Ride In Harmony
Colleen is a positive and patient instructor. Fear is common around horses, and she’s especially understanding and encouraging with timid riders. She uses teaching methods based on the individual’s needs.
Riders learn positive training techniques, without using force or gimmicks. By increasing awareness of how your body and your horse’s work together, your horse becomes trusting and more consistent. Using quiet methods instill trust and increase your horse’s confidence. Colleen helps riders help themselves; she wants you to be your own coach. This way her goal of having a thoughtful, sensitive, confident rider and willing, balanced, enjoyable horse is met.
All riding levels and disciplines are welcome. Beginners learn the “how” and “why” of handling, riding & communicating with horses – safely. More advanced riders will refine seat & body use skills, developing “feel” and a much closer relationship with their horse. Special issues or challenges are welcome. She has calm, well trained school horses available for lunge lessons or regular riding lessons.
For Beginner Students, riding time is approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The student’s time grooming and tacking up is very important for observing horse behavior, asking questions, learning theory, the how & why of safety rules, horse conformation/movement, and management & care. Questions during lessons are always welcome.
Intermediate & Advanced riders: Please arrive early and have your horse groomed & tacked up.
Non-mounted lessons or groundwork is an essential part of horsemanship. Colleen may take advantage of inclement weather to do groundwork such as lunging, learning about saddle fit, tack cleaning and care, brush-up on your horses’ manners, learn in-depth grooming/clipping methods, practice 4-H showmanship, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Something to think about: the majority of time you spend with your horse is actually spent on the ground (feeding, catching, leading, tying, grooming, lunging, saddling, bathing, clipping), not actually in the saddle. . . . .
Weather considerations: If you’re in doubt about the weather, please contact Colleen before your lesson (cell phone: (517) 749-5042, e-mail: colleen@horsemagazine.com). In general, temperatures below 20 degrees or above 90 degrees make it difficult to concentrate and learn. For everyone’s safety, Colleen does not teach if the ground is saturated, in pouring rain, or thunder. Don’t hesitate to contact her with questions—the weather in Michigan changes fast!
To schedule a lesson, please e-mail, call, or use the online calendar for available lesson times. To schedule online, find an open time and e-mail a pending lesson appointment. Colleen will reply with either a confirmed or alternate time.
For your safety, an SEI approved riding helmet, long pants and riding boots required.
