Riddells Creek QW Nov 2011

When: 24th - 27th November 2011

Where: Cloverfern Equestrian Center Riddells Creek Vic

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

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

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

Sunraysia Quantum Weekend Nov 2011

When: 19th - 22nd November 2011

Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga

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

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

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

Student Ta-Dah's:

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

Stacey kept Blisters feet on the ground!!

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

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

Cruz is not nibbling as much and is calmer!

Jodie was a lot calmer

Jodie did a great hindquarter yield!

Amanda & Adele did the Gallop pattern!!

Deek now has comfort on the circle!!

Jodie went on the float!!

Check out my Float

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

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Warwick Quantum Weekend September 2011

When: 3rd to 6th September 2011

Where: Warwick Horse Trials Grounds, Morgan Park, Warwick

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

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

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



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

Liz & Eadie, another Grad for Sunraysia!

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

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

August 2011 Winchelsea Quantum Weekend

Where: Burong Equestrian Center

When; August 18 - 21, 2011

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

Daily Program:

Morning 8.30am - 12.00pm
Private Lessons

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

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

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

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

And I saw . . . . .

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

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

Congrats Amanda & Abbie!

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