Welcome to the Winter Courses List showing the courses available in Winter/Spring. Events and lessons in areas around the UK including Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire and Scotland. Please email for details of dates closest to you.
I look forward to seeing you and your horse soon!
One-day Courses for Winter:
These 4.5 hour courses run approximately 10am-4pm with a lunch break from 12.30pm-2pm – to make sure no-one gets too cold, horses or humans!
The courses are designed to be “bite-size” and inexpensive, but give you and your horse effective and fun exercises to progress your riding during the short winter riding hours.
French Classical Riding – Introduction day
Perfection of the Seat – the Foundation course
Perfection of the Seat – the Intermediate course
French Classical Work In-Hand – the Introductory Course
Teaching days
Private lessons for 3-6 riders – lessons only, you are encouraged to watch each other's lessons if you can, but you can simply attend for your own lesson if time and commitments prevent you staying.
Riders may choose to be taught French Classical Riding, Perfection of the Seat lessons or Natural Horsemanship.
Fees: £35 per 50 minute private lesson + share of mileage over 50 miles
Minimum 2 riders
NB General Natural Horsemanship lessons (communication, groundwork etc influenced by Monty Roberts' & Mark Rashid's methods) can be structured to fit a 50 minute slot. A lesson on a specific problem (eg mounting or napping) needs to be longer so that we can progress at the horse's pace.
Events for Riding Clubs/Natural Horsemanship Groups/other organisations
Illustrated talks and demonstrations of French Classical and Natural Horsemanship, influenced by the methods of Mark Rashid, Kelly Marks, Monty Roberts and others.
Fees: Evening event (with or without horses) - please email for details
Free if followed by a full day clinic/teaching day.
This course introduces concepts of French Classical Dressage from a “natural” viewpoint. The structure is based on General L'Hotte's famous motto “Calm, Forward, Straight”.
Calm – if the horse is not calm, we will use some natural techniques to settle him and win his attention, so that he is ready to learn.
Forward – it's fundamental that the horse goes genuinely forward from the leg – this is the first exercise we will work on.
Straight – learning the simplest, clearest ways to influence the horse's body posture without cross-correcting; understanding any resistances in the horse's body; allowing the horse responsibility to move his own body.
50 minute unmounted session plus one 50 minute private lesson per person. Everyone will watch each other's lessons and you are encouraged to ask questions and take notes while watching. This really helps you to progress in your own ridden work.
Curriculum:
Genuine forward movement
Refining the touch (light contact) on the rein
The half halt
The rein effects
Developing an educated hand
Shoulder-in demi-diagonal
Releasing muscular resistances
Schedule:
The course usually starts at 10am and its length depends on the number of riders.
Fees: £55 each for 2-6 riders
Depending on the venue, there may be a small charge for arena hire. Fees are due 10 days before the course date.
Foundation seat training exercises to practise at home – finding your own intrinsic balance and suppling your joints. Based on exercises used at the French Cavalry School, this method achieves better and more lasting results than any other way I have found (so far!).
The exercises are carried out on the lunge, without stirrups or reins, and don't worry, they progress in an easygoing way at your own pace. After a session or two, observers often notice that riders are much more “at one” with their horse. Excellent for increasing confidence and security in the less experienced rider, and for developing finesse and tact in more advanced riders.
This course focuses on perfecting the exercises at walk and practising them at sitting trot. More advanced students can work on more challenging canter and baton exercises.
Course length: 4.5 hours plus 1-1.5 hours for lunch & discussion.
Curriculum:
Safety
Why horses love seat-trained riders
Intrinsic v Extrinsic learning
The five foundation exercises at walk and trot
Introducing work with the baton
Getting the most from your practise at home
Schedule:
The course usually runs from 10am prompt to 4pm. This may vary depending on the venue and group. 90 minutes is scheduled for lunch and tea breaks.
Fees: 6 riders: £45.00 each
5 riders: £50.00 each
4 riders: £60.00 each
3 riders: £69.00 each
Smaller groups receive more individual attention.
Depending on the venue, there may be a small charge for arena hire. Fees are due 10 days before the course date.
Requirements:
Having fun and staying safe are mandatory!!
Please bring/borrow a horse that lunges safely.
Remember to bring a notebook and pen.
“Advanced riding is not complicated - it's about doing the basics very, very well” - Craig Stevens
3. Perfection of the Seat – the Intermediate course
(Prerequisite: Perfection of the Seat – Foundation course)
Intermediate seat training – now that those hips and joints are getting supple, it's time for some more advanced work. We review and course-correct the work in the Foundation course and add plenty more challenging exercises using the baton and adding in the stirrups (harder than it sounds!). This course includes quite a bit of work on rising trot and more advanced students will progress the canter work.
By the end of this course you should see a significant improvement in your seat, and have the skills to improve further at home.
Course length: 4.5 hours plus 1.5 hours for lunch & discussion.
Curriculum:
Safety check
Review of the five foundation exercises
Intermediate trot exercises
Intermediate exercises with the baton
Intermediate exercises with the stirrups
Advanced practise at home
Schedule:
The course usually runs from 10am prompt to 4pm. This may vary depending on the venue and group. 90 minutes is scheduled for lunch and tea breaks.
Fees: 6 riders: £45.00 each
5 riders: £50.00 each
4 riders: £60.00 each
3 riders: £69.00 each
Depending on the venue, there may be a shared charge for arena hire and mileage.
Fees are due 10 days before the course date.
Requirements:
Having fun and staying safe are mandatory!!
Please bring/borrow a horse that lunges quietly with a rider on board.
Suitable for all levels of rider – more experienced riders will simply progress to the more challenging exercises sooner.
