To enjoy thriving, safe and successful relationships with horses, we must be welcomed by the horse as their trusted and respected leader. Yet often, we feel challenged and lacking capability in assuming this position and asserting ourselves with clear boundaries and credible communication. This multi-week series will help you to identify what it is blockading your strong, confident and clear-minded leader from full expression. Participants will study the horses natural language, learn valuable cornerstones for communication and be able to connect with horses and themselves in a profound and gratifying way. Join us as we allow the horse to impart their terrific wisdom on the journey toward our best self and ultimate partnership with the horse!
Course is optional, but highly recommended prior to Horsemanship 101: Earning Respect.
This course provides the foundation from which to build a harmonious and long-lasting partnership with your horse. Participants will learn the groundwork and leadership skills necessary to establish a relationship based on mutual respect. There will be extensive discussion on horse psychology and herd behavior, allowing you to communicate using the horses' natural language. You will learn how to be a clear and credible leader for your horse, while deepening your awareness of self. This course is designed for those who wish to build or sharpen their groundwork skills, enhance their relationship with their horse, as well as for those who would like to discover the joy of horsemanship for the first time. Photo Gallery
Completion of this course is required before further advancement in the MRHT training program.
Earning respect and maintaining respect are very different, particularly from the horse's point of view. This course will take your relationship to the next level and solidify a respectful, willing and connected partnership between you and your horse. You will learn how to use your knowledge of the equine language to increase your horse's confidence and curiosity, empowering them to tackle more advanced groundwork and more challenging obstacles. You will continue to hone your awareness of intention and timing as you prepare to take these skills into the saddle. This course will introduce safe grooming techniques, proper saddling and will guide you in developing a balanced and independent seat in the saddle, allowing you to ride with consideration for your horse. Photo Gallery
Prerequisite: Horsemanship 101: Earning Respect
Trail riding is a wonderful way for you and your horse to enjoy each other's company, but without proper preparation it can become an unpleasant experience. This course will equip both horse and rider with the skills necessary to enjoy a safe and successful outing on the trail. Together, you will build your confidence and agility by navigating obstacles, riding various terrains, and encountering experiences common to the trail -- from the comfort and familiarity of the MRHT ranch. Trail etiquette, equipment safety, and trailering guidelines will be discussed. This course is a riding course only. Participants are expected to do the groundwork necessary to prepare their horse for riding. Photo Gallery
Prerequisites: Horsemanship 101:Earning Respect, Horsemanship 201: Building Rapport and Trailer Loading Clinic
The ability to exist as a whole being -- congruent in mind, emotion and body, is both beautiful and powerful and is an integral part of enjoying a healthy and balanced relationship with your horse. This course will help you recognize your own congruent nature and will enable you to identify and support congruency in your horse. Through advanced groundwork and refined riding your horsemanship skills will be honed, allowing an exhilarating new layer of connectedness to shine through. This course will teach you essential skills and exercises for developing mental, emotional, and therefore physical collection in yourself and your horse. Refined maneuvers such as localizing parts of the horse's body, lateral work, and leads will be taught. Riders will learn how to ride with a greater level of fluidity, finesse and influence, enabling the horse to achieve self-carriage and true collection. Photo Gallery
Prerequisites: Horsemanship 101: Earning Respect, Horsemanship 201: Building Rapport, Training for the Trail and a minimum of 2 trail rides.