Current Newsletter

In This Issue Availability Arena Update Summer Camp Naturally Safe Horsemanship Program Quick Links Our Amazon Store Purchase your own 20/20 Horsemanship t-shirt or mug today! Greetings! Hello and welcome to our newest addition of the newsletter.   Congratulations to Jensa for joining the NSHP!   There will be a grand opening celebration in honor of the new arena.  Stay tuned for the details. Welcome to new students Emmy and Angela! Bring to class..... A list of at least 3 things you did not know about horses, horsemanship or riding, before you started riding here. I will post the lists in the next newsletter.  The person with the most items will receive a t-shirt. Sincerely, Loretta Arey 20/20 Horsemanship Availability Monday May 16 @5pm Tuesday, May 17 @6pm Wednesday, May 18 @ noon & 3pm Arena Update The new arena is coming along and should be completed within the next couple of days!  This is very exciting and I am thrilled to share this with my students.   Summer Camp I have extended the registration deadline for camp.  Please let me know if you are attending before June 1, 2011.  There are still openings each week, so register now! July 11-15 10yrs and up  9am-2pm July 18-22 5-7 yr olds      9am-1pm July 25-29 8 & 9 yr olds   9am-1:30pm Naturally Safe Horsemanship Program (NSHP) The new programs are under way!  This is a wonderful opportunity for the more serious equestrian to enhance their skills.  Important update:  ALL participants receive an additional 15 minutes of activity added to the end of their lesson. One way this time will be spent is to give the student the opportunity to assist in teaching the next student, thereby learning through teaching.  Please schedule pick up accordingly. Warmer weather is upon is! The days have been quite lovely for all things horsey, finally!  We have long been waiting for this time.  Now that it is getting warmer, all riders need to allow for time to cool their horse (or pony) down after their lesson.  This means taking off their tack, brushing them and allowing them to move around while hand grazing.   This is PART OF GOOD HORSEMANSHIP.  Please allow for this extra time and schedule other activities accordingly.  If you do not have time at the end of your lesson to do this, then the last 10 minutes of your lesson will be spent cooling off your mount.   As a good trainer friend of mine says, "If you don't have 15 minutes at the end of your lesson to properly thank your horse, then you don't have time to ride." Note to parents:  I know everyone is busy, however this truly is an important aspect of your child's learning experience. Please see me if you have any questions or concerns. A word about trail riding Parents: This is for you With the nice weather here everyone wants to enjoy the time with their horse friends.  I have been able to take some of my advanced students out on the trails and they've enjoyed it immensely.  Many people are asking when they too can go out on a trail, a very valid question!  Here's my philosophy: My horses and ponies are not automatic trail animals.  They have to be ridden.  Period.  Piero, for example, is a VERY safe pony.  However, ponies can be unpredictable.  I need to know that you or your child can handle yourself properly in case of an emergency on the trail.   An emergency being if the horse or pony spooks, jumps sideways, suddenly stops and spins, or the worst, runs off.  In the case of a run away, you need physical strength to perform the emergency one rein stop that I teach everyone.  An 8 year old child is not capable of that.  Period.    In order to automatically do the right thing in this situation you cannot take the time to think about it.  Your body just has to perform the moves without thought, an automatic response. So, how do I know if you are ready? Here are some things I look for: Can you ride at a walk around the arena while standing? Can you walk around the arena by yourself, halt, and walk again, off lead? Are you trotting yet? Are you trotting off lead line? Can you post to the trot without losing balance? A student not yet proficient at trotting is not safe on the trail.  Please understand, it is a BIG, wide open space.  You need to be comfortable because often the horse will attempt to trot home and you need to be able to control his speed.  I teach only one child capable of trail riding and she's been riding for 6 years.  She spent the first 3 on a lunge line developing her seat.  I am not being a prude about this.  I am protecting your children.  This is a dangerous activity and it is my job to eliminate unnecessary risks.  Are there places that allow children to trail ride?  Sure there are.  There are also places that teach trotting before they have control, cantering before they can trot correctly, and jumping before they have a good seat at the canter. These same people do not know what it is when a horse cocks their leg or licks and chews. They do not know how to properly catch a horse or say hello.   You will not find that here.  I am proud to offer horsemanship skills and will teach everyone how to be a safe trail rider, when they are ready, in their own time.

Loretta
 the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results