Experienced Animal Trainer
We are super excited to be hosting a dressage clinic at Somersby Paddock (Central Coast) at the end of June – rather impromptu – but a cancelled competition weekend was the perfect opportunity to get it off the ground!
My “love project” is undeniably my unconventional horses – my Quarter Horses, Heavies and Crosses, Friesians, Spanish breeds, cobs, ASHs and TBs… the ones that we see the world and more in, but who judges struggle to see the same in, the ones that might have conformation that makes lightness and balance as we want it more difficult, the ones who might lack the enthusiasm of the modern sport horse and become a lazy, exhausting rides, and the ones who might lack the naturally bigger and impressive movements and that “more forward” doesn’t solve the answer to (rather creating a rushing, out of rhythm horse). The ones in my stables that steal my heart every day and have won a million others as they track towards FEI, but realistically, can be a bit of a tough slog to keep up to the standards of the bred-in-the-purple horses in the training and competition arena!
Rest assured there is a method to making the path easier and more successful for our unconventional dance partners, and I find the answer is in an investigation into equine biomechanics and how our own biomechanics (not strength, not gadgets) can be used to influence this positively. Improving the horse and rider’s understanding of the biomechanic function that enables this heightened performance is, without a doubt, the key to improving the mental and physical well-being in our horses. Our dance partnerships must see both the horse and rider really understand not just what to do, but why they do it. Then we understand how to create change in our horses’ bodies, in our paces, in movements and in competition.
Does it sound complicated? It is not, because at the end of the day, it is simply breaking down how you can adjust your body to adjust your horse’s body and make their world a whole lot easier. It is simple work, simply explained, with a great big impact on your relationship and partnership with your horse.
Lesson spots in this clinic are very suitable to all, with all breeds and levels welcome, including those bred-in-the-purple, those who are already well on their way but want to invest further into this pathway of thinking and finessing, to those who are struggling, to those who are thriving, and to those who this is a completely new idea to! We work with a variety of dressage, show, working equitation, event and showjump riders who all find this philosophy so very valuable.
Limited positions available, with 50 minute private lessons at $115 including venue hire and tea/coffee facilities. Yards are available at an additional cost. Fence sitters welcome. Please book below.