Kokoro Equestrian Centre

20/05/2023

Gracie using tone and her corridor to ride circles and straight lines whilst trying to maintain a neutral seat . Great focus and body awareness today 👏👏

20/05/2023

20/05/2023

Gracie had her first lesson at working with Ash in hand today understanding about how to use her body tone and corridor correctly to create a conversation and a partnership . How the reins are there as a line of communication to provide feedback both ways not there to control or force. Super effort and then to also apply when riding 🐴⭐️

11/04/2023

“If you go through hell, keep walking.”
(Sir Winston Churchill)
Muscles evolve fast. Central pattern generators and fascia take much longer. It takes longer for a horse than a human because a human knows the benefit of the therapy and accepts initial discomfort or pain.
“Movements are generated by dedicated networks of nerve cells that contain the information necessary to activate motor neurons in the appropriate sequence and intensity to generate motor patterns. Such networks are referred to as CENTRAL PATTERNS GENERATORs, (CPGs). The most basic CPGs coordinate protective reflexes, swallowing or coughing. At the next level are those that generate rhythmic movements. Some, such as respiratory CPGs, are active throughout life but are modulated with changing metabolic demands. Others, such as locomotor CPGs, are inactive at rest but can be turned on by signals from command centers.” (Sten Grillner, The Motor Infrastructure From Ion Channels To Neuronal Network.)
The locomotor CPGs are inactive at rest. This is one of the reasons why I emphasize therapies through educated motion. Training the CPGs properly and, even more, retraining the CPGs is often frustrating. If the work is good, the muscles change rapidly, and the initial progresses are encouraging. Then we reach a plateau or even hit a wall. Not only does the horse not progress, but the horse appears to regress. Soon we lose confidence and question the approach. Instead of falling for the pretenders selling you the evangel, keep walking and take a look at reality as you walk.
The horse’s nature is to protect familiar patterns and compromises that damage the horse’s physique over time. The horse explores at first as it is new and intriguing and even provides some comfort. Soon the CPGs and the fascia question and even revolt against the novelty, and we don’t understand because the horse was doing so well. It takes a long time to reeducate the fascia. Familiar patterns are imprinted in the fascia, and regular training techniques don’t educate the fascia. Reflect on the horse’s difficulties and nuance your approach but keep walking. Don’t make a U-turn back to hell resting the horse or returning to your familiar riding and training technique. Even if progresses are slow, the horse is evolving. It takes courage for a human to explore the unknown and even more for a horse. The physical comfort is not there yet for the horse. The horse tries because you ask, but his CPGs and fascia tell him to resist and protect. If you change course, you lose. It can take up to a year to change fascia. Choose a form or training that educates the fascia. Repeating a movement o fit literature or judging requirements does not educate the fascia or the CPGs.
What educates the horse’s CPGs and fascia is soundly understanding the athletic demand and how to develop and coordinate the horse’s physique for the athletic demand. All the fascia training research understands that a repetitive movement does not educate the fascia. Suppose you practice half-pass, focusing on crossing the forelegs above the knees. You just repeat gym-type of training. Instead, if you extend your knowledge and understand how the whole horse physique needs to be coordinated to benefit from the movement. Then your education is effective. But even so, it will take time. The horse will do well at first, and then, the horse will question everything and even resist. You are not making an error. You have not lost all your skill. You are just walking through reality. Understand your horse; give him time, and by time, I mean weeks or even months. Refine your approach, but if you change course. You and the horse return to hell.
Jean Luc

27/03/2023

Niharika and Ash nice riding off the lunge practicing your straight lines and corners not allowing your pony to fall in and cut the corners and to change the direction when asked by you . Good use of your body tone and trying to maintain your neutral seat .Awesome effort for your fifth lesson 👏👏👏

25/02/2023

Neve and Bazil working on counter bend
helping Bazil to maintain a correct pelvic rotation and balance on the circle,not rushing staying relaxed. Neve keeping a soft arm with no tension in the fingers or arms 👏👏👏excellent in hand warm up today great team work and this showed in your ridden work today to !

06/02/2023

Super work Rianne staring to work with your core and tone and exploring the connection with Ash and the influence you can have . In a respectful manner. Exciting to now start on our lateral work . 🙌

28/01/2023

Welcome back riders ! Great to catch up with all the girls and hear about their summer break Neve having the opportunity to farm sit and look after some horses as well as ride them and Rianne attending a pony camp with Tamsin !! Great experiences and loads of fun taking with them the skills and knowledge and being able to apply what we have done in their lessons and being confident and certain to adapt it to the horses they are riding at the time . Well done girls 👏👏.
We started our Intension Board for 2023 every student places their intentions on a sticky note onto the board stating what they would like to achieve in their riding/ground work whatever for this year, then we go through some cool strategies on how to achieve this . So hopefully by the end of the year all our sticky notes will have moved across to the DONE column we’ll keep updating 😄
We will be refining our work on LFS and our ground work skills and keep building on this and also be introducing a new topic science in motion 🤔more on that to come !!
A fun little exercise with a full cup of water walking a straight line then a circle both left and right , looking at and feeling what muscles , ligaments are used to engage the core,rotate,keep balanced,minimise movement and not spill a drop 😂 . Well done to you both for keeping the cup full . Great focus and control and what a positive outcome you both had with your riding today . Looking forward to a fun filled year of learning with you all great to see butts back in the saddle 🏇

24/11/2022

Welcome Niharika to Kokoro Equestrian Centre.
What a positive and enthusiastic lesson today with your pony Ash 😊. Well done for completing all tasks 👏. we touched on a few important basic skills using your body language,energy,spacial awareness,safety,communication and leadership skills .
Your journey has just begun 🐴👏👏

01/09/2022

Laura &Ash also had the experience of riding off the lunge for the first time putting into practice skills they have learnt . Smiles all round 😃Great to see the enjoyment on these young riders faces as they achieve the next stage in their riding. Keep up the great focus ,have fun ! 🐴

01/09/2022

Havana had a great lesson today with Ash .
Today’s task was to catch , groom, tack up, ride walk, stop, turn ,go, off the lunge line . You really showed clear leadership skills today and gave Ash confidence !⭐️
Fantastic effort Havy👏👏👏

20/07/2022

A special farewell to Lilia today and of course we had to have our last ride and cuddles with Ash . All the crew ar Kokoro Equestrian Centre wish you a fabulous trip to California and im sure you will find a pony to ride to continue your riding experience .You’ve been a pleasure to coach
Happy Trails 🐴💕

10/07/2022

Exciting to see these young riders embracing the practices of our Grand Equestrian Masters ! Taking tiny steps along the road to UNDERSTANDING what ,how and why and putting into confident action with a positive outcome.

Le Guerinere quoted “ Without the theory the practice will always be uncertain “

So to re awaken the general interest in the art of riding no matter what discipline you may endeavour to pursue, dressage,eventing, Jumping,Trail Riding etc.,if we truly can UNDERSTAND and encapsulate what is important about the Classical Tradition and how it works for both horse and rider.
With the use of correct natural gymnastic exercises it is possible to attain the highest development of physical strength and skills and to exclude everything that is STIFF & FORCED.
To see our young riders exploring and progressing with this art of riding not using over tightened nose bands, harsh bits, side reins,draw reins etc., purely working on the serious study and to be motivated to explore with a curious mind and to find a way with a correct view of the principles it IS possible to reach your desired goal.
We do not want to degrade this beautiful Art to a mere trade /sport- An art that has been held in high esteem from early times
( Xenophon 430ca-355bce)
And continues to be appreciated today!💕
Never stop searching 🐴

26/06/2022

Sienna and Ash ⭐️Super focus and concentration well done. Great achievement with your position helping Ash on his circle work keeping the correct bend and your arms feeling and following in the forward motion . 💕
Accurately and kindly ridden 👏👏

26/06/2022

Rianne working with Ash on LFS (lateral bend,forward &down,stepping under). Well done Rianne you really helped to supple Ash on his stiffer side in your ground work today with a positive outcome. Your communication is developing as is your understanding of how to utilise your energy and body language . Great skills to have and on a liberty feel of the line.
Keep up the great work!

11/06/2022

Special moment with the big fella Kaz
Dancing to the beat of our drum
Working together with persistence and tenacity enjoying ourselves all the way never giving up making the most of each other by fanning the tiny , inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement 🥰.

11/06/2022

Rianne and Ash learning how to work inhand on correct bend LFS and and shoulder balance .
Developing these skills, feel and understanding on the ground first really clarified each step enabling a successful outcome when ridden!
Keep up the great work Rianne your leadership skills and confidence has grown so much 👏👏💜the way you embrace all the 6 pillars
( horsemanship,groundwork,Inhand,lungeing,
riding,liberty)⭐️

11/06/2022

Claire working with Bazil
Teaching bend, forward and down and Hind leg yield all with a liberty feel on the line .
Great work today Claire communicating with your energy ,body language and timing .
Lovely calm relaxed lesson well done ⭐️

11/06/2022

Havana working on her liberty skills learning how to use her body language and energy to move Ash through the cones from left to right . Great communication and connection happening between them both .👏👏
The comment of the week came from this tiny rider as she said to me
“Ash always tells the truth” !
When I asked her what she meant she said
“Well if I don’t do it the right way he always lets me know but if I get it right he just does it “
My response was a little giggle 🤭 and yes Havana Ash will always be honest with you and how lucky he is to have such a caring rider .
Out of the mouth of babes !!
So wonderful to work with my amazing young riders and help them to develop compassion and understanding and respect for our equine companions and have their welfare as number one priority .
Proud to have you all on the Kokoro Team ⭐️

11/06/2022

Recognising the great efforts of our riders Gracie taking out the horsemanship award for 2021. Congratulations 👏

31/12/2021

Holidays are a great opportunity to spend more time with friends . Claire and Rianne spent the day at Kokoro learning and experiencing all the different responsibilities of owning your own horse. The daily chores of stable and yard maintenance. Care /feeds and water troughs scrubbed with exercise and a variety of work both with horsemanship skills ground work , in hand , lungeing etc. as well as tack and equipment cleaning. What a busy but fun day the girls did an awesome job!!👏👏👏
It sure isn’t just about the riding 😉🐴!!! Kokoro Equestrian Centre

31/12/2021

Merry Xmas to all Kokoro Equestrian Centre students and their families. A great celebration for 2021 with some special awards to riders for their achievements throughout the year . A special mention of thanks to a family (who wish to remain anonymous) they have been a fabulous support and sponsored shirts for our junior riders . They look amazing matched with SunSmart hats to go , very smart indeed!
Ann made the most amazing Christmas cake full of equestrian knowledge wow she really was listening in on the lessons 😂plus it tasted fabulous we all enjoyed that sweet treat thanks so much !😋
Some fun games in the arena unmounted our annual photo under the Xmas tree then presentation of trophies 🏆
Congratulations riders on all your hard work with some challenges due to covid restrictions this year well done for getting through it all safely.
Thanks to Cathy Beer for all your amazing coaching support throughout the year juggling your crazy schedule I know the riders really appreciated it to! Also it was fun having you share in the presentation of trophies this year !
Wishing you all a great festive season and a happy and safe New Years .
Looking forward to working with you all in 2022
Happy Trails 🐴💕

23/09/2021

I’d just like to say that it’s been an absolute pleasure, fun, challenging and an amazing teaching experience caretaking Kokoro students this past year. I am in absolute awe of Terrie having come through what she has and come back from this awful illness. I can 100% say that you are again in great hands going into next term. She is raring to go starting this Saturday.
It is a great thing to learn and learn being the main objective. Horse riding is not an easy pursuit but be assured that your instructor has passion as I do and we are both dedicated to the welfare of the horse first and both continue to learn how to help new riders understand the way to making the life of the horse better and more comfortable in carrying us. Hope to see you again and be invited back for special events. Cheers Cathy

08/08/2021

Rianne also working on her straightness training great results achieved today

08/08/2021

Claire working on stelling and bend in her ground work .Helping Bazil to understand his lateral bending and working on his Asymmetry and balance . Great exercise to do before riding .

31/07/2021

Claire doing a great job with stelling & bending Bazil today

31/07/2021

Sienna working on stelling & bending with Ash