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Now
you can avail yourself of a Whoa-Ga!(TM) clinic right
in your own stable with your own horses.
Morning Session
An Introduction to Whoa-Ga!(TM) concepts.
This two hour morning yoga class is a
dismounted riding lesson using yoga ball
and floor exercises to improve
flexibility, balance and body effective
seat and leg positions. Informative
discussions throughout the class on
horse/human biomechanics, basic horse
psychology and the role of yoga in
learning balance and riding skills.
Afternoon session
The afternoon riding class applies the
skills learned in the dismounted class
to relaxing and controlling the horse.
We’ll learn how to evaluate your horse
for a safe start, keep him comfortable
and cooperative for your ride. Practice
our new learned balance at different
gaits; study how the horse reacts and
learn to use the horse’s natural motion,
balance and cadence to change gaits and
speed.
Minimum participants 6 (including free organizer)
Full clinic participant fee: $99 per person
~ Auditors and 'yoga only' participants welcome ~
Auditing $25/pp Yoga Only $50/pp
Online registration and payment
Instructions and forms for group leaders
Program
The exercises are specially designed for horseback riders to achieve proper balance and stretch which enable horses to perform to their expectations. Whoa-ga(TM) is a bareback riding technique which is more comfortable for horse and rider. Whoa-ga(TM) focuses on adductors, a softer contact point for the horse's dorsal muscles. Focusing on the adductors allows the horse's back muscles to stretch and lower his head.
The yoga introduction will focus on body awareness and balance. It is based on BKS Iyengar's yoga teaching technique, which helps the student slowly and correctly move into each asana or pose. The yoga prepares students for the riding lesson. A wide variety of asanas help students acquire a better sense of balance and open the hips for a comfortable and balanced ride.
The riding portion of the program will be done bareback or with a bareback pad and includes team riding, where riders pair up and lead each other's horses while their partner practices asanas on the horse that help open the horse's position to complete a series of exercises. Team riding allows the rider to focus on their position rather than controlling the horse, and the handler gets a first hand view of the horse's reaction to each position the rider practices.
Independent riding is incorporated for the final phase of the clinic. Limited use of the rein allows the horse to maintain his own balance without interference. Unlike the horse training programs, the horse responds to the rider's position, and cues are used to reinforce the action rather than initializing it.
Balance is the biggest key to riding. Our horses feel every move we make when we ride them. They feel and react to every unbalanced move however subtle. Yoga teaches us how to recognize the unbalanced errors and correct them before we get on the horse. With body awareness and balance we can clearly see where our weight is shifting and understand what our horse is feeling. These subtleties are affecting our horse's confidence and behavior. How can we expect him to trust a person to guide him if he (the rider) can't even manage his own weight? A balanced confident rider creates a balanced confident horse.
I am a strong supporter of natural horsemanship, but believe that there is more to perfect harmony than just fixing the horse. There is an old cavalry saying, "its never the horse, always the rider". This new program is designed to help this side of the equation - the rider. Staying stretched and balanced throughout the year makes 'fair weather' riding more productive and helps us get ready for spring and competition or pleasure rides. The props make these exercises fun and easy.
Cathy's new book is now available in the online shop
relaxing yoga music
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While you surf this site listen to
relaxing yoga music
Yoga postures and
their special breathing techniques
raises your awareness and confidence
Ready to put the lessons in to practice.
Asanas such as
Bhujangasana, or Cobra,
help teach the proper pelvic and leg position for
cantering
What you will need
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YOGA EQUIPMENT
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TACK
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Bridle of choice
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(2) six to 12' foot
lead ropes
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Bareback pad (optional)
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Here and there, blankets or yoga belts
are required for a student to get the
maximum benefit from the pose. These
will be provided during the class as
needed. They are for sale as well but
are easily substituted with common
household objects such as belts and
blankets.
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Clinic date:
Dec. 4-5-6
HOSTED BY
RED ROCKS FARM
Contact Ricci Hill
redrockfarm189@verizon.net
189 Plainfield Pike
Foster, RI 02825-1251
(401) 397-7680
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