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Lessons, Training, Summer Programs, & Clinics |
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Our Philosophy |
| At Whimsy Brook Farm we specialize in teaching Aware Riding. We believe that in order to ride well, individuals need to be in touch with their bodies and with their horse's body. Particularly, in this busy and competitive world, many riders express a great deal of unaware tension in their bodies that seriously interferes with getting what they want to get out of their horse. As a result we have invented a lot of creative exercises to help riders get in touch with the way they move and the way they are frozen, and help them, as well as their horse become supple. We have also noticed that few American riders have a good sense of balance in the saddle, a facility that is extremely important in the proper use of the aids. We have developed exercises to help with this, too. |
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We
believe that the best way to get to know your mount is to work with your
horse on the ground, so that rider and equine can learn to trust each
other. To this end all our riders are taught how to groom, lead, tack
up, and put away their horse. Our summer youth and adult program is intensive in all these
things, as well as lessons in stall maintenance, tack fitting and cleaning,
equine conformation and more. We combine all this with a lot of fun.
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teach stable management, and have group or private classes in a large variety of topics including show preparation, braiding, mane pulling, clipping, tack fitting, tack cleaning, horse clothing, first aid, leg wrapping, restraint, feeding and nutrition, worming, shoeing options, lunging, round penning, conformation, and movement. |
| Our lessons are private or semiprivate, and cost $72.00 per hour and $55.00 per 1/2 hour if you use your own horse, and $99.00 per hour and $72.00 per 1/2 hour if you ride a Farm horse. Training for your horse is $75.00 per hour and $50.00 per half hour, includes grooming and any necessary equipment, and the owner may observe. Private management classes are $70.00 an hour and $35.00 an hour for semi private classes (up to four folks.) |
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Session I Session V $475.00 per session, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. This program is an excellent foundation for both the beginning and intermediate rider with and emphasis on team work. Sessions are taylored to the individual needs of group members. Participants will learn how to use the various types of grooming equipment, how to tack up, un-tack, and clean tack, the names of the parts of the bridle and saddle, the names of the parts of the horse, and how to maintain a stall. The curriculum also includes introductory horse whispering and horse games. More advanced topics will be taught depending upon the experience of the participants. The program can accommodate 1 group of no more than 6 young people per session. Riders must have appropriate riding helmets and jodhpur/paddock boots. They should bring a snack. |
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Friday's & Saturday's Once a participant has finished two weeks of our Summer Program, or through experience is otherwise qualified and is 10 years old or older, they qualify for our Barn Rat Program and by arrangement may stay for the afternoon and help out around the barn. Students will be assigned the care of a particular horse, and under the supervision of a team leader, will participate in the daily running of the farm. |
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Please
call Michelle on Monday's or Wednesdays from 9am - 2:30pm at (203) 938-3760 for registration materials or to ask additional questions.
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| Clinics |
| From time
to time the Farm offers clinics on a variety of subjects and with a variety of invited professionals. Please click on the What's Happening page to see the current offerings. |
Last Updated March 12, 2006 |
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Copyright © 2003 - All Rights Reserved 
Whimsy
Brook Farm, Ltd.
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