Start Right: A loving Beginning to Lifelong Success with Horses
Compassionate horsemanship
Foundational Youth program
For the child who:
wants to learn the language of horses
cherishes their animal Friendships
yearns for inspiring equine connections
&
wants to confidently learn excellent horsemanship
this program is built for them.
our foundational youth program
This is a 3-week program with one two-hour class per week. Each week focuses on a component of our approach to teaching connection-centered horsemanship.
Our exercises in the youth program are designed to be fun, profound, and educational, so that learning can be accessible and age-appropriate.
The groups max out at 6 students per session and we have no less that one adult for every three children. This is a high-quality, small group program built for your child to have the structure and space to experience a connection with horses.
WEEK ONE: AWARENESS
We work on building self awareness, with fun, wiggly movement exercises. Then, we bring in the horses, and start to spend time learning to listen and observe. Finally, we practice holding awareness of ourselves and our horses simultaneously, an important skill in horsemanship, from the ground to the saddle!
This week is about waking up our senses to be able to show up to the relationship.
WEEK TWO: BOUNDARIES
Next, we bring on the boundaries! We know that relationships are a two-way street. So, this week is about knowing how to protect our own space and respect when the horse is needing to protect their space. We learn how to do this with feel, consent, and care, so that expressing boundaries can be both safe and compassionate.
This week gives us basic essential skills to stay safe with horses.
WEEK THREE: TOGETHERNESS
Finally, we learn how to be together. With our awareness and our boundaries in check, we are able to explore stillness and movement with our horses. Horses communicate in a variety of ways, but one of the biggest ways is through how they move (or are still) through space.
This week, we get to start to open the door to the magic of movement with horses!
when?
Sept 15, 22, & 29: Saturdays 12:30-2:30
where?
We will be at Ruby Ranch in Candler, NC, where Transformative Horsemanship and our herd currently reside.
How much?
Our first session is going to be offered for $250 for all three classes.
Get your foot in the door while this program is fresh! As we continue to cultivate this offering, the price will go up.
Don’t just be their cheerleader & sponsor
be their guide
This feels like a big, new world and it’s hard to even know how to ask the right questions. You want to make sure you are empowered with the knowledge to ask informative questions and understand the answers.
Our program is not only a compassionate introduction to horses for your child, it is also a compassionate introduction to the horse world for you.
We want to make space for you to ask questions, have a pulse on what your child is learning, and celebrate their successes with an understanding of what they’ve been working on!
So, we are offering you:
A certificate of completion
A progress report at the end of the program
&
parent-only group lesson
(get a sample of what your child is doing in class!)
The Parent-Only Group session is for one parent per child. It will take place on Saturday September 21 from 11:00-12:00 (Childcare will be provided). Once you register, you will be given the opportunity to schedule! It is totally optional.
Our approach
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a loving introduction
Our 3-week program follows this simple, proven structure that fosters safe, clear, and authentic relationships with horses.
We touch the basics of each concept in a kid-friendly way.
We want your child to walk away with deep respect for themselves and the horses as well as hard skills for navigating horse-human relationships.
This program is not about teaching riding, its about teaching relating. Riding can be a beautiful way of relating, but there's so much more we can experience in inter-species connections!
When the horses are not just a vehicle, but a teacher and a friend, we get to experience something amazing.
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without harming the horses
We've done the other way of teaching horsemanship. We've lived it, been taught that way, and taught it.
With immense input from the horses and with integrity to our values, we no longer teach horsemanship from a traditional perspective.
We do not ride or interact with horses at the expense of the horses or the students.
When we don't focus as much on "getting the horse to do what we want", we make space to respect ourselves and our horses.
This not only creates safer learning experiences, it also allows for true connections to blossom.
this program is for you if:
Your child is 5 - 10 years old
You value relationships between animals and your child that are respectful and mutual
You want to nurture your child’s love of horses
You want give your child space to learn at their own pace
You value all the parts of being with horses, including but not limited to riding
You want your child to develop soft skills like self awareness and consent with horses, in addition to hard skills
You want a learning environment that is fluid and adapts to what the horses and students need to thrive
This program is NOT for you if:
Your child is outside the age range of 5 - 10 years old
Riding is the main or only reason you want your child to take horse lessons
You are looking for a competition-focused environment
You need your child to learn as quickly as possible
Your child needs special attention to keep them safe (we really care about safety! We simply don’t have the resources currently to support children that special care to be safe)
You are looking for a therapeutic equine program (we have excellent recommendations for folks who are looking for this! Please reach out!)
We are absolutely not here to judge you if you decide that this is not the right fit for you! There are so many different programs out there, and we want to ensure that you are signing up for the one that you’re looking for. Please do feel free to reach out with questions.
FAQs
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We are not allowing registration for just one class because we teach very intentionally, one step at a time. We don't skip steps because we want our students to feel safe, confident, and successful. Registration is only offered for an entire session.
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We suggest waiting for a session to be available where you can attend all the classes. We hope to offer this class regularly :). Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know!
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Please reach out and get in touch! We will work with you as best we can to keep your child up to speed with the learning. Please see our welcome packet for details on refunds and cancellations.
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We do not have a covered arena, but we have a variety of covered spaces that work wonderfully for the content of this program. If we deem the weather simply too disruptive to continue, we will offer makeups the next good-weather Sunday.
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You don't have to buy a helmet, riding pants, or riding boots to start. We love to help folks save a buck! We suggest only buying a horse-specific gear if your child decides to commit to horses after this program.
Below, we have listed some options for gear that many folks already have or we have to borrow!
Helmets: We have helmets to borrow. If you wish to buy one, we recommend Ovation brand helmets as an affordable, adjustable starting option.
Clothing: Students must wear either leggings, sweat pants, or riding pants to ride (the crotch seam in jeans wears out our saddles faster!). Please bring clothes you don't mind getting dirty. A change of clothes is not a bad idea, in case they get exceptionally wet or dirty!
Footwear: Students must wear a boot with a 1" heel or a riding boot to ride. This is a safety requirement, so that feet don't slide through stirrups and get caught. NO open-toed shoes! We cannot allow students near horses in open-toed shoes.
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You can read more about our cancellation policy, as well as other important aspects of our program, by referring to our Welcome Packet.
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Great question! Once students have completed the foundational program, depending on interest, we will roll out a weekly drop-in class option. So... stay tuned!
And if you love this kind of equine education... let us know so we can create more!