August Specialty Camps

What to Expect:

Showing Preparation Camp (July 31 – August 4)

In this 5-day intensive program, students will get to dive into what is required of them and their horse to have successful experiences at horse shows. They will learn that it’s not about the ribbons, or what others are thinking about them, but rather building a stronger partnership with their horse. We take a horse-centered approach to learning about what to expect on the show day, and how to be prepared. At the end of the week, students will get to go on an adventure beyond Harrogate… they will get to trailer and ride their horse off property!

Throughout the week, students will learn:

• Coping skills for calming our own nerves
• What to bring off-property
• What is expected of them to prepare for the show day
• Braiding clinic with Sarah Mark
• Trailering clinic with Jim Young
• Experience trailering your horse to ride off-property

Adult Camp (August 8 – 11)

It’s never too late to start your lifelong dream of spending time with horses! In this 5-day program, you will go in-depth into how the horse sees the world. We will deepen our connection with the horse by better understanding his behaviour and language. We will learn that the horse is a mirror that provides a reflection that we may not have known existed. In the company of horses, we learn and grow. Horses help us see ourselves in a different light and teach us to be more present. By the end of this program, you will find yourself being more mindful in your day-to-day life. No horse experience is necessary. Register now to see what the horse can teach you about yourself.

You will learn:

• How our own energy impacts our horses
• Meditation and relaxation with horses
• Work with an Integrative Movement Specialist on breathwork
• Working with the horses at liberty
• Practicing mindfulness and meditation
• Body language
• Herd behaviour
• Time on the horse learning to non-verbally communicate our intention to him

*A non-riding program will be provided for children 6 and over if needed. Please indicate if you will be requiring this program on your registration form.

Jumping Fundamentals (August 14 – 18)

In our 5-day intensive program, students will learn the fundamentals of how the horse jumps and our role in assisting his efforts. Turns and lines are foundational proficiencies that are required to negotiate a well-ridden course. Participants will practise these skills as well as the skills they’ve learned on the flat. The goal, depending on the level of the rider, is to apply these tools while riding courses involving ground rails or jumps.

Students will learn:

• Basic elements of setting the horse up for success over fences
• How to keep themselves and the horse well-balanced over fences
• Riding through courses successfully with their horse
• Counting and seeing strides
• Building courses and basic course design
• Deepening their partnership with their horse by providing a framework for training and proper horsemanship over fences
• Building their own self-awareness on the horse
• Braiding Clinic with Sarah Mark
• Fine tuning over fences with Sarah Mark

Dressage Camp (August 21 -25)

In our 5-day intensive program, students will go through the training pyramid to deepen their understanding of the principles and values of classical horsemanship. Dressage training will improve the riders’ skills in all aspects of their riding. This will result in a happier, more harmonious horse-human relationship. Students will get their own horse for the week and will work on deepening their connection through understanding and proper training. At the end of the week, Harrogate will be hosting an in-house dressage show where they can put their skills to the test.

Students will learn:

• How to successfully navigate the dressage ring
• How to correctly ride different elements of a dressage test
• The steps of the training pyramid and how to apply them to their own riding
• How to improve dressage scores through correctly ridden exercises
• Learning and understanding the history and value of classical dressage
• Learning a more correct, balanced and effective position
• Understanding what the judge will be looking for when they ride their test