Excel in Head, Hand, Heart and Health
dance equus is -
a unique combination of professional dance experience, theory from a BPE, years of natural horsemanship experience and teaching, Connected Riding®, trick training, natural dressage, and principled, balanced teaching methods. All of these put together allow students, both human and horse, to excel in head, hand, heart, and health.
Head - thought
Hand - feel and movement
Heart - spirit, will, kokoro
Health - the well-being of the whole body
dance equus is -
education for horse and rider. In order to educate an individual one needs to understand ones students interests and needs and then present to their needs. Also, each human/horse combinations is unique with their own individual needs. They may be in compliment or contrast. This is the number one consideration in the formula for success with dance equus. Once those needs are identified, the doors of knowledge are opened wide. Then watch yourself and your horses grow. A horse and riders motivation is more educationally productive than the fanciest teaching. Learning is at your own initiative.
Education is classified in two areas of study:
Horse Education - Rules of Conduct, The Giver and the Receiver, Physical Technique (balanced) straight, relaxed, connected), Position on the Continuum.
Rider Education - Listening (love, compassion, patience,kokoro), Physical Techniques (body language, riding dynamics, rhythm and the dance, the giver and the receiver, feel), Analysis
Each are dealt with separately keeping in mind that the two beings are striving towards a common goal of gaining and imparting knowledge. It is a reciprocal process of communication that runs two ways - both from the teacher to the student and back from the student to the teacher.
horse/rider problems (student/teacher problems). It is not from intellectual problems, but rather from wrong habit or method that 'problems' are developed. We help you avoid or cure fear, frustration, boredom, stress, pain, despair. Educating yourself and your horse should be mostly fun: relaxing, healing, low-stress yet successful. Even drill can be fun if you allow for individual differences and follow principles of good education and provide balance.
dance equus is -
low stress/high achievement.
quality
Moving towards collection Bareback and Bridleless!
"Over the past 20 years I have ridden under
well-meaning instructors while I competed in hunters,
jumpers, 3-day and dressage. I now know that so much
of that right-brained riding that kept me so centred
while I was galloping my ponies through the fields was
my best riding. I rode two days after auditing your
clinic and for the first time since my car accident
two and a half years ago, I had no pain, felt straight,
never had to "nag" this so-called "lazy" horse, and
was truly riding as I did as a child, only so much
better. You have given me ideas and tools for a new
lifetime of communicating with and riding horses.
As I said at the clinic, you are a credit to the
equine
profession. As an equine veterinarian with 16 years
of sport-horse experience, and a practice that
currently focuses on dentistry and well care, I think
your training methods are moving in the right
direction. I will be teaching many of your methods to
clients who have performance problems with their
horses, as a compliment to conventional treatments.
You present horsemanship as leadership, not a punish
and reward system.
I can't wait until you come back.
Thank you for such an incredible experience."
Katherine Burnett, DVM
Spokane, WA
Education for Horses
Connected Riding® Exercises for Horses
A set of 10 Connected Riding® Exercises for Horses is given out at each of my clinics. Here is what some of them look like....
Shoulder Press
Slide out, Slide in
Oscillations
S Bends
Education for Riders
BALANCING IN THE SADDLE (from Connected Riding®)
Here are some examples of riders feeling their riding position. This is first taught in the Foundation Clinics offered by dance equus.
dance equus has put together a series of exercises and stretches specifically to help the rider with body awareness and coordination. You will build core muscle strength, open your joints ready for action and connect your whole body.
To find out more information:
To Host an Intensive/Clinic for Chris