Lessons

HORSEMANSHIP LESSONS

Working throughout Scotland on a one-to-one basis. I specialise in Horsemanship ground work (which can be working on agility tasks for more fun) and also bitless bridle riding techniques.

SAFETY STAGE

This involves getting to grips with horsemanship tools and a basic understanding of communication with your horse. Teaching you to help your horse to be calm and relaxed whilst having co-operation of your requests but also making sure you listen to your horse too. Lessons involve ground and ridden work in walk and trot. Riding skills are started by learning to use your breathing through to a seat connection and for the horse to learn to listen to your body aids rather than relying on your reins.

Equipment: I use a rope halters with 12′ lead ropes and sometimes a short training arm/stick but am happy to use your regular headcollar and equipment if that’s preferable. I have spare rope halters and lead ropes to try in lessons if wanting to test one.  I teach bitless riding with a rope halter too but if horse and rider are proficient then I have bitless headcollar’s with extra D rings on to try out if wanting to try them out.

CONFIDENCE STAGE

In this level I start teaching about partnership phases of intent and work towards more lightness, understanding and communication between you and your horse. This level is about having more fun and will help you and your horse find more confidence with obstacles and tasks. Learning how to help your horse become more flexible and balanced with a better understanding of impulsion. The ground and ridden work at this level is in walk, trot and the start of canter work. Ridden work is getting more refined with the body aids. It is also the stage that liberty work can be started.

Equipment: I like to work with a 22′ lead rope and have one for students to try out. Bitless riding is either with a rope halter or kind type of bitless bridle (ie. no leverage). I have 4 sizes of bitless headcollar’s that  students can try out in a lesson too.

EXPERIENCED STAGE

This level is for those that have already gone through stages 1 & 2. We keep working with the 22′  line and long reins and the three gaits of walk, trot and canter are now used. Everything is becoming more refined and the liberty work is fun and checks our ‘connection’ with our horse. If appropriate I will teach working with a 45′ line. Ridden work is bitless either with a rope halter/clip on rope reins or a bitless bridle or even a cordeo and we use much more subtle riding aids. The start of lateral work can now be applied when riding (which can be transfered to riding with a bridle/bit if you so choose to do at home). I personally teach riding lessons bitless to help reinforce the body aids but all ridden work is about getting that weight/seat/leg/hand connection with lightness.

Equipment: I use two  regular or light weight 22′ lines but often at this stage you can ask for more liberty work. Non-leverage  itless bridles or headcollars.

All lessons are at the students/horses own pace and unconfident/fear issues worked on before accomplishing goals. I also am very safety conscious and insist on the wearing of hard hats for ridden work.