Mel's QS Blog

Sunraysia Quantum Weekend Nov 2011

2011-11-21T14:04:00.012+11:00

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

2011-10-16T21:34:00.002+11:00

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!

Like This

Warwick Quantum Weekend September 2011

2011-10-16T21:20:00.000+11:00

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.

August 2011 Winchelsea Quantum Weekend

2011-08-23T22:12:00.005+10:00

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:

Abbey the eventer!

2011-07-31T17:24:00.001+10:00

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

2011-07-27T20:28:00.010+10:00

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.

Meet Daigo - my new horse!

2011-06-26T12:14:00.003+10:00

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

2011-06-14T20:22:00.000+10:00

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

2011-06-13T09:33:00.002+10:00

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

2011-05-30T11:08:00.002+10:00

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!

Level 1 Camp

2011-05-01T09:20:00.000+10:00

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

2011-03-13T22:55:00.000+11:00

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

2011-02-27T13:17:00.000+11:00

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

2011-01-16T19:14:00.000+11:00

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

Foundation Training at Warwick

2010-12-13T12:11:00.000+11:00

I am sitting here at the Brisbane Airport, waiting for my flight to Sydney, reflecting on the past 10 days I have spent at Warwick. It started off with a Quantum Weekend, http://melsqs.blogspot.com/2011/01/ruth-and-renva-did-wonderful-job-of.html and after that I was straight into some foundation training with Red and Cherry. Red is a BIG Thoroughbred who just required a little help with flexing ALL of his body and learning how to follow the feel of a direct rein. This morning, his owner (another Mel!) came to pick him up. She wanted my help with him with the aim of making it easeir for her to pass her level 1 so I gave her a demo and showed her his wonderful indirect to canter transitions (picking up a canter lead was also another point of discussion that we had during the week)then it was her turn. At the beginning I noticed that Mel was reluctant to let Red go which was memories of what he was like and her not trusting that he would steer for her. I suggested the she try to canter him which was met by a little opposition but in the end she gave it a go. Red did a wonderful job of looking after Mel, he knew what she wanted to do and he was very paitent with her and then they finally cantered. I didn't have to ask her to try again, twice Mel cantered Red in both directions AND he gave her the correct lead nearly every time!! Well done Mel - I feel you have just discovered a new level of trusting your horse and that Red string will belong to youself and Red in no time.

Cherry was a completley different story all together. She had been started at 2 and hadn't been ridden since - she is now 9! She is a beautiful paint/QH type who was very agile and a LOT smaller than Red. With such a big gap between riding times, I was very thorough with our checklists and we had some exciting moments with the first Ride Checklist (which is bareback!!) but we hung in there and each day she got that little bit better - we moved onto the First Saddled ride checklist and of course Canter for the first time was on the agenda!! I was intending on just ticking off the boxes one at a time (hoping that I wouldn't have to canter her on the first go) but as we were trotting around, I felt her energy come up and I thought - now is the time to ask - so I asked and we cantered!! Woohoo! It was pretty fast as she is a very speedy little pony, and thankfully it wasn't bumpy We repeated this checklist the next few sessions and her trotting and cantering improved as we went. This morning, after lots of rain the day before, there was water everywhere which was all new for Cherry and she started off a bit jumpy and needed a little encouragement to go through the puddles(a great chance for a flight test!)but in the end she was walking and trotting through it without a worry in the world. We did our checklist and not once did she slip!

It was then time to hand her back to Renva who hopped on and walked her around - she looked like an old school horse. I couldn't help thinking how far she had come in the 8 sessions that we had together.

Dec 2010 Warwick Quantum Weekend

2010-12-11T18:06:00.000+11:00

With Endorsed Instructor, Mel Peacock

When: 4th - 7th December 2010

Where: Morgan Park Warwick, QLD

Daily Programme:

Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 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

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

Ruth and Renva did a wonderful job of hosting this weekend at the fabulous Warwick Horse Trials' grounds. There was lots of wide open spaces here which is wonderful for all the level 2 homework we do. (no excuses for not getting homework done now girls!! )

I had the pleasure of meeting and helping 5 new students to get started with their Level 1 Ground work. Everyone had a wonderful time getting to know their horses a little more and bringing their relationships to a new level with BFO's about how important it is to reward the very slightest of tries from our horses.

The afternoon group discovered how to ride a real circle and how to offer their horses release whilst doing so. There was also many lessons in the passenger lesson with discoveries about moving with their horses, and getting their stops as good as their go. Well done everyone!

Here are some Ta-Dah's from the weekend:

Fella and I built on our relationship - a great strat!
Learnt to ask for respect and to pretect my personal space.
Rocket and I got the sideways working.
Built a better relation ship with Molly.
Stretched my comfort zone and my horse Star's comfort zone by taking him a little bit out of it then bringing him back.
Matty's flexing is vastly improved - a lot softer and respeonsive
Stubby and I did canter circles on a loose rein and it was a circle.

Central Vic Quantum Weekend

2010-11-16T22:10:00.000+11:00

When: 11th - 14th November 2010

Where: Cloverfern Equestrian Centre, Riddells Creek VIC

Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Join us for four 1/2 days, studying the Quantum Savvy Foundation Programme, through Release Focused Training, you will learn to develop Softness & Lightness, improve your Confidence and become Safer with your horse!

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lesson 1 & 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 - Level 2 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

We had another wonderful Quantum Weekend at the Cloverfern Equestrian Center where we held Level 1 Primary and Level 1 Secondary Lessons. It was fantastic to see so many new students out there building thier confidence with their horses and learning all about their basic skills and purpose plays. For the Level 1 Secondary group it was all about riding and learning about rein positions, both at a standstill and while moving along. This gave the morning group a chance to see where all their preperation was leading, especially when it came to getting life up tranisions and having their horses follow their focus.

Ta-Dah's from the Weekend:
Giving Release
Getting some softness on Manny's stiff side
Sitting Back when the horses spooked
Transitions just using life up
Seeing how much using your belly button & focus can make a difference
Learning how to protect my space better
Beautiful no contact hindquarter yeilds.
Leading her by the nose.
Making cones my 'friend'
Easier today then yesterday better responses
Getting more forward in groundwork
mounting from both sides and saddle not slipping
The importance of finding comfort in the stick!
Moving well both sides in short range circles!!
Moving her forward with no contact!
Getting her to do a hindquarter yeild while going around me in a circle!!
Much easeir to protect my space!!
Barrel Jumping!

Winchelsea Quantum Weekend

2010-11-12T21:54:00.000+11:00

When: 6th - 9th November 2010

Where: Burong Equestrain Centre, Winchelsea VIC

Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Join us for four 1/2 days, studying the Quantum Savvy Foundation Programme, Through Release Focused Training, you will learn to develop Softness & Lightness, improve your Confidence and become Safer with your horse!

Daily Programme:

Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lesson 1 & 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 - Level 2 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4
Impulsion & developing emotional fitness for your horse - Cherokee Bridle - Introducing the Bridle - Picking up the pace - Leads & Diagonals

We had a fantastic weekend at Winchelsea at a superb venue, the Burong Equestrian Center. The Lessons at this weekend were Level 1 Primary and Level 2 Secondary and I had brought Dolly along with me to lead the way with the lessons. We had a great time with the morning group, and I think everyone enjoyed putting all their basic skills and purpose plays together and taking our horses OUTSIDE the area for a nice stroll around the property. We found plenty of potentially scary things and our leadership held our horses confidence in us through it all. Well done everyone!

The afternoon group also had their challenges with learning to feel the movement of their horses and I was very proud of them in completing a trot passenger lesson...Bareback!

Thanks to Jennifer Renouf for all your hard work in organising this wekeend, I look forward to the next one!

Ta-Dah's from the weekend:

Driving forward on the offside - Ta-Dah!
Bareback passenger lesson in a group
Lewis came to me in the paddock
Clancy stood still during the group talks on, on the end of the 12' rope.
Smooth transitions up to trot from energy and hip rolling. Yay!!
Lindy Stepped out of her comfort zone - on several occasions! Yay! Good on me!
I'm becoming a better leader for my horse.
Yeh! I got great sends & Blue kept circling me in a trail walk.
Wow I held Blue's tongue for teh 2nd time and he is much more relaxed with my hand in his mouth.
Appollo has behaved well and has been very willing.
Direct Rein (Michelle) If they don't taki then dont make it!
Yeh. I posted to the trot. No more looking down at teh shoulders. Woohoo and I rode up into the canter transition!
Lindy - with encouragement & support I was able to step right out of my comfort zone which has made me a much better leader for Lewis! YAY!
Lots of penny drop moments which have made a huge difference to my confidence & my QS journey. Thank you Mel & the clinic girls.
Shelly - getting better at sending & hindquarter yeilds with practise via short rein circles. I am excited about Apollo & my journey. Thanks for making us feel welcome.
Sue & Phoebe cantered heaps! Lindy & Shelly witnessed thes Tah Dah Yay Sue!

October Sunraysia Quantum Weekend

2010-10-16T15:23:00.000+11:00

When: 9h - 12th October 2010
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

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

This month we managed to jag some fabulous weather for our Quantum Weekend in Mildura.
We spent 4 days studying level 1 where we looked at the importance of developing our horses confidence in going forward and how preparing them on line helps us for when we hop on and ride them forward. There were lots of 'ah-ha' moments when we had a good look at our rebounds alongside the fence and how about Jane's focus and determination when she worked through this to help Cloud find where the comfort was! It was a fabulous demonstration that everybody learnt from and after that both Jane and Sally were able to help their horses to calm down when asking them to jump the barrels. There were so many great acheivements over these four days, and to top it off, Alexa was able to ask her horse to walk onto the float to go home (a task that was challenging her at the beginning!)

Here are some Student Ta-Da's from the weekend:
Cantered both ways with 1 rein!
Another Passenger Lesson
Personal space!
Jumping the Barrels
Psalm stayed in walk whilst yeilding others in a Passenger Lesson
Nice Direct rein steps
Sally worked through some difficult patches with Dream
I completed my 1 rein riding assignment after 12 months of no riding
Psalm became softer in lateral flexion, bend to a stop and indirect reins.
Alexa loaded Anki onto the horsefloat by herself

Mel Peacock QS Demo

2010-09-22T20:13:00.000+10:00

Quantum Savvy Buronga Practice Group Doco.

2010-09-22T20:00:00.000+10:00

Wentworth Show 2010

2010-09-02T10:24:00.000+10:00

I have just returned home from a fabulous weekend at the Wentworth Show. I had a stall a the show again this year and this time, I added a yard to our tent and did some mini liberty and bareback & bridle less demonstrations with Dolly. This really caught everybodys attention and we soon had crowds of people gathering around to watch.

Plus, myself, Cindy, Carmen, Dr Deb and Stacey all entered into some of the western events. I am very proud to say that Cindy did really well, taking home a number of ribbons - including some blue ones! Even though some of us hadn't done any of these type of events before, all the QS students made their prescence known, getting many placings througout the day. Dolly and I came home with a Second, 3 Thirds and 2 Fourth ribbons and am quite pleased to say that I got a place in every event that I entered into, even though my horse is a thoroughbred and I was in English dress, (and with very little preperation I might add as I was also busy with the stall)It just goes to show that with a solid foundation, you can be prepared for anything!

Well done everyone and thank you, especially Liz for all your help with the stall.

August 2010 Central Vic Quantum Weekend

2010-08-14T22:06:00.001+10:00

When: 19th - 22nd August 2010

Where: Cloverfern Equestrian Centre, Riddells Creek VIC

Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lesson 1 & 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

Wow!...What a fabulous weekend I have just shared with the wonderful group in Central Victoria. Thanks to Liz McLean who has organised her first Quantum Weekend as QS Agent for the area and the efforts of the Group Organisers in Victoria who all pitched in to help organise not only the Quantum Weekend but also a very successful demonstration & Sausage Sizzle on the Saturday night. We had a great crowd come to watch myself, Cindy, Carmen & Dr Deb, strut our stuff to show them where the QS Programme can possibly take them with their horsemanship dreams. Once again I am in awe of the way everyone have gotten together and offered their help and time to make this event such a success and get the QS Programme out there. We had some of my students travel all the way from Mildura with their horses to join me in the demonstration, The groups from West Vic all came across to show their support and of course the guys in Central Vic to help with the finer details of running the event. Thank you all for your wonderful help and support everyone.

The guys who took part in the Quantum Weekend all did a fabulous job with their own horses and everyone could see the huge progress they made from day 1 to day 4. The morning group all discovered how much of a difference just a little bit of knowledge and 'looking through the eyes of our horses' can make with thier behaviour and our confidence with handling them on the ground. With the afternoon group, I was thrilled to see them become so confident with riding their horses with one rein. On just day two, everyone had cantered and did a complete passenger lessons at the trot!

Here are some Ta-Da's from the weekend:

To be the boss with my horse
To understand and communicate with my horse to become my horses leader
Learnt a lot and feel much more competent with handling my horse
Leant how to catch my horse in a large paddock or arena.
First trot passenger lesson and I didn't break my wind or have a heart attack from sheer exahustion
Great to see such improvement in my pony's attitude in such a short time and delightful to get a correct response after 'patiently' going through my phases over and over! Also nice to be amongst enthusiastic people again.
Cantering Bob
Getting Bob soft over barrels
Have more Confidence
More impulsion in circling Archie
Learning that he still has issues with being touched all over and with me standing in some sections
Getting Manny to Really Canter
Not giving up even when I got confused, lost my way and felt like a failure
Being softer & slower with my phases bending to the stop from canter
Being able to feel the rhythm of my horses paces beneath me and moving with them as one. Great Stuff!

July 2010 Sunraysia Quantum Weekend

2010-07-20T22:01:00.000+10:00

When: July 2010
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

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

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

Level 3 Primary: Lessons 10 & 11
Improve communication & positive reflexes on 50’ Rope - 22’ Ring Rope - Flank Rope - Long Reining - Advance our Liberty Skills - Bareback & Bridle-less Riding

It was fantastic to get together with you all in Mildura once again to share our horsemanship knowledge, to see you all stretching your comfort zones and 'working through the ugly bits until we find the brilliant bits'.

The team in the first weekend did a fabulous job with their Level 1 riding and we seen the benefits of having only one rein to learn to change our instictive habits to that which our horses need to help them out emotionally and find comfort in going forward. What a difference that first trot passenger lesson made! We then got to see the Level 2 Secondary students strut their stuff and again the fantastic changes that took place in their canter passenger lesson. We had the perfect end to our L2 lessons with a relaxing trail walk out to a nice open area that we explored using the impulsion programme 'the stopping spot' It worked a treat and the horses (and of course the riders) were all happy and calm in this new area by the time we had finised.

PLUS....we did our first Level 3 Lessons!! Yay! It was exciting to see so many students in Mildura getting their first taste of Level 3, working with the Ranch Rope, Long Reining, Flank Roping and of course doing much more with their liberty and starting their Bareback and bridle less riding!!

Here are the Ta-Da's from the Weekend:

It's all about Personal Space!!
Help & Release - working through the 'Ugly Stuff' to do the barrels
Cantered on Day 2
"Relax" & "Trust"
Stayed on top of my horse throughout a trot Passenger Lesson
Made it over the barrels eventually
We got Sideways!!
Stretched my comfort zone & completed a CANTER Passenger Lesson
Got my sideways & better backup & phases
Canter PL - Stayed on
Bareback Riding - stayed on
Cody not running off
Better Backup - pinch test
Simple Lead changes
Stopping spot in an open area.
Stood up on Buzz
Deb stood up on Cheyanne whilst she was very anxious
Cheyanne found comfort with my hand at Liberty in roundyard
Fabulous work in longreining for Cheyanne & Dr Deb
Great focus in backup to end of 22ft rope for Cheyanne under pressure
Deni Canter at Liberty

May 2010 Quantum Weekend

2010-05-06T21:49:00.000+10:00

When: 1st - 4th May 2010
Where: Lindy's Place, Colac
Time: 8.30am - 5pm

Level 1 Primary . . . where it all begins
Covering Lesson 1 & 2 of the Foundation Programme . . . on-line ground skills and float loading, developing a calm and confident horse. These lessons are suitable for those new to the QS programme and students studying the relevant lessons.

Level 2 Secondary
Lessons 7 & 8 . . . Impulsion and developing emotional fitness for you and your horse, introducing the bridle, picking up the pace, leads and lead changes.

A huge thankyou to Lindy for being such a wonderful host, providing us with good food, a place to sleep and excellent company. It all addeds to the fantastic experience of our Quantum Weekend.

We all made some great discoveries about personal space and using the hoola hoop with the Forequarter & Hindquarter yeilds really helped to show where our horses were actually stepping. Our Level 1 Primary group have had a great start to the Programme with a good look at their Basic Skills and Purpose Plays and then put it all together with their saddling proceedures.

With the preperation of looking at the patterns we use in our ground work and then looking at the same patterns when we are riding, the Level 2 secondary group 'Quantumed'with thier skills and the 'Grand Finalie' the Canter Passenger Lesson was amazing to watch. Very concerned faces at the beginning turned into grins from ear to ear in the finish as each person started trusting their horses more and more. Well done Everyone!

Ta Da's:

Maintain the distance/personal space, ie watch that shoulder
It's okay to push at the shoulder when asking for spirals in - helps to maintain gait and softness
Being able to walk Lewis through the two sheds without him rushing and spinning!
Being able to comprehend and implement the rebound exercise
Soft feel for the first time!
Watch the shoulder so it doesn't invate your personal space. They can be very subtle movements.
Three circles at canter (each way) . . . no discussion, pigroot or ears back! . . . and spiral in!
Rory did ligh and soft spiralt in at trot.
A few steps at liberty with connection with Bailey and four feet across the trailer ramp!
Saw the light!!! for a few seconds of hor to get my horse over barels.
Rory gave me canter cicles in the bridle even though it was very claustrophobic for her!
I think I finally felt true "effective phases" . . . . and it really works!
Ridden spirals - felt soft and Max picked himself up properly . . . even had a couple of spiral steps at canter!
We survived a canter passenger lesson in the rain on slippery ground
I understand the posting and how to feel for them.
Clarity and consistency!
Remember to start with phase 1.
Protect my personal space!
Rebound exercise - to address claustrophobia.
Body rubs and contact to address personal space invasion and desentisation.
Getting phases right . . . phase 1, 2, 3, 4 . . and their respective pressures.
Understanding the importance of the saddling procedure!

April 2010 Mildura Quantum Weekends

2010-04-27T21:09:00.000+10:00

When: 17th - 20th April 2010
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

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

When: 22nd - 25th April 2010
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

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

Allora Quantum Weekend, March 2010

2010-03-16T14:15:00.000+11:00

When: Saturday 13th of March to Tuesday 16th of March 2010

At: Allora Showground, QLD

Level 1 Primary, covering lesson 1 and 2 of the Quantum Savvy Lessons Programmue, covering on line ground skills and float loading, and develops a calm and confident horse. These lessons are suitable for those new to the QS programme and students studying the relevant lessons.

Level 2 Primary, covering lessons 5 and 6 of the Quantum Savvy Programme, where we where we expand on our ground skills to develop positive reflexes, and start riding bareback. To get the most of these lessons you should have passed your Level 1 ground skills assignment and be confident riding your horse.

Some Ta-Da's from the weekend:

Red's yields got softer
I saw Gabby get nice soft sideways with Red
I saw Ruth getting really nice HQ Yields with positive reflex from Rocket
I saw Renva and Matty haveing really connected with each other and i sawMatty go on the float
I saw Avril getting comfortable having a stick string & shopping bag swung around them.
I saw Mel B and Red getting nice soft yeilds in all directions.
Achieved a good backup - Matty & Ren
Being comfortable & assertive with Red
Matty stood well to auditory no yeild
Rocket did a pretty good stick to me.
Avril offered me more than expeted when I orrered her more trust, respect, clarity
Avril did good stick to me.
Red did nice spirals & was listening more to my body language.

YEAH!!! matty & Ren in Level 2!!
Red found comfort on teh 22' rope.
Got Rockets attention on me instead of Moselle
Matty was great 2 change of direction good at falling leaf, spirals & transitions.
Avril found comfort on the circle while I stood still in both directions and more
Avril did some nice spirals & some good transitions on the circle.

Feb 2010 West Vic Quantum Weekend

2010-02-18T10:52:00.000+11:00

With Endorsed Instructor, Mel Peacock

When: 13th - 16th February 2010

Where: Noorat Showgrounds

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

Afternoon - 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

Thank you Vicki for inviting me down to your area and what a fun venue we had! I had a great time this weekend and I am getting so excited at the prospect of so many students nearing the end of their Level 2!!!! I can't wait to start on Level 3 with you all.

Well level 2 is all about riding and and in the lessons we did this weekend, we certainly covered that. The morning group did a fantastic job with riding out in the open (yep there was no arena here!), for most of them, the first time! In no time they were all cantering around and having so much fun. The afternoon group were all a bit green at the thought of galloping their horses, but when we broke it down and started with just the pattern, there were grins all round. Good on you all for giving it a go!

Even though we covered so much in these four days, there seemed to be two main lessons that we kept coming back to - consistency in positive reflexes and LEADERSHIP - who is leading who?

Ta-Da's from the Weekend:
Contact on-line leads to contact while riding
Straight horses can't trot - they need to have bend in their bodies. Horses with bend don't pace!
Rode 1 rein canter circle in the open (wide open space!)
Protect personal space from the "shoulder"
Got a correct canter lead today!
I must remember to offer then spank, not drive him with my seat
Having contact is more than just "feel" on the rope
Don't pull!! It makes her heavy . . . . hold and bump instead.
I attempted the gallop pattern. I lived and can't wait to do it again tomorrow!
We did sideways and a square!
Release is dropping the reins
Think Level 2!!!
We did a flying change! YAAAYYYY!!! (and that was all 3 in the L2 Advanced lesson)
Blue's lightness is returning BUT don't forget to reward. "Just one more" will turn it sour
Bareback trot RTR
Your horse CANNOT learn if you aren't CLEAR and CONSISTANT!!!
Look up and sit back!! (may have heard that before!)
Face your fears . . . . they may not be as bad as you think!
I have grown as a horseman . . . . and my horse certainly appreciates it and the results are amazing!!!

Mildura Quantum Weekends

2010-01-16T12:53:00.000+11:00

Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

9th - 12th Jan 2010

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

Afternoon - Level 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4 in the Foundation Programme.
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

14th - 17th January 2010

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview
Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

Afternoon - 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

Assignments were the focus of this double Quantum Weekend and everybody braved the heat this week to get out there and progress with their horsemanship. The first weekend was exceptionally warm with over 40 degrees on some days but we kept going with just some minor change of times to beat the afternoon heat. Thank goodness for the new roof over the arena at the Riverbend Vet Clinic! With new information being taken in and the extreme heat of the first four days, we still got a number of assignments filmed and assessed, AND even a few blue ticks were had.

Things cooled down for the second weekend and the Level 1 Secondary guys put in a huge effort with lots of riding - and I am proud to say that EVERYONE cantered with 1 rein!! The Level 2 Advanced students also stepped up a notch with a look at the gallop programme. We also had lots of fun with jumping and discovering soft feel for the first time.

Here are a few Ta - Da's that were written down from the weekends.

Filmed an Assignment - Kirsty & Lisa
Doing Gallop Pattern - Liz
Riding Deni in a Bridle - Carmen
Doing Gallop Pattern - Carmen
Riding in a Bridle & Jumping - Liz
Getting soft feel on Deni & Jumping - Carmen
Cantering with 1 rein - Maggie
Phase 1 Backup - Amanda

Plus! - I did a liberty/Bareback & bridle less demo with Dolly one evening and we had lots of people come along to watch!

West Vic Quantum Weekend November 2009

2009-11-18T19:06:00.000+11:00

When: 14th - 17th November 2009
Where: Camperdown, Vic
Time: 8.30m - 5.00pm daily

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horse - Have a more willing, co operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and easily.

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

Student Ta-Da's:
Recognised he was invading my space with his shoulder – Tah Dah . . . keeping him out!
Far more relaxed at the end of the session
Standing in the no yield exercise with the string swinging over his back and in the air
Del had a “different” horse by Day 4 (much more relaxed)

It really shows that one never stops learning...auditing the level 1 primary realised a very basic BFO for myself...and perhaps a few others!
Phase 1 = eyes, belly button, focus = energy with direction!
ie: how to communicate more effectively with your horse and have a more willing, cooperative horse with much more positive ground manners.

This was then added to by the level 2 sessions where we advanced on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes,(bigger and faster, not harder) Worked on longer lines (and still be able to communicate) and finally went looking for the truth at Liberty (must learn to trust my horse, as she will stay with me if I'm polite with the ask!) Still working to gain an independent seat when Bareback Riding (on the comfort for rider tho..lol!!)
- Sue

Oct 09 Mildura Quantum Weekend

2009-10-13T09:13:00.000+11:00

When: 8th - 11th October 2009
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga
Time: 8.30am-5.00pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview
Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

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

Oct 09 Mildura Quantum Weekend

2009-10-08T09:09:00.000+11:00

"With Endorsed Instructor, Mel Peacock

When: 3rd - 6th Oct 2009
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

Afternoon - Level 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4 in the Foundation Programme.
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"

We had a great weekend in Mildura with lots of students starting out on the programme for the first time and starting on their ridden part of Level 1. Check out the slide show of the weekend - these guys had a lot of fun as well as learning mountains about thier horses from thier horses perspective.

Gold Coast Quantum Weekend

2009-09-15T08:24:00.000+10:00

When: 10th - 13th Sept 2009
Where: Mudgeeraba Pony Club, QLD
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview

Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

Afternoon - Level 2 Secondary: Lessons 7 & 8

Impulsion & developing emotional fitness for your horse - Cherokee Bridle - Introducing the Bridle - Picking up the pace - Leads & Diagonals

The two lessons at this weekend saw a lot of progress from each student and the difference from day 1 to day 4, in confidence was astounding! The Level 1 Advanced Students started off with a look at some of thier Ground Assignments where we were able to connect the patterns here, to what will happen in the saddle. This led onto a closer look at rein positions, and steering and stopping our horses.

The afternoon group really progressed with their confidence in Cantering with thier impulsion programmes, learning how to effectively use their phases to keep thier horses in a canter without breaking gait, or any backchat.

Student Ta-Da's:

Wow we had our quantum weekend last week with Mel and again it was awesome!! Everyone learnt soooooooooo much and had fun doing it. We had an awesome time, we did canter passenger lessons, WOW, now that was interesting!!!! We all managed to survive and in the end were having lots of fun We also did lots of canter work, change of leads, canter simple lead changes, focusing on using energy to go up and down gaits, pinch tests, etc etc........... lots of dowloading still processing, hence why this post is a bit late!! On the last night enjoyed a great meal at the best Indian Resturant, thankyou Mel for your great choice. Thankyou again Mel for such a wonderful 4 days, we all had a fantastic time and learnt so much!! Can't wait for your next visit.
- Belinda

Wentworth Show 09

2009-09-02T14:44:00.000+10:00

We had a great time at the Wentworth Show this year, where I had a stand showcasing everything QS Sunraysia has to offer! Thanks to all the Students who came along to support us and especially to Liz, Amanda, Dr Deb and Cindy who were all there to lend a hand. Amanda made up a great display board for her Practise Group which was a huge hit and Dr Deb brought her horse, Cheyanne along to the tent for that extra touch which drew a lot of attention!

West Vic Quantum Weekend

2009-08-19T17:30:00.000+10:00

When: 15th - 18th August 2009
Where: South West Equine Centre, Cross Forest Road, Naroghid (10 mins from Camperdown)
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview

Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

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

The support for this Weekend was fantastic...we had students and auditors travelling from many parts of Victoria, including Kilmore, Avoca and Geelong and everybody's input created a great learning atmoshphere. We focused on the benefits of making a programme of our tasks, ensuring that we repeated everything we did in each lesson in the days following. The difference this made with our Passenger Lessons in the L1 Advanced lesson from the first day to the last really stood out, and I am looking forward to hear how everyone goes with completing their next 7 Passenger Lessons in a row on their own.

I was also very proud of my horse, Abbey who participated in both the morning & afternoon lessons, which meant that on one of the days, she did both a trot and a canter passenger lesson!! She took it all in her stride and even helped to point out to the other riders that thay needed to protect both their horses & their own personal space during these Passenger Lessons. The L2 Secondary students all had a great time with introducing the bridle and I can remember the auditors commenting on the huge difference it made with Vicki's horse, Max in the way he carried himself. Well done guys!

Student Ta-Da's!

Level 1 Advanced

- We can stop from a canter

- We can get indirect rein without pulling on the head

- Cantering 2 full circles

- Becoming a stronger leader (protecting personal space

- trot PL)

- Flight test jump becoming softer and less impulsive

– still have to work on hq yields, need to go to phase 4

- Got a couple of indirect reins without touching the rein!

- Circle at canter without “discussion”

- PLs becoming less rushed

- Flight test jump becoming softer and less impulsive

– still have to work on hq yields, need to go to phase 4

- Got a couple of indirect reins without touching the rein!

- Circle at canter without “discussion”

- PLs becoming less rushed

Level 2 Secondary

- Your horse may be lighter than you think!

- Survived canter PLs

- Direct rein is much better now my rein is shorter and remember to drop my shoulder when I open up

- Hq yield without picking up the rein

- Max can canter small circles . . . . indoors!!!

- Be particular . . . . not over critical

All I can say now is . . . . bring on November !!!

July 09 Milduara Quantum Weekend

2009-07-07T17:44:00.000+10:00

With Endorsed Instructor, Mel Peacock

When: 3rd - 6th October 2009
Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm

Daily Programme:Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2

Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

Afternoon - 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

Thank you Amanda for helping to organise this fantastic event and Dr Deb for providing a fantastic venue for us. It was such a pleasure to teach at this weekend. The guys starting out for the first time all had such a wonderful attitude and had things happening with their horses in no time at all. Even the flight tests were a breeze, and who could forget the fantastic demo Paula gave us to get Marty over the barrels - which happened to be her goal for the weekend! The afternoon group made huge progress also - building lots of confidence in the saddle, to the point where there was LOTS of giggling throughout their passenger lessons. Congratulations to Nikita (who is only 10 YO I think) for completing a whole trot passenger lesson for the first time on Yoshi!! He certainly is a great pony and a wonderful confidence builder for Nikita.

Ta-Da's:

Paula- managed to keep Marty out of my personal space, he remained calm and focused while practicing basic skills, I backed marty through the arena gate for the first time today YAY!!, focused on keeping marty out of her personal space successfully for the whole lesson!

Maggie- Managed to handle gracie in a controllable manner

Karen- Was able to get buck over the step with confidence, Seemed to respond better as the lesson went on! Maybe i am getting the hang of it sort of lol

Jennifer- how to use my direct rein properly and to get him to bend to a stop by getting clancy off the forehand, trot passenger lessons x 3 and canter leap frog

Nikita- I got on my horse and completed 3 passenger lessons at a trot

Mel- I made improvement without a negative outlook and can communicate with my horse

Sharna- Aella started very slowly to move with light touches, Aella was even lighter today, i picked up all four feet from one side, she led from the shoulder and i could move her without contact plus heaps more , Aella didn't want to trot small circles but with mels help we had a really good try, also aella is responding more to no contact yields, We accomplished our goals that we set on Saturday Thanks Mel plus i got her to jump the barrels both ways!!

Dr Deb-Psalm walked through the front door of our reception at the clinic and out through the treatment room to the barn!!!!!

Amanda- i managed to confirm the next QW by getting 6 deposits in during this QW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mildura Quantum Weekend September 2008

2008-08-17T21:28:00.000+10:00

With Mel Peacock

September 13th - 16th 2008

At the Riverband Vet Clinic, Buronga

Time: 9am - 5.30pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2 in the Foundation Programme.
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

Afternoon - Level 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4 in the Foundation Programme.
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

With thanks to the Buronga Practise Group and Group Orgainser, Amanda Bernaldo for co-ordinating this event.

This weekend kicked off with lessons 1 & 2 with a great bunch of students, studying their 3 Basic Skills for the first time. This group also included a student with a young Donkey! Boy was it interesting to see the way the other horses reacted to 'Jenny' who was oblivious to the fact that she was just a bit different to all the others. Neverthless, the QS principals still applied to Donkeys just as well as they do to horses. In fact it was even more important to offer comfort and release to a Donkey as we all found, especially when it came to going forward. With an animal that has no flight response, this was the only way forward was going to happen.

The afternoon group saddled up (safely of course!) and were riding all weekend, even on the day with some pretty wild and windy weather! With a few nervous students sitting around before the lesson started, I pointed out that the horses were quite happy out there in the wind, so why should it be any different when we were riding them? Well of course they all performed fabuloulsy Passenger Lesson and all.

Everyone who participated in the weekend put in a huge effort to better their horsmanship skills. Well done everybody!

Broken Hill August 2008 Quantum Weekend

2008-08-11T22:06:00.000+10:00

With Mel Peacock
When: August 9th -10th 2008
Where: Broken Hill Tent Pegging Grounds, Broken Hill
Time: 9am - 5.30pm Daily

Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2 in the Foundation Programme.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

Our August Quantum Weekend in Broken Hill saw us getting started with Level 1. It was fabulous to see a new group of Students starting out on the Programme and learning about the 3 Basic Skills, 3 Purpose Plays and discovering how Release Focused Training will help them to have their horses willingly do anything for them. We had a lot of fun exploring new things to No Yeild our horses with and combining our skills with different tasks and fine tuning our Focus in some 'Follow the Leader' . Our Students also had the pleasure of meeting a horse that I am just starting with. This was Pinta's first Quantum Weekend, and although I am only just starting out with her, she was happy to 'show the way" for the rest of the Students.

Student Ta-Da's:
'I only just joined Quantum Savvy last weekend after participating in a Quantum Weekend. My name is Sharon and I live in Broken Hill. I am a novice even though I used to work with horses (but that was many years ago). I have always loved horses but only learnt a little bit of riding, and have never had the chance to own one. I am studying Level 1 with my friend's horse Pauly. In fact it was Carmen (my friend) that introduced me to Quantum Savvy. A big thank you once again to her for bringing Pauly out for the Quantum Weekend.My "Tah Dah" is the fact that I completed the weekend and began to build a closer relationship with Pauly despite the fact of losing my confidence with horses many years ago. Some nasty experiences in the racing industry meant I became very nervous when handling horses. I was so afraid that they may get hurt I couldn't even walk them anymore. With the help of Mel even though I was very nervous, I began to communicate with Pauly in a way I would not have thought possible. As I practiced my No Yield, Contact Yield, and my No Contact Yield my nerves died away and I began to really enjoy myself. I was in awe of the trust that has started to build in Pauly as well as myself. Coming from the racing background where so much focus is on forcing the horse to do what you want, I was amazed by how responsive a horse is to the littlest pressure. As a result I have a whole new respect for them. Pauly is a wonderful teacher as well. His gentleness and understanding help me to concentrate on my own actions and see them through his eyes. He is also very patient which is just what I need.A huge thank you to Mel for running an enjoyable as well as instructional weekend. A huge thank you to Carmen for her support and letting me work with Paulie.'
- Sharon Murphy, Broken Hill

Ellerslie Quantum Weekend

2008-06-17T13:34:00.000+10:00

Ellerslie Quantum Weekend With Mel Peacock

June12th - 15th 2008
at 'Sullivans Run' Ellerslie, NSW
Time: 9am-5.30pm

Daily Programme:

Morning: Level 1 Primary - Lessons 1 & 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: Level 2 Secondary - Lessons 7 & 8

Impulsion & developing emotional fitness for your horse - Cherokee Bridle - Introducing the Bridle - Picking up the pace - Leads & Diagonals

With Thanks to the Ellerslie Practise Group and Group Organiser, Cindy Brander for co-ordinating this event.

Some Ta-Da's from the Weekend: 'Wow what a QW we just had! Level 2 ridden.. Demaris and I learn't so much, I don't know where to start!!! I discovered how very light my horse is , that I have to mean what I'm saying (yes canter means canter), and how much fun riding is now that i've made it through level 1 and most of my irrational fears are in the past.The canter Passenger Lesson was something I knew I had to face and I was a bit worried about it. Demaris tried all sorts to get out of cantering and Mel had to use her stick some to get us going again but when all's said and done we made it through.. It was very emotional on my part I nearly cried (built up emotions are no good), but I also laughed alot!The next day when I asked for canter he just stopped and kicked out but it was something I needed to work through and its been great since.. He really was just looking for a strong leader and I know how to be that now. Thanks for your help Mel - Amanda Bernaldo

Mildura June 2008 Quantum Weekend

2008-06-11T21:10:00.000+10:00

With Mel Peacock

June 7th -10th 2008
At the Riverband Vet Clinic, Buronga
Time: 9am - 5.30pm

Daily Programme:
Morning - Level 1 Secondary: Lessons 3 & 4 in the Foundation Programme.
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

Afternoon - Level 2 Primary: Lessons 5 & 6 in the Foundation Programme
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
With thanks to the Buronga Practise Group and Group Orgainser, Amanda Bernaldo for co-ordinating this event.

Some Ta-Da's from the Weekend:
'WOW, what an action packed last four days Digger and I have had... I had just gone to pick him up from Mel’s place last Thursday after 9 days of Trail Training (just as the rain was setting in) and then went straight into a 4 day clinic with her. We had plenty of BFO’S, near to tears and some amazing tah-dah’s. I thought the first day was going to be the highlight of the clinic when i had him jumping over the barrels for my first time and after a pretty scary passenger lesson (for the first time) I thought it couldn’t get any better but today was the biggest highlight ever, Digger and I did our first canter thanks to Mel’s guidance, encouragement and one big push. Thank you sooooo much Mel for all your help I can only imagine how frustrating it must be at times and just having the patients and knowing when to push that little bit further for both Digger and I to have a brighter future thanks to QS.WOW, what a great weekend.' - Lisa Murray
'There was lots of new stuff for all of us. Way to go!!! I cant highlight enough how valuable it is to get to any clinics that anyone possibly can, there are so many things that we tell ourselves we're not ready for but with encouragement and just a little push in the right direction it's amazing what we can all achieve. There were so many tah dahs. Thanks to everyone, Amanda, Deb, Kath, Lisa, Emma,Wendy, Marie, Jane, Jen, Helen and of course Mel for making me feel so welcome in your group for the weekend, I really had a great time, and a big hug to everyone - (even if you dont like them) Look forward to catching up with you all again.Cheers' - Jen & of course Rory
'Well where do I start. Thank you one and all for a great weekend at the Buronga group clinic. And most of all a mighty huge thanks to MEL!!!!!!!. I got my new pony Stormy on boxing day. He is my new harness pony. He is 3 yrs of age. Stormy has been an aloof character, not really trusting anyone. I have had him in harness many times and no real problems, however I wanted to start him with QS and build a raport with him. We did a clinic back earlier in the year and have not done much since. I decided to send him to Mel for foundation training.
Mel found that he was a very worried and nervously braced pony. After 9 days I returned to Buckalow station to pick him up and Mel had done her usual fantastic job of giving this pony a foundation in QS. The following Saturday we started our four day clinic. I couldnt believe what I was able to achieve with my pony. We learnt so many new things and stormy accepted it all. I for the first time experienced him coming over to the gate of the yard to stand beside me. He had never done this before he, would only sniff me from a distance and then turn his back on me or walk away. So that was a big tah dah for me. He has also had issues around his head, and with Mels help and advice I think we have overcome that as well.

But the biggest tah dah for me in the world was after three days of intense brain straining stuff, on our fourth day Mel had me doing work in a round yard at liberty. What a BLAST. My pony out on the edge of the yard and me working him around that yard with only my stick and my life up, and working his HQ to keep him with me..we did short range circles/yeilds, HQ yields, FQ yeilds, figure of eights and back ups and rebounds..... WHAT A CONNECTION. And this was all achieved with Mel using Stormy and I to do the demo and she walked us through it step by step. The cheers and claps and words of praise and encouragement when we had completed it was simply amazing.

I did question Mel at the beginning, if she really thought we were up to it. Stupid Me..I certainly have to learn to trust my pony and myself. I still have to keep pinching myself, that we actually did it. I at that point was certainly living my dreams. This is a new beginning for Stormy and I, and I cant thank QS and Mel enough. Now you all have to keep your eyes peeled for a 14.2 clydie/quarter horse cross for me to buy so I can start riding again. I have got more than my life up now. Everyone else on the weekend has inspired me to get back into riding again. WOW, that is a big tah dah all on its own' - Jane Roddy

My Journey to becoming a QS Professional

2008-06-02T13:05:00.000+10:00

I am flattered that you have taken the time out to find out a little more about me and although you have probably gotten to know me as Mel Peacock, QS Instuctor, Agent and Foundation Trainer, my journey to this point has been somewhat adventurous. I would like to share with you the path I have followed.

My first horse was a 3 YO pinto gelding that my parents bought for me when they finally gave in to my constant nagging for one. None of my family knew anything about horses so I was just handed this horse that had only recently been 'broken in' and had to work out how to look after and ride him for myself. I was about 14 at the time and was so thrilled to have such a magnificent animal that I had no idea what I was about to get myself into or where it was going to lead me.

As I had no one to guide me, I started out by buying lots of books to gain the know how, but when it came to going out for a ride on my beautiful horse, I learnt through trial and error. Every day we would head out down the road, which was OK until we turned for home. He would then gallop off for a little way, stop, buck and land me on the ground. Not being one to give up I would get back on him the next day and do the same thing all over again. I continued this process until I decided that if I kept going, I would seriously injure myself, so I resolved to just walking everywhere. For weeks, I did not let my horse out of a walk until I gained enough curage to start trotting. This seemed to work for me and after about six months, I was finally able to walk trot and canter without any bolting, bucking, or falling off (well maybe it was less frequent! ).As I grew older, I knew that I wanted a career that involved horses, so when I finished High School, I enrolled and completed the Advanced Diploma of Applied Science in Horse Management, hoping that this would take me to where I wanted to go.

Following this I moved to Cranbourne in Victoria and started working in a Racing Stable as strapper. I worked here for two years, but as I had no desire to work in the racing industry, I felt that there was no future here for me. So instead of pursuing my career with horses, I found myself living in Broken Hill, shearing and crutching sheep. It was here that I acquired a Thoroughbred Mare who had done a lot of racing in the local Gymkhana's. She was a very impulsive mare and completely different from the lazy pony that I was used to. At the same time I had been hearing people talking about Shane and Meredith who visited Broken Hill regularly, and being a little curious about what natural horsemanship was all about, I booked into one of their schools.

The first day absolutely blew my mind away and I knew I had finally found what I had been looking for. What I was learning made so much sense to me that I couldn't believe why everyone didn't already approach and handle their horses in this way. With Shane & Meredith's help, my Horsemanship was now on the way and as I progressed through Levels 1 & 2 with my mare, 'Dolly' I took on the role of Group Organizer for the Broken Hill area. When Quantum Savvy presented their first professional courses I thought all my dreams had come true and I knew I just had to be there. Initially I was interested in just training horses, however I could not get past the fact that all the horse training in the world will not help their new owners if they did not know how to 'drive' them. I also believe that every horse owner & lover should have the opportunity to be able to enjoy true partnership with their equine friends. Although I had never pictured myself as a teacher of any description, I challenged myself because of my beliefs. I set my sights on passing Level 3 with my horse, Dolly, applied to become a Quantum Savvy Agent and attended the QS Professional Instructor Course in 2004.

Just getting to this point required a lot of determination and hard work but I still had a lot more to do, to achieve my goals as now that I was starting to teach people, I wanted to help the horses as well. In 2006, I completed the Foundation Training Course and gained entry-level status as a QS Foundation Trainer. At this time I was still an Entry Level Instructor and passing the Foundation Training Course put me another step towards becoming an Endorsed Instructor. All I had left was to coach a few more students through their Level 1. It was in November last year (2007) that I was conducting a Lesson Weekend in Mildura that I had recieved a message on my phone. As I listened to the message I was concerned that it was from Shane, thinking that there must be something wrong when it dawned upon me what he was saying. He was congratulating me for becoming the very first ENDORSED Quantum Savvy Instructor!!!

Now my dreams have become a reality as not only am I developing my rapport and bettering my relationship with my horses, I am also helping lot's of horses and lot's of people to enjoy each other, be safe, and get a whole lot more from their partnership!