Rio Barrett
natural horsemanship trainer
is coming to La Porcherie
From 30th June for a week.
She will be demonstrating the initial stages of working with horses on the ground on Tuesday 30th June at Muz and Pym’s sand school in La Valette, La Porcherie. Saddlers and other specialists will also be there with stalls and advice.
Everyone is welcome to watch for a 5 Euro charge.
On Wednesday 1st July she will be training Julia McQueen and her horse and pony near Lubersac in her grass school. Again everyone is welcome to watch for a 5 Euro charge. Julia and her horse have reached a wonderful understanding which is fabulous to watch whilst the pony is just starting out on his journey.
Rio is available to assist others with their horses during this week but her time is limited and already becoming booked up. So please contact Nicci Leavers on 0555 78 68 01 if you need more information.
If you intend to come and watch at either training session or need directions please can you let Nicci know.
Nicci tel: 0555 78 68 01 nicci@leaversassociates.com
Rio’s website is www.oakwoodhorsemanship.com
WHAT IS NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP
The art of working, training and riding with horses in a manner which works with the horse's behaviour, instincts and personality in an easy and kind manner.
ABOUT RIO BARRETT in her own words
I am passionate about horses and passionate about my work…. which is to help people who are passionate about horses !
I am very fortunate that horses have been a constant part of my life since the age of 7 and when I was young my mother encouraged me to always try and look at things from their perspective. I wanted to know what horses felt, and why, and how to give them what they really needed.
I competed successfully in Dressage and Eventing throughout my teens, but as I got older the horses viewpoint about it all became more and more important to me. It mattered to me whether the enjoyment was mutual and I began to question some of the things I had learned.
One day, when I was in my 30’s I saw a demonstration where someone talked about developing a bond and communicating with horses in a language they could understand.
That day changed my life. I knew that I had found the key I’d been looking for and it led me to study Pat Parellis’ Natural Horsemanship programme for several years. I graduated as an instructor in Parelli Natural Horsemanship and later chose to work independently, teaching and demonstrating all over the south of England.
ABOUT NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP in Rio’s words
Along the way, it became clear to me that doing our best to understand horses involves examining our belief systems about every aspect of the life we offer them. So I set about studying the issues around saddling, shoeing, stables, turnout, feeding, locomotion, herd environments etc.
However, sometimes the very essence of what the horse is, his silent strength, his freedom of spirit, his honesty and his sensitivity can result in behaviour that we find challenging and difficult to cope with, and the very qualities we so value become a sources of confusion and frustration.
So my emphasis is to teach people how to bring out the best in their horses without taking away their dignity, and how to create a successful partnership built on trust, communication and mutual respect.
Just think…
Outstanding results are achieved through learning why and how to control footfall, understanding motivation and conditioned responses, and developing feel, timing and balance. We teach these skills on the ground first and then apply them to riding. Incorporated in these are issues like protecting your personal space, approach and retreat, reading body language, types of pressure and when to release. We look at how horses establish hierarchy and how to offer them leadership that creates trust and confidence.
By gaining this knowledge the fear and frustration so common between horse and human become a thing of the past as you discover the keys to lightness, balance and mutual respect. This information is now available to you, so if you would like to know how to train your horse to...
catch reliably ? lead quietly ? tie up safely ? load with confidence ? stand for mounting ? go forwards willingly ? stop softly ? steer accurately ? move laterally without resistance? rein back lightly ? become more supple and balanced ? become responsive rather than reactive and ….want to be around you then you have come to the right place !
See you all at the demonstrations.