BALANCE International Clinic at 2010 O Week 

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As part of our Fall Orientation Week, the ESA will be hosting BALANCE International on November 4 - 6, 2010, just north of Seattle, WA. 

For those who have not attended a BALANCE clinic, it is truly an unbelievable eye opener, and challenges everything you thought you knew about saddling and saddle fitting. The first day includes the theory behind conventional vs. BALANCE concepts, biomechanics, hoof and a myriad of other health and soundness issues and practical solutions are all discussed in detail. Theory is then brought to life with demonstrations of horses ridden in conventional saddles and then in properly constructed and fitted saddles. 

The second day of the clinic is a dismounted riding clinic. Carol and Lesley have developed an approach to teaching riders which uses both dismounted techniques which some describe as a kind of ‘virtual riding’, and actual riding sessions. With a great deal respect for the Feldenkrais Method®, Carol and Lesley incorporate many of the principles found in Awareness Through Movement® teachings, which creates an excellent basis of self-learning through a greater awareness of balance, co-ordination and efficiency in movement. 

 

 

 

 

            

 

To Register for this amazing clinic, please click below 

Space will be limited 

 

For Location and Travel Info click here 

For more Information email us at equinesciences@gmail.com 

 

Nov 4, 2010  -  One Day Saddling Clinic  -  $100 

  

 

Nov 5, 2010  -  One Day Dismounted Riding Clinic  -  $100 

  

 

Nov 4 & 5  -  Two Day Clinic (both above)   -  $200 

  

 

Nov 6, 2010  -  Have your horse evaluated and fitted  -  $50 

LIMIT OF FIVE HORSES ONLY  -  ON A FIRST COME BASIS 

 Email to equinesciences@gmail.com to register 

Must have attended saddling clinic 

 

Nov 6, 2010  -  Saddle Fitting Spectator  -  $20 

  

 

Must have attended saddling clinic

 

Over twenty years ago, Carol Brett and Lesley Ann Taylor, co-authors of Straight Forward Riding, and co-owners of BALANCE, had an idea to set up a network of like minded individuals who would encourage, the then, unusual aim of creating more 'Whole-istic” environments in which horses could interact with their human partners.   

Part of this journey was to start a project to find out why horses at liberty moved so much better than ridden horses in terms of freedom, suppleness and coordination. 

Both Carol and Lesley, considered that Natural Movement in the horse was the most reliable base line to use, because it was when the horse was able to move as Nature intended him to move, that he would be at his most comfortable, most efficient, most sound and most aesthetically pleasing. 

It appeared that these qualities were usually lost as soon as the horse was ridden.The use of bareback riding made it clear that the rider often had something to do with the problem, but it also made it obvious that the biggest negative influence on the horses Natural Movement was, very often, the saddle.            

 

 

 

This set Carol and Lesley off on a path that was to uncover certain major flaws in the practice and theory of both saddle design and saddle fitting. 

First was the fact that all of the saddles then on the market contained design features that interfered with the horse's Natural Bio-Mechanics. 

Second was that the way saddles were being fitted (and still are) which 

BALANCE refers to as 'conventional saddle fitting' also took no account of the horse's dynamic posture, muscle activity and movement. 

After years of research, consultation with other professionals and feedback from thousands of ridden horses they developed a saddling and riding system that does indeed promote a more 'Whole-istic' way of addressing the horse's needs.

So what does this have to do with hoof care? 

Carol and Lesley are members of the Academy’s distinguished Advisory Panel, and in partnership with the ESA, they have written an e-book on the profound effects of rider/saddle/movement etc. on hoof form and function. This is a required component of the Academy’s Bio-Mechanics class, and is an amazing resource in helping anyone understand not only the possible damaging effects, but how they translate into trimming practice in the field. 

Trimmers who do not recognize compensatory changes in the hoof may in fact exacerbate problems by trying to correct hoof problems by trimming that can only truly be addressed by recognizing saddling/riding issues. It can cause a state of constant “correction” by the trimmer, followed by more compensation by the horse, and set up a vicious and destructive cycle. 

Of course learning to recognize and address these things takes dedication, education and a true desire to help the horse. This is covered in detail in the book which we highly recommend to both professionals and horse owners alike. 

Modern understanding teaches us that riding has a tendency to disturb the horse’s natural balance and co-ordination. This loss of balance disturbs normal patterns of co-ordination and creates abnormal posture and movement and even less efficiency in organs and systems in the body e.g. respiratory and digestive systems because the organs themselves are not supported in the correct way/alignment. Thus a horse ridden in a way that fails to re-dress the imbalance that the rider creates, is likely to end up with all manner of illnesses and lameness that are so common as to be accepted as a normal part of most ridden horses lives! 

On the third day, attendees will be able to bring their horses for a full evaluation and saddle fitting session. Due to the time involved in this thorough and detailed assessment, only five spots are available. 

Their premise is fairly simple and once you hear it, is absolute common sense, but as in so many areas of the equine world, has escaped many of those in the industry. 

At the core of everything that the people behind BALANCE do, is a commitment to keep learning and then sharing what is learned with others who care about horses. The source of their education? It has always been, and will continue to be, the horses themselves. 

Space will be limited, so register early with the ESA. 

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