Welcome to our home page!
~ New features for 2010 ~
The intent of this site is to promote a mindful approach to working with horses of all breeds and disciplines - for work, pleasure, and competition. Those of us who seek partnership-based relationships are encouraged to see ourselves as part of a whole rather than apart from the natural world in general. This perspective allows us to feel connected and self-empowered through generating trust and respectful interaction, rather than to feel powerful only when we use our will to control and dominate another. Those of us who opt for partnership over dominance demonstrate a willingness to look within and take responsibility for the consequences of our actions rather than choosing to blame the horse for "disobedience." This requires us to become better educated and skilled in our craft, and to learn to think creatively, or outside the box. Working with horses mindfully means that while there are principles and guidelines to school by, there are no formulas for making the most appropriate decision each day or each moment. We will not always know the answer, we will not always be "right," and we will often make mistakes.
For those of us who are dressage enthusiasts and competitors, the dressage we practice is the same dressage that is ridden anywhere else, but the approach is usually much different. Because of this, what we "do" with our horses will not always look like "standard training techniques" seen in a typical training barn. As a result, many of us feel isolated within our equestrian communities and find little support in rejecting a cookie-cutter approach to working with our equine partners.
This site is therefore designed to provide a way for interested horsemen and women to network with other like-minded individuals, both in our back yards and around the world. It offers free and cost-effective resources to help answer your questions and assist you in problem-solving particular issues. There are no membership fees or special forms to participate. Those connected with this site consist of trainers, amateurs, instructors, clinicians, riders, handlers, and every-day horse owners with a sincere interest in building harmonious and in-depth relationships with horses of all breeds and disciplines. Because many of us compete in areas that demand the utmost responsiveness, flexibility, and athleticism from our horses, we recognize that tension, strain, discomfort and injuries are the accepted norm and too often go unrecognized. Yet only horses that are free of tension can perform according to their unique potential and, like people, enjoy their work.
To help you stay connected and engaged with other like-minded horsemen, we have some new and exciting features and invite you to participate. First, we have opened our online forum - The Collaborative Clinic - to everyone, free of charge! The Collaborative Clinic is a place to go for insights in resolving issues with your equine partner. This forum was previously limited to those who have attended Terry Church's clinics, but because of the increased amount of mail from those of you feeling isolated and in need of support, we have agreed to make room for horsemen at large. At The Collaborative Clinic, we encourage and promote a thoughtful and non-judgmental approach to sharing information in order to create a safe environment for people who need a place to discuss their issues within a supportive community of experienced and empathetic horsemen. You can simply post your questions and share your ideas, or upload pictures and videos of yourself and your horse for more in-depth feedback. If you don't want to share information, just peruse what everyone else is saying to gain your own insights. What is posted on the forum cannot be viewed by random web-surfers or those who are not registered. If you wish to register, please select the red link above and sign in using your first name as your username.
In addition, see our New Article Series! on the Dressage Levels for the Everyday Horseman
And browse through the button-links in the side column, providing you with information on more of our services which include:
~Clinics and Clinicians in your state or area.
~Ethical and mindfully oriented Trainers and Experienced Horsemen in your state or area.
~Articles that provide you with creative ideas and help to answer your questions.
~Educational Materials and Games to exercise your mind and provide resource tips. NEW Crossword puzzles!
~Place My Horse, a wonderful service that helps you find the appropriate buyer or home for your oftentimes difficult-to-place equine partner, nationwide.
~The Collaborative Clinic, a site where you can discuss your ideas while problem-solving with other thoughtful horsemen and women ~ all for free!
~Online Lessons a new service for students at a distance.
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