August 2010 Central Vic Quantum Weekend

When: 19th - 22nd August 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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!