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"Sandhills Horse Sense"
is devoted to promoting
relationships and
choices that lead to
a positive future.
Sherry is now an
EAGALA Certified
Horse Professional
working in conjunction
with Melissa Dearmont &
Mid-West Country Clinic
L.E.A.D.
"Leadership through
Equine Assited
Development"
will help you with
building relationships,
problem solving,
attitudes & behaviors,
conflict & stress,
responsibilities,
positive choices,
and much more.
By appointment!
Classes & Retreats
are offered on request!
1-866-757-3853
or 1-402-684-2908
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Sherry is a member of
*NE Horse Council
*USEF (US Equestrian
Federation)
*EAGALA (Equine Assisted
Growth & Learning Assoc.
*Parelli Savvy Club
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SCROLL DOWN TO FIND THE CLASS DESCRIPTIONS and EVENT FORMATS!
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NEWS
PRIVATE LESSON ARE AVAILABLE ON A REGULAR BASIS IN:
OMAHA, LINCOLN, & GRAND ISLAND
Private or semi-private lessons and small group lessons 3-6 people we call "mini clinics" are now available every 4-6 weeks for three or four days in a row.
Lessons will be 2 hour minimum.
We will also provide this in other areas upon request.
If you are interested you will need to make a reservation for your lesson in advance.
The spots fill up quickly.
Reservations are on a first come first serve basis.
You will be required to keep your originial lesson time unless you can trade with someone else.
You will be charged for a cancellation unless it is a real emergency.
Call 308-346-5663 or 308-730-2150 for places, dates, and times or look on the schedule page.
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Trail Ride Preparation Mini Clinics with FREE TRAIL RIDE
Available at Sherry's House on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays from April to Nov. Go to schedule page for complete list of dates. Also upon special request any open weekend.
A 3-4 hour mini clinic in the morninig with a 3-4 hour easy FREE TRAIL RIDE in the afternoon enjoying the sandhills.
Tougher rides are available upon request with canyons and trees.
There is a small house a mile away to rent for only $70 per night for two people. It has two bedrooms and baths, a kitchen, living room with a hide-away-bed.
We will go to Burwell to the Sandstone Grill for lunch, pot luck it or bring sack lunches.
A couple of horses may be kept at my house. The Garfield County Fairgrounds has stalls. I only have a couple stalls, a pen or small pasture. Bring your own bedding and clean your own stalls.
Call Sherry for details at 308-730-2150
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Types of Learning Experiences
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TITLE
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DESCRIPTION
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LOCATION
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Private or Semi-Private Lessons
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2-hour minimum lessons for 1-3 people;
designed to meet your individual needs.
More time is available upon request.
Lesson horses available upon request.
Arena and stall fees may be extra. No meals or lodging included.
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Jarvis place near Burwell, NE
(Home of Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship)
Chance Ridge in Elkhorn (usually the 3rd weekend)
www.chanceridge.com
Spotted Horse Hills in Grand Island (Mon. once a month)
BKT Arena in Lincoln (usually the last weekend of the month)
Plus any other location upon request.
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"Mini Clinics" or Small group lessons
Any skill level welcome. Must have attended a previous lesson or clinic with Sherry.
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2-hour minimum lessons; for 3-6 people;
These lessons have a theme we will be working on like: front end control(pivoting) disengage the hindquarters, side pass, leads, sitting or posting trot, balance point, transitions, impulsion patterns, etc.
We concentrate on the theme most of the time and may change if we need to. Even though we will have a theme in mind, the lesson is formulated on the spot depending on who shows up, what experience levels, and the needs of the horses. Instead of the predetermined theme we could ask the participants "What do you want to work on?" Everyone tells what they want to work on, and we all work on what was named for the two hours.
More time is available upon request.
Lesson horses available upon request.
Arena and stall fees may be extra. No meals or lodging included.
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Jarvis place near Burwell, NE
(Home of Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship)
Chance Ridge in Elkhorn (usually the 3rd weekend)
www.chanceridge.com
Spotted Horse Hills in Grand Island (Mon. once a month)
BKT Arena in Lincoln (usually the last weekend of the month)
These are held in conjunctionn with private lesson days or in the evening of a regular clinic or any other scheduled event.
Plus any other location upon request.
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Women's Confident Leadership Camps
See Women's Confident Leadership Camps
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A Camp where women come together to saturate themselves in the horse experience and learn how to be the confident leader their horse needs them to be.
12 participants maximum.
Meals, lodging and pen fees included.
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Calamus Outfitters Ranch near Burwell, NE.www.calamusoutfitters.com
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Youth Leadership/Horsemanship Camps
See Youth Horsemanship Camps
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A Camp for youth from 12-18 where they will learn to improved their communication skills so they have even better success with their horse.
8 participants maximum
Meals, lodging and pen fees included.
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Calamus Outfitters Ranch near Burwell, NE.www.calamusoutfitters.com
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Parent/Child Horsemanship Camps
See Youth Horsemanship Camps
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A Camp where a parent can come and learn right along with their child how to handle horses with safety and effectiveness. This camp is for youth under 13 yrs. old.
12 participants maximum.
Lodging and pen fees included, meals optional.
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Calamus Outfitters Ranch near Burwell, NE.www.calamusoutfitters.com
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Family Horse Vacations
See Family Horse Vacations
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This camp is for the whole family to enjoy the horse experience and learn together how to be savvy horsemen. You can bring your own horses or lease ours.
Lodging and pen fees included, meals optional.
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Calamus Outfitters Ranch near Burwell, NE.www.calamusoutfitters.com
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Private or
group trail rides;
and cattle drives
See Family Horse Vacations
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The trail rides and cattle drives do not include any instruction unless it is a specified Camp.
2008 Camp with instruction is May 30-June 3
Bring your own horse or lease one of ours.
Lodging and pens are included, meals optional.
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Calamus Outfitters Ranch near Burwell, NE.www.calamusoutfitters.com
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One, Two or Three Day Clinics (Traditional)
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8 hours of instruction for 7-12 people.
Everyone does similar activities together.
Ground activities in the morning.
Riding in the afternoon. Also Classroom instruction without the horses.
Arena and stall fees may be extra. Meals & lodging not included.
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Any location upon request or one that is already on our schedule.
Be a host and get your tuition for free
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Two or Three Day Private Clinic (Individual)
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Up to 10 hours for 7-12 people.
Each person is given 1 hour of individual instruction while everyone else watches. Then discussion follows each lesson.
Also some group activities where everyone participates.
You learning by watching, listening, and doing.
Arena fees and stalls may be extra.
Meals and lodging not included.
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Any location upon request or one that is already on our schedule.
Be a host and get your tuition for free
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Equine Assisted Therapy & Development
"Sandhills Horse Sense"
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Individual therapy sessions with horses for personal growth and development.
Group sessions for companies, clubs, or families, for team building, conflict or stress management, client relations and much more.
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Contact Sherry or Melissa at Midwest Country Clinic 1-866-757-3853
Jarvis place near Burwell, NE
(Home of Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship)
Any location upon request.
Retreats at Calamus Outfitters Ranch near Burwell, NE.www.calamusoutfitters.com
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Horsemanship Demonstrations
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Perfect for a saddle club or 4-H group that want to learn by watching and listening to find out what natural horsemanship is all about. We can either provide horses, or use a difficult horse from the group.
Perfect for Expos, Rodeos, fairs, etc.
Meals and lodging not included.
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Jarvis place near Burwell, NE
(Home of Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship)
Any location upon request or one that is already on our schedule.
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Inspiration and Motivational Presentations
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Sherry will present an inspirational talk about, motivation, success, setting goals and reaching them. Other topics include communication, listening, stress or conflict management, self-confidence, discovering Leadership qualities, overcoming fears, loving horses, and restoring the horse dream.
Also information on equine psychology and how we can relate it to our daily lives.
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Any location upon request or one that is already on our schedule.
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Tournament Games
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A freindly competition for up to 20 people.
We will divide the group into teams of 3 or 4 members. We will have an obstacle course both on the ground and while riding to maneuver in, through, around, and over. There will be a point system according to the each obstacle and the way you approach it and there will also be a time limit to complete the tasks. There will be judges at each obstacle to keep track of the points. The team with the most points will then have a play-off to determine the overall high point person that will receive a prize.
About 3 hours long.
Instruction is not included this is for fun.
No stalls, meals or lodging included.
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Jarvis place near Burwell, NE
(Home of Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship)
These are held in conjunctionn with private lesson days or in the evening of a regular clinic or any other scheduled event.
(See Tournament games) for information on rules & points.
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Equine Psychology & Behavior Classes or
Simulation, Exercise & Coordination Classes
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A 2-4 hour classroom session where you learn more about horse intelligence, natural instincts, emotions, and how they affect your relationship with your horse.
Simulation activties for better feel.
Exercises to develop stronger core and balance for better riding.
Coordination practice with ropes, sticks, strings. etc.
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Any location upon request or one that is already on our schedule.
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We offer 12 DIFFERENT HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES
Some classes require previous classes or experience.
I'm sure that we have a class for you!
If we don't, we will create one!
Please preregister for classes as soon as possible, as classes are filled on a first come first serve basis.
There are early bird discount for those who register with deposit one month prior to the clinics and two months prior to camps.
(Clinics & Camps are limited to 6 to 12 students to ensure quality individual instruction, unlike some clinicians who accept up to 30 students per class.)
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TITLE OF CLASS
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CLASS DESCRIPTION
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#1 EQUINE BEHAVIOR & COORDINATION EXERCISES
No horse is required.
This type of classes may be offered through your local adult and continuing education program or privately.
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This is a classroom study of horse psychology and behavior through lecture, discussion, brainstorming, question/answer sessions, group hands-on activities, games, visual aides,stories, poetry, and physicaL exercises.
Exercises will be experienced to help improve coordination required to have effective body language so that you can communicate better with your horse. Rope, stick, and string handling practice as well as knot tying will help you develop accuracy when asking your horse to perform certain tasks. We will also train our whole body for riding which will help you direct your horse and do transitions with less resistance.
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#2 CREATIVE PLAYING ON THE GROUND FOR TRUST & RESPECT
Equine behavior class recommended as pre-requisite but not required.
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We will not be riding the horses, so the horse does not need to be broke in the traditional manner. Any age horse is fine that is at least one year old. No stallions please.
Instruction and practice time of exercises that will develop feel of your horse, which will lead you both to more respect, trust, and confidence. You will discover ways to help your horse become more flexible, athletic, smarter, and braver. Desensitizing and sensitizing your horse will both be addressed as well as trailer loading, foot handling for trimming and last but not least worming.
Finally, you will see how the fun and creative activities that you will play with your horse on the ground will transfer to improved riding maneuvers.
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#3 COMBINATION GROUNDWORK & RIDING CLASS
Class #1 and #2 are highly recommended but not required.
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You should be able to ride the horse that you bring to this class at a walk and trot without huge difficulties. Age or breed is not an issue, but again no stallions please.
The morning will be spent doing ground activities similar to those taught in Class #2 in order to reinforce, improve & refine the communication that you have with your horse. Some additional combinations and variations may be added according to the level of each individual student and their needs.
The afternoon is the riding portion of the class. You will learn how to transfer things that you did on the ground to being mounted. We will help you feel with the horse; so that you can then help the horse feel with you. Some of the topics covered may include: saddle fit, saddling, mounting, dismounting, posture, balance, relaxation, independent seat, stopping, lateral moves, rein positions, and backing.
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#4 FOCUS ON RIDING WITH REINFORCMENT OF GROUNDWORK
Class #3 is a pre-requisite. Class #1 and #2 are highly recommended.
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Age and breed of horse is not important, however you must be able to ride your horse at a walk and trot on a loose rein with little resistance. It would be great if you can also canter or have at least tried it. All riding will be done in a rope halter. Please again, no stallions.
We will begin with a quick review and evaluation of your ground skills before riding. Any horse that appears unsafe to ride will continue with groundwork until the horse is left brained. The better you do everything on the ground the better you will do things when you ride. I hope to not spend more than 1/3 of the time on this portion of the class. We hope that at least 2/3 of the class will be spent riding.
The goal of this class is to help the riders achieve a more balanced seat with improved focus, feel and timing so that the horse is able to move with more freedom, balance and efficient gaits. We will also focus on directing the horse’s individual body parts, feeling the footfalls, transitions, and patterns. Through the study of body position we hope to improve posture and carriage of both the horse and rider. You will also learn what to do with your head, hands, legs, feet, and seat to communicate with subtly to your horse.
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#5 ADVANCING RIDING SKILLS & REFINEMENT OF GROUNDWORK
Class #3 and #4 are a pre-requisite. Class #1 and #2 are highly recommended.
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You must be able to ride your horse confidently at a walk, trot and canter on the rail with few corrections on a loose rein and without resistance. You must be able to stop your horse lightly and quickly with one rein. You must be able to back your horse with no more than 4 oz of pressure at least 10 steps. You must be able to demonstrate a direct & indirect rein.
We will be riding with sticks and also with a snaffle bit when the students and horses appear ready. While riding we will work on front end control, hindquarter control, side-pass, half-pass, two tracking, circling, stopping, backing, leads, flexion, bending, speeds within gaits, straightness, impulsion, and possibly collection.
During the groundwork portion we will get more particular without getting critical about body position, distance, foot placement, phases, slack in rope, lightness, energy, and life. We will begin to expect more with less in preparation for liberty.
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#6 BAREBACK RIDING & LIBERTY ON THE GROUND
Class #2, #3 and #4 and #5 are prerequisites. Class #1 is highly recommended.
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This class is designed for the most serious student who is dedicated to learning and doing the homework. It takes persistence, consistency, and perspiration to get to this level. However, it is available to anyone who is willing to take the time it takes.
A halter, Cherokee bridle, sticks, or a combination will be used while bareback riding. Instruction on exercises to improve bareback riding will be given with plenty of time to practice. All of the maneuvers from classes #3, #4, and #5 will be applied.
Liberty on the ground will be done in a small corral or round pen. It will begin with a demonstration by the instructor. Each student will be allowed to play at liberty with their horse both independently and with supervision and guidance as needed. This is more of a coaching session, because by the time you get to this level you shouldn’t need instruction as much as simply an observing eye to catch small things or to encourage you to further excellence. If you need a lot of instruction then quite possibly you are not ready for liberty. This is the ultimate truth test of your savvy and relationship.
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#7 PROGRESS DAY
You need to have taken at least one of the above classes with a horse in order to participate. You must have some specific goals to accomplish during the class.
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This class is designed to focus on individual goals, problems or ruts that the students may be experiencing. Each person may be working on a different task according to individual need with guidance and coaching.
Students will be asked to either share their goal or rut, or demonstrate their problem at the beginning of the class. The instructors and students will brainstorm together suggestions for improvement. The students will then be given time to test out the suggestions independently and with guidance and coaching. Then we will come back to discuss what happened during the practice times. Again we will brain storm more ideas. We will end by another demonstration by each student showing the progress that they have made.
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#8 KIDS DAY
All students must be under the age of 12. All kids 12 and over are welcome to participate in any of the other classes offered. We find that they do just fine, and often times better than the adults. They seem to be more natural.
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A parent must remain at the facility during the entire class. The horse must be safe for the child to ride at a walk, trot, and canter.
This class is very similar to the Combination Groundwork and Riding Class #3 except that there is less philosophical background and more games for kid competition. This class may also provide more breaks for shorter attention spans. We will also allow some free time to just ride, play, and experiment with their horses instead of all instruction so I don’t totally loose them.
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#9 LEARNING TOURNAMENT
To participate you must have taken one or more of these classes (#2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #8)
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Anyone who wants to challenge what they have learned in a friendly competitive environment where they can learn, practice, and improve at the same time should take this class. This type of class may motivate and give us incentive to do our homework and keep progressing toward our goals. Plus we will learn from each other.
Each person will go one at a time through a predetermined obstacle course, then we will discuss strategies and ways that we could use to improve lightness, accuracy, and speed while performing the task. We will then have a practice time to try to improve those things, followed by freindly competition if the time allows seeing how much we have progressed.
(See Tournament games) for information on rules & points.
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#10 OVERCOMING FEARS
No prerequired class
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This class is geared for those who have certain fear issues that they would like to address. At least ½ of this class will be done in the classroom with lecture, question/answers, discussion, sharing, and problem solving. The other half of the class will be divided between groundwork and riding, depending on the needs of the class. A lesson horse will be utilized to fill in the gaps where people are lacking confidence; especially where riding balance is concerned. This class is also offered as a classroom session with no horses, taking a couple of hours.
Basic safety skills for control are covered. You will learn what to do when things go wrong. Techniques will be employed to help you change emotions and relax, as well as how to judge the difference between dangerous behaviors or situations and perceived dangers. We will strive to help you regain your confidence in the horse experience one step at a time.
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#11 HORSEMANSHIP CAMPS
At a beautiful ranch in the Sandhill of NE
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These camps are designed to imerse yourself in the horse human relationship and adventure. Your physical needs will be met by the ranch staff so that you can focus on horse aroma like never before.
It will be a learning experience that will change your life. Not only will we examine ways to communicate more effectively with horses, we will discover ways to build our confidence as leaders that our horses so desparately need.
If you are looking for a relaxing atmosphere of trust and encouragement where you will grow with your horse, then treat yourself to a place where hearts can find wings to fly. This may be the time you need with your horse to allow your dreams to unfold.
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#12 DEMONSTRATIONS
These are perfect for expos, horse clubs, 4-H groups, county fairs, equine related events, stables, or a group of friends etc.
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The demonstrations would include showing a picture of the progression from lead rope to playing at liberty with your horse. It will also include a bridle less bareback riding demonstration to music. The Cherokee bridle, stick and snaffle bit may also be used to show the many different ways that we can direct our horse through focus, feel, timing, and balance.
We may also include a demonstration with a horse that does not belong to us. This horse may be one that someone wants us to help improve specific things, or one who has not been exposed to natural horsemanship principles. It is a truly amazing experience to watch someone else work with your horse. So if you would like to see your horse from another perspective, this would be for you. This should not be an extremely difficult horse, because of the time it takes to help a horse like this would be to limited.
The demonstrator will make comments about why and how they are doing certain things throughout the demonstration. There will be specific times set aside for question and answers to keep the flow going.
These demonstrations are a cost effective way to introduce horselovers to natural horsemanship ideas which can lead to a safer and more enjoyable relationship with your horse.
They are also inspirational and educational.
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#13 YOUNG HORSE HANDLING CLASS
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The reason for the long day is we will be dividing the class up so we don't over work the young horses by making them learn for long periods. Instead we will take turns and give the horses frequent short learning periods.
Sessions will be from:
9:00-10:00 Introductions/classroom learning
10:00-12:00 First session
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-3:00 Second Session
3:00-5:00 Third Session
5:00-6:00 Supper Break
6:00-8:00 Fourth Session
8:00-9:00 Reflections/Question Answers/ Evaluations
We will focus on reading the horse, helping the young horse gain confidence in the environment, the handler and in himself, trust and respect on the ground, sensitizing and desensitizing exercises, cues we will use when riding, flexion, saddling, and possibly mounting bareback if the horse and rider are ready.
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****Any pre-requisites can be dismissed or waved through a live evaluation and assessment of the person’s skills and the horse’s responses.
The class pre-requisites are for student safety and continuity of the class.
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EVENT FORMATS
CLASSROOM only events:
These can be an all day session 9:00 – 5:00 with an hour break for lunch.
They could also be designed for an evening of shorter daytime session for 2-4 hours.
We also offer a class like this through local adult and continuing education classes.
You can use your creativity to host such an event.
DEMONSTRATIONS:
An all day event:
9:00-11:30 Liberty progression/Bareback Bridle less riding, etc.
11:30-12:00 Q & A
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-2:30 Beginning a new horse on the ground.
2:30-3:00 Q & A
3:00-3:30 Break
3:30-4:30 more with horse
4:30-5:00 Q & A
Demonstrations can also be condensed into a shorter version.
FULL DAY CLASSES:
8:00-8:30 Registration
8:30-9:00 Introductions
9:00-10:00 Instruction
10:00-10:30 Q&A Rap-up/Break
10:30-11:45 Instruction
11:45-12:00 Q&A Rap-up
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-3:00 Instruction
3:00-3:30 Q&A Rap-up/Break
3:30-5:00 Instruction
5:00-5:30 Q&A Rap-up
PRIVATE LESSON DAYS
8:00-10:00 Lesson #1
10:00-12:00 Lesson #2
12:00-1:00 Break
1:00-3:00 Lesson #3
3:00-5:00 Lesson #4
5:00-6:00 Break
6:00-8:00 Lesson #5
8:00-10:00 Lesson #6
TOURNAMENT GAMES
3 hours (Example:)
9:00-12:00
9:00-9:30 Warm-up
9:30-10:30 Ground Challenges
10:30-11:00 Tack and Warm Up
11:00-12:00 Riding Challenges
****Classes can be modified to fit the needs of students accordingly.
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