Here is a chance for riders who want to learn the basic skills of natural horsemanship, improve their riding skills, and their horsemanship skills in general. The course is a 5 day long course designed for riders aged 12 to 17. Not for complete beginners, this course is for riders who can already walk/trot/canter and want to improve their riding, horse handling, and stable management skills, as well as have great fun vaulting!
Vaulting is the art of gymnastics and dance on horseback. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a gymnast or dancer to do it! All exercises can be tailored so that any person of any ability can do them. The exercises will improve confidence, flexibility and balance on the horse, and will improve all riders. It’s great fun, and is useful for any rider, whether you want to move on into vaulting competition, or trick riding or not.
The vaulting section of the course will include learning all the basic compulsory moves of vaulting both on the stationary vaulting horse, and the live horse. Vaulting is an international sport, but Eclipse is one of the first facilities in Ireland to offer it!
Topics and practical demonstrations will include:
1) Understanding Horse Behaviour
Understanding the horse’s needs
Reading the horse’s body language
Human body awareness and body positioning and how it affects horse behaviour.
Understanding and maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.
Having the horse comfortable in our presence.
2) Talks and discussions on:
What are we looking for in order to develop a partnership?
The zones of the horse
How horses learn
Human “energy awareness” and the use of energy/intent
Understanding release and the neutral state
The role of reward and incentive
3) Practical sessions on:
Teaching the horse to yield from steady pressure and move the individual parts of his body
Understanding and learning how to apply steady pressure, its timing and release to develop the following yields:
Moving backwards
Moving forwards
Moving the hindquarters.
Moving the forequarters
“In hand” work on the ground
Learn how to use their energy and intent.
Theory sessions:
Rider position and how it affects the horse.
Exercises in body awareness for riding
Practical sessions:
Saddling and bridling
Mounting-how to mount and dismount safely, while protecting your horse’s back.
The connected rider: learning to stay in balance with the horse.
Moving the zones of the horse from the saddle
Moving the horse with intent/body energy
Turning the horse with the body
And so much more… with fun and practical demonstrations and participation in rider improvement exercises including Vaulting.
Price for the course will be all inclusive. Housing will be provided Sunday afternoon June 30 through Saturday morning, 3 meals per day plus snacks will be provided Monday through Friday. We can arrange to pick up and deliver participants from airports, bus, or train stations. Camp day will be 9am to 5pm, with evenings to study or relax or watch DVDs and play games.
For more information on attending this course, please email us at info@eclipseireland.com or ring us at 064 668 2965
