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The Art of Riding
Horsemanship Through Feel and Release

NEW: DESIGN YOUR OWN Clinic or Workshop!

See below for Karen's most popular Focus Sessions (FS). Contact Karen about the sessions that interest you the most and plan a coaching session, workshop or clinic in your area, to best suit needs and budget. You can also just sign up for a clinic or coaching.

Many other topics available!
If you do not see a topic you hoped to cover, request it :)
(Click on arrows for more detailed descriptions)

FS0: Riding Through Feel: what is "feel and release"?

FS1: Riding Through Feel: get with your horse!

FS2: Riding Through Feel: left, right, STRAIGHT -
        direction through feel, not micromanagement!

FS3: Riding Through Feel: accessing all four quarters of
        your horse through feel. Now we're talking!

Focus: When your foundation connects with the way a maneuver you want feels to the horse you can shape him by setting his feet where he needs them to be. His thought shapes up with yours - now just release him!

Access to all 4 quarters: build quality on the ground! Teach your horse to release his feet to you through reciprocal feel. No pushing, tapping, pulling or treats! It is a beautiful foundation for accessing his feet under saddle.
Releasing a horse to a maneuver without the need for pressure aids. How does your horse make use of his four quarters when maneuvering? Shape him by setting his feet where he would put them in preparation for the maneuver you have in mind. Add clear intent to your feel  -- now just release him to your line of sight.
Hind quarter engagement through feel: access his power, brakes & balance.

Explore a feel-based approach to engagement: learn to invite his hind feet into an open space vs. blocking it with an active leg aid. Free up his offer, make it easy!
Accessing the shoulders for light turns. It is intuitive to think that a horse starts a turn with his inside shoulder. In fact, in a naturally balanced turn, this is not so! Learn to ride turns the way a horse executes them.
Putting it  together: all 4 quarters! Ride how he moves, get out of his way and in harmony for a great ride.

“The horse has the ability to distinguish between several meanings at once, and a person needs to help him develop this quality” Bill Dorrance, in "True Horsemanship Through Feel", page 88.

“Things started to work out for me and my horses when I could move those feet where I needed them to go, but I had to get with them on the start” Bill Dorrance, in "True Horsemanship Through Feel", page 45.

FS4: Riding Through Feel: the best kept secret of a
        fabulous ride...freeing up your horse's shoulders.

FS5: Riding Through Feel: build in a great stop and
        backup on a float

FS6: Riding Through Feel: trouble-shooting

 

Details of session content are customized to the particular rider/horse combinations in any given coaching session.

Many other topics available!
If you do not see a topic you hoped to cover, request it :)
 

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