Classical Riding & Dressage in Cottles Bridge, Victoria | Equestrian centre

Classical Riding & Dressage

Locality: Cottles Bridge, Victoria

Phone: +61 411 098 462

Address: 80 Goldmans Road 3099 Cottles Bridge, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.classicalriding.com.au/

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• Sport & recreation
• Coach
• Equestrian centre
• Horse riding school

23.01.2022 The half pass is lovely and the neck extension after is a fine test of balance and trust

21.01.2022 We have two spots now available for lessons this Saturday at the beautiful Jardin Parc Indoor Arena. Would you like to join us? All levels and all breeds are welcome. In-hand or ridden work. See details in the event below

16.01.2022 *A Raised Back as a Result of Core Engagment** In a lot of our training related content, we frequently talk about core engagement which raises the back. When t...here is so much talk of horses with Kissing Spines, we wanted to see if we could create a visual and see what happens to the Dorsal Spinous Processes during core engagement. This is an excerpt from one of our older videos where we went to UC Davis and worked with Dr. Sarah LeJeune and her associates to undertake an experiment using x-rays of a resting back vs a raised back (did not do a depressed or hollow back, but this experiment will give you an idea of what might happen with an inverted back) We invite you to explore our other investigative content that allows owners and professionals to piece together the various areas of horse care that go together to create a gymnastically optimal and healthy equestrian partnership. The goal of our Monthly membership is to deliver a lot for a little in the hopes of assisting you on your individual journey. Join our community for only $4.95 per month and we also now have an annual option available in the Equitopia Shop for $49.50: https://www.equitopiacenter.com/sign-up/

16.01.2022 A HABIT OF REFINEMENT If we can be thoughtful, planning each action a moment ahead - for lightness - pausing our busy minds, feeling and sensing the horses, refining each aid, to be less and less, softer and lighter. Each ride, asking the horse with how little force can I train my dear horse?... Can you stop if I sit tall and breath out? Can you turn if I look and turn there? Can you go with a flinch of my calf? Can you give your mouth if I soften my fingers? What if I just ... can you sense it? It’s not about being more strong, it’s about being more effective. Clear, thoughtful, consistent and precise. Horses are and can be incredibly sensitive to the lightest aids - if we are sensitive to how we ask and what we do. Teach the horse kindly but clearly to answer and respond from much less pressure. My goal for this year is to deepen a habit of refinement - to take lightness on every ride. Will you join me? Susie "If the rider knows how to express his will with proper precision and calm authority, always limiting his demands to what the horse is capable of doing, the submission he obtains will gradually engender confidence and respect, along with the physical and psychological ease resulting from willing obedience to a fair and clearly expressed command." Jean Saint Fort Paillard

16.01.2022 THE HORSE KNOWS "The horse knows well if you are scared, he knows when you are unprepared. He feels your mental attitude: when you are fair, or rough or rude... Therefore, be conscious, all the time of how you move, or be aligned. Your body language leads the way for horses read what you convey Don’t be quick to blame the horse nor fall into a battle force. When you find yourself in trouble; keep it simple, clear the muddle. Relaxation is the key in training him successfully. To overlook this state of mind will leave you struggling far behind. Communicate, though carefully create a path of empathy. Teach a language to explain: a guiding hand does not cause pain. Remember horses don’t forget the good, the bad, and all the rest, and even if a year has passed his memory clear will surely last. Treat him well, be fair, be kind, try to understand his mind. Know that he was born to flee from creatures such as you and me." A little extract from a much longer poem I wrote a long time ago: "TO TRAIN A HORSE" by Susie Walker

16.01.2022 Last weekend we held our first 3PE Fun Clinic for 2021 at our home in Panton Hill, and with a full course of 16 obstacles. Riders enjoyed 2 lessons a day over t...he two days, gaining tips and techniques in introducing and negotiating obstacles, with a focus on relaxation, balance, impulsion and accuracy. It was so nice to be able to hold a clinic again and we were blessed with the most beautiful weather. Can't wait for the next one! See more

14.01.2022 Alita... this awesome Andalusian. My wise teacher, my best mate, such an honest, patient and forgiving soul. She with her fine sense of humour and justice, carries me to places and feelings I otherwise would never have found.

14.01.2022 Just laying around on the grass... letting time pass. There is nothing quite so educational.

12.01.2022 The only one you answer to is your horse.. your horse will be your ultimate judge..

11.01.2022 SHOULDER-IN TO TRAVERS, ON THE LONG SIDE I think this is one of the nicest ways to give a rider the feeling of the subtle shift of weight required for a change of balance between Shoulder-in and Travers. For shoulder-in on the straight line, the horse keeps moving along the line of travel by directing his balance more to the outside foreleg - in this case the left fore. Whereas in Travers on the straight line, the horse will direct his balance more to the inside fore - in th...is case the right fore. Consequently, for the rider on the straight line, the seat aids through this change need to support the horse's change of balance: that is, to balance more over the outside fore for shoulder-in, then shifting gently over the inside fore for Travers. These subtle but 'balancing/weight aids' combined with appropriate rein and leg aids, set the horse up for ease and lightness. Understanding the nature of a horse's balance for each movement makes light work of tricky things. Understanding the horse's natural balance in motion, makes light work for both. In addition, for Shoulder-in on a straight line, in trot, the rider can further support the horse's balance rising with an active trot, but 'rising in time' with the inside fore. (ie opposite to normal). NOTE: On a circle, the weight aids for Shoulder-in and Travers are different to the straight line. Given that we always want to sit with the horse's balance and in the direction of travel. Therefore, for Shoulder-in on a circle - a horse generally balances more to the inside fore. Whereas for Travers on a circle - a horse generally balances more to the inside hind. So the rider's job is to help the balance the horse needs in each moment. Overall, bearing in mind that a horse is rarely perfectly balanced laterally, and often needs a little counter-balance help from us to correct mistakes. What's your favourite lateral work pattern? :)

11.01.2022 ON POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT A QUESTION CAME MY WAY... I havn't written a post for a while. For me, not being able to teach face to face, or to solve problems with a horse and rider in front of me has meant there is less inspiration for ideas to share here. ...Continue reading

11.01.2022 PATIENCE OR COMPETENCE Are you ‘patiently’ waiting and hoping for your horse to improve and understand? Or are you teaching your horse a language of clear reliable aids? We need competence to know when it’s time to teach go, and when it’s time to teach slow. And, we need to know how to do it with the most effective logical aids that make it easy for the horse to understand and to balance. (See also notes on the photos).... To reinforce simple clear, precise, aids: aids to help the horse find the answers, find the release. Hands without legs - legs without hands.

10.01.2022 DO YOU WANT SOMETHING TO CHANGE? Fundamentally, learning is about changing behaviour, and behaviour change can only come from a change in attitude. In order to do things differently, we need to think differently about how we are asking the horse to do something. For me its not a matter of "one size fits all" or "the horse must" do this or that. More often "it depends" on the individual situation, character, conformation, conditioning, experiences, and the particular conditio...ns on the day. The horse owes us nothing, we are the ones who have responsibility to understand the horse. It is clear to me that most common or difficult problems with horses can be resolved safely and progressively with curiosity, knowledge, kindness, and clarity without force. It requires empathy and paying attention to what the horse is doing. Classical Equitation embraces both art and science, it requires a thoughtful approach that responds to the way horses think and move. Logical training reduces conflict, it may increase conflict for a short time to establish boundaries, but it must aim for relaxation to make space for willingness and preservation of the horse's dignity. Ease and lightness in riding are not out of reach. It is possible to find that illusive "harmony" and "partnership" when you have the tools to work with the horse's nature - not against it.

08.01.2022 EDUCATED HANDS Many imagine that a double jointed bit is 'kinder' than a single jointed, but don't realise that the 2 joints can sit right above the horse's two bars, where there is sensitive fine skin over sharp bone, and if the these bits are used with backward acting or sideway see-saw actions, can be more painful pressing the tongue onto the bars. In the end its mostly about 'the hands' how we use them, not so much about the bit. Educated hands can educate the horse. A 'n...ut cracker action' of a single jointed bit will only come into effect on the roof of the mouth if the hands are low and pulling back and down. Think about it - play with a bit (when its not in the horse's mouth). If the action is upward on the corner of the lips, the joint points forward over the top of the tongue, not up to the roof of the mouth. Naturally the horse's sensitive tongue sits under the bit - easily pressed or pinched between the bit and the sharp bars. Recall how painful it is to bite your own tongue. Again, its about the hands and how we use them. But the post is also to draw awareness to observing the narrowness of the bars and that two joints could cause more aggravation (than a single joint) if they are positioned directly over the two bars. Especially if the rider tends to pull the bit backward and/or unevenly sideways through (left right see-saw) the mouth.

08.01.2022 Last night I stayed up until 2am Melbourne time (! dedication right there) to watch Philippe Karl talk about "From behind, over the back and through the poll" f...or WeHorse. This morning they have sent me a link to the "replay" I hope that if you click through on the link below you will be able to see it :) I hope you enjoy it! At the end there is a Q&A, I was lucky to have my question about the historical precedence for Action-Reaction answered by PK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2iZeojV3Bo&feature=emb_logo

07.01.2022 WORK IN-HAND Its nice to do, useful too. Do you? Flexing the neck, raising the neck, stretching and extending the neck, changing the balance, changing the bend, true bend and counter bend. There is so much to play with. Developing relaxation, balance, lightness, straightness, suppleness. Making it better for riding. :)

06.01.2022 I love to see the face of a horse that knows it’s pleased you! Such a joy.

06.01.2022 WORKING EQUITATION / 3PE TRAINING CLINIC Over 2 Days: Sat 20th - Sun 21st March 2021 Venue: Equine Encounters Panton Hill, with Susie Walker Licensed Level 1 Teacher Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) www.classicalriding.com.au... Our second Clinic for 2021 will follow the same format with rider positions limited to 6 places to help you progress and work through any difficulties in training. * Bring lightness and balance to your dressage * Or hone your skills on a full course of 16 obstacles. * Learn how to negotiate obstacles with correct and useful aids * Improve your navigation and accuracy skills * Play with various patterns you can use to correct problems in straightness, flexion, bend or impulsion * Discover Dressage techniques from a classical perspective *Help your horse find confidence and relaxation with kind and logical methods that make life easier for both of you * Calm, encouraging and professional guidance for all levels Includes 4 x 80min lessons, facility hire and use of obstacles Places limited to six riders. 2 group sessions each day, with 3 riders/group. Riders $280 for the 2 days. Spectators $30/day Some overnight Agistment may be available. For more info or to book in, call 0411 098 462 PM or email: [email protected]

06.01.2022 You have to feel it. You cannot force it. And you cannot blame the horse. If it’s not working ...

05.01.2022 Thank you Ghislaine Joubert for sharing the translation. :)

05.01.2022 There were many times I contemplated giving up. But the desire to honour my horse, to find a way, to persevere, to beat the frustrations of not being able to do or to know how - these remain strong. The will to master a skill comes with a cost of a long term commitment. Determination, resilience, persistence. Stubborn self education. Life long learning with a good dose of ‘humble pie’.

05.01.2022 CONTACT... how art thou? This post is from a few years back. But I think it still works. What would I add today? Some things come to mind... * That a good contact comes from a good grounded posture - an independent balanced seat is a must.... * That a good contact requires a dialogue, not a monologue (i.e releasing and mobilising the jaw in a soft and attentive way) * "Position before action" (i.e. prepare the balance, prepare the bend, prepare the horse - then, everything is easier) * That most of the time, you need less than you think, but sometimes you need more for very short moments. * That it helps to hold the reins between the thumb & first finger, letting the other fingers be soft to open and close as needed * That you can lift the reins before shortening the reins (otherwise you tip forward and upset the horse's balance) * That you can lift the reins for any action on the mouth (in other words - don't pull backwards or downwards - it hurts the horse) * That you can use much less rein contact, when you know how to use your weight aids to support the horse's balance. * That a 'neck rein' and an "open rein" are essential * That there is a specific rein aid for everything we need to do. * That a 'light' horse - is a good remedy for a 'hard' hand. * Did I mention that a good contact comes from a good grounded posture? :) See more

04.01.2022 Philippe Karl - explaining why we do what we do in our School. I have shared before but when it comes around again I still love to hear it, all the way through.