NZ Horse Help Clinics with Teresa and Michaela 

Clinics are are very helpful for establishing good experiences and skills in group situations.  They are an ideal environment to have your horse be around other horses, whilst he/she learns to focus on what the rider or handler is asking. We run a range of clinics which offer help for various needs of horses and people.The format of the clinics include: Regular Riding Clinics, Topic Specific Clinics and Multi Day Clinics with Teresa and Michaela. We also host international Clinicians horsemen and woman - in 2012 it was Dave Weaver of The Californios!

If you are interested in participating in our clinics, you can contact us. Take a look at our options - if you are local, and you want to join our regular Sunday AM clinic, or if you are coming from further a field, then the Multi Day Clinics are an option too. Or if you want to book a private clinic on a specific date, get in touch and we will see what we can do. If you have any reservations about bringing your horse to a group situation, gives us a call or email and we would love to chat with you about it and how we may help.

• We run clinics almost every weekend! 
• Ph: 09 420 6018
• e-mail: nzhorsehelp@gmail.com 
• See our schedule 

 

Options

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Weekly Clinics - Sunday Morning Clinic

 

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'Weekend Warrior' 1/2 Day  Riding Clinics - Sunday Mornings 

A regular event to help people and their horses with whatever they may be needing most to keep progressing.

This class offer's people and their horses a chance to get some help and have some fun on a regular basis. These clinics are very popular and have allowed people to get some really good progress going on with their horse. We have  this regular riding clinic that can address whatever general issues that arise that day or be working on some long term progress. It gives students the opportunity to socialize their horses in a group while challenging their skill level.   We aim to provide a dynamic approach to enhance any horse or riders experience. Learn excersises that compliment the development and responsiveness of your horses physical and mental abilities.

• Held at Liberty Circle Ranch almost every Sunday
•  $70.00 per participant (includes $10.00 arena fee) 
• min 3 riders and max: 6 winter, 12 in summer
• Ready to ride at 10am - Duration of 2-3 hours
• Then, after the ride, (if you wish), unwind with a cuppa  in Jools's arena side kitchen!

•  Suitable for: All disciplines and stages of horse and rider including 'first timers' in group situations - horse or rider. 

• Requirements: As these are group riding situations, we require horses to be started under saddle and for riders to be ready for the class at the arranged time. If your horse has any serious behavioral issues, please contact us to see if these classes will be a suitable starting point.

 

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Multiple Day and Specialty Clinics and Events

Please see our Calender or contact us via e-mail or phone to find out/book into the clinic(s) we are holding.

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Young Horse and Groundwork  Clinics

Groundwork is the foundation for a calm and happy rider/horse partnership. It is also the building blocks for proper balance and movement required for a horse to carry a rider. Groundwork enables a rider to check out a horse's demeanor and readiness to ride as well as building in patterns to keep you safe in the saddle. It allows for establishing softness, balance and responsiveness. The possibilities are unlimited and the benefits are enormous.

• Held once a month on a Saturday Morning. (see our schedule/ calander or contact us)
•  $70.00 per participant (includes $10.00 arena fee) 
• 9am or 10am start depending on time of year, duration 2-3 hours

 

• Suitable for: Green or unstarted horses, particular problems or issues, introducing your horse to a group situation. Rehab - helping a horse establish a correct way of travelling - i.e problem with canter leads/ leaning. Any rider wanting to learn skills to help educate or problem solve with their horse.  Learn how to properly introduce and use stimulus such as flags and tarps etc.

• Requirements: A properly fitted rope halter and 12ft lead without a clip. If you do not have either of these, get in touch with us prior to the class so we can arrange a 'loaner' set up for you.As there are two of us that give the clinic, we usually can cater for both introductory ground work excersizes and more advanced groundwork in the same clinic, therefore, this clinic is suitable for most all levels of horse and handler.

 

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South Island: Clinics and Lessons

• Held at Topp Lodge Arena, Staveley
• Contact Donna Luxton  
• 03 303 0955 donnafaeluxton@yahoo.co.nz

 

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Foundation to Function

1 -3 Day  Riding clinic with some groundwork.  

We work on helping both horse and rider. We spend time addressing problems, building confidence and teaching individual and group exercises.

We usually start out with riders unmounted but horses saddled, in a halter on the end of the lead line. We like to check out where everyone and their mount is at and address any problems or concerns at the outset.

We will cover some groundwork concepts and skills to prepare for a calm, safe ride. Where necessary we will work the horses ourselves.

Once mounted, we usually run through a few specific exercises to help riders get their horse calm responsive and prepared for the activities ahead.

Once again, if there are any issues that come up, we will address it and help the child/horse out. Once the group is operating smoothly move onto some more fun and challenging exercises and may use the Hoof Ball, Cattle or riding around Liberty Circle Ranch in the process!

• Suitable for: Green horses and/or riders. Establishing successful group experiences and learning excersizes and skills to advance the function of your and your horses abilities. 
• Requirements: As these are group riding situations, we require horses to be started under saddle and for riders to be ready for the class at the arranged time. If your horse has any serious behavioral issues, please contact us to see if these classes will be a suitable starting point.

 

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Riding and Refinement

1-3 Day Riding Clinic focusing on advancing skills.

Get the basics better by working on lateral work, more challenging transitions and understanding collection with your horse. This class will still be building on Foundation- to Function so as with any class we run, we will take time to address any particular issues that arise as well as focussing on the horse and riders understanding of the work at hand.

• Suitable for: Committed Riders with some experience in working through feel, wishing to further their their skills and expand their 'tool kit'. 
• Requirements: To get the most out of these clinics, its best if riders are comfortable at the walk, trot and canter and that the horse has some experience in group situations. 

 

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'Cow'  Clinics 

A) Introduction to Riding with cattle  

Give you and your horse something to focus on whilst improving their carriage, bend and motivation.  Learn about flight zones and balance points and how to influence cattle by shaping your horse.  This class also provides and introduction to the sport and maneuvers of "Sorting". This is NOT a "cattle chasing" clinic, rather a way to improve your riding and your horse whilst tracking, driving and sorting cattle.

• Suitable for: Riders and horses that have never been around cattle. Also for  preparation for any sorting events we hold that you will be participating in.
• Requirements: No previous cow experience is needed. However, riders need to be able to walk, trot, canter, stop and their horse. If your horse has particular group or behavioural problems, please talk with us to see if this class will be a suitable situation to improve those issues.

B) Cows 101

This is a progression from Introduction to Riding with Cattle Clinic. 

• Suitable for: Riders wanting to advance themselves and their horses through the use of cattle and related excersizes.
• Requirements: Riders and their horses need to have attended our Introduction to Riding With Cattle clinic. 

 

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Cattle Sorting Events

Have a go at 'Sorting'. Get together a team mate, and have multiple goes/practice runs at this fun and supportive event.

• Please Note: An Intro to cows Clinic will be held either the day before, or morning of, for those that have not ridden with cattle before. 

• Suitable for: Riders riders need to be able to walk, trot, canter, stop and their horse.
• Requirements: Riders need to have attended our Introduction to Riding with Cattle/Cows Clinics on the mount they are to use for the sorting practice. As mentioned above, we be running one before the event starts. 

 

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Ranch Roping Clinics

Horsemanship is the foundation on which successful and safe Ranch roping can be achieved. There are a few core components that go into safe roping on your horse:
rider proficiency and independence of seat, the horse’s preparation and experience and then actual rope handling skills.
Fortunately, each of these can be worked on separately until the horse and rider are at a stage where all three elements can be combined
Handling a rope from the horses back can be introduced when the rider is able to bend their horse and separate the hindquarters from the forehand, walk, trot, canter, stop and back their horse and has practiced a few ‘fire drills’ to check the solidity of these. Based on all of these factors, we offer the following range of clinics for those interested in the ultimate test of fine horsemanship… Ranch Roping. 

Ranch Roping Introduction

This clinic includes rope handling techniques such as building a loop, managing coils, running rope and basic shots on the dummy. It also covers pre-roping riding skills and horse preparation  and helps solidify your  horses reliability and handiness under saddle so you can safely introduce the rope to your horse.. 

 

• Requirements: You do not need to have a Roping saddle for this class or previous roping experience. However, riders need to be able to walk, trot, canter, stop and bend their horse.

 

Ranch Roping 101

Get started swinging your rope from horsesback and practice riding one handed whilst improving your rope handling techniques and shots on the roping dummy, plus much more!

• Requirements: Riders and their mount need to have attended a NZ Horse Help Ranch Roping Introduction Clinic. Also, if Ranch roping is something you want to pursue you will need to have the 
• right equipment for the job. If you need any advice on this please feel free to have a chat with us.

 

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Hoof Ball Clinics

 

A) Hoof Ball Introduction

If your horse has never done any ridden work with a hoof ball, this is the place to start. We usually introduce the horse to the ball unmounted, and get them tracking it until they get to the point of pushing it with their nose and/or knees. Then we make sure they are ok with the ball 'changing' eyes' around and behind them. After that, we more or less repeat the introduction with the riders mounted.

• Suitable for: All disciplines
• Requirements: Riders need to be able to safely handle their horses on the ground, and be able to walk, trot and stop their horses under saddle.

B) Hoof Ball Team Work

This is a progressions from the Hoof Ball Introduction clinic and involves the horse getting some control over the ball by pushing it, tracking  it at the walk, trot and canter  and being able to move sideways around it. the only work we may do with the horse on the ground in this clinic, is to first make sure he has experienced the ball rolling under his belly from both directions!

 

• Requirements: In general, Riders and their horse, need to have attended our Hoof Ball Introduction Clinic, before participating in this clinic. Riders need to be able to walk, trot canter and stop their horse. Horses need to be comfortable with the Hoof Ball, pushing the ball away from them and having it come towards them. Horse need to demonstrate having the ball go under their belly, and touching their body and legs with the rider unmounted.

 

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Childrens Clinics

 

We offer  1/2 day, 1 and 2 day clinics for children and their horses/ponies.

 

We work on helping both horse and rider. We spend time addressing problems, building confidence and teaching individual and group exercises.

We usually start out with riders unmounted but ponies saddled, in a halter on the end of the lead line. We like to check out where everyone and their mount is at and address any problems or concerns at the outset.

We will cover some groundwork concepts and skills to prepare for a calm, safe ride. Where necessary we will work the horses ourselves if the problem is beyond the current skill level of the child.

Once mounted, we usually run through a few specific exercises to help riders get their horse calm responsive and prepared for the activities ahead.

Once again, if there are any issues that come up, we will address it and help the child/horse out. Once the group is operating smoothly move onto some more fun and challenging exercises and may use the Hoof Ball or Cattle in the process!

 

Requirements:

Gear:

A rope halter and lead without a clip is helpful.

All the usual riding and safety gear for the rider and horse, including a snaffle bridle if you have one.

If you do not have a rope halter and lead, or a snaffle bridle please contact us if you do not have one so we can set something up.

Please provide water, a healthy snack and anything else your child may require. If he/she is attending more than a ½ day clinic, please provide a nutritious packed lunch.

Please provide some hay for your pony to have at lunch. If the pony is staying overnight, you will need to provide ample hay (and additional feed if required).

Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times whilst being around, handling and riding the horses.  Riding boots – with a heel and no large tread are to be worn whilst riding.

Children must wear approved riding helmets whilst mounted.

We expect children to:

Follow basic safety precautions

Behave in a sensible and respectful manner, considering the needs of others

Get permission before handling of any horses/ponies or venturing off...

For the safety and enjoyment of all, we ask that children pay attention and follow our instruction. 

Contact us if you have any questions!