Our program consists of a great deal of flatwork, cavaletti work, and small gymnastics. This creates rideability, technique, and confidence in the horse. Practicing balance for the tight turns to win jump offs, or what’s required of an equitation test. This applies muscle fitness while also creating longevity, as the horse experiences less strain on the body than if it was required to give max effort every time the horse jumps. Optimizing soundness and resilience for when we do ask for their all, we know they are comfortable and capable. And when it becomes time to school big before shows, our massive outdoor with professionally designed courses awaits us 🙂
Practicing muscle strengthening and flexibility. Positive mental stimulation. We practice incorporating this into each exercise. We want our horses to enjoy their job and be relaxed and comfortable releasing built up energy and tension. Our horses are not only kept in a program to be physically fit, but also mentally balanced. Horses in the wild move on average of 10 miles per day and our modern horses are bred to be athletes. Their bodies need movement both under saddle, and freely in lush pastures.
Horses are highly intuitive, emotionally intelligent animals. They are exceptionally empathetic beings and actually feel human emotion. They sense subtle shifts in energy such as a human’s heartbeat, their breathing, the tension in their body. Our riders learn to recognize and control emotion. The true horseman learns to compartmentalize the moment they are within the presence of the horse. Not only does this strengthen the bond with human and equine, it improves performance in the show ring as well. A rider who can focus on the goal and keep emotions under control is successful.
