HORSES HEAL HEARTS
Horse(wo)manship Experiences
Sales Program
Horsemanship School
Riding Lessons, Horse Training, and Colt Starting
Vicki Rose has been been teaching riding lessons and training horses since 1989. She loves teaching riders of all levels safe and proper horsemanship whether in the arena or out on the trail. Vicki is most passionate about starting colts and restarting horses with proper groundwork, using the methods of Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman. She believes that groundwork lays the foundation for all successful riding, and she includes it in all of her sessions and lessons. Whether you have an interest to go on a relaxed, stress free trail ride, learn how to canter, or even jump small jumps, Vicki can help you get there!
Vicki is also passionate about training horses, and can help you with any problems you are currently having. From ground manners to trailer loading to creating a lighter, more responsive horse, Vicki has the experience to get to the bottom of any training issue there is.
Lessons cover all things horse, as Vicki is passionate about teaching horsemanship. We'll do groundwork sometimes with several horses, and you'll learn how to get the horses ready with and without crossties, doing groundwork and practicing mindfulness while doing all the necessary tasks. Vicki will either be on her horse or doing groundwork with it by your side, showing you the exercises and then giving you your own time and space to explore and practice. We will often switch horses so I can demonstrate things. We might take a break and watch one of Bucks's videos or read and discuss a blog post from a respected horseman. Sometimes I'll just put some of my favorite country music on and let us both practice with our horses. We might watch the horses in the pasture and identify Calming Signals. No matter what we do, we'll do it in a way that puts the horses first and keeps us learning!
I am SO EXCITED to introduce a labor of love, something I've been dreaming about for years-Horsemanship School! A place where self awareness is our aim and a place where the horses come first. I am excited to share with you the knowledge I’ve gained from over 50 years of working with horses. I’ve put together this curriculum not only to help me be the most effective teacher, but also to help outline for you what it will require to learn just the very basics of riding. This program is meant for very beginning to advanced novice students. My focus is on teaching proper horsemanship and correct, effective riding while making the understanding of the horse the most important thing. Once you’ve completed this program you’ll be well on your way to becoming a top-notch horseperson!
As you move through the curriculum’s levels, you will learn groundwork and riding skills that progress from entry level to advanced. In order to move onto the next level, students will need to complete both a written test and demonstrate their competency while completing each levels’ tasks. The levels build on each other as well as contain items that we will constantly be circling back to in our lessons. EVERYONE will starts in Tiny Tot/Greenhorn so that we make sure nothing that I give you later will be too difficult for you or confusing to the horse. Remember that my number one goal here is that the horse comes first-that means that we need to communicate effectively and put our egos aside. The more time you take to work on the basics, the faster you will progress in your knowledge of horsemanship. See the horsemanship school page for more information and click here to read the Curriculum.
Horse(wo)manship Sessions
In this non-riding program, Vicki teaches women how to connect to their authentic selves and navigate life’s challenges through the help of a horse. I teach you how you can find JOY by watching the simplicity of a horse's life and emulating them. We learn to be present by watching them be present. Horses brains are different than ours-they have no Prefrontal Lobe, so they cannot worry about the future and they do not ruminate on the past. In one of my student's words "You mean they don't have a PLANNER?!?" They are 100% in the present moment, 100% of the time. And in their herds, horses naturally move through their days by skillfully navigating various relationship challenges. They have evolved to survive in the wild by refining their relational skills, all while staying 100% in the present moment. Wow! If only I could be like that!!
To become a horsewoman is to become a part of their herd. The horse that does not successfully navigate these skills is at risk because its successful collaboration with the herd assures its survival. And the opposite is true as well-the overall success of the herd depends upon each member's ability to refine these skills. So we learn from them that we have a RESPONSIBILITY to be our own authentic, present selves. Only in this way can we be of maximum service and help to our families, friends, and coworkers. Horses can be our greatest teachers for navigating the trials and tribulations of life!
Through our exercises with the horses, we'll explore certain themes which arise in our lives and oftentimes can:
• Create difficulties in our relationships with others
• Inhibit our ability to achieve our goals and dreams
• Hamper our ability to be our true authentic selves
Vicki's Horse(wo)manship Retreats will teach you how to:
Become More Mindful and Present
Access the Power of Detached Observation
Communicate Clearly
Learn How To Collaborate with Others
Know When to Lead and When to Follow
Match Your Body Language to Your Feelings and Intention
Set Boundaries and Command Respect of Personal Space
Have Confidence Which Will Give You a Feeling of Safety
Trust Yourself
Feel and Express Joy
Navigate Transitions with Good Timing
Learn How to Let Go When Appropriate
Advocate and Speak Up For Yourself and Others
Listen To Others Better
Set Goals and Regroup After Setbacks
Use Energy and Life Force To Your Benefit
Set Clear Boundaries Between Worktime and Playtime
Understand and Transcend the Predator/Prey Dynamic
Work With Distractions
By observing the horse, working with them in the round pen, journaling, and practicing short guided meditations, Horse(wo)manship participants learn that horses can be the greatest teachers for the lessons of our lives. In the Horse(wo)manship work, we learn about and actually practice working through the challenging themes in our lives that keep us from living a life of lightness, freedom, and full ownership of our own authentic selves.