EQUEST CONNECT
Do you dream of being one of those riders with a seemingly telepathic connection to their horse?
Imagine if your horse could move under saddle with the same beautiful freedom they do in the paddock. Every day riders strive to reach this goal, practising both on and off their horses for hours on end. However, too often they focus on strengthening their seat to achieve stillness, only to become rigid, which in turn restricts their horses' natural movement. The key to achieving harmony isn't stillness, but supple and subtle movement which flows freely between rider and horse.
Horses and riders mirror one another, in a similar way to two dancers performing the waltz. Horses don't need to be taught to dance as they already know how. They need a clear leader to show them the choreography, encourage them to reach their potential and allow them to perform. But before you can lead, you must learn to follow. As riders we can alter our horses' position and way of going through the correct use of our bodies, but trying to teach a horse before having full control of our own mind and body is like trying to lead a waltz before you even know how to dance. Even the most talented dancer cannot move with grace if their partner inadvertently pulls them in the wrong direction and continually steps on their toes.
Equest Connect is an innovative three-step program developed by Victoria Hamilton, which allows riders to truly connect with their horses through the use of alternative and modern techniques designed to open neural pathways through the nervous system. By harnessing the power of mind-body control, gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between rider and horse movement, and using this knowledge and control to positively influence your horse, you can achieve perfect harmony.
Imagine if your horse could move under saddle with the same beautiful freedom they do in the paddock. Every day riders strive to reach this goal, practising both on and off their horses for hours on end. However, too often they focus on strengthening their seat to achieve stillness, only to become rigid, which in turn restricts their horses' natural movement. The key to achieving harmony isn't stillness, but supple and subtle movement which flows freely between rider and horse.
Horses and riders mirror one another, in a similar way to two dancers performing the waltz. Horses don't need to be taught to dance as they already know how. They need a clear leader to show them the choreography, encourage them to reach their potential and allow them to perform. But before you can lead, you must learn to follow. As riders we can alter our horses' position and way of going through the correct use of our bodies, but trying to teach a horse before having full control of our own mind and body is like trying to lead a waltz before you even know how to dance. Even the most talented dancer cannot move with grace if their partner inadvertently pulls them in the wrong direction and continually steps on their toes.
Equest Connect is an innovative three-step program developed by Victoria Hamilton, which allows riders to truly connect with their horses through the use of alternative and modern techniques designed to open neural pathways through the nervous system. By harnessing the power of mind-body control, gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between rider and horse movement, and using this knowledge and control to positively influence your horse, you can achieve perfect harmony.
WHAT RIDER'S SAY ABOUT EQUEST CONNECT
A DEEPER CONNECTION IN
THREE EASY STEPS
Stage 1: Rider Awareness and Control
Before a rider can communicate effectively with their horse, they must first learn to control their own mind and body. The first step to being at one with your horse is to be able to follow your horse’s movement without altering or interfering with its natural way of going. We need to be quiet and still without being fixed or rigid in our position.
A good rider is someone who has
BALANCE,
FEEL,
FOCUS and
RESPONDs
to their horse and to external stimuli in a correct, consistent, empathetic and educated way at all times. They also have the
AWAREness
to work out which of these areas need to be improved.
A good rider is someone who has
BALANCE,
FEEL,
FOCUS and
RESPONDs
to their horse and to external stimuli in a correct, consistent, empathetic and educated way at all times. They also have the
AWAREness
to work out which of these areas need to be improved.
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The RIDER AWARE CLINIC is the starting point of the Equest Connect Program. It enables riders to identify stiffness, gripping and unnecessary muscular tension, and help correct weaknesses and asymmetry. Through this, riders will develop the ability to absorb the forces of their horses' movement, so they can start to move in complete harmony with their horse.
The Rider Aware clinic begins with unmounted standing and sitting exercises and concludes with ridden sessions. It includes: - Neuro exercises to demonstrate the strength of mind-body connection and how we can use it to our advantage - Techniques to explore and understand proprioception and its fundamental role in opening new neural pathways for achieving rapid change - Exercises for developing body awareness, flexibility, and stability, particularly through the pelvis - Ridden exercises using Franklin Balls and powerful imagery techniques. |
Also in this stage of developing Rider Awareness and Control are 4 other clinics, all targeting different, equally important rider qualities:
Rider Balance Clinic begins with an unmounted discussion, exercises and drills to look at riders’ balance off the horse. Then as with all the clinics we move to exercises on the horse to assess riders’ balance in the saggital plane and also laterally. Most riders will have a tendency to lose balance at one point of the compass and even if only slightly this has a huge impact on the horse. When this is discovered and improved, the change in the horses’ work, from transitions to lateral work, straightness and collection can be absolutely amazing!
Rider Feel Clinic So often we hear people say that a particular rider has amazing “feel”. What does this mean and why do some riders appear to have an increased ability to feel what their horse is doing underneath them?
In this clinic you will learn about the various aspects of feel and how you can develop this, particularly in areas where you may not currently be so in-tune. Beginning with some really fun unmounted exercises , introducing some in-hand work before finishing with an eye-opening ridden session this clinic will have a lasting impression on riders’ future training.
Rider Respond Clinic Learn the importance between responding rather than reacting to a situation! Be that situation something external to our horse (ie in the environment – eg – horse shies at an object) or the way our horse is going (horse breaks out of canter). We need to process what is or has happened, decide on an appropriate response and then react. How riders respond to both changes in our environment and also to our horse and our horse’s changes can make or break the relationship we have with our horse – its trust in us, its speed of grasping a new concept or of returning its focus to us.
This clinic will help riders to understand the way to work out the best response according to the level of their horse and the various situations. Riders need to think like horses to respond in a way that is the most effective long term. For example – horse breaks out of the canter – was it because the horse was lazy, unbalanced, distracted, or the rider over-collected? In these different situations the best response is absolutely not the same! After an unmounted discussion riders them work with their horses and run through a set of exercises to see if their horses have trained them to respond in a particular way! Fun and thought-provoking with many riders leaving vowing to reprogram some of their own responses!
Rider Focus Clinic: An inspiring and informative unmounted session for competition riders of all levels.
Rider Balance Clinic begins with an unmounted discussion, exercises and drills to look at riders’ balance off the horse. Then as with all the clinics we move to exercises on the horse to assess riders’ balance in the saggital plane and also laterally. Most riders will have a tendency to lose balance at one point of the compass and even if only slightly this has a huge impact on the horse. When this is discovered and improved, the change in the horses’ work, from transitions to lateral work, straightness and collection can be absolutely amazing!
Rider Feel Clinic So often we hear people say that a particular rider has amazing “feel”. What does this mean and why do some riders appear to have an increased ability to feel what their horse is doing underneath them?
In this clinic you will learn about the various aspects of feel and how you can develop this, particularly in areas where you may not currently be so in-tune. Beginning with some really fun unmounted exercises , introducing some in-hand work before finishing with an eye-opening ridden session this clinic will have a lasting impression on riders’ future training.
Rider Respond Clinic Learn the importance between responding rather than reacting to a situation! Be that situation something external to our horse (ie in the environment – eg – horse shies at an object) or the way our horse is going (horse breaks out of canter). We need to process what is or has happened, decide on an appropriate response and then react. How riders respond to both changes in our environment and also to our horse and our horse’s changes can make or break the relationship we have with our horse – its trust in us, its speed of grasping a new concept or of returning its focus to us.
This clinic will help riders to understand the way to work out the best response according to the level of their horse and the various situations. Riders need to think like horses to respond in a way that is the most effective long term. For example – horse breaks out of the canter – was it because the horse was lazy, unbalanced, distracted, or the rider over-collected? In these different situations the best response is absolutely not the same! After an unmounted discussion riders them work with their horses and run through a set of exercises to see if their horses have trained them to respond in a particular way! Fun and thought-provoking with many riders leaving vowing to reprogram some of their own responses!
Rider Focus Clinic: An inspiring and informative unmounted session for competition riders of all levels.
Stage 2: Horse Awareness and Communication
Once riders have achieved a state of mindfulness and body awareness, learnt in step one, they can move onto stage two which is all about the horse.
Riders need a solid understanding of horse biomechanics, not just from a theoretical point of view but from a ridden perspective. This allows riders to know what they should be feeling if their horse is moving correctly throughout its body and to identify if, when and where their horse may be blocking its movement.
This requires more than just a basic knowledge of the footfalls of each gait, although this is an important starting point. Riders should also know how, and which parts of the horse’s body are responsible for what they feel, while at the same time begin to appreciate how parts of their own bodies can hinder or positively influence/lead these movements. This paves the way to the ultimate goal of riding with seemingly invisible aids and changing from riding with very coarse, for want of a better word, peripheral aids to more subtle, central/body/weight/ pelvic/core aids.
Riders need a solid understanding of horse biomechanics, not just from a theoretical point of view but from a ridden perspective. This allows riders to know what they should be feeling if their horse is moving correctly throughout its body and to identify if, when and where their horse may be blocking its movement.
This requires more than just a basic knowledge of the footfalls of each gait, although this is an important starting point. Riders should also know how, and which parts of the horse’s body are responsible for what they feel, while at the same time begin to appreciate how parts of their own bodies can hinder or positively influence/lead these movements. This paves the way to the ultimate goal of riding with seemingly invisible aids and changing from riding with very coarse, for want of a better word, peripheral aids to more subtle, central/body/weight/ pelvic/core aids.
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The HORSE AWARE CLINIC begins with theory, before moving onto in-hand demonstrations and lastly ridden sessions. It includes:
- A lecture and fun exercises designed to help riders really understand horse movement mechanics - An in-hand demonstration so riders can see a) how much movement there is in various body parts of the horse and in which planes, b) where horses commonly tense, stiffen and block, c) what they, as riders, are trying to absorb and d) how their bodies can alter their horses’ movement patterns -Ridden exercises to develop the all-important feel of the rider, linking what they have learnt in the demonstrations to how they will use this knowledge for their training in the future. |
Also in this stage of developing Horse Awareness and Communication are two additional clinics both having a lecture, in-hand and ridden components.
Horse Balance Clinic: focusses on the importance of paying attention to the lateral and longitudinal balance of the horse and how the two are inter-related and so important for long-term soundness. This topic, along with horse laterality has always been one of Victoria’s favourites and her expertise and passion is evident in this clinic. An in-hand demonstration begins this clinic and then ridden sessions. All riders, particularly those competing or rehabbing horses will really benefit from this clinic as without a thorough understanding of this area riders will never correctly develop their horses.
Horse React Clinic: Different horses will react differently to different stimuli, be it a question asked by a person on the ground, a rider, or something in its environment. Learn to be clever and use his natural type of reaction and modify your training to your advantage so that it is fun for both of you. A horse’s response to an aid is its answer to a question or request given. Learn when to ask various questions, how to go about it, what to expect and when and how to shape the response given. What to do if you do not get offered the response you would have liked. Learn how to think like a horse and perhaps explain it differently or work out if some other part of your body conflicts with what you are asking. Horses are amazing and are incredibly preceptive to very small signals and more often than not it is a case of taking an aid off rather than adding in another. This clinic begins with a lecture before working all the horses in-hand. Then in the ridden sessions the horse’s basic reactions to the rider’s aids are checked before progressing to movements of the level appropriate for each horse and rider combination. The aids for higher level movements are just combinations of the basic aids/responses and all of these movements such as flying changes, pirouettes, piaffe or passage will be improved by working away from the movements and concentrating on the basics.
Horse Balance Clinic: focusses on the importance of paying attention to the lateral and longitudinal balance of the horse and how the two are inter-related and so important for long-term soundness. This topic, along with horse laterality has always been one of Victoria’s favourites and her expertise and passion is evident in this clinic. An in-hand demonstration begins this clinic and then ridden sessions. All riders, particularly those competing or rehabbing horses will really benefit from this clinic as without a thorough understanding of this area riders will never correctly develop their horses.
Horse React Clinic: Different horses will react differently to different stimuli, be it a question asked by a person on the ground, a rider, or something in its environment. Learn to be clever and use his natural type of reaction and modify your training to your advantage so that it is fun for both of you. A horse’s response to an aid is its answer to a question or request given. Learn when to ask various questions, how to go about it, what to expect and when and how to shape the response given. What to do if you do not get offered the response you would have liked. Learn how to think like a horse and perhaps explain it differently or work out if some other part of your body conflicts with what you are asking. Horses are amazing and are incredibly preceptive to very small signals and more often than not it is a case of taking an aid off rather than adding in another. This clinic begins with a lecture before working all the horses in-hand. Then in the ridden sessions the horse’s basic reactions to the rider’s aids are checked before progressing to movements of the level appropriate for each horse and rider combination. The aids for higher level movements are just combinations of the basic aids/responses and all of these movements such as flying changes, pirouettes, piaffe or passage will be improved by working away from the movements and concentrating on the basics.
Stage 3: Equest Connect
The final stage involves riders learning how to move any part of their body to influence a specific part of the horse.
Having completed the first two stages, riders are now supple enough in mind and body to be able to feel what's happening beneath them. They also have enough control of their own body to ask their horse to change part of its position, or way of going, without giving any aid inadvertently. By linking everything they have learned, a rider can now explore and learn how to use different body parts in different ways to achieve the desired result.
This is so much more than just the usual inside leg or outside leg position! Riders will learn how a leg, in either of these positions, can mean so many different things depending on how it is being used. The type and direction of the pressure being applied are the two easiest variables to play with initially. Likewise – riders will learn about all the different ways they can alter their weight distribution in the saddle, all of which the horse will feel!
Once a rider starts to appreciate the many different aids they may have been giving their horse inadvertently, they will become so much more clear in their aids in the future, which undoubtedly their horse will love.
This is the final step in achieving perfect harmony.
Having completed the first two stages, riders are now supple enough in mind and body to be able to feel what's happening beneath them. They also have enough control of their own body to ask their horse to change part of its position, or way of going, without giving any aid inadvertently. By linking everything they have learned, a rider can now explore and learn how to use different body parts in different ways to achieve the desired result.
This is so much more than just the usual inside leg or outside leg position! Riders will learn how a leg, in either of these positions, can mean so many different things depending on how it is being used. The type and direction of the pressure being applied are the two easiest variables to play with initially. Likewise – riders will learn about all the different ways they can alter their weight distribution in the saddle, all of which the horse will feel!
Once a rider starts to appreciate the many different aids they may have been giving their horse inadvertently, they will become so much more clear in their aids in the future, which undoubtedly their horse will love.
This is the final step in achieving perfect harmony.
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The EQUEST CONNECT CLINIC involves two ridden sessions including:
- A general session designed to teach riders how to use their bodies to influence their horse, bringing together everything they have learned and opening the ideas of how they can take this training forward in the future. Riders will learn the importance of one aid for one response and become more aware of how small and simple an aid can be for the horse to feel. We will also explore horses' responses to the way riders use their legs, depending on different pressure types, location and direction. You will develop a fascination with how powerful and varied seat aids can be, not just for tempo control but for bending the horse, moving laterally, and engaging. - A problem-solving session to help riders use their new knowledge and skills to overcome a problem they may be struggling with at home such as late flying changes, resistant lateral work or difficulty performing certain movements. |
Clinics are $135 each, covering all tuition, ground fees, yard hire, and light refreshments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I do Equest Connect if I already have a coach? Will my horse or I get confused?
The Equest Connect program is designed to compliment all coaching systems and in fact one coach was so impressed after attending a clinic themselves that they organised a private clinic for their students which was great fun! Riders quickly develop better body awareness and ability to communicate with their horses. Their normal coach can then continue to train them for whatever discipline and will find their job much easier! There is no conflict whatsoever, just a better understanding of the way to communicate with our fantastic four-legged partners.
I don’t compete – I trail/pleasure ride – will I be out of my depth? Is Equest Connect relevant to me?
If you love your horse and want to be as good a rider as possible for your horse then you should come! You do not need to know any fancy terminology or movements , nor own any fancy gear. You just need to have safe tack, a sensible horse and an open mind! These clinics are not competition focused although many riders attending will be competitors. We usually have a mix of riders from all different disciplines and everyone is always very supportive and friendly. They really are great days!
You say good for all disciplines – I do endurance. How can Equest Connect help me and/or my horse?
For anyone spending the length of time you do in the saddle it has to be a good thing to be better balanced and an easier burden for your horse! Additionally a lot of riders find they are less sore and become less tired when they are riding with less muscular tension and more efficiently.
I am a nervous rider – I would love to come to an Equest Connect Clinic but am worried I would be too scared to try some of the exercises and activities
Come! If you are confident enough to ride your horse in a strange arena, even if just at walk and trot you will be fine! Some riders only walk the first time they come and still have the most amazing, light-blub moments. The confidence you will gain from the better connection you achieve will be totally worth it! Another interesting fact is that some horses that seem nervous show the most incredible change in the way they go when the riders go through this program – most likely due to the riders no longer gripping.
I am a para equestrian/recently injured/ old injuries. Is Equest connect suitable for me?
You are a perfect candidate for this type of program and should come ASAP! Every time we have any injury our body is very efficient at changing our perception of the injured area and changes our movement pathways whilst healing. Sometimes we are more aware of the injured area but other times our mind blocks it out. Other parts of our body work differently to compensate. These altered pathways do not always revert to how they were prior to the injury , even if the injury completely heals. This may be a good thing if the affected area is not as strong as it was or if it has healed in a way that makes it less functional but if we are completely healed we may need help to get back to how we were prior to the injury. We may be left with stiffness and asymmetry that after some time feels normal to us as we go about our daily lives. Our horses feel these stiffnesses and it makes their lives less pleasant so the more we can do to be fluid and supple in our movement the better. It is important you disclose any injuries to your coach and make sure you have the all clear from your health care provider to be back riding.
I ride and compete at FEI – surely I won’t get anything out of this program? Or can Equest connect help me?
High level riders are usually amazed at how this program helps them and their horses. They find they are able to ride with much more subtle aids and that their horses are more positive in their work. They become closer to riding with invisible aids – something that is the goal of all high level riders.
I have a young horse – can I come to an Equest Connect clinic
Whilst the clinics are not the place to test out how your young horse handles an outing some young horses are very quiet and sensible and are more than welcome! The work that the horses do at the clinics is not very taxing but for the safety of all riders it is important horses are reliable working in a group setting. You may be fine with your horse doing airs about the ground but other participants may not find it as enjoyable. If you are unsure please contact Victoria directly.
I have only just started riding. Will equest connect suit me?
Now would be the perfect time to come to an unmounted session to ensure you are on the right track! One of the most common comments from participants is “I wish I had known about this earlier” so why not start straight away, rather than developing bad habits that you often are not even aware of! It will make your riding life so much easier and more pleasant.
I don't have a horse- can I still come to an equest connect clinic?inic?
You are more than welcome to book into an unmounted session and will be amazed at what you will learn. You will be able to take some great ideas and feelings away with you for when you next have the opportunity to ride.
Can children attend equest connect clinics?
Yes – children benefit immensely from this system and really enjoy it. Sometimes clinics are held purely for children, mainly during the school holidays but they are welcome to all. The only requirement is that they can safely walk, trot and canter off-lead in an open area with other horses.
There are lots of different clinics- do I have to do them in any particular order?
Rider Aware, Horse Aware and Equest Connect are the core clinics in the development program, and must be completed in that order. After you have attended pre-requisite Rider Aware clinic you can attend Rider Balance, Rider Feel, Rider Focus and Rider Respond in any order, at any time. Similarly, you must have attended the Horse Aware clinic prior to the Horse Balance and Horse React clinics. Some riders will attend all nine clinics, while others will choose only to attend the three core clinics, or the core clinics and any combination of the additional options, depending on their preferences and the timing.
Can I book a private Equest Connect Clinic at my property or my club?
You sure can! Quite a few people have done this already. Please email Victoria to book.