If you want to help your horse find collection; collect yourself.
EQUINE CORE CONNECTION™
–From Relationship to Riding
Are you searching for that missing link in your horse training?
The answer has been in front of you all along.
It’s YOU!
With countless “how to” training methods available, many people don’t realize that the answers lie within. As we become adults our confidence, creativity, and intuition can get trained out of us. This leads to being too analytical and “stuck” in a task driven mindset. The conversation with horses gets lost which leads to tension and even “behavior issues.”
How can Equine Core Connection help you be the best trainer possible?
Equine Core Connection (ECC) is about developing healthy happy horses that are understood. Through a flexible framework, you’ll learn to educate your horse gymnastically in fun new ways while creating connection that goes beyond expectations.
Its practical personalized structure empowers you to reach your goals with an approach that makes sense to your horse. ECC will strengthen any equestrian pursuit, but is very much a practice in itself.
The program is broken out into modules starting with core essentials for understanding and recognizing the true nature of horse and human where body language goes past the physical element and taps your inner wisdom. This prepares you for the gymnastic exercises influenced by “Academic Art of Riding” as you unite relationship with riding.
Receive live one-on-one or small group virtual coaching. In-person instructor led education is also key to success in the program. Yes. There is homework too. This program requires a high level of commitment because training new patterns takes time. You’ll be challenged, but the rewards are HUGE!
If you’re ready to embrace your uniqueness, contact us to explore the possibilities for you and your horse.
Core Essentials
The fundamentals of good training start with understanding and recognizing the true nature of horse and human. Who is your horse; and how does your horse see you?
Through observations of your horse’s needs and characteristics you’ll create a place to “meet” your horse and strengthen your relationship.
Here, you’ll explore the physical and mental balance of the horse to build the engaged connection needed throughout technical work. The following topics and exercises of Core Essentials provides the building blocks for future lessons.
- Develop Communication and Relationship
- Understand the Horse’s Posture
- Introduce Basic Groundwork and Liberty Techniques
Body Energy in MOTION
Given the overwhelming stimulation of social media, caffeine, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to become disconnected from our feeling and sensing. You are more than just your mind; and more than just your body. Mental shifts can happen through training the physical body beyond cognitive thinking.
Trust your intuition and learn to develop desired habits to influence your horse as you move with meaning.
Experience the benefits of your body as an instrument of conscious awareness.
- Posture and Position: It’s not just for looks
- Gain Focus, Rediscover Your Creativity, Move with Ease
- Access the Energy Your Horse Needs
- Sync Breath with Movement to Center and Align
Riding From the Ground
Horses carry more weight on their forehand than on their hindquarters. This in itself is not an issue given horses need to graze. However, it can be a problem when we add the weight of a rider on the horse who isn’t strong, supple, and balanced. While doing gymnastic work from the ground we’ll practice consistent communication to ensure the aids are understood so they can be later translated to the horse when asked to carry us.
This module evolves into deeper technical aspects of lunging, and work in hand. It’s the bridge between groundwork and riding. Be amazed as you discover how practicing from the ground carries over to ridden work.
- Introduction to Tools and Aids
- Gymnastic Work – Lateral and horizontal development
- Body Language and Posture – Blending the physical and mental aids
Rider Fusion
This is where relationship, communication, and body-mind awareness come together with the new addition of the seat. The goal is to develop balanced posture as you sit on the horse for optimal function, safety, and ease.
Learn to listen to the body’s intelligence to make informed decisions for when to apply the “right” aids at the “right” time. Experience ways to:
- Find Your Neutral Seat
- Observe and Follow
- Release Tension
- Understand When to Influence
- Apply the Aids
- Shape the Horse
Habits reside deeply in the body and that’s where we have to work if we are going to develop new ones.
–Ginny Whitelaw