|
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
LESSONS
|
||
|
Kindred Spirit Farm has an innovative lesson program not quite like any other in the area! We exclusively practice Natural Horsemanship which, in short, is the art of learning horse behavior, how horses communicate with one another and how we can use those skills, along with other tools, to have horses become effective partners with us. This lost art is truly what makes up the traits of great Horsemen and can be applied to any discipline in riding, whether you are interested in jumping, Dressage or simply enjoying a horse's companionship on a trail ride. It applies to any horse, of any size and to any human of any age. Since horses speak exclusively in body language, all students must first master some basic skills in learning to read horses and in modifying their own body language to communicate to the horse what it is that they want them to do. This is all done on the ground first. Horsemen of old had discovered that horses are very playful creatures and actually need to play with each other in order to establish herd hierarchy and dominance. Once a horse has "won" the games they play with each other, that horse then becomes the herd leader and basically, the rest of the herd does whatever that horse commands. These games have been modified so that humans can learn to play them safely with a horse and "win" them in the same manner that horses do with one another. “My daughter has been taking lessons from Kim Kindred for the last 5 years. She has learned so much about dealing with horses both physically and mentally. Kim has guided her and trained her to be a "lifelong" learner when dealing with horses. We appreciate all the time, love, and expertise she has given our daughter!!” - Lori Savidge |
|
When
this happens, the horse sees the human as their rightful leader
and will then be a willing partner. Unlike common horse philosophy,
this is not done with force or "make" but is done in a way that
preserves the horses' dignity causing them to want to do things
with us. As the human begins to understand horse language and behavior,
their communication skills grow, as does their relationship with
the horse. In the horse's mind, the student actually then "earns"
the right to be able to ride.
Riding is a very intimate part of a relationship between horse and human and the best rides come from a mastery of learning this horse language and building trust, rapport and a relationship with your horse before riding. Riding then explores further this art of communication and relationship by taking it to further levels of refinement. Students rapidly learn that most of the techniques they begin to learn while on the ground, directly apply to techniques that they will need while riding. Timing, feel, and coordination are of the utmost importance while communicating with the horse. When students first learn these things while on the ground and become quite skilled at them, they are less likely to make "mistakes" while riding since the same techniques apply and will have already become a part of them not just as a "rider" but as a Horseman. Our lesson plan is very comprehensive. We have several programs to suit each individual's needs and learning style. There are formal lesson programs, independent studies and home study supplementation which include reading material and DVD footage. There are many different ways for students to tailor the lessons to best suit their learning style. Here at Kindred Spirits Farm, our ultimate goal is for the student to be independent of an instructor and to become a true Horseman who always puts the relationship with their horse first. |
|
Kim
and Bruce Kindred, Kindred Spirits Farm, 614
Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA 19529, 610-756-3469
|
||