LESSONS FOR THE RECREATIONAL WESTERN RIDER

Ms. Jean is one of very few authentic western trainers and instructors in Northern Virginia.

As of 2024, Ms. Jean shares 20 years of experience as a professional instructor with her students. Select students learn about many aspects of horsemanship, starting with the cornerstone of this program, horse psychology within the herd environment.

Students will learn about:

-Herd dynamics in domestication
-Herd communication
-Leadership within the herd
-Important factors that impact a horse's ability
-Using human body language to appropriately communicate with a horse
-Reading horse body language to help understand a horse's needs
-RELAXATION IS THE KEY TO LEARNING FOR ALL
-Basics of horse knowledge including catching, leading, grooming, saddling, mounting, dismounting
-Basics of horseback riding intertwined with ALL of the ABOVE including but not limited to warm-up for a horse, the walk, the trot, the canter, one rein stops, lunging, ground work exercises, exercises to engage the horse's brain
-Students will learn to work in a round pen, an arena and on the trails

**LESSONS WILL BE ON THE GROUND WITH THE HORSE, AS WELL AS UNDER-SADDLE**

The Natural Connection INC Horsemanship Levels of Learning are as follows:

Beginner I : Intro lessons to include horse handling on the ground and then learning to ride independently at the walk. Under-saddle, students will learn to be proficient at the walk, steering, the halt, and the one rein stop at the walk.

Beginner II: Intro lessons to include review of walk work and introduction to the trot. At this stage, students continue to work on the repetition of catching, grooming and saddling horses, and prepping for ride time may include ground work with the horse based on the horses needs. Under-saddle, students will learn to be proficient at the walk in different environments, and will be introduced to the post and trot and one rein stops at the trot.

Beginner III: Intro lessons to include review of walk and trot work. Under-saddle students must be very proficient at steering at walk and trot in an arena environment, as well as comfortable with the steps for the one rein stops at the trot. Students will be introduced to the canter and learn about the mechanics of sitting to the canter and one reins stops in the canter. Students are introduced to trail riding at this level as well!

Advanced Beginner: Intro lessons to include proficiency at the walk, trot and canter doing more challenging pattern work. Students will learn to do trot and canter work in a variety of settings.

Intermediate I: Intro lessons to include riding a variety of different horses and eventually learning how to work on horses in training.

EACH STUDENT LEARNS AT HIS OR HER OWN TIME AND PACE...STUDENTS THAT EXCEL AT RIDING ARE OFTEN HEALTHY, ATHLETIC AND DRIVEN INDIVIDUALS. THESE RIDERS GENERALLY CHOOSE TO RIDE NO LESS THAN ONE TIME PER WEEK, REGULARLY. HORSEBACK RIDING IS THE ART OF BODY COMMUNICATION, SO YOU PROGRESS BASED ON THE TIME YOU PUT IN. YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE THE ART OF HUMAN TO HORSE COMMUNICATION TO BECOME PROFICIENT. IDEALLY, THE MORE YOU RIDE, THE BETTER YOU SHOULD GET AT ALL THE SKILLSETS NEEDED FOR BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE AND KIND PARTNER FOR YOUR HORSE.

Interested in a trial lesson? Those are available online! Take a look at the calendar and select the blue BOOK RESERVATION NOW button. Select Trial Lesson and find a date and time that works for you. Follow the instructions to complete the reservation and you will receive a confirmation email. We look forward to meeting you!