Molyullah Mountain Trail

12/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/CxC5ohCswhAUznG8/?mibextid=WC7FNe

12/03/2024

Our local fair and family fun day, all welcome 🤠

30/11/2023

14/11/2023

Keeping the legacy alive - generosity, wisdom, humility - what a privilege it is to be around people (and animals) of such calibre 🙏💜🐎
Enjoy the full interview www.johnsaintryan.com

06/10/2023

✨Steve Halfpenny - November 2023✨
- - Limited places available

Private/Group lessons $100 per hour
3 day clinic $550
Each clinic day $200 (discount daily cost for all 3 days)

DM or email to book

[email protected]

13/09/2023

A better strategy for our brumbies 🐎
https://fb.watch/n13axAeA6A/?mibextid=hubsqH

08/09/2023

Steve Halfpenny - Molyullah 17-20 November 2023

✨✨✨

Private/shared 1 hour lessons - Friday 17th November

3 day clinic - 18-20th November… utilising our facilities including Obstacle Course, Hangbahn & Garrochas.

Swipe right for details. Email or dm to book or for further info.

Camping, shower and yard facilities.

Brenda@molyullahmountain trail.com.au

08/06/2023

https://fb.watch/l1bVx_B8ey/?mibextid=RUbZ1f

It was wonderful to have John here in Australia March-April 2023. His book 'A Voice For The Horse' is on Audible if you would like to hear more.

01/05/2023

Last minute cancellation opportunity …..before we hibernate for the winter months in Aus there’s a chance to work through any issues or challenges you may be facing. Or just come have fun with us.

- Brand new arena to ride…🥰
- good for your horses’ strength, athleticism and self carriage
- practice in a controlled space to be amongst the gumtrees
- new experiences and miles on your logbook
intro or advanced - meet the maker Molyullah Woodworks Garrocha Downunder
obstacles for horses

Dm for last minute spot. Fence sitters welcome - keep in touch re weather - if riders are flexible we will be too. . ☔️⛈️🌦️🌈

Clinic - May 5-7 2023 🗓️ NE Victoria.

Steve Halfpenny of Light Hands Equitation is returning this May for a 3 day clinic.

Enjoy our new 45x30m arena, with the added option to utilise our obstacle course, La Garoccha and the hangbahn.

$550 for 3 days. Dm or email [email protected] for booking form.

Camping and yard facilities available with toilet and outdoor enclosed hot water shower.

30/04/2023

Some awesome riding on our Hangbahn

20/04/2023

17/04/2023

John Saint Ryan Clinic Banyandah April 2023

14/04/2023

Clinic - May 5-7 2023 🗓️ NE Victoria.

Steve Halfpenny of Light Hands Equitation is returning this May for a 3 day clinic.

Enjoy our new 45x30m arena, with the added option to utilise our obstacle course, La Garoccha and the hangbahn.

$550 for 3 days. Dm or email [email protected] for booking form.

Camping and yard facilities available with toilet and outdoor enclosed hot water shower.

06/04/2023

A big Thankyou to John Saint Ryan and our crew (you know who you are 😉🙌) - we hosted wonderful participants and supportive spectators at both NSW and Vic JSR 2023 clinics.

Now that we are home and rested we will process the photos for you all...

In the meantime, have a safe and happy Easter weekend.

Brenda, Chris and Kate. 💕

02/04/2023

26/03/2023

The sand is on. 🙌 Our new arena is complete and ready for our clinic next week with JSR… exciting days ahead.

Fencesitters welcome - see our events for further info.

21/02/2023

Not long now - JSR will be at Molyullah 28-30 March and Banyandah 1-3 April 🐎🐎🐎
https://fb.watch/iPQiJQrNfU/

13/02/2023

We have copies of John's book 'A Voice For The Horse' for sale AU$50 plus postage. He'll sign it for free when he's here at Molyullah and Banyandah March-April 2023

04/02/2023

There are only a few riding positions left in JSR's March-April Australian Clinics - comment or message for details

Some Equine Observations

A big piece of the puzzle is to identify how you plan to build your horse gymnastically.
As a human perhaps we understand that if we wish to pursue a specific sporting discipline, the chances are we’re going to need to do some physical training which is most specific to that ideal

Having said that perhaps we would better understand why it is so important that we prepare our horse correctly
Just like so many things, it’s a step-by-step process and you cannot rush it or force it

To give comparisons, if you were hoping to become a top class floor gymnast
Before you do that double backflip you might just practice a backward roll over from a simple squatting position.
Before you ask your horse to do a canter pirouette you might want to see if he’s comfortable in counter canter and before you ask for a counter canter you might want to check your horse can actually do a true canter on both leads.

Another problem we may fall into is where a person asks a horse to do something fairly gymnastic and challenging in a particular gait and the horse has no self carriage in that gait. This self carriage is your base line and it needs to be solid.

Something else to consider is the individual horse. We may as humans have ideas and expectations but surely we understand that just as we humans are individuals, horses are also individuals and for some, the movements, the exercises come easier than others

When we wish to become more in depth in our studies of collection and reference it to our horse, sometimes it’s helpful to examine that horse with regard to what level of collection if any, we would consider him to be in.

If we look at levels and say well, at the first level he is comfortable in all three gaits, he has a clear understanding of the four basic movements of stop, go, turn and yield.
We might then measure his ability to make transitions smoothly and with the minimum of hesitation, by that I mean if we’re trying to go from a stop to a trot and he takes a step or two at the walk before going into a trot, that might be OK on a basic level but if we are hoping to achieve true collection in the future, that extra step or two would need to be eradicated

With this in mind if we looked at the next level, could he go from walk to canter without any extra trot steps?

Now you can perhaps understand that it’s not that you could just flip a switch and the horse suddenly becomes a collected horse the third level or perhaps true collection is very demanding and if we reflect back on the initial comparison of the gymnast, perhaps not all individuals are created equal.

This is not to say that we shouldn’t try, but more that we should be fully aware of not only our own limitations but the limitations that are naturally and genetically imposed upon the horse

I think that as long as we keep the latter in our minds, we should always do well and be happy with our horses
For me some of the most joyous moments on horseback have not necessarily involved what would be considered a horse in collection.
Instead, it’s been that wonderful feeling of galloping across the flat, wading through a river, navigating rough terrain, traveling, going places that I’ve never been!
I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture

22/01/2023

John Saint Ryan
Molyullah Vic
Banyandah, Howlong NSW
March - April 2023

18/01/2023

⭐️💃🐴🦄🕺⭐️ March will be upon us in no time - 68 days until our first clinic.… here are some lovely words from John for your Wednesday evening. ✨🪞✨

15/01/2023

Great opportunity to learn from an inspiring and insightful teacher. ⭐️🐎⭐️