Quintessential Dressage- Functional Training

08/01/2024

Over the years, I have been sent and seen a lot of horses with undesirable habits. What I have learnt is, that before you say no to a horses behaviour, one needs to prove worthy of being listened to. Before I say no, don’t do that, stop that, I have to prove that I am fair, that I won’t put the horses body at jeopardy by asking difficult things but help the horse into balance. Vera Birkenbihl says about learning, that at the beginning any correction of children will stifle learning and creativity, I find it’s so very similar with horses. Before I say no, I build a rapport, I want to allow the horse to find confidence in that he’s doing a good job, whatever that may look like. I bring back the expectation to where the horse feels comfortable and build up from there, keeping the work the same for a while so expectations stay consistent and a good behaviour becomes a good habit. Only after I have established a rapport, am I allowed to say no, and more often than not, the undesired behaviour has resolved anyway. And if I do have to say no, it is at this point taken well by the horse and not met with resistance or fear but mutual respect

31/12/2023

A spot to take a horse for training has just become available. Classical dressage foundation with emphasis on spinal alignment, building strength and confidence and a healthy balanced body and mind. Holistic approach including schooling classical in hand and ridden, lungeing and bodywork’training for wellness’ approved by Manolo Mendez, hoof health plan with optimised hoof/pastern alignment, ponying out in the bush in preparation for trail rides and other extras on request
Private yard with shelter and full care
Please message to inquire and book your horse in

17/12/2023

Why do I keep running clinics for other clinicians? Won’t I lose business by organising other clinicians to come and teach? Sometimes, yes. Why do I encourage my clients to attend these clinics? Because I like to have a fresh pair of eyes see them. Because it adds to my toolbox of how to help my clients and their horses better. Because other instructors will phrase things differently than I do.
But for the biggest part, it’s all about connecting and creating a tribe of likeminded people. Our horses are herd animals yet equestrians and instructors have a tendency of wanting to be individual , stand alone and exclusive. But we can only gain by getting together and learning from each other, exchanging ideas and experiences. And by growing our tribe, and supporting each other, we can really drive that change that is so desperately needed in our ‘sport’. Here’s to connection and growth 🥂 🐴 🌱 🌺 for the good of our beloved horses and their guardians
United we stand, divided we fall 💪
Pic Kerstin Tschech

26/11/2023

From Susannah Milne

“ I had such a fantastic clinic thank you so much!! I don’t think I have ever had so much fun and learn’t so much! I can see now where you start to move to the next chapter! “

Thank you so much for the lovely feedback 🐴🌸

26/11/2023

One of the hardest but best things for a horse to learn , is when he is addressed to do something , and when not. From the human part, this is often taught subconsciously , that’s why I thought I will bring it to your attention today.
Horses have to filter out a lot of information on a day to day basis living in our human world . Did my rider just shuffle around or was that an aid? Do I get in trouble if I react? Do I get in trouble if I don’t respond ? Does that whip crack mean go faster or ignore ?
Horses can absolutely learn when they are addressed to respond, and when not. We just have to be careful to remain fair at all times and be conscious about it. My horses know their names, they know when I look them in the eye and say their name they are addressed. I can pony a breaker and can say; ‘Sherlock whoa, slowly now’ and then proceed to click on the breaker to go more forward and Sherlock will keep his pace.

10/11/2023

“Omg! When did I stop riding like that”
“What do you mean ?”
“You showed me before how you turned a little excitement of my horse into something positive. I just did that then, it felt good, and I remembered how I confidently steered my excited Thoroughbred around a show jump course, and I had to ask myself ; when did I stop riding like this?”
“Through enough bad experiences, no doubt, like most of us. We start forming the habit of shutting our horses emotions down instead of using that glorious energy for something good”

10/11/2023

“I’m sorry I was so emotional and teary in my lesson last time “
“No, please don’t be sorry. I want you to know that I want you to feel safe being emotional in my lessons. We carry so much responsibility every day , where we need to show up, be strong, be an adult. The time with the horses is sacred and precious , but our life is reflected in our work with them in a way that forces us to go deeper into ourselves than we’d probably like to, and the emotions that come with it are a natural response. We don’t need to feel shame for having them “

06/11/2023

Kassie Southwell - The Art of Classical Schooling Ballarat clinic. Participant spots are full, please message if you want to get on the waiting list
Auditor spots are available
Book here ⬇️

https://kassiesouthwell-theartofclassicalschooling.com/index.php/product/classical-dressage-clinic-ballarat-vic/

01/11/2023

Please contact Jess to book for this clinic
🌼🌸🌼🌺

27/10/2023

A few thoughts about contact and how to apply the rein. Many times I see people applaud when a rein is loose. To me a rein can absolutely be loose, when the horse has found self carriage and is in a movement that doesn’t require rein support. Often I see people chase that loose rein feeling but picking up a loose rein (from loose to ‘use’) without making the rein bounce and not disturbing the horse is actually quite difficult. So until a horse is ready, I will keep a light contact, soft but there. This way I can use my fingers swiftly and softly as needed.
Another common thing I see, is raising the inside rein to ask for bend. Raising the hand in general puts pressure in a different area, off the bars and tongue and more on the corner of the mouth. This can indeed be very helpful , however if we look at the horses bio mechanics in a bend, it can quickly become counter productive . The first vertebrae that connects the skull is, in fact, a swivel joint. For a horse to give correct bend in correct rotation , the nose must come slightly in, the jaw slightly out of the bend. Now if we lift the inside rein, we position the bit higher on the inside , which invites the horse into incorrect rotation . If you follow classical dressage , you will know, spinal alignment is everything . To facilitate correct alignment , picture how the bit should sit in the mouth and hold your hands accordingly . On a circle line that would mean the outside of the bit would sit slightly higher. I would like you to continue that thought and apply it in your everyday training. How should the bit sit in the mouth and how can I support that? Are you chasing the inside rein soft and the outside rein with more tension like so often taught? How would that feel to the horse? Would it not be more comfortable (and less confusing ) for the horse if the bit was evenly supported by the hand guiding it?
Pic 1; green horse, hands slightly wider helps me guide him softer, outside rein slightly higher, close contact with soft fingers. I have collapsed a little on the left side, I should stretch a little more from hip to shoulder. Horses nose is in the centre of his chest
Pic 2 this horse was extremely sensitive to the rein, even in a bitless he would over bend and come into wrong rotation at the slightest touch. He was quiet with a voice command stop, so I removed the bridle entirely so I wouldn’t be tempted touching the rein. I reintroduced the bridle once he had some stability. Note the nose in the centre of the chest and correct rotation
Pic 3 playing with collection , reins in one hand on the curb, light contact , nose in front of the vertical and poll the highest point. Good lift but not yet an entirely clean diagonalisation.
Pic 4 again playing with piaffe, the rein almost loose, encouraging the horse to carry himself and not lean for support . Again not a finished piaffe as not closed in shape and still with a bit of forward movement

24/10/2023

Travelling to Woodend area on Sunday 29th and have room for another lesson spot

19/10/2023

Last minute spot has opened up at my Gippsland clinic in Giffard. This clinic is usually not advertised anymore so this is a great chance of joining the local classical dressage community
Message me if you’re interested 😃

28/09/2023

Belinda Bolsenbroek Academy in Ballarat We have one ridden spot just become available for the quick decided! 5/6 October at the Ballarat equestrian centre!
Treat yourself to a wealth of knowledge!

27/09/2023

17/09/2023

Wonderful weekend teaching in South Australia in the company of wonderful horse people, the weather was glorious and the horses even more so!
Huge thank you to the amazing family at Halado Park for hosting this event!

04/09/2023

What an incredible experience! Watching team Bones, Brains, Bodies & Behaviours carefully uncovering the layers and secrets of the beautiful Nitro reminded me of archeologists uncovering a treasure. Thank you to everyone that has participated
~ A story told, is a live lived ~

An epic interstate dissection for us this weekend in Sunbury, Victoria. A huge thank you to Rylana Stauffer from Quintessential Dressage- Functional Training for pulling us all together, Manolo and Kate Mendez for the amazing facility (including Daisy and Kellie on-site grooms and all round super helpers), Dr Lizzie McCready for joining us with amazing insights and demos and Brydie from Southern Hoofcare travelling over to give us a hand also - Team work makes the dream work. Most of all thanks to the beautiful Nitro and his wonderful owner Stacey. Thank you and what an honour to help you find answers and closure 🦄❤️ and to all the wonderful participants for helping fuel important conversation and questions!

ECVM, bone cysts, muscle tears, kissing spines, sacroiliac dysfunction, joint degeneration, bone spurs, lymphatic inflammation, hindgut damage… AND MORE!!

Plenty more on nitro on our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/bonesbrainsbodiesbehaviours

18/08/2023

I’m going to call this post ‘musings with Amber’ as we dive down some rabbit holes of the horse human relationship. Amber Fitzpatrick owns and rides gaited horses, also works in the racing industry. Today, while I was doing boxes, we talked about how fear is expressed, from being extra tough with the horse to just freezing on the horse. We decided that fear, in the horse world, is far too often just suppressed rather than addressed.
‘Don’t show him your scared’ yeah, we’ve all heard that one.
Fear isn’t your enemy. It’s the shame of the fear that often prevents growth and feeds unhelpful coping mechanisms.
Anyway, I’ve asked Amber to put our conversation today into her words, and I hope you enjoy this read as much as I did

“Next time you interact with your horse, get honest with yourself. Is fear driving your interactions or is shame blocking you from experiencing what we are biologically programmed to feel? Because it is my personal belief and direct experience that you can absolutely be frightened and still know where you are going. The horses would benefit immensely if we could remove the shame from feeling this fear and recognise it is a perfectly normal mammalian response, to which we have no control over when it will arise. We only have control over how we perceive it, how we manage it when it does arise, and how discharge it when the threat is no longer present. Now let me just clarify here that a threat can be real or perceived because there is no difference to our autonomic nervous system, so you can bu**er off with logic, the prefrontal cortex cannot be overridden in this heightened state and doing so only induces more shame and anxiety.

All this is without adding what your individual story brings to the table and, therefore, your horse. There are countless folks out there who have suffered traumas of many varieties, mental illnesses, physical disabilities, age related issues, societal conditioning, environmental factors and I could go on. The horses are robbed every time we shame someone for feeling fear. Good people, whom so many horses would benefit from, but that fear stops them, and then the shame completely cripples them. Whether it is internal or external, it is ever present in life and around horses. I guess I am just more acutely aware of it around horses because of the amount of time, effort and introspection I have willingly undertaken because my love of horses outhweighed my fear of them. We could all extend more compassion when someone, horse or human, experiences fear. And not just laugh and say don't be afraid. What if we leant into it and whispered, I see you and you are welcome. The challenge is, can you become attuned enough to recognise how fear and shame can show up in tandem and how they often parade around in so many forms and welcome like old friends all the same?”