Come for a Lesson - The First Lesson and What to Expect
1. Assessment Time
The first time you bring your horse to me for a lesson, I will begin by assessing you and your horse as you work through a normal schooling session.
I will be using my “Alexander eyes and observational skills” to observe whether both you and your horse are using yourselves correctly for the success of future training.
I will be assessing:
FOR THE HORSE
Current stage of training
Present standard of “use”
Is the working outline, (the carriage of the head, neck and back,) producing the correct musculature i.e. building of the top-line muscles, engagement of the hind-quarters and softness under the neck to allow –
Correct use of his back
– i.e. is he loose and swinging correctly through his back.
Relaxation and regularity of his paces
Contact and acceptance of the bit
Is the horse reaching forward correctly to seek the bit.
Suppleness.
Is the horse displaying the degree of suppleness we would expect from his stage of training.
Harmony
Is the horse working with confidence, trust and understanding.
FOR THE RIDER
Current stage of riding ability.
Present standard of “use”
i.e. are you sitting straight and in balance on your horse with your head, neck, spine and pelvis in the correct alignment to allow –
Correct use of back muscles
to effectively encourage swing through your horses’ back, engagement of the hind-quarters and control of balance and speed.
Relaxation and regularity
– the ability to stay released and connected to your horse to produce rhythmic and relaxed paces
Contact and acceptance of the bit
Are you able to support your arms correctly from your back to create an elastic, energised connection between your back and your horses’ mouth.
Suppleness.
Are you flexible enough in your hips, knees and ankles and through your spine, to allow the horse to maximise his movement and to bend equally on both reins.
Harmony
– has the rider the ability to communicate subtly but effectively creating an attitude of confidence, trust and mutual understanding.
2. Discuss and formulate a training plan
From this initial assessment we can discuss the way forward and put together a training programme for you both. We can choose some or all of the following options:
Alexander Technique Lesson with Riding in MindRide in Balance Riding Skills Lesson
Ride in Balance Lunge Lesson
Ride in Balance Dressage Lesson
Full School Livery