Learn all the things they're not teaching in most riding schools, and everything you may have missed after years of riding! And make friends while doing it!
Full Courses are now available. Course levels will be adjusted based on sign ups, but will touch on basic and advanced conecpts in each topic.
Course Dates: Silverado Location
Sundays in January (Jan 5, 12, 19, 26)
Next Level Knowledge @ 11:00 am
Beginner Course @ 1:00 pm
Course Dates: Murrieta Location
TBA - January
Next Level Knowledge: $55 per class or $200 for full course
Beginner: $45 per class or $160 for full course
January '24 Next Level Knowledge Course
Mixed level/designed for new-seasoned horse owners
Week 1: Horse Owner's Checklist
Knowing what's normal for your horse(physically and behaviorally- and if it should be normal)
Taking vitals
Making sure you're on top of all of your horse's needs
Recognizing problems (lameness, colic, other issues/possible diseases out there)
Disaster protocol
Understanding your tack
Knowing what to ask your professional team(vets, farriers, body workers, and saddle fitters)
Week 2: Behavior, Psychology, and Body Language
Overview of horse psychology and natural behaviors not often talked about
Reading body language better - recognize signs of pain and joy, better
A discussion on positive reinforcement training
Week 3: Anatomy and Conformation
Surface anatomy
Introduction to palpations and how you can use them
Conformation- structural vs postural, and what it can tell you
Week 4: Biomechanics and Saddle fit
Recognizing lameness
Introduction to saddle fit
Exercises for helping with fitness and range of motion
The Beginner Course is designed for those with limited horse knowledge, or the brand new beginner eager for extra knowledge. Topics covered will include...
Understanding the horse: basic horse psychology, basic horse behavior, and reading horses' body language(at a higher level than most horse people!)
Grooming - but more than just getting the horse clean; why do we groom? Good techniques, what to look for.
Basic Anatomy(and why it's important to know)
Handling/interacting
Herd observation(with several horses loose in an open space together)
Basic feed and nutrition knowledge
Understanding and knowing your tack
The Next Level Knowledge 1 Course is designed for those with some experience with horses, either newer students of riding, or those with many years who have come to find there are many holes in their horsemanship knowledge-- even for small animal vets looking to gain more knowledge in the equine field! Topics covered will include...
Advanced knowledge in equine behavior and psychology
Signs of pain and discomfort
Grooming with Awareness
Nutrition
Learning about the hoof, its structure, and function
Tack fitting
Basic study of the horse's teeth
Mini-Courses will be one sessions, 1.5 to 2 hours, full courses (to be added) will be 2-4 sessions, 4 - 6 hours total.
There will be no ridden activities in these courses, but there will be interaction with and handling of horses. Proper attire is required.
The information taught in these courses is also taught in our regular horsemanship programs, however this will be fast-tracked since there is no riding involved, which takes up the majority of those lessons. It will also be in a different setting, which will be a bit more acedemically focused, as well as more social and interactive with your classmates! There will be handling of horses, but it will be structured very differently from our other horsemanship lessons.