People often ask what to expect from attending an Ian Leighton Horsemanship clinic. We work to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where patience and tolerance for each other is a given.
Often, there will be riders of varying abilities in one clinic, and Ian specialises in being able to adjust the training activities to degrees to suit the person learning.
He will ask for a more experienced person to focus and work in a more precise manner than a more novice rider, and for the more proficient he will work on refining and enhancing a movement on a more technical basis.
He takes the time to explain concepts in simple terminology and demonstrate these for clarity. He understands that the proficiency of people presented in any one group or between individual students is varied and works to ensure that the concepts are understood.
Clinics will generally commence with ground work, learning and refining these techniques and observing how a horse responds, encouraging relaxation and balanced, and rhythmic movement and begin the concepts of learning to develop self-carriage and engagement, and then move on to mounted work. Ian explain how these ground exercises are transferrable and correlate directly to under saddle work, and how the basics are the foundation to successful progressive training.
Importantly, the techniques taught to achieve balance, engagement, self-carriage and relaxation have application across all disciplines.
Clinic sessions will include periods of demonstration, group ground and mounted activities and individual instruction over the course of the clinic/workshop duration. He will also work on specifically presented issues as they arise.
At most venues participant numbers are capped at 12 – may take up to 15 where the participant group, venue and arrangements are suited. Spectators/fence sitters are welcome.
Just as a group of horses working together all have different needs, and levels of experience and education, so does a clinic group.
Horsemanship is not one size fits all, however techniques can be able to be taught at varying degrees and explanations simplified for understanding. Ian believes this is the essence of good teaching, and for students to feel comfortable and well supported through the process.
Dates and Locations of upcoming Clinics Our Clinics
Private Lessons & Instruction
Ian is available subject to his schedule for private lessons and instruction, and private group/club sponsored clinics. His teaching philosophy applies equally in a clinic environment as with private lessons, with the handler/rider able to focus on particular issues or techniques.
“For anything to improve it needs to start with an honest assessment of “where are we at now?
That gives us a starting point.”
