Horse Lessons

Everyone loves horses! Horses are nature in it's purest form. They offer unconditional love, truth in their communications, and relationships based on honesty, respect and trust. Many people believe that a horse's spiritual nature can even help heal emotional ailments. No wonder so many humans love horses!

I offer to share with you the 'lessons of the horse' to help you learn about and understand the nature of horses; how they communicate with each other and with us; and what they need to feel good about being with you. No previous experience with horses is necessary just a loving willingness to share yourself completely with these amazing and majestic creatures. Just spending time with horses is relaxing, inspirational, and good for the soul!

Learn How To:

• Communicate and play with horses.
• Understand yourself and others better through learning the language of the horse.
• Enhance your creative imagination.
• Focus on and enjoy living in the moment.
• Ride bareback and without a bridle or reins.

Is This For You?

Working and playing with horses, like many types of physical sports, are activities with elements of risk for getting hurt. And, just like other types of sports, the more safety precautions we can take the less likely our chances of getting hurt. Injuries related to horses often occur when people carelessly underestimate or do not understand the true nature of horses. But sometimes, injuries occur simply because that is the nature of working with horses. Falling off a horse is something almost every rider does at least once in their lifetime riding horses. Even great trainers sometimes fall off. Our policy is that helmets that meet industry standards are mandatory for anyone under 18 years of age; waivers of release of liability must be signed; and we strongly encourage purchasing riding vests for children. Personal accident insurance is also recommended (see OEF memberships). For these reasons you should ask yourself if horse lessons are really for you?

Do you want to learn how to be safe around horses?

Do you want to learn how to play with horses in a way that creates a bond and partnership with them?

Or, do you want to ride a horse because you think riding would be fun?

If you want to ride simply for the fun of it, then my program is not for you. There are many qualified instructors who teach riding, jumping, and how to control a horse using a bit and bridle. That is not what I do.

I encourage you to find your confidence through playing with horses on the ground. I help you build your horse savvy so that you can start to anticipate the movements and reactions of the horse. I help you develop timing and feel by highlighting the horse's behavioural responses to your actions and intentions. I share with you what I know about the language of horse.

Is This For Young People?

Yes, and no. Certainly riding a horse is fun for many youngsters but often they are not mature enough to learn the techniques and discipline needed to communicate successfully with horses. Many school horses demonstrate that they are not having fun being ridden by someone who throws them off balance or pulls on their face with the reins. If a school horse bites, kicks, has a miserable attitude, bucks, pulls or pushes their way into your space, or won't stand still to be mounted, chances are that horse is trying to tell you they are not happy and would likely escape if given the chance. Is that what you want your youngster to learn?

If your youngster is not old enough to work with a horse on the ground, this is not for them. If they are eager to learn about horses, want to share space and time with horses brushing and being around them, and can be patient and kind, then, yes this is for them.

Know that working and playing with horses demands a level of awareness and focus. Learning can be hard work especially at the end of a long day at school learning about other things. Physical (core) strength and coordination are additional skills that are needed and can develop well when playing with horses. The more advanced your youngsters skills the better chance of success he/she will have learning to communicate with horses. Skills such as focus, concentration, attention, patience, determination, emotional control, leadership qualities, and mental/emotional/physical stamina are some of the keys for success which your child can develop through learning and playing with horses. Horses can teach children how to use creative thinking to work through problems, overcome frustrations, and become more aware of their intentions and their influence on others. Remember, fun is what happens as a result and happiness is the feeling that follows real success.

I always encourage parents to attend and even participate in lessons with their children. Sharing in the experience and reinforcing learned skills at home is an important key for their success. Helping your child develop the skills they need outside of the lessons (ie., core strength, coordination, balance, focus, ect...) will help the child fast track towards success. This is true of course, with any discipline.

If you feel that your child becomes distracted by your presence or misbehaves because you are there... then I strongly suggest taking horse lessons with your child so that you may learn the language of leadership, trust and respect - the language of the horse. Open yourself to the possibility of learning to be the best parent you can be through learning "the lessons of the horse!"

Cost:

 

TESTIMONIALS:

Dear Laura,

Here is a note I have wrote for you as a thank-you for the lessons you have given me. You have helped me be around horses nicely unlike my old instructor ****. You have also taught me alot of stuff about bare-back, the friendly game, porcupine game, yo-yo game and how to get a bond with your horse. You helped me by teaching me how not to be a bully to horses, while **** taught me to be a bully to horses. You have helped me to feel more coftrible around horses. This will help me to be a better rider and make a better bond with my horses. Thank-you.   Meagan