Warwick Quantum Weekend December 2011

I have just returned home from my trip to Warwick where I have just finished a Quantum Weekend and 8 days of horse training.  The Quantum Weekend was  all but a full house and it was exciting to see 5 new students all keen to get started on the QS Programme in the Level 1 Primary Lessons.
The Level 2 Secondary group were all just as keen to learn about improving their horses' impulsion and achieving the perfect '5'
Of course it wouldn't be a Quantum Weekend without a social evening and the Quiz Night was  a hit - with one of the questions being about the 'cryptic horseman' we finished the evening watching a bit of  QS TV and a giggle or two with 'Bruce the Aussie Horseman' 

A huge thankyou to Ruth, Renva and Amanda for organizing this fantastic QW and to the Warwick Horse Trials Club for providing a wonderful venue.




Student Ta-Dah's:
Matty amazed me by starting to flex to my body position & no reins
I saw Lindy get personal space
Abbie and I did our first simple lead changes
I held Matty's tongue for the first time
Cameron is doing a really great job with circles
Albert gave lovely hindquarter yields & circles
Felt more confident to use phase 4 if needed
Did some good open handed lunge at walk
Filly moved forward in a circle on the near side
Rocket did a few steps of trot sideways
I saw Lindy send her horse over the jump
I saw Cameron remain calm & consistent when asking Bobby over the ramp of the jump
I saw Pam leading her filly from behind the drive line and out of her space
I saw Albert leading nicely alongside Mel
I saw Jane become consistent with getting her horse out of her space to go over the jump.
I saw Amanda do lovely simple lead changes
I saw Renva keep Matty cantering on a circle.
I saw Wills following Vicki's direct rein
I saw Rocket respecting the personal space of Ruths legs to get trot sideways

Riddells Creek QW Nov 2011

When: 24th - 27th November 2011

Where: Cloverfern Equestrian Center Riddells Creek Vic

It was a brilliant 4 days at the Cloverfern Equestrian Center at Riddells Creek. In the Level 1 Primary lessons we made lots of discoveries about putting our basic skills into action and how personal space effects everything we do with our horses. I was very pleased to see the progress everyone in the Level 1 Overview Lessons had made since my last visit which has resulted in a very big boost in their confidence levels. Every task was met with enthusiasm and we put a lot of polish on the Level 1 riding.

A huge thankyou to Nicki for organizing this weekend - the event ran very smoothly as a result of her careful planning.

Here are the Ta-Dah's that were jotted down over the weekend:
I need to find/see the good in everything I do.
"I love vegies. I would eat them all day everyday if I could be bothered cooking them" (quote of the day from Belinda)
Getting canter from rein forward
Getting Indy to do yields from phase 1!
Getting Indy to walk between the barrels!
Hindquarter yields from Short Range Circles!!
Getting Indy to relax with he no yield string above her head.
Getting good indirect to direct & feeling it.
Getting some nice soft transitions
Relaxing instead of bracing
Recognizing the try.
Recognizing my personal space and meaning it when I say dont come in it.
Smiling with he yield
WANTING to canter everyday!
Enjoying the whole clinic
I saw Indigo learn how to become prickly to get Missy out of her space when float loading instead of trying to use her strength to do it.
I saw Samara use her skills beautifully to keep herself safe when working with a new horse
I saw Rachael use her timing to help her horse find comfort in going over the jump.
I saw Bec use impulsion to help her horse go over the jump.
I saw Tracey achieve a proper canter
I saw Nicki get lovely turns from a direct rein.
I saw Karen overcome her fears and achieve a nice soft trot and turned it into a nice soft canter.
I saw Belinda get transitions with Ron without pushing with her seat and get a nice forward trot with impulsion.

Sunraysia Quantum Weekend Nov 2011

When: 19th - 22nd November 2011

Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

Daily Programme:
Morning 9.30am - 1.00pm
Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Getting Started - Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horse - Have a more willing, cooperative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float load safely and easily

Afternoon 2pm - 5.30pm
Level 2 Secondary: Lessons 7 & 8
Impulsion & developing emotional fitness for your horse - Cherokee Bridle - Introducing the Bridle - Picking up the pace - Leads & Diagonals

A huge thankyou to everyone who attended this months QW in Sunraysia. It was wonderful to meet a couple of new students and their horses in the Level 1 Primary Lessons where we got started on the basics of the QS Programme.  Everyone did wonderfully and it was fabulous to see the QS Skills being put into practice at the end of the weekend when it came time to loading the horses onto the float to go home.
We had a group of very keen students in the afternoons for the Level 2 Secondary lessons where we focused on getting our horses out of our personal space in our sideways and spirals (both online and ridden)  The change in the horses was amazing and the new respect for personal space made the canter passenger lessons a breeze!
Thank you to Dr Deb for providing a fabulous venue for this special weekend.

Student Ta-Dah's:

Tammy Yielded Cruz's Leg No Contact with the stick!!

Stacey kept Blisters feet on the ground!!

I survived Canter PL on Demaris with Blister Deed & Abbey!!

I managed to have Deek do spirals and be off her forehand!

Cruz is not nibbling as much and is calmer!

Jodie was a lot calmer

Jodie did a great hindquarter yield!

Amanda & Adele did the Gallop pattern!!

Deek now has comfort on the circle!!

Jodie went on the float!!

Check out my Float

At the beginning of this year, I had my float painted as it was well overdue for some TLC and this week, I have added the finishing touches!

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Warwick Quantum Weekend September 2011

When: 3rd to 6th September 2011

Where: Warwick Horse Trials Grounds, Morgan Park, Warwick

Daily Programme:Morning 8.30am - 12.30pm
Level 1 Secondary:
Lessons 3 and 4 COVERS - Safe & Practical Saddling and Riding techniques—To have your horse going forward Confidently & Easily—Sideways and Backwards—How to stop you horse with just your body energy and one rein

Afternoon 1.30pm - 5.00pm
Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview
Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

I have just finished a fabulous weekend in Warwick and to top it off, we had perfect weather (despite rain being forecast for every day!!)  All I can say is that I am sooooo proud of everyone who attended this weekend.  Everyone gave their 100%, were willing to give everything a go, and to work through the things that have been holding them back.   Over the 4 days, I saw confidence build in every single rider as they learnt to trust their horses more and by the end of the weekend, we had much calmer and happier horses as their riders understanding of offering release grew.



Student Ta-Dah's:
Cisco went onto the concrete of the wash bay.
Abboe stopped with just my life down in a group trot passenger lesson.
Sunny's not biting as much
I'm so much more conscious of my phases
Our trot passenger lesson had some difficult moments but I built trust with my horse I really felt I could rely on him even when I was not functioning very well.
His whole manner in general is becoming more willing for me.  I need to build my skills so that I can offer more release.
Aussie is happy in his play
Mozzie stopped chasing the other horses.
Great to see how Ruth worked through Aus's apprehension during his first ever passenger lesson.
Had a realisation of just how much Abbie needs me to slow down my phases so that she feels that she has options.
Aussie worked through his emotional problems in group PL
Moselle got a better trot and a nice canter
Wills slowed to me and is following my body rhythm.
It was great to see the progression of the behavior patterns in the group passenger lessons and the importance of protecting your space.
I worked past my tension to settle Aussie down.
I seen Mel get some nice canter transitions with no kicking!!
I saw Ruth help Mossie find comfort in going forward and achieved canter transitions.
I saw Helen remain calm when her horse transitioned to trot in her second ride with 1 rein.

Liz & Eadie, another Grad for Sunraysia!

A super duper Congratulations to Liz McLean and her lovely horse Eadie from Mildura for completing their Level 1 Assignments!!

This is Liz's second horse through Level 1 - Buddy has done a fantastic job of preparing you Liz

August 2011 Winchelsea Quantum Weekend

Where: Burong Equestrian Center

When; August 18 - 21, 2011

Join us for four 1/2 days, studying the Quantum Savvy Foundation Program, through Release Focused Training,
you will learn to develop softness and lightness, improve your confidence and become safer with your horse!

Daily Program:

Morning 8.30am - 12.00pm
Private Lessons

Afternoon 1.30pm - 5.00pm
Level 2 Primary: Lessons 5 and 6
Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes – Work on longer lines – Go looking for the truth at Liberty – Gain an independent seat with Bareback Riding

We certainly had a fabulous time - out there learning lots with our horses and of course we had time to socialize too, with a night at the pub and the next, a lovely BBQ with fantastic videos to watch! I really feel that everyone doing the Level 2 Primary lessons have come away with a new understanding of 'feel' and now have a new appreciation of what they are 'saying' to their horses whenever they pick up the rope. I also did some private lessons which were a great help for some of those who were a little 'stuck' in their personal journey through the programme.

Thank you to everyone who came along to make this weekend such a special one, to Vicki for your help in organising this weekend and of course to the Burong Equestrian Center for providing such a fabulous facility for us to use. :clapping:

Student Ta-Dah's:
I need to focus on the front end of my horse as much as the bank end
Ask for feel on my rope and give Clancy a chance to opt to comfort BEFORE I use my stick with rhythmic pressure and send him from discomfort
Every time you pick up the rope you are having a conversation with your horse
Believe in the "feel" of the rope and have a connection and offer = backwards step from phase 1
Focus and believe! Look up and smile :D
Absolutely loved the private lessons ;)

And I saw . . . . .

Some special connections between horse and owners
Lindy got Rocky to straddle the pole
Helen and Scarlett getting some lovely soft circles and cantered
Sue and Bailey getting sideways
Matthew and Phoenix finding "feel" on the rope
Jen and Clancy sorting out where his attention should be

And then they all got on bareback in their portable rounds . . . . in the perfect afternoon :clap: :clap: :clap:

Congrats Amanda & Abbie!

A huge congratulations to Amanda McGill and her lovely horse Abbie for completing your Level 1 Assignments!!!
Amanda has just started the Sunshine Pracitse Group and will be her groups first Level 1 graduate - What a way to start a PG!

Abbey the eventer!

I joined the Mildura Adult riding club yesterday in their rally and we had a wonderful time exploring the cross country jumps.  Having never seen  cross country jumps before, Abbey did a fantastic job and just took it all in her stride. We had an absolute ball. 

July 2011 Sunraysia Quantum Weekend

When: 14th - 17th July 2011

Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

Daily Programme:

Morning 9.30am - 1.00pm
Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview
Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

Afternoon 2pm - 5.30pm
Level 2 Primary: Lessons 5 & 6
Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes— Work on longer lines—Go looking for the truth at Liberty—Gain an independent seat with Bareback Riding


I think everyone at this Quantum Weekend made lots of progress with their horsemanship this month!  The Level 1 Overview group started getting well prepared for finishing their Level 1 with a look at how the ground work relates to our ridden tasks and there were lots of discoveries about really getting their focus up in their direct reins (both on the ground and in the saddle).

We had some newies for the Level 2 Primary lessons as well as some students revisiting this lesson and what a group they made!  With everyone keen to get started on their lessons at liberty, we worked on developing & strengthening the connection between horse and rider, by being clearer with their communication through the rope first.  There were lots of 'ooh's & aahhh's' when the halters came off (some for their first time) and the horses remained connected with their leaders!

To top the weekend off, we were all invited to Dr Debs house for Spaghetti on the Saturday night.  A fabulous place to spend a chilly winters evening and we all had a chance to watch some of the previews of the new Harmony In Motion DVD's whilst we ate.  Thanks Dr Deb, the spaghetti was delicious!

A Huge thank you to everyone who came along to make this weekend such a special one and especially to those who traveled all the way from Melbourne and surrounding areas, just to be there.

Student Ta-Dah's!
Tigger went backwards in a figure of 8!
McLeod surprised me with contact with rope
Dream went well being sent on the circle
Grace put her front and back feet in a hoola hoop and did yields around the hoop!
Nice spirals and changes of direction.
I had my first canter on McLeod!!
I loaded my pony by myself!!
Dream - trotting circles with 1 rein trough 5 obstacles & then cantering.
Grace went sideways a  step.
Grace stood up on the box in the arena with her front feet on the box then put all 4 feet on the box.  She stopped when I asked and went forward when I asked!!
I saw Jen do some fantastic sideways down the fence with Clancy.
I saw Alexa establish her personal space with Anki and as a result, Anki did a beautiful spiral in.
I saw Karen create a lovely connection with Tigger and had him circle her at liberty for the first time.
I saw Maggie working to help Gracie to become more comfortable with standing over a pole.
I saw Sally help Dream in her short range circles and then put her calmly over the jumps.
I saw Chris steer her horse around the cones beautifully with 1 rein.
I saw Samara achieve a nice flex through Grace's body in her bend to a stop.

Lindy & Rocky, Level 1 Grad

Congratulations Lindy Fullarton and Rocky for completing your Level 1 Assignmnets!!

You have had a few bumps along the way, but now you have your RED STRING!! Woohoo!! Well done Lindy

Congratulations Sue & Phoebe!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Sue Wright and her fantastic horse Phoebe for completing their Level 1 Assignments!!

Well done Sue, you put in a huge effort with Phoebe and really deserve your RED STRING!!

Meet Daigo - my new horse!

Hi Everyone,
I am really excited to introduce to you all my new horse Diago and share with you our first Ta-Dah.

Diago is nearly 10 Years old, he was originally sold as a 3 year old (just broken in)to a beginner rider and....well...apparently it didn't go so well and after the owner was bucked off Diago was given to the lady that I purchased him from, who is a Level 2 Dressage Instructor. She had done a little bit of low level dressage with him but did not think he would go much further and did not want to keep him on. She also found him to be a bit girthy after having a spell and would want to buck and after one or two sale prospects that didn't go so well, she knew he needed to go to someone who had some skills to be able to help him through this. Thanks to Lindy who put me in touch with her, Diago is now in my possession.

I started working with Diago nearly two weeks ago and found him to be extremely scared of the stick & String and any sort of rhythmic pressure. As soon as I would pick up the stick, Diago would start running....and running....and running I knew I would not be able to move on until I could sort this out so every day, I would spend no yielding him... and he kept running, and going backwards, and rearing up and trying to kick me I tried to release at the very slightest of tries and even with no tries but the only way I could get him to stop was if I pushed him sideways or yielded his hind. We were getting some slight improvements, but I was not happy about having to make the decision to stop for him - it seems as though Diago has lived his life without having any sort of thought process at all. So a couple of days ago, I made the decision to be prepared to take as long as it takes to get a try from him. We went around and around until finally, he spun around and stopped and looked at me It was a bit braced and tense but it was his decision!!

We were then able to move on and going to our circles, Diago got a bit surprised when I had to touch his hind with the string to ask him to yield, so I went straight to no yield again. Of course he acted as though I was going to kill him but when he realized that nothing had happened to him, he stopped . Again his decision.

The next day, we started our session, I picked up the stick, and Diago stood still. I rubbed him with it and he still stood still, so then I threw the string over his back and he remained standing. I went to the other side and started moving the string, his head went up and he took a couple of steps then trotted a couple of steps, but I could see him thinking (yes thinking!!) should I run or should I stop? And then he made the decision to stop After a week and a half, Diago has started to use the left side of his brain.

Gold Coast June 2011

QUANTUM WEEKEND

Mudgeeraba Pony Club, QLD

 June  9th - 12th

Daily Programme:
Morning 8.30am - 12.00pmLevel 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 and 4 COVERS - Safe & Practical Saddling and Riding techniques—To have your horse going forward Confidently & Easily—Sideways and Backwards—How to stop you horse with just your body energy and one rein (level 1 almost full)

Afternoon 1.30pm - 5.00pm
Level 2 Advanced : Lessons 8 & 9 Positive Patterns for Galloping - Flying Lead Changes -
Jumping - Contact Riding with Soft Feel - Rebounds -
Impulsion in Sideways - Support Rein

Wow! What a weekend! We had quite a diverse range of students getting together on the Gold Coast, who all wanted to better their horsemanship skills - the main focus was on building confidence both in the saddle and on the ground and helping to build a better relationship with their horses. Everyone put in a huge effort, taking a good look at getting good hindquarter yields to soften their horses and putting their newly learned skills into action on the last day by getting out there and riding in the rain! Good on you guys- nothing will stop you now!
A huge thank you to Belinda Bass for organizing the weekend.

Student Ta-Dah's
Linzi - Dixie softer, calmer and not as pushy
Julie - Respecting my personal space more
Denise - Release at correct time
Kylie - Respecting my personal space - walking! Going slower!!
Karen - Me understanding more - horse is getting the message now.
Belinda - learn't a real understanding for position & softness of rein positions
Belinda - Try for a canter Once!!
Bec - learn't to move with my horse, use softer pressure.
Ta-Dah!!!!! - Cantered softly with one rein and stopped!!! YEAH YEAH
Jen - Maintaining softness in lateral flex through indirect rein.
Keeping HQ soft while stepping forward into direct rein.
Keeping softness through changes of direction & changing rein in motion.
Building impulsion in trot & staying soft.

Allora QLD June 2011

When 4th - 7th June

Where Allora Showgrounds QLD

Daily Programme:

Morning 8.30am - 12.00pm
Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 and 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horse – Have a more willing, cooperative horse with much more positive ground manners – How to Float load safely and easily

Afternoon 1.30pm - 5.00pm
Level 2 Primary: Lessons 5 & 6
Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes – Work on longer lines – Go looking for the truth at Liberty – Gain an independent seat with Bareback Riding

We had a magnificent time at Allora, meeting a wonderful group of new and very keen students doing Level 1 Primary Lessons and of course seeing some of the more experienced students once again in the Level 2 Primary Lessons. With the venue being at the local showgrounds, we had ample room to get out there and practice our skills and by the end of the weekend, we even had 2 horse floats out on the oval to practice our float loading skills. Some of the level 2'ers I think were very surprised at how easily their horses loaded from the end of their 22' ropes!

Thank you Ruth and Renva for inviting me to Allora and doing such a fabulous job of organising the weekend and ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Student Ta-Dah's
Got Moselle out of my space on the 22' rope
Red got softer in his Forequarter yields from the first day to the second day.
I got Red to do a change of direction on a 22' Line!
Blue was responding well to the hindquarter contact yield.
I have also taught Blue to stay out of my space at feed time and wait for his food. He is such a good boy and I love him very much.
I saw a huge increase in softness on circles when students were using body life instead of sticks.
Wills was going softly circling and looking for signals and comfort. His calm attitude is lovely.
Got "B" to go backwards yesterday and 'touch of skin' phase for 3 steps.
Got Orion to move forward no contact on phase 2.
I was able to move the hindquarters - 2 steps- Hind quarter yield.
Cisco was lovely on long 22' Lead circles. Transitions were nice too!
Cherry has been amazing on her first outing in 8 years. QS has helped her settle in with no problems.
Abbie has been really well behaved and when she had some separation anxiety I worked her through it. She was pretty excited but was still listening to me and calmed down pretty well again.
Red & Mel cantered and uploaded her 1 Rein Assignment!!!
Getting Wills attention from eating grass at a phase 1 or 2 rather than not all - and getting the sequence of phases right.
Getting Orion to go sideways.
Cisco went sideways over a pole - Good Boy!
Got Blue to do a circular Trot and stay out of my Space!
Had Abbie's first group passenger lesson and she coped really well
Cherry loaded straight onto 2 strange floats with no hesitation.
She also stood calmly and waited to be asked before backing out.

Riddells Creek Quantum Weekend May 2011

When: 26th - 29th May 2011

Where: Cloverfern Equestrian Centre, Riddells Creek VIC

Daily Programme:

Morning 9.30am - 1.00pm
Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview
Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

Afternoon 2pm - 5.30pm
Level 2 Primary: Lessons 5 & 6
Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes— Work on longer lines—Go looking for the truth at Liberty—Gain an independent seat with Bareback Riding

We spent another brilliant time at Riddells Creek with a keen bunch of students ready to take on the beginning of winter by advancing on their horsemanship skills.  The Level 1 Advanced group all wanted to become braver in the saddle.  Our focus in our warm ups and saddling procedures...getting good hindquarter yields, straight backups and being able to steer our horses backwards, all to help soften our horses which gives us better control over our horses when in the saddle.  By the end of the weekend everyone had done passenger lessons, ride the rail and CANTER transitions!!

The Level 2 Primary group spent a good part of the weekend advancing on their On Line skills, Level 2 style - having their horses go at their pace and fine tuning their communication at greater distances.  By the end of the weekend, their preparation paid off and off came the ropes!  The connection that everyone had developed was amazing and to top it all off, we finished with a bareback ride!

Student Ta-Dah's:
Racquel: If it is getting harder not better (ie. float load) give more release!
Lindy: Less is More!
Body Life up & down improved.
Timing & Release has improved Yay!
Samara: Grace walked at MY pace!
Grace stopped on the outside of my long range circles with just my body life down!
Grace went from phase 1 Backwards!!
Tracey: Throwing the rope over Strikes ears
Riding without a bridle!!!!
Lindy: Breaking a task down into segments in order to achieve the correct result.  Much easier than trying to learn it all in one go!

A Level 1 Grad for Sunraysia

Congratulations Alexa & Anki!!

Alexa from Mildura has just completed all her Level 1 assignments with Anki!
Well done and welcome to Level 2 Alexa!

Level 1 Camp

I am at the Sydney airport waiting for my next flight to Broken Hill. I had the most fantastic time at the Level 1 Camp, it was wonderful to catch up with some freinds and to meet a fabulous group of new students too. I did attend this camp from an instructors point of view and I added lots more layers onto my horsemanship skills as well. Thank you to Kerrie Cribb for giving me Sunny to play with during the camp. I did some foundation training with him only 6 weeks before hand which was more or less a restart and we agreed that having me ride him in the L1 Camp would be a great follow on for him. What a change Sunny has made! When I first met him, Sunny was afraid of going near a float, had very little forward and his lack of confidence caused him to be both jumpy and agressive in his behavour. By the end of the Level 1 Camp, I was loading him onto the float - from on top of it!!


We have done passenger lessons, ride the rail with all the other horses, lots of canter transitions and a trail ride with just 1 rein! One of the most special things for me was when we had worked on teaching our horses to follow the feel of the lead rope, Sunny was doing lovely circles and changes of directions. I took the halter off and tied it around his neck and found that our connection was just as strong, his circles and COD's were just as soft as when he had the halter on his head. It was such an amazing feeling to be able to acheive this with a young horse in the short amount of time I had spent with him.

I am sad to be leaving QSSC but I am so excited to be returning home to apply my new found skills to my own horses at home, and to be sharing my knowledge with all my wonderful students.

Moreton Quantum Weekend, March 2011

3 March - 10 March 2011
At Lowood Showgrounds,
Lindemans Road Lowood, Qld 4311

Level 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4
Safe & Practical Saddling and Riding techniques – To have your horse going forward Confidently & Easily – Sideways and Backwards – How to stop your horse with just your body energy and one rein

Level 2 Advance: Lessons 8 & 9
Positive Patterns for Galloping – Flying Lead Changes – Jumping – Contact Riding with Soft Feel – Rebounds – I Impulsion in Sideways – Support Rein

What an amazing week I have just had - 4 days foundation training and then sharing another 4 days with some fantastic students in South East QLD. I spent some time with the Level 1 secondary students helping them though any 'stuck bits' that they might have had in their ground work and focusing on having all our preperation done in order for success with riding. This preperation really paid off as everyone really put in with their homework in between lessons and they even did a Passenger Lesson togther in their own time!! :clapping:

The focus of preperation followed through in the Level 2 Advanced Lessons,and with galloping, jumping and flying lead changes on the agenda we all wanted to make sure that our emotional fitness was in order as we kicked off the weekend with a mild Canter Passenger Lesson in an unfenced area :eek: Everyone really put in and stretched their comfort zones and came out the other side smiling :clap:

Ta-Dah's:
Tried the gallop pattern
Succeeded with riding up when Mel made me lift my inside shoulder
Matty did sideways over the barrels
Did canter PL
Got fly changes
Rocket went sideways over barrels ridden
Started to establish a circle pattern using momentum from indirect to direct rein, releasing asap in the forward movement!
Floating my horse 3 hours to the venue!!
Giving Eddie true comfort at teh barrels.
Kept Eddie on rail after a "moment"
A more in depth understanding of hind end disengagements
Importance of personal space
The games are fun
Had a great time with the group canter PL in the open paddock
I kept cantering even when the stir-ups came off
We found release and comfort jumping
Harmony's awesome trot circles.

Feb 2011 Central Vic Quantum Weekend

With Endorsed Instructor,

Mel Peacock

When: 10th - 13th February 2011

Where: Cloverfern Equestrian Centre, Riddells Creek VIC

Daily Programme:

Morning 8.30 am - 12pm
Level 1 Secondary: Lesson 3 & 4
Safe & Practical Saddling and Riding techniques—To have your horse going forward Confidently & Easily—Sideways and Backwards—How to stop you horse with just your body energy and one rein

Afternoon 5pm - 8.30pm
Level 2 Primary: Lessons 5 & 6
Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes— Work on longer lines—Go looking for the truth at Liberty—Gain an independent seat with Bareback Riding

I was thirlled to visit Riddells Creek once again and meet up with everyone from Central Vic. In our first lesson we had a good look at our saddling, pre flight checks and mounting proceedures and using these proceedures to help us to know if our horses are ready to be ridden and if not, what to do to help our horses out if they were feeling a little clostrophobic.

Our second lessons was all about getting started in Level 2 and it was wonderful to see the girls exploring their positive reflexes and working with the 22' rope for the first time. It all came together on the last day when they left their halter's and lead ropes behind and with a little look at building rapport, they created a connection with their horses that they had only previously dreamed about. It was also a very proud moment for me when they then hopped on their horses....Bareback!....something I had heard both of them mention that they werent too keen about, but still they gave it a go and in the end, the girls were walking around with huge smiles on their faces. I even had to encourage them to hop off at the end of the lesson!!

Thank you to Karen who attended all the lessons with camera in hand. Karen has put together some wonderful slideshows of the progress made on each day. Enjoy!

Day 1 Slideshow

Quantum Savvy Natural Horsemanship

Day 2 Slideshow:

Quantum Savvy Natural Horsemanship

Day 3 Slideshow:

Quantum Savvy Natural Horsemanship

Day 4 Slideshow:

Quantum Savvy Natural Horsemanship

Student Ta-Dah's:
Gayle - HQ Yeild
Be a leader not a lover
Kylie - Bob moved faster than me
Doing a trail walk with Bob
Getting my phases better and listening to Bob more
Learning about my Energy in liberty
Walking - Bareback and relaxed.
Tracey - Manny moved at MY pace!
Manny 'woke up'
Getting myself sorted so I can pick up the 'feel'
Manny continuing to circle long range behind me
Manny connected with me!!
I rode Bareback!!
Samara - Grace jumped the Barrells!!
Rode the rail for the first time ever!
Went Sideways a 1/4 circle to the right
She tried really hard for me and taught me lots
Rac - Aske for help - if in a zone in the programe - let people know
Chad jumped the barrells
He really tried hard today and when given the right 'ask' we got results!

Sunraysia QW Jan 2011

With Endorsed Instructor, Mel Peacock

When: 13th - 16th January 2011
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

Daily Programme:
Morning 8.30am - 12pm Level 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4
Safe & Practical Saddling and Riding techniques—To have your horse going forward Confidently & Easily—Sideways and Backwards—How to stop you horse with just your body energy and one rein

Afternoon 5pm - 8.30pm Level 2 Secondary: Lessons 7 & 8
Impulsion & developing emotional fitness for your horse - Cherokee Bridle - Introducing the Bridle - Picking up the pace - Leads & Diagonals

Wow!..What a month January has been! With lots of rain and flooding almost everywhere, we were very appreciative of the roof over our heads at the Riverbend Vet Clinic for this event. With the preperation of Lessons 1 & 2 under their belt, the guys in the first lesson were ready to ride! We explored our rein positions and understanding how to steer and stop our horses and of course FOCUS! Or how to encourage our horses to follow our focus.

The second lesson was all about impulsion! Which of course ment another passenger lesson at the canter and who could forget the wonderful lessons learnt about moving with your horse in the bareback passenger lesson on the last day.

Here is a slideshow that I put together of the weekend. Enjoy!

Student Ta Da's:
L1 Secondary:
Girlfriend finally popped over the pole on the ground so then I was able to ride. TA-DAH!
Then I /We did a figure 8 (with many circles) TA-DAH!
Cantered with control and Anki folloed my focus!!
Shadow a very patient horse.
Struggling before ride the rail with rein positions & indirect rein. All clicked after and need to ask more nicely of my horse.
I led my pony by the nose.
I've got heaps of practise, thanks Mel
Need to work on directional focus
Confidence gained from passenger lesson & saddling & mounting
Anki hopped on float right away!

L2 Secondary:
Dr Deb & Psalm FQ & HQ yields in hoola hoop
Jen & Clancy HQ & FQ yields no stepping forwards
Sideways around the cone
Change of lead pattern
Cantered!!!
Pinch test light
Canter Passenger Lesson Deb/Psalm & Stacey/Blista
Bareback trot passenger Lesson Deb/Psalm & Stacey/Blista