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Conifer
Ridge Farm
Comprehensive
Horsemanship Program - May 2008
| THINK
HORSE... |
MOVE
AS A HORSE... |
SPEAK
HORSE... |
| Push
or be pushed |
Reshape
me so I feel good |
Align
& balance your body |
Learn these essential
skills and more...
 Understanding
why horses do what they do helps us interact more positively with them. A
comprehensive program of four foundation lessons has been designed to
take the student from very basic ground work to the first ride. ALL
lessons in the CHP (Comprehensive Horsemanship Program, are private. Even if
you're already riding this program will provide you with life-changing
horsemanship skills!
The FIRST lesson will give the student the
opportunity to watch a herd of horses interacting. By watching you learn
the horses' body language. Learn why they do what they do:
- Why does that horse bite the others?
- Or why does that horse stand off by
itself?
- Or why are those two horses buddies?
Take this "horse talk" and apply
it to your own body movement and create a positive environment with other
horses.
 The SECOND lesson will be learning to use
the round pen correctly. The student will apply the information learned in
the FIRST lesson and work with the horse in the round pen. They will also
learn how to "play horse".
The
THIRD lesson takes all this information to the lunge line. The student
will work on correct leading and learn to lunge a horse in a positive
manner.
The FOURTH lesson -  now for a ride on the
lunge line. Learn to groom, tack-up both of you, mount & dismount correctly,
and RIDE safely!!
FOUR two hour private lessons @$50.00 per
lesson complete the Basic program. If the student/ parent would like to
continue after this we also offer two hour private lessons at the same
rate.
Our Comprehensive Horsemanship Program
for 2007 starts in May so book your place now!
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Optional private lessons break down like this:
- 1/2 hour of grooming & tacking-up
- 1 hour of riding instruction
- 1/2 hour cool down, untacking &
cleaning
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Watch the step-by-step
process below as we get a new horse used to unfamiliar tack...
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| Starting
Kanga - Student Chelsea is keeping Kanga in a bend, while I'm
gradually tightening the surcingle. |
First
time in the surcingle; a little braced and inverted feels
different to Kanga. |
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| Kanga
walking with surcingle tightened for the first time - note the low
level head and relaxed body. |
Kanga
checking out the bit - here I'm showing Kanga the bit and having
her follow it around the ring. |
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| Starting
to bridle Kanga - again I ask for the bend so Kanga brings her
head to me and the bridle. I'll then ask her to bring her
head into the bridle... |
Kanga
following after her first bitting - Kanga is happily following me
with the new bit and surcingle on. She is mouthing the bit
and getting a feel for it. |
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Kanga
trotting - now I send Kanga trotting around the pen to discover
how movement feels with her new tack on... |
- All
adults (or parents or guardians of minors) must sign a standard waiver
before beginning the Program.
- Parents or Guardians of minors
participating in the Program are to be on the premises at all times.
  Leslie Guy will be your instructor. Leslie
is a Certified Chris Irwin Silver level coach. She has
up-to-date Basic
First Aid training, and is insured with Henry
Equestrian for instructing &
coaching. There is an Emergency Plan in place and the facility is located
just five minutes from an EMHS station.
Leslie Guy is
also an experienced 4-H leader.
Watch
Leslie's new custom saddle being built, step by step...
 Our facility, Conifer Ridge Farm, has a new
outside 100' X 200' fenced sand ring with jumps, barrels and poles, plus
two round pens & miles of trails for riding. We also teach ground
driving if you’d like to learn.
We invite you to come for a visit, see our
horses and view the scenery from our farm! Please call 902
758-1199 in advance to arrange an appointment.
Leslie's tips on
mounting...
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The
bottom of the stirrup should come to about
your ankle - this
stirrup is too short for
comfort, safety & control. |
Here
Leslie shows the student how to adjust the stirrup properly to his
height, measuring the
length of his own arm, from fingertips to
armpit.
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With one foot in the stirrup, one
hand on the reins and withers, the other hand on the pommel of
the saddle, the other foot is swung up and over the rump.
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Now
the rider is in the saddle, sitting tall and
straight, while the
bar of the stirrups should
be just under the balls of the rider's
feet. |
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| Multi-Media |
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Slide
Show |
Here a
young student in the Conifer Ridge ring is doing stretches while
in the saddle. This makes the rider limber and better able
to react and control the horse.
It also gets the horse used to odd
movements from it's rider, decreasing the chance of it startling
on a real ride!
Leslie holds the horse's head
throughout to help reassure and control the horse... |
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Click "X" in
upper right corner to return to main Conifer Ridge site, here
to return Home... |
