fhs

OVERVIEW

 

 

Fundamentals of Horsemanship (FH) offers a comprehensive curriculum to meet the needs of horse owners, aspiring horse trainers, and professionals (veterinarians, farriers, massage therapists, etc.) who want to further explore, practice, and refine their horsemanship skills. FH is an intensive program of study to discover a greater level of awareness and communication between human and horse.

The curriculum includes English and Western riding, driving (single, pairs of horses), in-hand skills (advanced leading, long reining, lunging, round pen work), horse psychology and communication. Students are immersed in working and playing with horses eight hours a day, five days a week, for three months. There are two three month sessions planned for each year: Summer (April-July) and Fall (August-October). Enrollment is limited to two students per session. This ensures abundant time and attention to meet the specific needs of each student at whatever their current skill level (beginners to professionals).The courses in riding, driving, and horse starting are tailored to a student’s specific area of interest while still maintaining a broad based, encompassing curriculum. For example, a student wanting to focus more on riding can decrease the hours in driving or horse starting in order to increase the riding course hours.

PROGRAM COURSES

 

 

This comprehensive program addresses all aspects of the horse/human relationship and communication between horses and people. It is about learning, learning how to learn, and humanely teaching/training the horse while respecting its individuality and dignity. It is a program of self-development for the human to become a better steward and trainer of horses. The basis of the training is to effect real changes by learning to understand and influence the horses mind and body thereby optimizing the athletic potential, emotional health, and joyful movement inherent in each horse.

THE FH PROGRAM & COURSES

 

 

FH program objectives are threefold: Our number one objective is to create knowledgeable, skilled horse people who are capable of clearly seeing, understanding, communicating with, and ultimately educating and training horses. Our second objective is to explore and fully understand the common principles that underlie all training disciplines no matter how diverse and different they seem to be on the surface. (In short the study of horsemanship integrated across the disciplines). Our third objective is to develop confident, capable horsemen and women who are examples to others in developing horses to their fullest potential while emphasizing a relationship of mutual trust, dignity, and respect between horse and human.

IN-HAND AND GROUNDWORK

 

 

The goal is to develop a working relationship based on mutual respect and clear communication that will transfer to all other disciplines of riding and driving. The in-hand and groundwork initially serves as an introduction between horse and human. Later it will be used for advanced training. From the relative safety of the ground, communication, expectations, and rules of behavior can be established by the horse handler. The horseman also learns to be more aware through body language, and the horse’s movement of what the horse is communicating back to the human, and what we are communicating (either intentionally or unintentionally) to the horse. This initial interaction between the horseman and horse will be studied in the corral, stall, or horse yard; in the round corral and square pen; and while on the lead-line, lunge-line, and long-rein.

The skills and keen observation that will be developed by the student are key to the success of groundwork. Whether it is a round pen or “wreck pen”, a lunge-line or “lame-line”, depends upon the horseman’s skillful use and considerable understanding of these techniques. In the area of groundwork the saying that “a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing” is especially true.

Our goal is to move way beyond the “little knowledge” to a thorough and in-depth study through many hours of daily in-hand work and skill development. We will work in this area in the initial work with the horse. Later, during the training of horse and rider and horse and driver we will develop advanced long-reining skills.

THE ART OF RIDING

 

 

Since the time of the Greek general Xenophon, many, many, theories have been put forward and books have been written about equitation. Beginning with starting young horses under saddle to advanced riding, we will explore how to ride the horse with a minimum of interference, and a maximum of influence and communication, so that both horse and rider are moving in harmony. Whether the horse and rider are dressed in English or Western tack is not nearly so important as the balance, timing, feel, sensitivity, and awareness of the rider, and the rider’s clear, appropriate, and empathetic communication through seat, back, legs, and reins. The horse and how it expresses itself (mentally, emotionally, and physically) is the final judge of the correct rider seat and position, the rider’s choice of tack, and most importantly the rider’s state of mind. Whether under English or Western tack, balanced empathetic riding is correct riding. Poor, out of balance riding cannot be changed or disguised no matter how much equipment or tack is employed. It is the rider alone, not the tack, that determines how the horse relates to the riding. Students will do an extensive study of the biomechanics of the horse and rider in motion by riding horses at different levels of training in different disciplines (Western, English) and young horse training.

CARRIAGE AND COMBINED DRIVING

 

 

Carriage and combined driving is one of the fastest growing equine sports today. Combined driving is modeled after combined training and has three distinct phases of competition: driven dressage, cross-country driving, and cones course driving. In this course we will study and practice the “Achenbach Method” of rein handling, a way of driving horses that is used worldwide. While this method is initially more difficult to learn than the traditional American method of holding one rein in each hand, it has many benefits. This method works well when driving all breeds from miniature horses to draft horses; it is easily used to drive not only a single horse, but a pair of horses, a 4-up hitch of horses, and even a tandem (one single horse in front of the other). An additional benefit for trainers and advanced horse owners is the ability to ground-drive when starting young, “green” horses or restarting horses with various problems; and being able to do advanced work in dressage or over jumps while long-reining (advanced ground-driving). By long-reining you are able to observe the horse from the ground as you work on advanced movements such as half-pass, passage, etc.

The student will advance his or her knowledge and skill in driving by using such teaching aids and techniques as the reining board, driving a brace of bicycles (pairs and 4-ups of bicycles) and of course by many hours of driving the singles and pairs of schooling horses.

The driving class combined with the riding classes compliment one another. As the student becomes a better driver, it enhances the student’s timing and feel of the horse’s mouth and body movements, which in turn refines the student’s feel and timing while riding. The same is true of riding developing a better driver. Similarly a riding horse that is driven properly and a driving horse that is ridden correctly becomes a more well rounded and developed equine.

YOUNG HORSE AND RESTART TRAINING

 

 

Starting young horses is an art. It is the foundation for all that will come later. It is in many ways the most important part of the whole training process. Like the foundation of a building, a young horse’s early training must be based on correct, solid principles so that the intermediate and advanced training has a firm base upon which to build. A skilled and knowledgeable trainer will encourage a young horse’s curiosity and joy of learning, and its desire to cooperate in the process. Rather than just being obedient and submissive, the skillfully trained and educated horse will become an active and joyful participant. Yes, horses can be forced and dominated, but a skillful trainer/educator will seek to encourage and set the young horse up for success and reward rather than failure and punishment. The key to this ideal of training and education is a series of gentle, progressive, logical, and sequential steps, carefully followed by a trainer who has the knowledge, experience, and ability to encourage and gain the horse’s trust, obedience, and confidence. The ability to gain the horse’s trust as its leader and trainer is paramount. It is also of major importance to understand and be able to perform the necessary steps in the training process, and to use training equipment correctly, so that the young horse is encouraged in its mental, emotional, and physical development rather than injured or discouraged.

Restart Training. The good thing about the booming public interest in horses is that people are becoming more and more educated through clinics, magazines, videos, etc. The bad thing, however, is that many people (due to time constraints, ability, etc.) learn only enough to confuse the horse.

In general, the easiest horses to train (regardless of gender or breed) are those that have had very little human contact and were allowed to grow up in pastures with other horses as their teachers and guides about how to behave like a horse. The hardest horses to train are often those that have grown up in box stalls or small runs and were handled in a way that led them to believe they were humans or spoiled dogs. Does this mean people should not interact with their horses? Absolutely not, but until we reach that critical mass where people are knowledgeable and skillful enough to actually help rather than hinder and confuse the young horse, there will be many, many horses in need of restarting and retraining. There will also be a correspondingly greater need to continue to educate horse owners and handlers. Thus the complete horseman of today must not only be able to restart and reeducate confused horses, but also be able to tactfully educate and empower today’s enthusiastic, well-meaning, ever-growing number of horse owners. This you will practice and learn, and practice and practice and practice in this course!

TRAILER LOADING

 

 

In reality, trailer loading is little more than advanced leading (a combination and refinement of the in-hand work and groundwork). However, since so many people and horses often experience problems in this area, we will practice training ourselves to educate horses to load in and out of many different types of trailers (single straight-load, side-by-side, 4-horse slant-load, stock, etc.). We will learn to load horses quietly, confidently, and readily. Students will learn a number of different approaches and techniques to use in this area so they have the experience and tools to fit each individual situation.

BARN AND STABLE MANAGEMENT

 

 

A portion of this course will be learned in actual feeding, watering, and daily care of the horses at Glade Farm. This will occur Monday through Friday and on alternate weekends. Students will learn to identify the quality of hay and feeds, as well as the different types of hay. Pasture care and management, fencing, intensive grazing, cell grazing, weed and poisonous plant identification will also be studied in our day-to-day classes. We will learn to calculate the nutrient needs so that our horses are on a well-balanced, sound diet that contributes to their athletic potential and sound mind.

EDUCATION OF THE HORSE AND HORSEMAN—METHODS OF LEARNING

 

 

The process and similarities in the way humans and horses learn are many; so are the differences. The human often has a greater capacity to think through and rationally understand situations, but is not nearly as observant (aware) or as quick to react as the horse. The horse on the other hand is wired with lightning reflexes and a super keen awareness of it’s surroundings, but does not exhibit the same ability to think through and process situations as logically as most humans. To make a broad, sweeping, and not completely accurate generalization, we might say that horses are more aware and reactive beings, while humans are more rational, thinking, and processing beings.

We will study the different methods whereby people and horses learn and adapt to each other and their environment. For the horseman, understanding the different learning processes is important for two reasons: 1) to become more knowledgeable for themselves and their horses, and 2) to be able to pass that knowledge along to their students and their horses. Before you can teach you must learn how to learn. Often one teaches best that which one most needs to learn.

In this course we will explore how to turn frustration into fascination. We will see how to turn problems and misunderstandings into learning opportunities for clearer and more empathetic communication between horse and horseman.

To help horses live and thrive in a human dominated environment, we will study ways to help horses become less reactive, but more responsive, trusting, and confident around humans. To help the advancing horseman, we will study ways to be more awake, aware, and sensitive to the horse and learn to understand how the horse thinks and communicates. We will use the mirrors in the indoor arena and videotaping to improve seat and position, long reining skills, groundwork, etc. We will learn to listen more to the horses as they communicate to us through body language and feel. When in the company of horses we must learn to speak their language before we can clearly communicate our desires and wishes. “Energy, Intention, Attention, and Attitude” are paramount in communication and learning.

QUIETING THE HORSE

 

 

FH students please note that as part of your coursework for Education of the Horse and Horseman, you will assist as student instructors in the quieting the horse course for the Prairie Winds Equine Massage Therapy students. What follows is a description of the course you will be assisting in:

“The objective of this course is to explore various methods and techniques of handling and working with horses on the ground, so that both the horse and the human are safe and willing participants during the massage session. The basic method will be to listen to what the horse is telling you. The question you’ll want to answer is how you can be of help to the horse.

Knowing when a horse is evading and when they’re releasing as well as seeing trouble coming before it gets out of hand are a couple of the important aspects of the course. From the moment you first approach and halter a horse right on through leading, picking feet and teaching it to stand quietly—you’ll learn to do it safely, gently and firmly. The Quieting class will cover environmental considerations, where to stand and lead from, handling tips from years of experience and sure signs for when to leave it alone. Round pen and lunging work will be covered so that you’ll be able to move a horse at each gait in order to study their movement.

In addition to the textbook, videos by several of the prominent horsemanship trainers and the U.S.D.F. will be viewed to supplement the lecture material and stimulate ideas for hands-on work.”

NOTES FOR STUDENTS

 

 

Transportation: Most lecture and working classes will be held at Glade Farm. Each student is encouraged to have a car for personal use. We will, of course, work to find ways for students to carpool—a practice we strongly encourage.

Living Accommodations: Reasonable efforts will be made by the school to assist students in finding nearby living accommodations in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Masonville. Students will be responsible for the cost of their housing, meals, car and all other expenses incurred while attending classes. Accommodations may be a shared room in an established household or apartment. Housing can range from $300/month on up.

Seasons: Colorado is a very seasonal state. We highly recommend being prepared for both intense Rocky Mountain sunshine, rain showers, and snow. A wide variety of clothing that can be layered and includes waterproof items is recommended for your comfort. Be sure to bring or buy slick-soled riding boots and riding helmet, as the school requires these items for the safety of the students.

Health Insurance Requirements: While we sincerely hope that no one becomes ill or injured, injuries and illnesses do sometimes happen in the best of circumstances. For the student’s well being, the school requires that all students have a comprehensive health insurance policy (either an individual policy or a family policy with a spouse or parent). Evidence of such insurance will be required for the student to enroll (please attach a photocopy of both sides of your insurance card to the Voluntary Release Agreement).

Initial Payment and Tuition: Tuition and fees are $5,400. Upon receiving an initial payment of $650 ($500 for the homework portion of tuition plus $150 for textbooks and materials), your place in the session will be reserved. We will send you your books, homework assignments, and other information to help you get prepared for the first day of class. Two weeks prior to the start of class the remaining tuition payment of $4,750 is due. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, money order, and cashier’s check. Credit cards are not accepted at this time; however, credit card convenience checks are accepted. Fees are subject to change, but will not affect enrolled students.