concentrate on rhythm of horse movement until student can identify when each particular foot is leaving the ground. Demonstrate one rein turns and stop at a walk mounted using the lead rope as a rein.
Level 4 - Student to perform ground exercises, groom and ride bareback with one rein demonstrating turns on front and hindquarters. Begin trotting and posting. Work on smooth, light transitions- slow walk, fast walk, slow trot, fast trot with numerous one rein turns and stops.
Level 5 - Student to perform ground exercises and groom. Teach proper saddling, equipment inspection and mounting. Student to ride with one rein demonstrating turns on front and hindquarters and riding patterns. Work on smooth, light transitions with proper posting and rhythm and with one rein turns and stops.
Level 6 - In larger arena at a walk and trot. Student to ride demonstrating turns on front and hindquarters and riding patterns. Work on smooth, light transitions with proper posting and rhythm and with one rein turns and stops. Demonstrate backing and achieving a soft feel. Begin loping.
Level 7 - Demonstrate proper bridling with snaffle bit. Explain the different mechanics involved in snaffle and curb bits. In the arena with the horse bridled, student is to ride demonstrating backing, achieving a soft feel, turns on front and hindquarters and riding patterns. Work on smooth, light transitions at all gaits including the lope.
Level 8 - Demonstrate oblique leg yields and side-pass. Review transitions, turns and patterns. Work on good rhythm, posture and control at the lope. Student and instructor to casually ride together in open area at walk and trot.
Level 9 - In round pen, student is to ride and control the horse during "controlled catastrophe". Move to arena and review transitions, turns and patterns. Work on good rhythm, posture and control at the lope. Student and instructor to ride together in open area at all gaits demonstrating turns, patterns, leg yields and stops.
Level 10 - Student and instructor to ride together in open area at all gaits demonstrating turns, patterns, leg yields and stops. Student and instructor to ride together on trails crossing creek.
Level 11 - Student and instructor to ride together on a longer and more challenging trail ride encountering spooky items and obstacles.
Level 12 - Student and instructor to ride together along the road and bridge crossing.
Note: The wearing of a safety helmet and proper riding boots is recommended for these lessons.
