July, 2007 - Natural Equipment

Transcription

FROM THE EDITOR
Hi everyone,
Well, it is midway through Winter…days are starting
to get a little longer, yippee, more horse riding
time!
This newsletter is really becoming a team effort…
thanks to Louise, Trish, and Sandra for helping me
this month. I really appreciate it!
I recently organised a course at the Raymond
Terrace RDA for Melanie Fleming…it was fantastic!
Mel did a free presentation on the Friday night and
with around 50 people attending it was a great
success. It was great to see so many new faces.
Mel is a great speaker and really captured what her
feelings are about horsemanship i.e. it is a holistic
approach.
I was going to write ‘we’…but I also believe that
everyone has their own opinions on what they want
out of their horsemanship. So for ‘me’ I am looking at
a more holistic approach; I want to learn more about
how horses move, bodywork, educating horses,
riding dynamics, how my thoughts and presence
influence a horse. To be able to ride more as one
with a horse…Mel’s, ‘Riding with Synchronicity’ sure
did help me to realise there is so much to be learnt
about our bodies and how we need to be more body
aware. Learning to read what your horse is trying to
tell you…why is he throwing his head as we go from
walk to trot?? Attend a course with Mel and you can
find answers to all your questions.
Thinking more about the holistic approach…
we have decided to expand our business and
over time we will introduce new products that
aren’t just about training the horse, but are about
helping the human to become more mentally,
emotionally, and physically fit. We all know that
it isn’t just about horses, we need to work on
ourselves, wether it be goal setting, working on
our fitness/health or learning how we can improve
how we move. Over the last 10 years Danny and
I have attended many courses, read many good
books, listened to some inspirational speakers.
We thought it would be great if we can let you
know about some of the fantastic things that
are out there. Some of the instructors are also
letting us know of great books etc; things that
they have used to better themselves.
I recently did the Leadership Labyrinth with
Dr Stephanie Burns. This is an on-line
course that I know many Instructors have
done. I find it to be of great benefit to me.
Read more about it in this issue.
Tony Lander from the International
Horsemans Institute recently taught in
Newcastle. I went and watched for a few
hours on the Sunday. Just in time to watch
people getting taught how to safely saddle
horses and how to get on safely. Tony also
showed them some basic rein positions. It
sure did bring back memories of that first time
you are asked to get on with a halter and one
rein. I admired all of the students’ trust in Tony
and how he helped those that hadn’t had much
riding experience. Well done everybody!
Well until next month…go well and have fun!
Cheers, Lee
JULY
Competition
Winner
WINS
$50 Gift
Voucher
Do you
remember when
you rode your
horse for the
first time?
Tell us about it….
Send your entry to
d.woodl@bigpond.net.au
Please put in the subject
line July Competition
Disclaimer: Articles that appear
in this publication are not necessarily
the opinion of Natural Equipment or its
employees. This publication is subject
to copyright and may not be reproduced
without the written permission of
the publisher. Natural Equipment
does not take responsibility for author
inaccuracies.
June
Competition
Winner
Congratulations
Jen Chiswell!!
Sun, Surf and Sand Dunes
Photo of Jen & Logan taken at beach
at Warrnambool at the Easter Parelli
Camp run by Chris Corbidge.
Thanks to all those that entered!
Above is a selection of entries!!
Thanks to Glenn Wilson for the great article "My Fur Coat".
Having discarded my rugs 3 years ago, it distresses me greatly to see
horses, on lovely sunny days, wrapped in canvas.
An additional bit of essential information that Glen could have included
in his article is that a horse's body temperature is 38 degrees. About
1.5 degrees higher than a human. If our temperature is 38deg we are
running a fever and I am sure we would not want to be wrapped up in
an oilskin coat. Yet this is what we do to our horses.
We thought it might be a
good idea to introduce a
place in the newsletter
where people can let us
know what they like etc!
Please feel free to email in.
Email-
Since I put the rugs away, I have never seen my horses shiver, I don't
have to feed additional feed to compensate - but I am fairly generous
with the hay at the best of times, and my horses always feel warm to
the touch. Ten years ago I planted shelter belts of trees so each paddock has good shelter which they use to their advantage. So they have
as natural an environment as possible.
The pressure from other people to rug is quite palpable at times, especially when I am around "normal" horse people (as opposed to natural).
I have to admit, it took a lot of courage to put the rugs away, but my
horses have never looked happier. My quarter horse especially, would
pin his ears back and threaten to bite when I did up the chest strap.
Sure I spend a bit more time scraping off the mud, but what the heck.
Most of us don't get enough exercise anyway.
d.woodl@bigpond.net.au
So please resist the powerful advertising and leave your horse ah la
naturale. Jan Mellor
THE LABYRINTH
ONLINE COURSE
A very rich description of the Labyrinth course is located online on a simply designed page. It is best that
you go there for that information; there is much to know and many questions you will want answered before
committing to join us on this learning adventure.
Going to this page is also your FIRST Labyrinth-like experience.
What does it take for you personally to take the action of visiting that page?
Do you go there right now without delay?
Do you tell yourself you will do it later?
If so, do you actually get around to it?
If so, what does it take for you to actually do this later?
If you choose to
enrol there will
be a 5% discount
if you mention
you were sent by
NEVA SAY NEVA .
What kinds of things did you say to yourself?
If you haven’t done this in a week but you really meant to do it, what do you
think that means and why do you think it happens?
I can hear the Labyrinth graduates laughing! They know the answers.
Graduates of the course no longer have naïve thoughts about goal achievement and motivation. They understand the richness of the process that
rests behind action and avoidance. Life and its goals are no longer hit and
miss for them, they know how to initiate and sustain action – even when
those actions are boring, frustrating or confusing as many goal activities
are.
Hurry Closing Date is 2nd August… Or put your name down for the next course… The Labyrinth graduates will not be found sitting on the chez lounge dreaming about taking action with their
horse or only talking about it. They know how to get out to the paddock. And, they don’t have inaccurate
ideas and false excuses about their behavior. They know the truth about what drives them and how to control their brain for the benefit of achieving the goals they set.
I believe every person born should have the knowledge and skills necessary to get where it is they say they
want to go. It can feel a profound sadness when I see people struggling with issues related to motivation
and learning. These are so simple to solve with the knowledge a few of us in education have today. I remain
committed to getting what I know in the hands of all those who are trying to get somewhere ‘good’ in their
life.
It is your turn now. Visit my website www.stephanieburns.com
There you will find your way easily to discovery about what The Labyrinth
holds. You will learn everything you need to know about the course and
can send me questions from that page if necessary.
You will find the aims of the course spelled out in plain English, a journal of
graduate comments to explore, and the details you need about the cost,
payment schedules, start dates, enrolment deadlines, time commitments,
technology requirements, and the expectations of you as a participant.
In Part One of ‘Solitary Confinement’ (NSN February 2007 edition) Glenn wrote of a mythical
white pony left to live out his days, by himself, on a small house block in a town. You have probably come across a ‘Snowy’ or two in your travels. In Part Two, Glenn further explores the possibility of giving horses some of their dignity back and letting them live as they would prefer – in a
herd.
Solitary Confinement - Part Two.
‘Horses are herd animals’. This is not such a surprising statement to a great number of horse
owners and people with an interest in horses. Nevertheless, how this understanding is manifested in the wider horse world shows either a lack of acceptance of what this means for a horse
or perhaps innocence or ignorance in many horse–human relationships.
Being a herd animal means nothing less than “I am most comfortable when I live with a number of
others of my type”. My interpretation of the statement ‘horses are a herd animal’ is that for their
mental and physical well being, horses need the constant company, interaction, security, communication, stimulus, relationship, instinct reinforcement, and training that being with their type can
give. No ‘ifs or buts’. Sheep, goats, and cattle do not suffice as suitable companion animals for
horses. Humans are social creatures, dogs are a pack animal, and most birds are flock creatures.
It is the way nature has set up species to survive and to thrive. It certainly works with humans,
although smaller tribes are probably more appropriate for our wellbeing than cities of millions of
people.
If we, as horse carers and owners, compromise, modify, or deviate in any way horses’ living arrangements and social/herd needs, there will be a resultant change in the horse. Again, no ‘ifs or
buts’. To be really objective in this exercise, we cannot take the ‘solitary’ horse as a benchmark.
To do so would be akin to examining something with a compromised standard of compliance.
How do we know such things as love if we have not experienced love in its fullest and most pure
form? How do we know the true nature of our horse if we do not let him/her fully express himself
or herself as a horse?
Here is where imagination, observation, education, and exploration can assist us to find our true
horse. For example, imagine a high-level dressage horse being able to live for the majority of
time out in a big paddock (or better still a Paddock Paradise*) with several other equine buddies.
Perhaps gallopers and pacers too would benefit from spending their ‘off work’ time in similar living
arrangements? Compare that type of scenario with that which is so common and so detrimental
to these horses today. The all to often ‘solitary confinement’ athlete, pony, or pet horse is just a
mere whisper of a true and happy horse.
Herd living for horses can be achievable if we, as their owners, carers and users, can step outside
of ‘what is convenient for us’ thinking. And how many examples of unsocialised horses do we see
at horse/human get- togethers? The orange ribbon in the tail scenario! Horse riders and handlers
do not even let horses get to know each other, to sniff each other, to say ‘Hi, and who are you?’ to
other horses. Why? Why not? I reckon it is lack of understanding of horses and horses’ needs
that cause this type of human reaction to a horse wanting to do or doing what horses naturally do.
Solutions. There are a lot of free companion horses available all the time. People who have
horses that are no longer useful for their purpose publish “Free to a good home” adverts; they
can’t afford to feed it and care for it (or they no longer want to). For every horse thus advertised I
bet there are many others in similar circumstances. In a wonderful example of companion horse
situation, I was given the care of a little pony last year. This fellow had someone else’s aged Anglo for company. When we went to pick up the little one, his old mate was less than happy when
we shut the pony inside the float. My partner and I looked at each other and in that funny way of
‘knowing’, both headed for the rear of the float and both dropped the tailgate of the float without
(Continued on next page)
saying a word. I look back on my first ever ‘liberty load’ with a sense of awe. Yes, so strong was
his need for company, Ben just charged onto the float to be with his little mate. He knew we were
taking him away. As it turned out, the true owners of Ben were quite happy for us to take him to a
new home (so we didn’t get done for horse stealing). But even better than that is the fact that this
‘old’ horse has taught me so much about horses. He is the most cooperative and gentle horse of
the herd (he lives in a herd now) especially when I trim his feet, and I mean he is really cooperative. He is a true treasure to have in my life, and in the herd. (That last sentence should really be
the other way around, but I am human).
So arranging some company for your horse is pretty straightforward. It’s you who has to move
out of your comfort zone for the horse to move into theirs. Try shared agistment (you can get over
the ‘feed issues’ too), or acquiring a companion horse, or moving your horse from its small paddock living to a larger shared paddock, or even adopting a brumby from the organization that
saves and rehouses the excess horses from the wilds. <www.victorianbrumbyassociation.org> So
move your horse out of your back yard or stable living, now! Well, do it tomorrow then! If that’s
where/how he lives.
On one side of the horse/human relationship pendulum are those who have, house, and use
horses is a way that really makes me cringe. On the other side of this swing are people like
Robert Miller, Bruce Nock, Carlos Tabernaberri, Linda Kohanov, Pat Parelli, Monty Roberts, and
Jamie Jackson, just to name a few (no I am not name dropping but I have read or studied their
books and information). What these and many others in the world are attempting to do is to wake
us humans up to the horse. When we humans do wake up properly to the horse, we may just
wake up to ourselves, and that will be a fine day for humanity. But I digress.
In Australia there is increasing interest in our own wild horse herds. Brumbies, as we affectionately call them, have more than managed to survive in the most extreme climates you could imagine. From the coldest snow covered alpine peaks to the harshest deserts in the centre of Australia, brumbies live in natural herds, eat naturally (and have great hooves) and in a great example of
adaptability, thrive. For anyone interested, there is a planned tour of the desert brumby herds
around Alice Springs this September. Contact www.wildabouthooves.com.au for more details
*Paddock Paradise is a newish book written by American horse liberator (hope he doesn’t mind
me calling him that) Jamie Jackson. Jackson has spearheaded the American barehoof movement. As a foundation in the book he bases his knowledge and understanding of horses on the
‘wild horse model’, believing it to be the soundest, problem free, and most natural example of
horse and one to which we should all aspire to for our horses.
In Paddock Paradise, J.J. takes the reader back to the wild horse lands of the Great Basin in the
US, the home of wild mustang bands. We follow these bands throughout their ‘ranges’ and examine the behaviour of these horses in and between herds or families. Jackson also looks at diet,
movement, seasons, threats, and socialising behaviour of these wild animals. The very exciting
thing for horse owners is how he has applied this knowledge to enable all horse owners to
achieve sound, healthy, and happy horses in domestic environments. All that is needed is knowledge, creativity and imagination (and some fencing material). It is an enlightening read. It is for
the horse.
Something that many horse owners miss out on is just sitting down near a herd of horses and
watching them. True, they do spend a fair amount of time with their noses in the grass eating.
But even while this is going on there is other stuff going on. It can be subtle and it can be quite
loud. It can also be very amusing too. Horse interactions are fascinating. Observing this going on
between horses allows us to identify patterns and themes. And guess what? We may be able to
use or mimic these actions ourselves to elicit a response from our horse when we are playing/
training them. Or has someone already discovered that? I’ll bet they have!
So if the horse is really happy then surely our relationship with him/her is going to be better. Each
and every one of us should aim for a true paddock paradise, for the horse of course.
© Glenn Wilson June 2007
Hooves
‘The Natural Horse’
By Jamie Jackson.
Vivid accounting of wild horses and their natural habitat. The model for true natural
horse care. 192 pages.
$42.00 + $7.00 P&P
‘Making Natural Hoof Care Work For You’ by Pete Ramey.
Written in down to earth language and chock full of photos and drawings. A perfect
companion to Jamie Jackson’s H.O.G. Horse owners will find countless bits of useful
information in this book to make their hoof care programs more successful. 192 pages.
$42.00 + $7.00 P&P
‘Horse Owners Guide to Natural Hoof Care’ by Jamie Jackson.
The ‘bible’ of the Natural Hoof Care movement. Step by step instructions for the Natural
Trim. For horse owners wanting to do their own hoof work or improve their understanding of Natural Hoof Care, for farriers wanting to transition to Natural Hoof Care, how to
make the successful transition from shod to unshod. 320 pages.
$45.00 + $7.00 P&P
‘Founder: Prevention and Cure the Natural Way’ by Jamie Jackson
Step by step guidelines to natural healing for foundered horses to bring them back to
complete soundness with beautiful naturally shaped and functioning hooves. Extensive
discussion of diet and management issues. 156 pages.
$32.00 + $7.00 P&P
‘Paddock Paradise’ by Jamie Jackson.
A fresh and creative look at ways we can encourage healthy horse movement so essential to our horse’s health. Even smaller paddocks can be fenced in a way to get our
horses ‘on the move’ based on wild horse herd behaviour. For all horses in all climates.
$42.00 + $7.00 P&P
Hoof Trimmer’s Stand
If you are trimming hooves yourself, this hoof stand will save you time and effort. Designed to be comfortable
for horse and trimmer. Height adjustable and robust construction.
$115.00 + $15.00 P&P
For orders please send cheque or money orders to
Glenn Wilson (Hooves Naturally)
149 Waterfall Creek Rd
Tallangatta Valley 3701
Ph 02 6071 0210 or 0418 991 680
or www.waterfallcreek.com.au/horses
Spring courses so far are as follows.
Please drop me a line if you would
like your name added to these
courses, keeping in mind I only take
small groups to keep the learning on
an individual basis as well as the
group learning.
September - Mon 17th & Tues 18th - Two Day Introduction into NH and the seven games
Building with confidence, a stronger relationship with your horse. This course will be run concurrently with
Owen Gwinn's Cow camp, out at Exeter Farm, where the facilities for any kind of horse play are fantastic.
Through the course of the two days you will get to observe what Owen's group are doing and how it directly
relates to what you are learning and doing, and how the seven games and the knowledge of horses that
you will learn through these two days plays a part in the practical everyday situations with your horse/
horses; whether you are doing dressage, playing Polo, Eventing, cow work, or want a good honest reliable
trail horse to enjoy and stay safe. It’s about Good Horsemanship !!
Cost for the two day tuition is $300. Accommodation in the Exeter Farm cottage with a max of nine people
is $25 per night per person and camping is $15 per person per night.
If you have been wanting to get started into the NH program and learn more about horses and being confident around them, then this is the course for you. You will get to meet like minded people travelling the
same path. When there is a positive group there is a strong sense of progressive learning and inspiration
shared. Please do not hesitate to ask for more information, and any other questions you may have.
November – Fri 16th, Sat 17th, Sun 18th, three day NH Advancing level 1/ level 2 course
(Please note change of date)
These three days will focus on advancing through the NH levels program with both structure and individual
help (the group will be small); both on the ground and in the saddle, expanding your knowledge and confidence in training your horse while having Fun.
Cost for the three day tuition is $400
For more information on this course please drop me a line.
Do you need a horse for these courses - if you need to borrow a horse for either of the above
courses, I have suitable horses available, at a small cost to cover feed, transport costs etc.
Bungendore Fun & Support Day– is on 11th August. Come and have some fun.
For all bookings and enquiries please contact Camilla—
Ph: 02 48461002
Mob: 0429 461 002
Email: jembaicum@aapt.net.au
By Fran Griffen Hunter Natural Horsemanship Centre
“I do not approve of a seat which is as though the man was sitting on a chair, but rather as though he was standing
with his legs apart."
Xenophon, 355 BC, Athenian philosopher and cavalry leader.
Xenophen said it in 355 BC and that truth has held through the ages when it comes to the balanced riding posture. Not only is
this position the ideal for balance, it is also ideal for the health and function of our backs.
What is good posture?
Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting, riding, or lying
down. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit, ride, and lie in positions where the least strain is
placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. Correct posture:

Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.
Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis.
Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
Therefore less strain on our horses.
Prevents strain or overuse problems.
Prevents backache and muscular pain.
Contributes to correct balance and posture in our horse.
What is correct riding posture ?
Correct riding posture allows the body to stay in balance with the horse’s movement. Helps the body to be supple and
supported. Helps the spine to stay in natural alignment with its natural cervical, thoracic, and lumbar curves. Correct
riding posture:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Upper body tall and stretched skyward, but relaxed.
Pelvis neutral, neither tipped forward nor rolled back.
Lower back supported, showing the slight arching of the normal lumbar curve.
Stomach in without tilting pelvis.
Head straight, in line with the neck. Not tilted forward, backward or sideways.
Legs falling from the hip, under the pelvis.
Shoulder, hip and heel in a vertical line.
This rider shows a balanced position with the normal spinal curves maintained.
This picture illustrates the neutral pelvis with normal lumbar curve and the tipped pelvis with an
exaggerated arched back, causing tension in the back.
Many books have been written on the classical position. This position has stood the test of time. Riders throughout the
ages have recognized the importance of posture and balance, to support and enhance their horse’s ability.
Good posture is good posture whether we are walking, sitting, driving, or riding. The horse world is constantly
evolving; new ideas are tried and tested. However, the correct riding position has stayed largely unchanged for centuries
in all types of equestrian training. It seems to me that natural posture is a natural law, it doesn’t matter how many times
we examine it, it always stays true.
So no need to re-invent the wheel. Listen to your body, find your natural balance, follow the natural curves of your
spine and enjoy balanced and supple riding.
ENQ UIRES AND BO O KING S
02 49886031
Natural Horsemanship
Breakthrough Clinic
• Breaking through the myths about horse
behaviour
• Breaking the resistance
• Breaking through to better understanding
and communication
• Break through to confidence
• Break through to find your natural
intuition and skills around horses
• Learn techniques to move forward with
your horse, whatever your level
11th/ 12th August 2007 @ Branxton NSW
Fran Griffen , EFA NCAS coach and 3 star NH instructor, will lead you
through an interesting and productive program over 2 days. Students will
learn the most up to date horsemanship techniques that are steeped in history.
The breakthrough course uses the latest discoveries in horse psychology
whilst maintaining the integrity of the classical principles that have served
horseman well ,over the centuries.
Be ready to breakthrough to a new attitude and philosophy about horses.
Bookings
essential
Students may attend with or without a horse
Accommodation is available for students, overnight agistment for horses
Two packages available
1. Day package : Attend each day, tuition and lunch
EN QUIRES A ND BO OKINGS
0 2 49 88 60 31
included
2.
Weekend package : Stay at the venue, tuition, up
to 2 nights stay, horse agistment, all meals. ( our hosts
provide comfortable accommodation in a cottage with all
meals supplied ) Limited availability. BOOK EARLY
Hunter Natural Horsemanship Centre
www.hunternaturalhorsemanship.com
Email : frangriffen@bigpond.com
PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
BAREFOOT BLACKSMITH
Informative Information Session and Display on
Barefoot Trimming.
Saturday August 11th.
Mansfield Show Grounds
10.00am—1.00pm
BYO Lunch.
MADEC and HRCAV members are invited to attend a very
informative information session on barefoot trimming presented by
the barefoot trimming specialist Andrew Bowe.
Andrew will be able to answer all your questions and provide you with
expert advice and knowledge on barefoot trimming.
RSVP by 3/8/07 to Tamara Bruce
Ph. 0400 936 595
bruce.tamara@yahoo.com.au
Information about barefoot trimming can be found at Andrew’s website
www.mayfield.com.au
Other sites are:
www.equethy.com
www.hoofrehab.com
•
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Horses want to be understood and ridden in
absolute Synchronicity. When the rider can totally
become a part of the horse and they move as one
being then riding can feel like magic for the horse
and the human.
The mental and emotional state of the horse
greatly influences its physical state and determines
its behaviour. If horses are not calm, confident and
feeling good about their human as a leader then
harmonious riding and a good partnership will be
impossible. Training horses is just a ‘mind game’
when we use and understand their psychology.
Riding in Synchronicity delves into the four aspects
that make up the horse and human – the mind,
emotions, body and spirit.
Horses need to be ridden in a balanced, fluid, and
biomechanically correct posture. In such a self
carriage horses will be sound, healthy, happy, and
athletic. Performance maneuvers will feel
effortless.
Ground handling & psychology
Riding with Synchronicity
Traveling World Wide
About Mel Fleming –
The comprehensive range of horsemanship skills
that Mel Fleming has to offer is rarely seen in one
individual. Years of experience in starting horses
under saddle, solving behaviour problems and
developing horses for performance.
Mel has competed successfully in dressage and
jumping and in 1990 represented Australia at the
World Equestrian games in Vaulting, and although
not a competitor in Western disciplines she has
trained in those areas also.
After studying Natural Horsemanship intensively
with Pat and Linda Parelli she became one of their
top instructors around the world. She then became
fascinated with improving horses’ posture and self
carriage, seeing that performance was relatively
effortless when horses where ridden in true
balance.
Riding in Synchronicity has been developed to
improve the quality of riding, so that riding can be
the freeing, enjoyable, and exhilarating experience
that it is meant to be, for both the horse and the
rider. You will learn to ride without rigidity or
stiffness. As you gain more balance you will gain
more confidence.
The concepts are very simple and the application
is made easy through developing the rider’s body
awareness and balance.
Mel Fleming
mel@melfleming.com.au
02 6760 5519
www.melfleming.com.au
Mel has developed a uniquely clear and simple
way to teach her very holistic approach to
horsemanship and her passion for horsemanship
is clearly demonstrated.
She helps people to understand the horse’s mind,
emotions, body and spirit to develop willing
partnerships and top quality performance.
Riding in Synchronicity
3 day Course
with Mel Fleming
Bathurst - to be held at Kelloshiel
Park, McGregors Road.
September 15, 16, 17.
Free Introductory Presentation
Friday Sept. 14 6:30pm-9:00pm
This 2.5-hour presentation is an overview
introducing you to the philosophies and concepts
taught in the horsemanship courses. Topics
include:• How horses want to connect and interact with
people.
• The emotional nature of horses.
• Behavioural problems – Do they stem from
the mind or body?
• Assessing horses’ external appearance to
understand what’s happening on the inside.
• Biomechanics for Soundness and
Performance.
• Riding Dynamics.
• Saddle Fitting.
Course Outline for the three day Course
This course will be aimed specifically for riders
who have competent riding skills; meaning it is not
a beginner’s course. It will be absolutely beneficial
for riders who are looking for more connection,
harmony, balance, and softness in their horses.
Benefits that riders will gain from this course:♦ A better connection and communication
with their horse taking away some of the
frustrations for the horse and rider.
♦ A deeper understanding of the qualities
and biomechanics needed for horses to move
with balance and self carriage; essential for
dressage but also for any horse to be sound,
athletic, and enjoy their work.
♦ How to use groundwork with horses to
develop confidence, calmness, communication,
attention, and responsiveness. The essential
ingredients to harmonious riding.
♦ How saddles influence horses’ ability to
move well.
♦ Learning riding techniques that allow
horses to move with self carriage.
♦ Developing body awareness and body
balance so that riders are able to implement
these riding techniques.
When riders have a lot of restrictions in their
bodies it is impossible to ride with the quality that
horses need. There will be dismounted sessions
to develop your independent seat and improve
your movement patterns. Learn how to make
riding therapeutic for both you and the horse.
Start and Finish times
9:00am – 5pm each day
Cost
$450 for riders
$55/day for observers
What to Bring
♦ Saddle, pads, and bridle.
♦ Helmet and smooth soled riding boots with
a heel.
♦ Halter and lead rope, preferably a rope
halter with a 12’ lead.
♦ Stick and string or lunge whip.
♦ Camping mat, yoga mat, or blanket for
body awareness sessions.
♦ Gym ball or exercise ball can be
purchased cheaply from BIG W
– heights up to 5’4 – 55cm ball
– heights up to 5’7 – 65 cm ball
– heights up to 5’8 – 75cm ball
♦ Notebook and pen.
♦ Fold up chair to sit on.
♦ An open mind and body for learning.
For bookings and registration form
contact Lesley Archer
kahiba@bigpond.com.au
02 6331-5049
Closing Date for payment:
Friday 10 August
Student feedback from Mel Fleming’s
Courses in Adelaide & Raymond Terrace
Aade
ADELAIDE
‘Your quote ‘It’s not about training the horse, it’s
about riding with excellence’ summed up our
clinic beautifully for me. The changes I saw and
the things I learnt about my pony which were
brought about not from working on him but
from working on my own softness and posture,
were amazing. After studying
natural horsemanship for 12
years, this is the obvious next
level, the complete package.
I’m very keen to learn more
about the bodywork. Can’t
wait for the next clinic!’
Mandy Foot
body, when I want my horse to do a particular
move… I’ve learned the importance of his ribs, of
how to get upward transitions without pushing
with my legs or my seat… we transferred our
ground principles to the saddle and my horse
offered to round, lift his back, offer vertical flex
and get more suspension… and we are just trail
riders!!!
Just an amazing 5 days…
where at the end of each
day we were feeling up and
energetic and our horses
were happy and willing to
keep doing more…Can’t
wait to have you back Mel,
to progress this further…’
Michelle Wheaton
‘Wow what an amazing
‘I learnt a huge amount at the
clinic… and how wonderful
clinic. I was quite nervous
it was to experience a truly
about coming along to a new
international, high calibre
teacher knowing that my
instructor…We worked on
horse doesn’t cope well in
so many things, where to
group situations, was
start… we used exercises to
prepared to sit out and watch
improve our body awareness
if necessary.
and increase our flexibility…
Pictured from back left are:
But your calm and accepting
I can’t believe how much
Kathleen Sargent, Amanda Goodman
approach of where each of
freer my hips were by the
Philomena Taylor, Erin Taylor Anne
us was at was so reassuring.
Lonergan, Mary House, Jen Chiswell
5th day… and able to move
Michelle
Wheaton,
Mandy
Foot,
You were able to give each
independently…
On
the
Anne Marie Stringer, BarbaraTymukas,
individual
the
attention
ground, becoming aware of
Sharyn Lee Bacon, Carole Jacob,
they required, from people
Susan Castell, Mel Fleming
how to move my horse around
(absent
for
photo
Thora
KleinGibaud
who were very advanced to
with ‘silky smoothness’…
and Mandy Cooling)
novices like myself.
fluid and flowing… then
watch him respond to that
and get so much happier and more confident… I am looking forward to putting into practice
and then see his top line start to change… from what I learnt about riding dynamics over the next
that upside down Arab, head up, tail up… to few months and now have some confidence
a rounder outline, stretching his back, lowering that I can help my horse over-come some of his
his head and offering vertical flex himself… emotional issues. I was also very grateful for
☺Then once we had this connection…expanding your practical advice on some of his physical
on that and getting him to mirror my body… like issues, and will be trying to improve this for
influencing his gait online and getting downward him.
transitions purely by the action of my hips… or I think we all had moments of lightbulbs flashing
getting him to stretch his neck by lengthening as you explained in very simple terms what has
mine… And then there was the riding!!! Now been mysterious for so long about achieving
after all our simulations, I feel totally clear about soft and relaxed horses under saddle!’
being able to work out what to do with my Philomena Taylor
‘You have a story that is interesting and of use for many of us in
our journey to understanding and improving our relationship with
horses. You have a kind of extra universe of information. I think we
all saw and appreciated your strength in sharing the extra added
dimensions that you have incorporated and refined - the mind,
spirit, body work.
I think the format of the course worked in so many ways. For
instance, it felt like there wasn’t a lot of pressure although I was
being exposed to many new things - like the bodywork for humans
and then the horse. Yes, the human first then the horse in that
order, worked well. The exercise ball techniques
working with opening up the pelvis with the clock
was very good. I loved your suggestion that
even if we could not do the movement physically
we could do it in our minds. The mat work was
excellent as well. I felt many of the exercises gave
me more conscious attention to slowing down all
of my movements.’
Kathleen Sargent
“Mel’s clinic was fantastic. I learned so much about how my horse
should move, and how I can influence her to move better. I also
learned to ride more harmoniously. By working on improving both
aspects the outcome is amazing. Mel is a very skilled instructor
and I cannot recommend this clinic highly enough.”
Anne Marie Stringer
‘Finally!!! Someone has worked everything out … they’ve filled in
all the missing gaps… So thank you… and my horse also thanks
you…’ Sue Castell
RAYMOND TERRACE
‘I observed only on the first day and found this opened up more
avenues to understanding and knowledge, and some reasons why
horses react in a particular way and how to overcome this. The
simulation at the end of the day was very good and the feeling of
lightness and my own body movement was amazing.’ Kim Page
‘Mel was fantastic, I came away with a whole new awareness of
how to move my body under saddle and to feel for the first time
my horse (Gypsy) enjoying me being up there and moving in time
with her body and keeping a connection with her. Also on the
ground and in the saddle discovering how much Gypsy wanted
and needed that contact from me, and how to achieve that contact
Gypsy needed.
Thank you Mel for your dedication and knowledge that you have
passed on to your students and their horses. I can’t wait for the
next clinic.’ From Anna & Gypsy
P.S. For all of you out there. If you have not done a Mel clinic please
if it is the only one you do I promise you you will be blown away
with Mel’s teaching, so will your horse.
‘It was truly refreshing to
have an instructor consider
the whole horse; mentally,
emotionally and physically!
As a qualified professional
equine massage therapist,
I appreciated Mel’s unique
soft and subtle approach
and the changes in the
horses’ over the two
days was a lovely sight
as harmony and a deeper
connection and balance
was achieved with their
riders.
I only wish all horses could
be so lucky.
Thank you Mel for sharing
your knowledge and skills.’
Michelle Wein and Mova
This is great!
This is a great video you can
watch on You Tube…
It is of the Metropolitan
Mounted Police at Olympia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE4YU2QY_Yw
TURN UP THE SOUND AND ENJOY…….
Okay, so you were looking for ideas on how
to build that round yard…..
DON’T IGNORE
ANIMAL CRUELTY
The NSW Federation Of Animal Societies has a free service
operating throughout Victoria for the purpose of the
community reporting anything you see or believe to be
cruelty. Their representatives in Victoria, include an ex
senior/coordinating inspector for the RSPCA with 20 years
experience and a lifetime dedicated to Animal welfare, the
other an Equine and animal welfare expert.
If you see or hear anything even if you don’t think it is
worthwhile REPORT IT. You can remain anonymous if you
wish. Since August 2006 there been over 700 cases reported to
this number.
Free call
1800 751 770
Cases like this ignored by others but not by us no matter what the situation.
! " #$ "%
& '(
Weekend Trade Stands available:- i.e. 6 metres x 3 metres= 18 sq.m
12 metes x 12 metres = 144 sq.m
From $150 per stand per weekend
Non Trader entry - (Public) $5 per vehicle
This is an annual experience for either 2 legged or 4 legged “
equestrians” in this historical area of our Hawkesbury Community and its
environs.
To enjoy all the facets on offer for small business Traders and the
Community alike, this expo will be a chance to share and showcase
what’s on offer and be a part of extensive variety of services that can be
delivered.
For a flyer or trading application please respond to the following
website:- Kellyvilleridingclub.com.au
Or ggwood@aapt.net.au or phone 9627-1373 a.h
C:\KRC\H-H-E& T-F-2007-Flyer[1].doc
By Sandra Burr
I recently attended two extremely interesting conferences as part of my PhD studies. It’s heartening
to know that the social aspects of horses, and not just the hard science, are being taken seriously
by today’s researchers
The Voice of the Horse Conference was held by The Tapestry Institute at Iowa State
University. I attended on line, which meant staying up two nights in a row, but it was well worthwhile. The conference explored different ways of knowing about horses and the value of lived stories – what we as horse owners and lovers observe and feel and experience in our everyday interactions with our horses. The impressive line up of speakers included writers, artists, native Americans, singers and song writers, a science student, elite competitors, researchers, horse trainers,
therapists, and film makers, all with a deep love and concern for horses. Topical presentations included insulin sensitivity (yes rich diets and lack of exercise) in horses owned by Native Americans,
and natural horse keeping. We saw a clip of Robert Vavra’s stunning new film, Such is the Real
Nature of Horses, and it is beautiful. Phillip Whiteman Jr, a Northern Cheyenne, demonstrated his
holistic, non-confrontational method of horse handling (Phillip’s grandfather taught Tom Dorrance
about Indian horsemanship). Several speakers were critical of the use of round pens explaining
that they had seen too many horses ruined through being over-dominated in them. I was particularly interested in the preliminary results of the Horse-Human Relationship Survey, which drew over
1200 responses from all over the world including Australia. The overwhelming message was that
we should have respect and reverence for our horses by allowing them to have a voice and then
listening to it. You can find out more at http://www.tapestryinstitute.org.
Animals & Society II: Considering Animals was held in Hobart over three days in
July. Around 100 speakers from all walks of life – academics, researchers, dog trainers, philosophers, artists, writers, livestock handlers, the RSPCA – presented papers on everything from the
ethical treatment of animals, the problem of animal hoarders, super sized seagulls, microbial life
forms, shark persecution, penguin films, writing about animals, preserving wildlife, to the meaning
of pets in our lives. Horses were well represented. I spoke about the ways that Australian horsewomen construct their lives; there was a terrific paper on ethical dressage including the current
rollkur debate and another looking at traditional Mongolian horse communities from a researcher
who lived with them for a year. Mules and donkeys in the South Australian mining industry is being
researched - did you know that the Burra mine imported mules and muleteers from Chile in the late
1800’s? A most intriguing equine research project is being conducted in England looking at how
the demands of modern day horse owning are changing the English countryside as farms on urban
edges are being turned over to horse agistment, and facilities such as bridle paths, riding areas
and competition places are impacting on the landscape. I gave a paper describing how Australian
horsewomen construct their lives with horses and it was very well received.
It was a feast for animal lovers and the only conference I have ever been to where people pulled
out their mobile phones to show each other photos of their animal friends and nobody raised an
eyebrow. The take home message? All animals - human and nonhuman - deserve equal respect
and consideration, and if we want to save the planet and preserve the diversity of life we need to
stop eating meat.
Greetings from Exeter Farm
It feels good to be talking with you again after so much of the State has had excellent rainso heartening and life-affirming.
We are excited at the prospect of greeting some of you here soon; the program is:
15th,16th September; Smooth Moves
with Sue Elsbury, Trina Fuller and Kate .
These two days are based on the premise that a tense horse won’t offer smoothness because he can’t. Therefore we will
explore what we may be doing, or may need to be doing, to create confident, flowing responses from our horses. And
the flip side- how to avert tension in ourselves and our horses. While Sue, Trina and I will be available throughout all
sessions, the body awareness and position sessions will be lead by Sue, the ground sessions by Kate and the ridden by
Trina. The aim is to dance, which will depend so much on how we hear and interpret the music!
17th & 18th September;
Cow Camp with Owen Gwinn
Owen will again share his enthusiasm and sense of play with those seeking to give purpose to the time shared with their
horses. Through Owen’s knowledge of cattle handling, developed over many years of practical experience and further
enhanced by time with some of the great cutting horse trainers and horseman, he will lead you through a series of exercises and “jobs” that will give a sense of purpose and achievement to you and your horse.
17th & 18th September;
Introduction to Natural Horsemanship and Level I
with Camilla Davidson
Camilla has amassed many hours of teaching those new, or relatively so, to natural horsemanship. She also adds to this
her experience of starting horses, of whom each one adds to her wealth of knowledge. The main features of the course
will be safety and developing a language between horse and human, A great opportunity that you may have been looking
for! Or if not you, perhaps you know of someone who has shown interest in natural horsemanship but hasn’t known
where or how to get started.
For bookings and information on this course contact
Camilla: 4846 1002; jembaicum@aapt.net.au
For Smooth moves and Cow Camp: Exeter@braidwood.net.au
Cost: Smooth Moves $290 (includes 2 dinners)
Cow Camp $290 (includes 2 dinners)
Smooth Moves & Cow Camp $520 ( for attending both courses, there is a discount of $15 per day) (includes 4 dinners)
Accommodation: Camping $15p.p/night (hot showers, toilets, kitchen facilities for breakfast and lunches)
or motels in Braidwood.
or hotel in Majors Creek phone 4846 1145
Horse yards available at no charge; BYO horse feed, water buckets.
Till we see you next, we wish you the very best. This Spring Exeter Farm will be green, the dams full, the cattle content.
Cheers Kate and Owen
What a way to welcome you!
horseplay
by Wrangler Jayne
www.wranglerjayne.com
Jayne at home on the
ranch with young
students,
doing
breathing exercises!
Natural horsemanship
with Heart
One of the greatest things about
natural horsemanship - in my
view - is the emphasis placed on
‘playing’ with our horse, rather
than ‘working’ with our horse!
Recreation or Work?
Did you know that 80% of horse
owners today are recreational riders?
The word ‘recreational’ is defined as
something you do for fun and enjoyment, relaxation, for pleasure ... hardly sounds like ‘work’
does it - especially if the word ‘work’ brings to mind thoughts of drudgery, discipline, difficulty
or unpleasantness. The ‘have-to’ or ‘got to’ syndrome.
So if 80% of people have horses and want to be with them for the purpose of having a good
time* - then it makes perfect sense to ‘play’ with them rather than ‘work’ them! (*As opposed
to using them for economic gain, ie: racing, breeding, etc.).
It’s not Rocket Science!
Some students I’ve met who are
studying natural horsemanship have
been working hard to turn the 7 games
into the 7 jobs!
Hey, I tell them, lighten up! It’s not
rocket science, it’s horses! Relax,
laugh at yourself, give your horse a
little slack, stop demanding a perfect
job every time, delight in your horse’s
spritedness (horsenality)!
Playing ‘chase me’ with horse ...
- Poncho and Spirit
Playing ‘chase me’ with human ...
- Sharif and Jayne
I sometimes see student’s faces so
serious, mouths and eyes tight and set,
bodies rigid with concentration,
breathing suspended - all signs of
tenseness and LOF! (Lack of Fun).
‘Time Out!’, I say. We stop, do some
short relaxation exercises to loosen our
minds and bodies up, and then continue,
usually with far more success.
Boys (and girls) just want to Are you having Fun?
have Fun!
If you are a teacher, periodically ask your students, ‘Are
1. Kelly plays with Esteban in the river
2. Tara having fun with Arriba
3. Jayne and Zorro ‘on the ball’
4. Poncho’s ballroom dancing
you having fun?’ If the answer is a bleary-eyed look of
frustration, then take Time Out to bring everyone back to
a more relaxed state of being, and cause them to release a
few endorphins into their systems. Tenseness creates
adrenalin, not necessarily good for communicating
calmness and relaxation when teaching a horse
something!
The 5 F’s
Pat P. cites the reasons why people ‘get out’ of horses. If
you haven’t heard this, or have forgotten, here they are:
Fear
Frustration
Feeling Like a Failure
Lack of Funds
Lack of Fun
Basically, if you’re fearful, frustrated and feeling like a
failure, you’re less likely to feel happy about spending
the money that is required to keep a horse, and with all
this pressure, you’re certainly not having any fun! When
human beings are having fun with their vocation or
hobby, they will often go to extraordinary lengths to
justify the amount of money it takes to support their
interest or passion! Think of people who are into fishing,
or motorcycle riding, or hang gliding or whatever. As
long they are loving it, they’ll keep pouring money into
it!
Drop the ‘Shoulds’
If you’re already practicing natural horsemanship, you
are probably having lots of fun ... or,maybe not! I’ve
talked with many students of natural horsemanship who
have been involved in a program for years, and have,
over time, become stale and a bit bored. Although they
may have progressed in terms of their horsemanship
skills, they lack excitement, and have even let alot of
their basic foundation techniques get sloppy. When we
talk about this, the common thread seems to be a lack of
fun, and sometimes, the student feels the pressure of the
Shoulds. For example, “I SHOULD be doing more”, I
SHOULD be doing better”, I SHOULD be practicing for
a higher level”, I SHOULD be more advanced.” Sound
familiar?
A word of advice, Drop the Shoulds! Philip Nye told
me a long time ago that Should is A Dirty Word.
While it is fantastic and admirable to have goals, please
... enjoy the Journey with your horse!
coltplay
Above & below: Jebel checks out the cardboard
box. Never knock the curiosity out of a young
horse! Horses are curious by nature and love to
play!
Above: Jebel checks out the float (can we go
somewhere?)
Plan sessions to be Fun!
My advice to people is to put a higher emphasis on having fun.
Focus more on what’e enjoyable, and plan sessions with your
horse with that in mind.
That doesn’t mean Avoidance! If something is important to
you in terms of your horsemanship skills development, by all
means, go for it - don’t put off teaching something you perceive
as being challenging just because you don’t see it as fun. What
I mean is, include some Fun Stuff in your activities with your
horse, instead of just focussing on the goal, or a particular task,
or getting the exercise ‘perfect’.
3 Year-old children
Sometimes people think that when you’re having fun, you can’t
be achieving much. (Not true!) Or that all this emphasis on
games and play means you can never really taken seriously!
I ask my students to think of children for a minute. The concept
of ‘work’ doesn’t compute when they are youngsters. If
something isn’t enjoyable, they don’t want to do it! Their
attention span is short when it comes to learning, and they are
much easier to handle when they are having fun and are
stimulated. I encourage people to think of their horse as a 3
year old child. When you do that, it becomes simple and easy
to understand why play is so important. It also helps with a
myriad of other things too, but more on that in another article!
Horses do not have the mental capability of uni students, and
by varying degrees, you could say that they have the capacity
of say, a 3-year old child. And think of how you would teach a
child of that age! You’d delight in their developing personality,
you’d laugh alot and you’d ensure they were having fun. Are
you taking their education seriously -yes, of course! But are
you turning it into drudery? No!
So go ahead, expand your imagination - develop Action Ideas
for more creative horseplay! And remember, Play with your
Horse, and Work on Yourself.
Below: Cisco gets on a roll with Big Ball!
Thank you for reading this, I hope I have given you some
food for thought and inspiration to help you and your
relationship with your horse.
Until next time,
Wrangler Jayne - Horsemanship with Heart
© Copyright 2007
www.wranglerjayne.com
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COMPETITION !
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Riding with Synchronicity
PART 2 - Dealing with Braciness on the Direct Rein.
Riding horse’s that are heavy and leaning on the reins does not feel pleasurable to the
horse or the rider. With novice riders this commonly appears to be a problem as they try to
direct their horses to follow straight lines, turns or circles.
What is a direct rein ?
The direct rein leads the horse’s front end through a turn.
It talks to the horse’s nose to ask for a slight amount of
flexion and specifically talks to a front foot. That is the
left direct rein specifically talks to the left front foot and
the right direct rein specifically talks to the right front
foot. The horse’s nose should lead his turns with a slight
lateral flexion at the poll. Note this means that there
is NOT a big bend through the horse’s neck. Getting
horses “laterally over bent” in the neck unbalances them
and puts all their weight on the inside front foot, it also
can allow the horse to escape through the shoulder if the
horse has his own ideas about the direction he would like
to go.
The direct rein is a good rein to use for turning when
you want to keep a horse’s forward momentum going as
the horse keeps his hindquarters engaged, meaning the
hindquarters are powerful and the horse can push with
them. This engagement and power in the hindquarters
also means that the horse can use that power against us
to brace on the rein if we set things up wrong.
Why does braciness or resistance to the rein occur ?
Here are some common reasons.
•Rider is grabbing or going to quick down the reins.
•Rider is giving conflicting aids with their body.
•Rider is putting a backward feel in the rein restricting
forward motion.
•Horse is moving with too much weight on their front
end.
•Horse has mental and or emotional resistance.
• Horse has physical issues and is sore or weak on one
hind leg.
If horses get strong and resistant on a direct rein the key
is to not get into a game of tug-o-war with them because
they will always have the advantage because of their
size and strength. Following are some strategies for
these different situations. You would always start with
checking your riding dynamics first and also how you ask
with the feel and direction of the rein.
Check your Body position –
When things aren’t happening as you would like the first
thing to check is your body position. Have you really
turned your belly button and opened the door on one
side and closed it on the other?
Remember that your legs, torso and shoulders are
connected to your belly button. So in effect you are
turning your whole body.
A common pattern I see with novice riders is that they do
not really turn their belly button to point in the direction
that they want to go it stays straight or even is turning in
the opposite direction (subconsciously of course). The
rider’s upper legs, hips and shoulders will be influenced
by the direction of the belly button. If the belly button
stays straight or turns the wrong way it is actually very
difficult for the horse to turn in the direction that we
want. The rider will be giving the horse a very conflicting
message. Learning to be effective in directing with our
bodies is crucial. Having a stronger and longer focus and
stronger intention will help a lot. The stronger this is the
less pressure we will have to use on the reins.
By pointing our belly button in the direction that we want
to go we can open the door on one side for the horse
and close it on the other. For example if we want the
horse to turn left, we turn left with our eyes and belly
button and we open the door on our left side and close
the door on our the right side.
We open the door on the left by rotating the elbow and
wrist slightly out from your body, think of raising you little
finger like a posh lady drinking her tea – this opens your
arm and ribcage. Open your leg by slightly rotating your
hip joint, knee and toe outward. The leg should remain
hanging down in its neutral position and not be pushed
forward as this will block the horse. The key is in rotating
the hip joint outwards on the open side and closing the
leg at the hip joint on the closed side.
We close the door on our right side by closing our
right upper arm and elbow, closing the right outside
‘supporting’ rein against the horses neck (this rein must
stay straight and have no backward pull in it), your
right leg closes, starting at the hip joint, going down to
the knee, down to the calf and all the way to the heel if
necessary.
If your horse is not following your focus easily try
exaggerating how you are turning you whole body and
opening and closing the doors. You can use this even
when your horse veers off on a straight line. If he has the
intention of going 45 degrees to the left of your line then
you might have to turn and ride with your body turned
45 degrees to the right, to match his intention and out
focus him and then the horse will probably meet you in
the middle and you will be straight on you original line.
You can use this idea whether you are on a straight line
or a circle. This could mean that when on a circle you
ride part of the circle with your belly button turned in and
pointing off across and out the other side of the circle
and then for another part where the horse tends to cut
in or fall in you might have to turn you belly button out to
the outside of the circle. When the horse’s intention or
focus is the same as yours that is on the circle, then you
can go to neutral with your body so your belly button
points straight ahead on a straight line or on following
the line of the circle or turn.
Check the direction of your rein aid
The direction that you take the direct rein depends on
the position you want the foot to be placed. You can
think of the horse as a puppet and imagine that the reins
are like strings attached to his front feet. The direct rein
should have a lifting feel in it and often a forward feel. It
should not have a backward feel in it. In the beginning
it is good to think of taking the rein up and diagonally
forward.
For the basics of guiding your horse when people have
trouble with the direct rein it can be because they have
a backwards feel in the rein which blocks the horse’s
forward motion and over bends the horses neck. This
backwards feel makes it very easy for the horse to push
against (brace against) the feel of the rein. In this case
thinking of keeping the neck straight and really talking to
the feet and shoulders will be important. If you imagine
that your horse’s ears are at 12 o’clock it can be helpful
to think of lifting your direct rein forwards towards 10
or 11 o’clock for a left hand turn this will help keep the
horse’s nose and neck straighter and keep the forward
momentum in the feet. If you where turning to the right
you could think of taking your direct rein up towards 1 or
2 o’clock.
Doing this at a walk will be the best place to start, at the
halt his feet are already stuck to the ground so they are
harder to influence and it is easier for the horse to brace.
You can even experiment with getting in time with
the horse’s front leg. Start by synchronizing with it at
the walk. See how rhythmical you can keep the walk.
Rhythm is a sign of relaxation, when horses brace the
rhythm is lost.
to shift more weight back to the Hindquarters by riding in
a way that allows his back to lift and inviting his hindlegs
to actively reach further under his body. This can
really help lighten up your horse’s steering. For more
details see one of my previous articles on ‘Riding with
Synchronicity’.
When there is mental or emotional resistance to your
ideas.
Sometimes horses will lack confidence, so you need to
improve the relationship and trust in your leadership.
Use more psychology and create incentive by giving
the horse comfort for going where you had in mind this
could be rest, a treat or a rub. Use a pattern or physical
objects to help your horse mentally understand what
you had in mind. Give your horse some more purpose
and somewhere to go by following a rail or a trail. Use
psychology games like Tit for Tat.
Did you go slowly down the rein and put the feel in the
rein politely and smoothly?
If you feel that the horse is just running through your rein
and your body dynamics are right, then a good strategy
to use is to change to an indirect rein. Remember to use
your whole body and turn so that your eyes and belly
button are trying to look over your horse’s tail (described
in more detail in the last article on ‘Overcoming
braciness with lateral flexion and the indirect rein’. This
will disengage or disempower the horse’s hindquarters
so they can’t be powerful and push against your rein.
You will probably only need to hold this disengaged
positions for a moment until you feel you have gained
control of the hindquarters. The horse may hardly turn
or veer off your line but you will feel the rein soften and
the hindquarters yield. The moment this happens you
can go back to your direct rein position and continue
forward before you lose momentum. In a really extreme
case you may end up disengaging the horse in a full
turn. If every time the horse gets into this brace position
he realizes that you can and will disempower him rather
then empower him by pulling against him, he will soon
give up that game.
Did you give the horse time (a few moments) to respond
or just close your hand and drag him over?
Horse’s with a physical issues - This is very
important to consider.
Sometimes putting a gentle vibration in the rein rather
than holding or blocking with a dead feel can make a lot
of difference if the horse resists. Horses want a live feel
not a dead feel.
If you feel that you are asking correctly with your body
and politely with your reins then there is always the
chance there are physical reasons causing the proble,m
particularly if the horse has more of a problem with one
side in turning or a particular direction on a circle.
Getting in time with the feet can be particularly helpful
with green horses when beginning to steer them and
ride circles at the canter, often times people are putting
so much backward feel in the rein that the horses keep
breaking gait. Keep thinking about taking your hands
diagonally forwards mirroring the leading front leg.
For more advanced riding if you required more flexion in
the neck and body or you need to control forward motion
in a turn as in a roll back then the direct rein can go more
towards 3 or even 4 o’clock or 9 or 8 o’clock. You just
adjust it for what ever you need to help the horse.
Check the feel in your rein
Getting the horse’s weight and balance more onto
the hindquarters.
When the horse’s weight is on the forehand it is like
trying to steer a car with flat tires. You can get the horse
The saddle could be unevenly packed, the rider may be
sitting crooked and pushing the saddle crooked, or the
saddle may have a broken tree.
The horse may have some physical restrictions in his
body originating from the hindquarters where one hind
leg is sore or weaker than the other. Very commonly you
hear people talking about horses “having a good mouth”
and now with so many people riding in halters and
hackamores they might say “soft in the halter”.However
if a horse has as problem in his back, hindquarters or
elsewhere in his body he will try and carry his body in
a way to find comfort and compensate for the problem
in his body. He will get crooked in his body and carry
his ribcage to one side and the effect that this can
have is that the horse will be heavier on one rein, often
referred to as “lugging” on one rein. Commonly this is
misunderstood and people try to correct it through the
reins rather then healing the body.
Young horses may have resistance in the reins or mouth
at first because the mouth is so sensitive that they react
to the pressure of the bit or perhaps a horse has teeth
problems and needs dental work. But usually it is not
about the horse’s mouth.In most cases what ever is
happening in the horse’s mouth, head and neck is just
the symptom of the problem not the cause.
Until next month
Mel
The body can be helped with natural bodywork
therapies or sometimes it is a case just thinking about
riding your horse in a way that encourages him to start
using his weaker side and reprogramming the neural
system like in physiotherapy or feldenkrais, usually it
will be a combination of both. I believer riding the horse
could be physically very therapeutic for the horse and
the rider.
UPCOMING HORSEMANSHIP COURSES
For details of courses and bookings contact Mel - mel@melfleming.com.au • Phone: 02 6760 5519
Bangalow
July 27th -30th Intro/Intermediate/Advanced
Gold Coast
Aug11th-13th Intermediate /Advanced
Moonbi
Sept 2nd -13th
(10 day course)
Psychology/Synchronicity/Bodywork
(Mel Fleming & Tony Robinson)
Bathurst
Canberra
Riding in Synchronicity
Intermediate /Advanced
Sept. 15th -17th Sept. 29th-Oct. 1st ‘Banyandah’ Howlong
Oct. 8th-12th
(5 day course)
New Zealand
October
Date to be confirmed
Equitana
Nov. 16th-19th Presenting with Equus College
Is it in the Mind or the Body ?
EQUINE NATURAL FIRST AID FOR HORSES
Presented by Angela Davison (Equine Herbalist and Bodyworker) TBA
Inflammation, sprains and strains Cuts, Sores, Open wounds & injuries Coughs, colds and infections Feet,
Poulticing and more
OPEN FORUM • BASIC MASSAGE & STRETCHING.
Presented by Angela Davison
Date: TBA - ALL PRACTICAL
The Equine Touch
A group of horse owners attended a level two Equine Touch
clinic at North Lilydale. They spent a long three days revising
the basic body balance and areas of concern they had learned
with leading Equine Body Worker Jock Ruddock from The USA,
in January, and extended their skills by learning a second group
of movements to address areas of concern and an advanced
body balance. The group braved the cold and worked on
horses with various problems from 8.30am to 4pm for three
days, coming away with a huge amount of knowledge to help
their horses.
Students included a human physiotherapist, horse breeders,
endurance riders and eventers just to name a few. Mary Hitchcock lead the clinic, as an internationally accredited instructor
from Western Australia, and will complete her visit with a level
one clinic this weekend.
The next level one and two clinics will be held in late August/
September at North Lilydale (contact Liz Stanfield for details on
63951590) all in readiness for Jock Ruddock’s level three in the
new year, which will mean we will have some qualified practitioners in Tasmania.
COMING SOON…
NATURAL
EQUIPMENT
WILL BE OFFERING
TUK TUK
CLOTHING…
HorsesLandWater Peri-Urban Project
Newsletter No 1
horseslandwater.com
March 2007
FENCELINE TRACKING:
Why do horses do it?
What you can do
to prevent it
Fenceline tracking is where a horse walks up and
down the fenceline and wears a channel.
This causes problems such as mud, dust and water
erosion (and all the associated problems that come
with these conditions).
The soil becomes bare – to the point of creating a
deep channel beside the fence. You may also see
an increase in fence injuries (because the horse is so
often in close proximity to the fence) and weight loss
(as the horse spends less time eating and more time
walking).
Horses that are kept alone are more likely to walk
the fenceline as they attempt to get closer to other
horses. Separation anxiety is a term used to describe
why this behaviour is occurring. Horses are herd
animals and they thrive better when not alone.
Some of the things that you can do to reduce this
behaviour and its effects are to keep horses in pairs
or herds and double-fence between paddocks and
plant the corridor with trees to reduce visibility (and
at the same time create habitat for wildlife).
Management of eroded areas may include filling the
channel with crushed and rolled rubble to prevent
further erosion.
Visit www.horseslandwater.com for a link to the
HorsesLandWater publications Action Planner for
Horse Properties and Management Guidelines,
which include sections on fenceline tracking and land
management.
Did you know you can
contact the Greening
Australia Exchange
Program to receive
free advice about
land, flora and fauna?
Fence line tracking widened through feeding of horses on
the fence line.
BOOK REVIEW:
Equine Behaviour
for Veterinarians
and Equine
Scientists
by Paul McGreevy
Elsevier Limited,
369 pages.
For anyone – discerning horse
owners, equine science students or practicing
veterinarians – who is interested in finding out
the reasons behind a range of horse behaviours,
this is the book for you.
Using more than 500 photographs and
illustrations, the book outlines the latest research
and findings related to horse behaviour, including
the common traits of crib biting, fenceline
tracking and shying.
Can you help?
You can win!
We are keen to hear
any ideas you may
have for research,
information resources
or other support which
will help horse property
managers.
We would like to hear
how you solved your
fenceline
tracking
problems. Send in
your ‘before and after’
photos of fenceline
tracking – the best will
win a $50 fuel voucher.
Sharing the good news about sustainable land management
and horsekeeping practices
This exciting new initiative brings together (for the first time with a national focus) horse owners, natural resources
management advisers and researchers, all with a common goal – to improve the environment in which horses are kept and
at the same time improve the health of our horses.
With responsible management of horse properties come many benefits, not just to horses and their owners, but also to the
wider community and, perhaps even more significantly, to the wider environment.
A well-managed property has many benefits to the health of the horses that live there ... and the health of the owner’s hip
pocket.
Many common equine ailments such as greasy heel, rain scald, respiratory problems, eye problems and sand colic can be
significantly reduced by good land management practices. By employing sound land management practices, horse owners
can reduce feed and vet bills and increase the environmental sustainability of their properties. A reduction in dust, flies and
run-off which causes erosion will also keep their neighbours happy.
A well-managed horse property has minimal erosion and minimises nutrient-rich water entering the waterways. This new
project will lead to a very real win/win situation for all concerned.
The project will establish networking teams in the urban fringe around many of the major population centres in the country.
Utilising the HorsesLandWater publications Action Planner for Horse Properties and Management Guidelines – combined
with local knowledge and insight – the foundations will be provided for the development of standards and guidelines for the
responsible management of land on which horses are kept.
Horse owners, clubs, organisations, groups with an interest in natural resources management, Councils and other land
managers are all invited to participate in this project through registering at:
www.horseslandwater.com
Project Partners:– Harness Racing Board (AHRB), Australian Pony Club Council (APCC), Melbourne Water, Environmental Protection Authority SA (Watershed
Protection Office), Greening Australia Exchange Program, Tasmania South Natural Resources Management Board, Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural
Resources Management Board ... with more joining in!
A healthy environment = healthy horses, land and water
Please promote this project through your club or horse-related business
website, noticeboard or newsletter.
New resources ... You can
download the HorsesLandWater
publication Horse Agistment from
www.horsesa.asn.au
It contains information on ‘What’s
wrong with bare ground?’, ‘Let’s
keep the soil’, ‘What are your
horsekeeping options?’ and a
checklist of what to look for when
inspecting agistment properties.
HorsesLandWater
PO Box 483
Plympton SA 5038
Phone (08) 8294 2460
Email
horsesa@horsesa.asn.au
Web
horse
agistm
e
What’s coming up?
nt
Visit www.horseslandwater.com for more information on
upcoming workshops and field days:
Managing horses on small properties – March 21 and 28,
Tamborine Village Hall, QLD.
Pasture Bare Areas, Fenceline Tracking and Weeds – Free
field day.10.30 am, Friday April 14, Gawler, SA.
��
��
Horse Owners
of the Souther
n
Mount
Lofty Ranges
��
��
Practical Farming & Land Management Expo – Free
community event, Saturday April 21, Whittlesea Agricultural
Showgrounds. VIC.
Funding for the Peri-Urban project
has been provided through
the National Landcare Programme –
Natural Resource Innovation Grant
The HorsesLandWater
Action Planner for Horse Properties
is supported by:
The HorsesLandWater
Community of Practice
website was built through
funding provided by
Newsletter No 2
horseslandwater.com
April 2007
Preventing bare areas
in horse paddocks
Did you know that bare areas in paddocks may
also worsen some horse health problems, including
respiratory tract infections, eye irritation from dust
and greasy heel from mud?
Maintaining good groundcover on a small horse
property is one of the hardest tasks when it comes to
property management.
Horses create a lot of wear and tear, both by actual
grazing (especially if property managers let horses eat
down to ground level) and by walking while grazing,
or standing around waiting to be brought in.
This leads to bare areas which usually have compacted
soil. Weeds are often the only plants that will grow in
these areas as they are generally plants that can cope
with poorer land conditions and are not preferred
plants for eating.
There are many techniques which can be used to avoid
bare areas in horse paddocks, including paddock spelling
and pasture renovation.
benefit from installation of a hardened surface such
as crushed rubble.
High traffic areas (e.g. gateways and around troughs)
Bare areas within a paddock will benefit from some
form of mulch (old hay, bedding, manure etc) or even
bringing in clean topsoil. Such areas will need to be
fenced off until the grass is well established. This can
be done with a simple electric fence.
The Hills Horse Poo Co-op
Proactive management is, however, by far the best.
Consider yarding horses for part of the day, rotational
grazing, paddock spelling and pasture renovation as
ways of maintaining 70% groundcover.
Baulkham Hills Council (NSW) has
engaged in a project to work with
people interested in ensuring that
their properties are good for their
horses, good for the environment
and an asset to the community.
It is called ‘The Hills Shire HORSE’ (Horse
Owners Riding to a Sustainable Environment). One
component is The Hills Horse Poo Co-op, to connect
those with the horse manure and those who want
the horse manure, such as gardeners.
For more information on the poo co-op or an upcoming
short course for horse property owners (which has a
council rebate of $115 for properties who complete
an Action Plan), contact Evie Roberts on 9843 0579
or email your details to eroberts@bhsc.nsw.gov.au
Did you know you can
contact the Greening
Australia Exchange
Program to receive
free advice about
land, flora and fauna?
For more information about bare areas in paddocks
and pastures, visit www.horseslandwater.com
��
BOOK REVIEW:
Managing Horses on
Small Properties
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
By Jane Myers
Landlinks Press
206 pages
This book has invaluable
��
��
information for everyone,
from first time to experienced horse/
land owners. This book will show you how to plan
and manage a horse property sustainably.
It has chapters on horse management (including
behaviour), property selection, design, water,
pasture management (including information on
maintaining groundcover), facilities, fencing,
vegatation, manure management and includes a
great section on further resources.
HorsesLandWater workshops
and field days
National Forum on Horse Keeping and the
Environment: Melbourne Airport Hilton: June 1,
2007. Invitations are being sent to all national horse
organisations. Supported by Melbourne Water. Requests
to receive an invitation (should vacancies occur) can
be sent to Julie Fiedler on (08) 8294 2460 or email
HorsesLandWater
Workshops
(free):
This
workshop looks at horsekeeping and natural resources
management. If you are a horse industry representative
(e.g. Executive Officer, horse organisation committee
member/coach/researcher/lecturer) or are employed
in the area of natural resources management within a
peri-urban area and would like to receive an invitation to
attend one of these free workshops, please contact Julie
Fiedler at horsesa@horsesa.asn.au or 0402 488 306.
HorsesLandWater Field Days (free): The aim of each
short field day is to introduce horse owners and natural
resources management officers to field day formats and
resources. Scheduled to be held in Melbourne, Tasmania,
WA and NSW during June and July. Each participant
receives a set of resources. All field days, as confirmed,
are listed on the www.horseslandwater.com website,
which also accepts registrations. Enquiries to Julie Fiedler
horsesa@horsesa.asn.au or phone 0402 488 306.
Did you know?
If your organisation (horse industry, government agency,
registered training organisation or consultancy firm) is
conducting a horsekeeping and land management event,
field day, course or special project, did you know you can
advertise for free on www.horseslandwater.com? The
website enables users to register with a confirmation
email sent to the event coordinator’s computer desktop.
Thank you to horse industry communications which have
shared the HorsesLandWater message (Cyberhorse,
Horsepoint, Hoofbeats, Equestrian Federation of
Australia, Southern Vales Dressage Club). Please let us
know if there are more!
Project Partners:– Harness Racing Board (AHRB), Australian Pony Club Council (APCC), Melbourne Water, Environmental Protection Authority SA (Watershed
Protection Office), Greening Australia Exchange Program, Tasmania South Natural Resources Management Board, Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural
Resources Management Board ... with more joining in!
Please promote the Peri-Urban Project through your club or horse-related business
website, noticeboard or newsletter.
New resources ... You can
download the HorsesLandWater
publication Horse Manure
Management from
www.horsesa.asn.au
It contains tips for managing
manure responsibly and includes
information on ‘What are your
manure management options’,
‘What to do with the poo’,
‘Watercourses need help’, and
‘Don’t forget other places’.
horse
m
mana anure
geme
nt
horses
landw
Funding
for the PeriUrban proj
has been
ect
prov
the Nati
onal Land ided through
care Prog
Natural
Resource
ram
Innovatio me –
n Grant
HorsesLandWater
PO Box 483
Plympton SA 5038
Phone (08) 8294 2460
Email
Web
ater.c
om
The
Action Plan HorsesLandWater
ner for Hors
is supporte e Properties
d by:
What’s coming up?
For more information about these, and other upcoming
events visit www.horseslandwater.com
Healthy Horse and Pasture Management Course
– Manningham Council (Vic), starts April 21, phone
(03) 9840 9173.
Horse Management through Drought – Woodend
(Vic), April 28, Louise Scott, phone (03) 5430 4670.
Managing Horses on Small Properties – Samford
(QLD), May 19, phone (07) 5543 8623.
Managing Horses on Small Properties – Illawarra and
Southern Highlands (NSW) May 26 and 27, phone (07)
5543 8623.
HorsesLandWater Field Day – McLaren Districts Riding
Club (SA), June 2, phone (08) 8294 2460.
Funding for the Peri-Urban project
has been provided through
the National Landcare Programme –
Natural Resource Innovation Grant
The HorsesLandWater
Action Planner for Horse Properties
is supported by:
The HorsesLandWater
Community of Practice
website was built through
funding provided by
KLAUS FERDINAND HEMPFLING
How do you truly know your horse? How does a deep understanding develop?
How does a lifelong friendship evolve?
At the heart of the work of Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling is the precise recognition of a horse’s
nature in only a few seconds followed by his transformation within minutes of the first encounter,
which is all about establishing the relationship so firmly that all eventualities are bound into the
state of trust.
Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling was born Westphalia in 1957. After completing an engineering
course in the field of telecommunications technology, he took the time to deepen his
understanding of life by becoming a teacher, freelance artist, theatrical director and traveller.
After several years in the Spanish Pyrenees he became, at twenty-six, a fulltime lecturer at the
School of Art and Design in Dortmund. During this period he undertook a detailed study of
mythology and found he was continually confronted with that most significant symbol of our
culture – the horse. At age twenty-nine he returned to the Pyrenees, this time on a search for
the real horses – the wild ones. Here he began a study of the horse in his natural environment,
that would reshape not only the person, Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, but also the horseworld.
Among the Celts, the Teutons and the Vikings, the warriors, the elite forebears of our soldiers,
were also knights. On their long hard path to becoming such a knight – a cavalier – they learned
something of the primal battle, of the most important fight in the life of a man, namely, the fight
with himself. They learned that the powerful forces and strenghts of nature, instinct and evil can
never be subdued with force, but solely with the unimaginable depths of creativity which only
true humanity can bring forth. For our forefathers in the occidental world this was once
symbolised by oneness with horses because, according to these ancestors, when a person
encounters a horse he encounters his own dark side and, at the same time, the spark of hope in
himself. And that was considered worth finding.
In his book ‘What Horses Reveal’ Hempfling teaches the principles of primal life, against the
background of both the mythological horse and the real horse. He emphasizes the importance
of totally honest self-assessment and self-knowledge and both mental and physical self-control,
demonstrating how a misplaced or misunderstood feeling, glance, posture, attitude or
movement can make the difference between success and failure in the relationship with a
horse. He has developed a unique system for classifying all horsetypes into 26
charactergroups, which, when used with correct bodylanguage and self-knowledge, will take
every horse and rider towards more fullfilling and happier relationships, and a more enlightened
journey through life.
His first book ‘Dancing with horses’ took the horseworld by storm.
Through his workshops, thousands of people have witnessed a way of interacting with horses
that made the horses the teachers, the bearers of mysteries, whose proximity could transform
human lives. He says: “According to my teaching undertakings, I certainly hope, that I can show
the participants, based on extend horse practice, which direct relation there is between the
horse’s feeling and expression in general and the personal experience of the human being close
to it. With our beginning seminar “Basic Workshop I” I try to pick up the participants just from the
point where they are. With a bunch of practical examples I try to demonstrate, what is possible
even from the first moment on and where the way may lead us, when one can find the right
beginning. The primary focus is how a change in the relationship to the horse is achieved
through the person’s own view of approach. It is about seeing the horse in its real appearance
and as mirror and medium for the humans’ individual reflecting and development.
Fundamental exercises together with all participants and general explanations before and in
between the work with the horses create an important foundation. The purpose is to draw the
attention to the contexts. It all depends on the ability of a person, to lead himself to his own
development.”
Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling is coming to NZ to do a three day workshop.
These are reflections of some of the participants:
“After participating in the workshop last weekend I have not been able to let go of the feelings –
emotions – the experience of how fantastic it is working with the horses in the way Klaus is able
to do.” Bente, Denmark.
“I’m still "in the sky" after the workshop, and probably will be for a long time. It was one of my
very best experiences ever, and from all the other participants I’ve talked to I hear the same. We
are all so grateful for the respect and trust you showed us during those days. We came to see
an expert dealing with horses, but ended up with an adventure of behaving to people and
horses. I think this experience gave us all a memory for life, at least I know it did to me…”
Hansi, Norway
“I would like to thank you for a great weekend with many different horses and just as many
different ‘first steps’. I find it quite amazing how you can stay focussed all the way to the very
end. After having worked with eight horses in only 1 ½ days, you still managed to come up with
the idea of us all going into the picadero with the last horse…I have nearly never seen a horse
react in such an extraordinary way , except maybe from the ‘sleeping horse’ at Kumlegaarden. If
possible I enjoyed it even more then the horse being busy greeting everybody. Karen,
Denmark.
Bruce Goodin, NZ showjumper, training with Klaus, says:” He is the best horseman I have ever
come across and also one of the most insightful people. There is NO bull shit with this
guy. People go to the courses thinking that they are going for horse lessons but come
away with life lessons that the horses have given them.”
"I travelled to Europe to test my theories on oneness and a respectful relationship being
possible through self awareness, clarity, creativity and our own inner balance. I came
home with no doubt that this is possible. Klaus F. Hempfling is the proof of this.”
Chris Scott, Australia.
“I went to see him with six pictures of my horse and he was incredibly spot on about her.
He gave me some clear directions how to deal with her and the change in me and my
horse has been amazing, our relationship has blossomed.” Pia, NZ.
For more: www.hempfling.com
Don’t want to miss this exciting and rare opportunity to meet the man who has stunned
the world with his ability to communicate with horses in a truly remarkable way?
Pia Peeters.
KLAUS FERDIAND HEMPFLING............
author of - 'Dancing with Horses' & 'What Horses Reveal'
How do you truly know your horse?
How does a deep understanding develop?
How does a lifelong friendship evolve?
Klaus F. Hempfling did not have anything to do with horses before the age
of 29. And yet, only a few years after he encountered his first horse, he
wrote the book “Dancing with Horses”, a book so truly fascinating, it took
the horseworld by storm.
What makes him so unique?
Klaus has the ability to 'know' a horse within a few seconds and within a few minutes of the first
meeting, he establishes a relationship so firmly that anything after that is completely based on trust.
He transforms dangerous, nervous, traumatised, any kind of horse into beautiful companions.
He uses very precise body language, he does not use any force. He does not have any prejudice
towards any horse, nasty, ugly or stupid horses don't exist for him. His body and expression are
always relaxed and open, full of trust that the horses return to him nearly instantly. They recognise
him as their leader, and become willing partners in groundwork and under saddle.
In his book 'Dancing with Horses', which is subtitled 'The Art of Bodylanguage' he describes how to
achieve that dream of oneness with a horse and ultimately collection on a loose rein. He teaches
natural balance which is communication between two beings by the most subtle, almost invisible
signals and through pure thought and feeling.
In his book 'What Horses Reveal' Hempfling emphasizes the importance of totally honest selfassessment and self-knowledge and both mental and physical self-control, demonstrating how a
misplaced or misunderstood feeling, glance, posture, attitude or movement can make the
difference between success and failure in the relationship with a horse.
He has developed a unique system for classifying all horsetypes into 26 charactergroups, which,
when used with correct bodylanguage and self-knowledge, will take every horse and rider towards
more fullfilling and happier relationships, and a more enlightened journey through life. He has two
DVD's: 'Dancing with Horses' and 'Coming Together'.
JINDABYNE EQUESTRIAN RESORT
DECEMBER 14, 15 & 16th - 2007
Klaus Ferdinand
Hempfling
14, 15 & 16 December 2007
BASIC (THREE DAY) WORKSHOP 1
With the beginning seminar 'Basic Workshop I' Hempfling tries to pick up the participants just from
the point where they are. With practical examples he tries to demonstrate what is possible from the
first moment on and where the way may lead, when one can find the right beginning. It is about
seeing the horse in it's real appearance and as mirror and medium for the human's own reflection
and development.
Fundamental exercises together with all the participants and general explanations before and in
between the work with the horses create an important foundation. The result depends very much on
the ability of a person to lead himself to his own development.
Through his workshops thousands of spectators have witnessed a way of interacting with horses
that made the horses the teachers, whose closeness could transform human lives.
Don't want to miss this exiting and rare opportunity to meet the man who has stunned
the world with his ability to communicate with horses in a truly remarkable way?
WIN
Contact:
WIN a free one hour horse profile phone consult
with Klaus Hempfling.
Just register as a participant for the workshops to be held in Australia
and New Zealand and enter. The winner will be drawn each month
with the outcome of the profile being the basis of an article in the next
months editorial of 'The Organic Equine' magazine. This prize is
valued at $250AUD.
The winner will be contacted by phone.
Gillian Magnabosco, 4740 Mt Darragh Rd, Mt Darragh. NSW 2632
Phone (02) 6458 2065
gillianm56@bigpond.com
Registration details - www.platypuscountry.org.au/4883.0.html
www.hempfling.com
Does the Tony Robinson course,
Energy Healing for Horses work?
A personal journey between Beau and Lynn
Today was one of those fantastic days
when riding your horse was absolutely
thrilling exciting and a true partnership. My
horse Beau was back being his old cheerful,
forward self, enjoying his time in Pomona
forest as much as I was.
After nearly 14 months of frustration with
Beau’s patterns of behaviour I feel that I
am starting to understand his problems
and issues. More importantly I have been
able to treat his health problems that were
reflected in an unhappy, narky and often
cranky horse. This was not the horse that
I had ridden and worked with over the
last six years. The change in behaviour
was gradual but identifiable and
very frustrating. I look for trends in
whatever I do: be it my work or
when I work with my horses.
If a horse has changed its behaviour there has to be a
reason. Beau’s change of behaviour has taken me on
an interesting journey.
When my friend Kay said there is Horse Energy healing
course in a few weeks do you want to go? I like most
human sceptics thought what can that do to help me
with Beau’s problems. Then I read the flyer and my
interest was piqued: Outcomes of the course
• Understand more about your horse
• Improve your relationship with your horse
• Relax your horse – just watch how peaceful he can become
• Help your horse to deal with emotional issues
• Identify and help your horse with physical pain
• Learn how to flush out toxins stored in the body.
• Discover your horse’s nutritional needs
• Learn how to treat yourself and your horse for a range of issues
• Relax yourself”.
I had research and determined that Beau had a stomach
problem and it was to do with diet and acid in the
stomach. I did not know what to do about it. So I threw
the normal skepticism out the window and said we are
both there. This for me is no small commitment as I live
in Sydney and it entailed a trip to Noosa. I simply had
nothing to loose by doing the course. I wanted the old
Beau back.
Tony Robinson does not hold back. He tells you what
he sees in your horse and is more concerned with the
welfare of the horse than the human ego. His concern is
the horse and he makes the information and techniques
of energy healing highly accessible. Every person at the
course would have been able to apply the techniques to
their horse when they returned home. What he was able
to tell us about our horses was an eye opener.
What Tony told me about Beau was a mind challenging
experience. I asked Tony about Beau’s changed
behaviour as I worked on various areas of his body. I
did not share my view of Beau’s stomach acid problem.
Anyway as Beau is an ex- racer and a successful one at
that the chances are that he would have stomach ulcers.
Any knowledgeable person would have been able to
guess that issue and had an 85% chance of being right.
Yes, Tony did identify the stomach issue but he went
much further. Tony focused on Beau’s impaired immune
system and gave me what he saw as tell tale signs that
Beau suffered from a low immune system as well as liver
and circulation problems. Not to mention the joint and
fetlock stiffness.
I was taken aback at the quiet assertiveness in Tony’s
voice. It is hard to not feel you have let your horse down
but I was committed to trying what he suggested to
treat the problems that he had identified. The treatments
are not relevant here but I was armed with several pages
of what I could do to help Beau if I was open to the
suggestions.
That is until you get home and the self doubts creep in
and you begin to wonder if Tony really did know what
he was talking about. The easy answer was to have
a scientific blood test and the hair analysis that Tony
suggested. Several hundreds of dollars later the results
were in.
I was stunned when the vet rang through the blood
analysis. Beau had a low white cell count and immediate
action was needed. Tony was right, Beau had a impaired
immune system.
Then it went on and the scientific test confirmed the
acid in the stomach and other blood issues.
If I ever doubted Tony then the hair analysis told the
same story. By now I was focused on addressing the
problems and Beau’s diet was changed and I continued
to do energy healing each time I flew up from Sydney.
The journey to health and horse happiness is only
just started but today as I rode Beau I could feel the
old Beau coming back. I owe Tony Robinson a huge
thankyou for focusing me on being able to observe what
Beau’s behaviour and body shape, lumps and bumps
and hair colour tell me about his health and well being.
Beau and I will be at Tony’s course in December as there
is nothing more important than your horse’s health and
well being. Besides it is a fun two days and the bonding
with your horse is enough rewards to attend.
Lynn Scott and Beau
Courses with Tony Robinson
Tamworth September 2nd-13th
10 Day course with Tony Robinson & Mel Fleming
Psychology, Bodywork, Riding in Synchronicity
Contact: Mel Fleming mel@melfleming.com.au Phone: 02 67605519
‘Banyandah’ Howlong October 8th-12th
5 day course with Tony Robinson & Mel Fleming
Psychology, Bodywork, Riding in Synchronicity
New Zealand Course
October - Date TBA
Clifton Qld
November 10th & 11th Energy and Bodywork Course
Contact: Kate Flynn slynnelectrical@bigpond.com.au Phone: 07 4697 3315
Sunshine Coast QLD
December 8th-9th 10th
Energy and Bodywork Course
Contact Anne Winning 0419 354 686 Anne.Winning@deir.qld.gov.au
Moonbi NSW December 1st & 2nd
Lower limb and Foot Care Course
Contact Mel Fleming mel@melfleming.com.au Phone: 02 67605519
For further information contact Tony on 0412 925 260
Dubbo Natural Horsemanship Demonstration
By Sue Davis
I attended the International Horsemans Institute’s Natural Horsemanship (NH) Demonstration day
held in Dubbo on Sunday 8 July. Although it was one of the coldest and wettest days (in Dubbo)
this year the audience were so enthralled that they didn’t notice the dismal weather. What a
fantastic demonstration! As a spectator, whether you already knew about NH or this was the first
time you had seen any, Tony was able to impart knowledge and a new level of understanding. He
is without doubt one of the best presenters in Australia, with a natural ability to engage the
audience and relate to you personally.
First of all who is the International Horsemans Institute (IHI)?
Although the IHI is a relatively new Natural Horsemanship organisation, Tony Lander, IHI Principal,
has immersed himself in Natural Horsemanship for nearly 15
years having studied and learnt from Pat and Linda Parelli,
Ronnie Willis, and Birger Gieseke (while not well known in
Australia, Birger is the rated as one of, if not the, best
Natural Horseman in Europe and was instrumental in building
the NH concept in Europe for Pat and Linda Parelli to over
10,000 members). Tony achieved a four star instructor rating
with PNH and taught for the Parellis for eight years and
throughout Australia, New Zealand, the US and in Europe. He
retired from the instructor program at the end of 2002 to
focus on his family and other business ventures. Since then
Tony has continued to build both his NH and presentation
skills. He has formed the IHI organisation with his wife
Debbie to provide a range of Natural Horsemanship training programs including recreational riding,
vocational training, and corporate training. They have some fascinating ideas. Well worth
investigating if you are looking for training / education in those areas.
Now back to the demonstration… Tony started the day showing us what sort of partnership can be
achieved when humans know how to read and relate to their horses, with his wonderful Arabian
gelding Sahony (who looks 15 even though he is actually 24 years old!!). While you would not
know it from observing their interaction, Sahony was what people commonly call a problem horse
when Tony purchased him as a stallion in 1992 (he was gelded at age 18, so he could live the rest
of his life with his favourite mares, with the kids?!). He had been used for endurance and boy could
he run! Sahony’s previous owners could only stop him with a mechanical hackamore. Tony and
Sahony developed their relationship through the use of Natural Horsemanship techniques to what I
would call a true partnership. Watching from the audience it was wonderful to see the respect and
affection they obviously have for one another. Having said that Sahony is by no means a robot and
showed his cheeky personality on several occasions really playing with Tony. Tony said that Sahony
still tests him every day. What delighted me most was to see how Tony dealt with each “test”, very
much like an indulgent father allowing him to have some fun but then gently redirecting him back
to the task. Having seen many macho cowboys, it was enlightening to see how soft and gentle
Tony could be while still insisting that the task be completed. A great learning experience for all of
those watching.
After demonstrating what can be achieved Tony then met Zeus, a very solid 16+hh
Appaloosa gelding that was known to be very scared, pushy, and have a ‘pet’ trick of putting the
head up high, and running backwards really quickly when scared. His owner, Victoria, was looking
more than a little scared herself to even bring him into the arena, because she thought that he
would not stand still or pay any attention. Initially she was right, Zeus had a very high head, wide
eyes and paid no attention to Tony; instead he was looking out of the arena and seemed ready to
explode! Tony then played what he terms ‘the principle dance steps’ with Zeus. Tony explained that
these were essential to establish a communication channel with the horse by first building tolerance
and trust and then establishing respect through yields to/from steady energy and rhythmic energy.
What impressed me most about Tony, was that to establish the respect from Zeus, he did not have
to beat the horse up in any way. He seemed to simply ‘dance’ with the horse causing Zeus to move
with him. Within 30 minutes the jittery, explosive horse transformed into a quiet, confident, and
playful animal.
During the time, Tony explained that one of the mistakes that people often make when trying to
settle a horse is to hold them tightly (usually by the clip attaching their halter to their lead) and try
to get them to stand still. What the horse actually needs is the opposite; a longer line and the
ability to move their feet. This increases their confidence and trust in the human. As Zeus’s
confidence grew he became calmer by the minute. By the time Tony began on what he terms the
challenge dance step, Zeus was actively looking to dance along, and entertained everyone.
Instead of jumping some barrels, he actually used his nose to push the barrels out of the way so he
had more space to simply walk between two of them. (Zeus did in fact end up jumping them calmly
and confidently!) By the end of the hour if you had not been there all of the way through the
demonstration you would be convinced that the horse had been swapped. He was quiet and
attentive to his handler. Proof that a horse can change his spots!
Tony also (during the lunch break) gave a demonstration of how to float load Zeus with safety (of
the handler) and confidence of the horse (Victoria said, prior to this, Zeus was not good to load.)
Within 15 mins Zeus walked calmly on to the float while Tony stood outside the float – awesome to
watch.
The afternoon session was a training session to teach
people how to get started with Natural Horsemanship
techniques. Tony taught the three principle dance steps,
three purpose dance steps, and challenge dance to a
group, while explaining the process to the audience.
Tony is excellent at not only explaining the “how to” but
just as importantly the “why to”. The participants varied
from three people who had never done natural
horsemanship before to two people who were already
level two in the Parelli system. Tony was able to
demonstrate how the teaching principles were applied at
an introductory level and how those same principles
were used at a much more refined level with the more
advanced students. A great way for the audience to “get it”.
Victoria actually participated in this session with Zeus. The most wonderful thing about this, is that
Victoria (with Tony’s instruction) was able to bring about similar results with Zeus as Tony had
achieved. The perfect evidence was at the end of the three hour workshop Zeus stood beside
Victoria with his head low and his eyes relaxed and almost snoozing – the whole audience was rapt
with the result!
I strongly recommend getting to one of these demonstrations if you can.
Footnote. The International Horsemans Institute will be holding a demonstration day in
Canberra on Sunday 5 August. IHI will be running more demonstrations around the state
over the next four months - Ring 1300 664 269 for details.
The International Horsemans Institute – what is this Company?
An interview with the International Horsemans Institute, by Sue Davis.
The last 15 years in Australia has seen a phenomenal growth in both instructors and devotees of Natural
Horsemanship. There are some great Natural Horsemen and of course women teaching and also some
not so great. I was sort of listening to the ABC morning show a couple of weeks ago when the announcer
mentioned she was about to interview a real “horse whisperer”. Who’s this I wondered and tuned in to
hear what this guy had to say. The guy turned out to be Tony Lander – Principal of the International
Horsemans Institute (IHI) - who had some really interesting ideas.
Tony mentioned that they were running a series of
demonstration days and one was near me at Dubbo so I
rang to find out more. I spoke to Tony who let me know he
was doing demonstrations to introduce Natural
Horsemanship to those who haven’t seen it and re-inspire
those who are already involved. Great idea, so I went along
and watched, listened, and learned. The demonstration
showcased Tony’s fantastic horsemanship skills as well as
his awesome presentation and communication skills,
combined with his teaching skills. A very effective way for
potential students to “try before they buy”.
Having attended the demonstration day in Dubbo recently
and hearing a little about the IHI, I wanted to find out
more. I spoke to Tony and his wife Debbie at some length
about the company and found that they have a unique
offering in Australia. I sort of did an interview, and here is
what I found out.
Q. Tony, you were a 4 Star Parelli Instructor for many years; why did you leave?
A. That’s right I was an (4 star) instructor with Pat for around eight years. However, during 2002 there
were huge problems in the insurance industry – noone could get or renew any public liability insurance in
Australia, which was an essential requirement to run a course at a public venue. While I have never had
any problems or claims the risk was simply too high. I had also spent most of my weekends away from
my family – Debbie and I have two boys who were growing up very quickly and I was missing out on so
many things with them. We had made the decision to relocate away from Sydney where we were based
to purchase a larger property and run cattle as well as horses. As I couldn’t earn an income as an
instructor and there didn’t seem to be any short term solution to the public liability issue (unless I wanted
to take out an insurance policy from companies based in the Cayman Islands) I decided to retire from the
instructor program and focus on my own horsemanship along with my family and farm. I retained my
student membership with the Parelli program and am still a Savvy Club member.
Q. What have you been doing since then?
A. We relocated at the end of 2002 – right into the drought – in hindsight probably not the best time to
expand your farming! Debbie and I established a retail business in the Central West of NSW. An
interesting experience, which gave us some valuable knowledge and skills with sales and marketing to the
public. We sold that business 18 months later and I returned to my previous career in the corporate world
as an IT consultant / project manager to private companies and Government departments.
Q. What made you get back into the Horse Industry?
A. My passion has always been horses and although IT is interesting it doesn’t excite me. I would much
rather be out with horses and helping people. A number of my old students continued to ask if I would
give them lessons as they were not getting the help they wanted. In 2005 my friend (former five Star
Parelli Instructor) Birger Gieseke asked me to come and teach with him in Germany. Although I didn’t end
up going in 2006 it got me thinking seriously about getting back into it. When Birger asked me again in
2006 (and now that insurance is no longer a problem) I decided to go. It became the catalyst for thinking
about how we could offer something unique. I really enjoyed the teaching and also attended the
inaugural International Horsemen’s Rendezvous and met a number of Natural Horsemen and women – all
using various natural techniques. I realised how much I had missed the whole experience of learning,
expanding, and teaching horsemanship, so with renewed vigour and a passion to help horses and people
I came up with the idea of an International Horsemans Institute. From that Debbie and I were on a
mission.
Q. What is the International Horsemans Institute and why is it unique?
A. We have two major product offerings - an educational program and a horse-training program. The
educational program has three separate streams, Recreational, Vocational, and Corporate.
The recreational stream has a motto of Safety, Fun, Friendship, and Results, in less time than you
imagined. Offerings include introductory training, skills advancement, and high-level training, varying from
one day courses to multi-day camps. In addition we have a unique camp, our beach camp, specifically
aimed to include the whole family – horsey or not. It provides an opportunity for everyone to have a
holiday at the same time in the same place.
The vocational program motto is Excellence in Vocational Equestrian Education. Our program is unique
and I’ll explain it by giving you a little background to the industry. There are a number of Natural
Horsemanship teachers in Australia and a couple of schools teaching people to become Natural
Horsemanship Instructors. There are also Horse Industry / Horse Business Management Courses offered
at a number of universities and TAFE / Tertiary Colleges. Although government accredited, none of the
universities or tertiary colleges offer a Natural Horsemanship approach and they are very
theoretically/academically based. The existing natural horsemanship schools are not government
accredited.
We saw an opportunity to develop a unique accredited vocational training program that is 80% practical
and uses a Natural Horsemanship system but includes training in other areas as well, such as business
planning and marketing, computer and office / accounting skills, and underpinned by communication
skills. This program will allow people to develop their practical horsemanship skills as well as equine
related business skills, so they can follow their chosen career, whether it be a stud hand, manager,
trainer, entrepreneur, or competitor.
The corporate program motto is Awakening, Evolving, and Leading. This stream focuses on an
individual’s awareness of their role and responsibility in the office, and how this interacts with their team
as well as developing / enhancing leadership skills, all focussed around using horses as a metaphor for
learning. We generally run them over two days and help participants develop self-awareness, awareness
of others and an understanding of herd / team dynamics. Most importantly we teach people how to
effectively deal with change and develop strategies to create win/win results.
In addition to the three streams outlined, our other main product offering is services for starting and
restarting horses for clients and developing / selling advanced horses.
Q. Who are the Instructors and what are their qualifications?
A. I am the Principal and in addition to having been an accredited (four Star) Parelli Instructor for eight
years, I have extensive experience (over 20 years) as a consultant in the IT sector dealing with people at
every level of an organisation. My area of speciality is project management, which entails planning
projects, staffing them, and managing the successful completion of the project on time, within budget, to
stated levels of quality and to the client’s satisfaction. This has given me the ability to determine and
analyse needs and negotiate with clients, staff, and suppliers. It has also given me an extensive
knowledge of change management.
Debbie provides a different type of expertise – also originally from the IT sector Debbie ran a corporate
help desk servicing over 10,000 employees, and project managed major IT developments for one of
Australia’s biggest banks. She also holds a degree in Adult Education along with Diplomas in Programming
and Project Management. Deb has spent the last 16 years as an adult educator both developing and
teaching nationally accredited IT courses.
We contract Birger Gieseke who runs recreational and vocational courses along with Tony. Birger (from
Germany) is a former five star Parelli Instructor and is rated as one of the best Natural Horsemen in
Europe. Prior to joining PNH, Birger achieved success in the performance arena, becoming European
Champion in Pleasure and Reining. He has a keen interest in Cow Working and is passionate about
helping his students achieve results and gain success in their horsemanship.
We also contract industry specialists in areas such as marketing and vet science, to guest lecture and
support both the vocational and corporate programs as required.
Q. What are your immediate plans?
A. Our focus this year is the recreational program. We have run one day demonstrations in a number of
regions in NSW and for the rest of the year we will be conducting more demonstrations. We are
presenting at the inaugural Horse Expo at Clarendon on 11/12 August. We are conducting numerous one
and two day courses in various locations as well as the Beach Camp in January, which has only a couple
of places left.
Debbie is currently working on the vocational training syllabus and the accreditation process, which is
quite lengthy. Our plan is to have our initial vocational programs available next year and progressively
release them over the following 12 months. Deb is also developing a number of corporate training
programs. These will also be available in 2008.
We are currently developing a website, which will provide much more detailed information. We are aiming
to have this operational in August. People can contact us at the moment by phoning our 1300 number 1300 664 269 or my mobile
0417 688 644, or email
ihi@bordernet.com.au
As you can see from the
information I discovered
during the Interview with
Tony and Debbie, their
International Horsemans
Institute certainly has a
totally unique offering,
which will allow people (and
their horses) a valuable,
structured, friendly and
accredited pathway to
whatever endeavour they
wish to pursue with their
horses.
Horsemanship Demonstration Day
5th August in Canberra
at Equestrian Park, Hall
Something different!
Something for YOU?
Do you feel there may be a better way to relate to your horse?
Do you already know about Natural Horsemanship and want to do more?
Would you like to have a fun day with like-minded horse lovers for little cost?
Come
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for the day and enjoy:
a morning demonstration with a developed horse,
see how a Natural Horsemanship approach can help a difficult horse and
watch or participate in an afternoon workshop with your own horse.
Win a position at a 2 day clinic!
Adult Spectator - $25.00 Student Concession - $10.00
Participant Position $50.00 (includes 3 hour workshop and morning demonstration)
We have a limited number of participant positions for the afternoon workshop - bookings
are essential.
If you would like to help on the day please give us a call.
To follow on from the Demonstration an Introductory 2 Day Clinic
will be held on 25th & 26th August at Equestrian Park, Hall
See us at
Hawkesbury Horse
Expo & trade Fair–
Hawkesbury Showground – Clarendon
For bookings or information please call
Or email ihi@bordernet.com.au
Saturday 11 & Sunday
12th August
1300 664 269
Proudly Presented by
Unleash the Horseman
Within!
“Highlander Park” Winston Way, Molong NSW 2866
Phone 1300 664 269 or mobile 0417 688 644 Email ihi@bordernet.com.au
Unleash the Horseman
Within!
It’s on again!
Want to Enjoy the BEST combined holiday and Horsemanship Camp?
The International Horsemans Institute presents a Beach Camp at The Oaks Resort Country Club Mossy Point on the beautiful South Coast of NSW.
The 5 day course starts on Monday 7th January 2008 and concludes on Friday 11th January 2008. In addition
we have secured the resort from Saturday 5th January until Sunday 13th January 2008 to enable you to enjoy
a few days relaxing at the resort.
Indulge yourself – a 5 day course with not one but two International Natural
Horsemanship Instructors Birger Gieseke (Germany) and Tony Lander (Australia)
This camp is a unique opportunity to combine a holiday with a multilevel Horsemanship Camp.
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2 world renowned Horsemen to lead you
5 days of focussed horsemanship with your horse
Kids Playground
Tennis Court
300 acres minutes from the beach
9 hole golf course, (you can bring your partner if
you want!)
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3 meals per day fully catered
20 like minded, horse lovin’, fun sharing people
Swimming pool,
River
Tons of fun, relaxation, enjoyment
Minutes drive from Mogo Zoo, Old Mogo town and
other South Coast attractions
Why not start your year exactly the way you want, accelerating your horsemanship and have an
unforgettable holiday at this very special event!
Tuition
Rider Position full price - $1100 (inc GST)
Extra Family Member riding 50% discount $550
Early Bird Discount
Pay by 30th July $770 – closes 30th July
Pay by 30th Sept $880
Pay by 30th Nov 10% $990
Accommodation and meals are extra. Please contact us for details
on 1300 664 269 or
Email ihi@bordernet.com.au
STOP PRESS – only 2 positions left – BOOK NOW to avoid missing out!
“Highlander Park” Winston Way, Molong NSW 2866
Phone 1300 664 269 or mobile 0417 688 644 Email ihi@bordernet.com.au