HORSE(WO)MANSHIP
Horse(wo)manship Clinics
Horse Training and Lessons
Colt Starting and Troubleshooting
Horse(wo)manship Clinics
Vicki offers half day, full day, and weekend Horse(wo)manship clinics at various locations in Northern California. Below are the options, and they can be taught individually for shorter days or combined for the full day or 2 day offerings.
Crosstie Clinic with Basic Groundwork-2 to 3 hours
These clinics focus on creating connection with our horses while catching, leading, grooming, and tacking them up. Does your horse paw, fidget, or bite on the crossties? Is he "stubborn" walking in or out? Is he antsy or difficult to bridle? Then this clinic is for you! Learn how to read your horse's body language, set good boundaries so that he can feel comfortable and safe, and learn techniques to help reset his nervous system when he is troubled. You'll learn to become aware of the state of your own breathing and nervous system so that you can help your horse become safer and more regulated.
Round Pen/Small Arena Clinic-2 to 3 hours
These clinics focus on learning about the herd and prey animal nature of the horse and how that influences their behavior around us. It also focuses on how our own present moment awareness can enhance our connection with our horses. By working horses loose in the round pen, I'll teach you how to read their body and their mind. You'll learn how to manipulate and manage their energy and how to be the calm, confident leader your horse needs. I'll teach you 5 simple yet essential groundwork exercises that will improve your horsemanship both on and off your horse.
Riding Clinic-2 to 3 hours
In these clinics, we use the skills and principles we learned in the previous clinics and transfer them to our riding. I'll give your exercises under saddle that build on the previous clinics. We'll use cavalettis and jumps to practice and challenge your feel, timing and connection. We'll practice becoming a 'member of our horse's herd' and learn how to help them when their prey animal nature gets triggered. As in the previous two clinic models, I'll teach how to become aware of your breathing, posture, and energy so that you can help your horse become more predictable and regulated in his own nervous system.
Horse(wo)manship Experiences
Vicki offers day long Horse(wo)manship Experiences. Using Meditation, Yoga, Art, and Horse(wo)manship sessions we explore the things that have been holding us back from living the lives we truly want to live. Supported by nutritious food and nurturing leaders, participants receive the gift of a day of self care, rejuvenation, and respite from their otherwise busy lives.
Horses are masters of present moment awareness AND of letting go because throughout history, their survival in the wild has depended on it. Every minute of every day, horses are fully immersed ONLY in the present moment. They do not worry about the future or ruminate on the past. When a potential threat appears, they become alert and assess the situation in the moment. Once they determine that there is no threat, the horse puts his head down and goes back to grazing. This 'going back to grazing' is something that we humans can learn so much from. The horse does not worry about the fact that there COULD have been a threat, and he does not live in fear of the next one. He trusts that he will be able to meet whatever challenges come his way, and he does not let potential future hardships ruin his grazing. If a horse lived in the constant state of vigilance that so many of us do nearly every day, he would never get the rest or the nutrition he needs to survive. In these workshops we learn to let the horses teach us how to be present and live fully-experiencing serenity like many of us have never known.
Participant Testimonials
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"I feel 20 years younger!"
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"The whole experience was incredible! What a wonderful day!"
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"You guys balanced authority with levity really well...I felt really safe and loved"
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"Great retreat! Very moving and inspirational"
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"Thank you to an amazing team of women.....you really facilitated an incredibly open and loving environment to breathe deep and let go"
Horse(wo)manship Experience Weekends
This transformative weekend is geared toward anyone who feels called to connect with horses, whether you have experience riding or not. We’ll explore how horses perceive pressure and then so easily process it and release it. Horses are prey animals and naturally know how to release stress when they feel pressure~their survival depends on it! They are masters of present moment awareness and naturally know how to ‘let go’. They will be our guides and teach us how to down-regulate our own nervous systems!
Currently most of us are putting a band-aid on our anxiety with prescriptions, substances, antacids, sleep aids...the list goes on and on. Learn how to treat the root causes of your anxiety the natural way with breath and presence. Deepen your relationship with yourself, others, and if you have one, your horse. And, we will nurture and support you with yoga, mindfulness, energetic centering, connection, and wonderful food!
Saturday
9-10 Introductions~Weekend Overview~Intention Setting
10:15-12 In Arena: Guided Meditation~Prey/Predator Dynamic
Learn Calming Signals in Equine Body Language
12-1:30 Lunch~Journaling~ Silent Walk in the Redwoods~Art
1:30-3:30 In Arena: Observe How Horses ‘Down Regulate’
Their Nervous System~Practice Conscious Breathing,
Physical Grounding, and Downregulation
3:30-4:45 Journaling~Walk in Redwoods-Art
4:45-5:30 Gentle Guided Yoga in the Arena with the Horses
5:45-7 Dinner Followed by Closing Circle Around the Fire Pit
Sunday
9-10 Check In~Thoughts & Feelings About Yesterday~Set Intentions
10-12 In Arena: Guided Meditation~Approach/Retreat~
Catch/Groom/Work Around Horse with Learned Material
12:15-1:30 Lunch~Journaling~ Redwood Walk~Art~Yoga
1:30-3 In Arena: Groundwork Exercises with Horses on
Lead & At Liberty to Further Integrate & Enjoy New Potential
3-4:00 Closing Circle
In these non-riding programs, Vicki teaches women how to connect to their authentic selves and navigate life’s challenges through the help of a horse. I teach you how you can find JOY by watching the simplicity of a horse's life and emulating them. We learn to be present by watching them be present. Horses brains are different than ours-they have no Prefrontal Lobe, so they cannot worry about the future and they do not ruminate on the past. They are 100% in the present moment, 100% of the time. In one of my student's words "You mean they don't have a PLANNER?!?" And in their herds, horses naturally move through their days by skillfully navigating various relationship challenges. They have evolved to survive in the wild by refining their relational skills, all while staying 100% in the present moment. Wow! If only I could be like that!!
To become a horsewoman is to become a part of their herd. The horse that does not successfully navigate these skills is at risk because its successful collaboration with the herd assures its survival. And the opposite is true as well-the overall success of the herd depends upon each member's ability to refine these skills. So we learn from them that we have a RESPONSIBILITY to be our own authentic, present selves. Only in this way can we be of maximum service and help to our families, friends, and coworkers. Horses can be our greatest teachers for navigating the trials and tribulations of life!
Through our exercises with the horses, we'll explore certain themes which arise in our lives and oftentimes can:
• Create difficulties in our relationships with others
• Inhibit our ability to achieve our goals and dreams
• Hamper our ability to be our true authentic selves
Vicki's Horse(wo)manship Experiences will teach you how to:
Become More Mindful and Present
Access the Power of Detached Observation
Communicate Clearly
Learn How To Collaborate with Others
Know When to Lead and When to Follow
Match Your Body Language to Your Feelings and Intention
Set Boundaries and Command Respect of Personal Space
Have Confidence Which Will Give You a Feeling of Safety
Trust Yourself
Feel and Express Joy
Navigate Transitions with Good Timing
Learn How to Let Go When Appropriate
Advocate and Speak Up For Yourself and Others
Listen To Others Better
Set Goals and Regroup After Setbacks
Use Energy and Life Force To Your Benefit Rather than Your Detriment
Set Clear Boundaries Between Worktime and Playtime
Understand and Transcend the Predator/Prey Dynamic
Work With Distractions
By observing the horse, working with them in the round pen, journaling, and practicing short guided meditations, Horse(wo)manship participants learn that horses can be the greatest teachers for the lessons of our lives. In the Horse(wo)manship work, we learn about and actually practice working through the challenging themes in our lives that keep us from living a life of lightness, freedom, and full ownership of our own authentic selves.