Dressage - it's not just for 'fancy' riders - it's for KIDS too!!

We've ALL watched riders who effortlessly make horses
do lovely things, without seeming to do anything at all!
They have perfected the craft of 'talking' to horses in a way
that's clear and easy for the horse to understand. Sound
really difficult? It's not! Dressage riders are taught a
variety of techniques that maximize communication,
precision, and balance - and as the riding improves,
so does the overall responsiveness of the horse, making
more pleasurable rides, & more confidence in the rider!
Dressage camp is NOT JUST for experienced equestrians
or kids who already ride well - it's fun for EVERYONE!
The best part about Dressage training is that it's NEVER
'complete' or 'finished' at any time - you can begin with
introductory levels as a child, and continue on to show at
FEI (International) levels, such as World Cup Las Vegas!
Ok, so that may take a while (grin) but it's a continuous road
and it's well organized by governing bodies across the world,
making it a very inviting discpline we'd love to introduce to
your child at Summer Horse Camp. We love dressage, it's fun!

Dressage for our campers is taught in an
arena that measures 20 x 40 metres - and around
this arena are markers with letters - and it's
these letters that allow a rider to focus on
their precision, learning how to correctly give
aids, do transitions, and learn riding balance,
to follow a perscribed pattern suited to their
riding level, & work towards riding a 'test'.
A dressage test is simply a pattern that tests
the precision and accuracy of a rider and horse.
Our camp program is split into levels, based
on ability - so for EVERY level of rider, from
beginners to those with advanced riding skills -
there truly is something for EVERYONE!

Campers learn to ride each pattern with skill!

From a proper warmup and cool down to
learning suppleness, impulsion and rhythm, we
cover all the basics to encourage proper riding
skills & technique with a focus on dressage figures.
Presented in a fun, interesting format - dressage rocks!
Our campers will enjoy their riding and the basics will be
moulded into something fun and easy to learn
so that our campers (and the horses!) will benefit!

Dressage - A style or riding derived from CAVALRY
methods that teach responsiveness and athleticism
to horse and rider using prescribed exercises ....

That's just one of the many definintions for dressage.
Dressage does have it's roots in the dark ages,
since around 430 BC when the great Xenophon
(a greek scholar, historian and cavalry officer)
outlined the riding methods by which the Greek
Cavalry could better train their stallions for battle.
Surprisingly, much of what he wrote holds true
today, and every dressage buff knows the story!
Each of the advanced movements in dressage come
from different techniques that warriors used to
pound their enemies from horseback - even the
expressive Passage and Piaffe were developed
(believe it or not) as a means of trampling
the enemy foot soldiers when locked in battle!
This highly stylized, expressive movement is now
standard fare at FEI level dressage performances!
Of course, camp can't accomplish this majestic
feat for our campers, but we'll learn the basics
that put us on the road to moving up through the
levels, and maybe some will go on to great things!

Campers learn to ride smoothly & harmoniously!

Cantering with balance and rhythm - FUN!

Anyone who has ever ridden loves to canter!
For riders who are ready, the lessons will focus
on improving rhythm and balance, so that the
worlds most popular 'gait' will become very
enjoyable - a balanced horse is a smooth horse,
and cantering is MUCH easier when rider and
horse get things together and ride harmoniously.

We are very pleased to be offering this camp for beginners!

As a coach, I thoroughly enjoy seeing the small fry's
working on their dressage. It's a very simple and easy
way to develop riding programs for youngsters, because
Dressage organizations have done the work for you!
Dressage levels run from Walk Trot, to Training Level
(the first level that includes cantering) all the way up
to Third level and beyond, to Grand Prix & FEI Levels.
(Everyone is familiar with the freestyle & the Olympics!)
It's a 'staircase' program, with each level leading to
the next one - you get good at your level, and move up!
Horses love dressage too - because riders are better
able to communicate, and horses really do love precision.
Riding well is the result - and having a 'goal' is a good
way to encourage young students to work hard and
have a focus, which will adds pleasure to riding!
Kids love structure, and with goals come progress-
there isn't a child in the world who doesn't see the
quick benefits of learning to ride with good basics.

Dressage is very suited to a camp program.

Of course, like all our camps - there is plenty of riding time!

Our horses know the ropes, and are well trained and
friendly critters that are safe for all riding levels.
Our camp is one that focuses on lots of riding time,
because kids love to ride - no crafts here! It's
all about the horses and that's how our campers
progress so rapidly in their riding. It's been said
many times to us, by parents, that their kids came
home from camp with more confidence, new focus,
and much improved riding skills - it's because we

RIDE & RIDE!

And now, a bit about the 'TEST'.

Most campers shudder at the thought of having
to do a test - well, that's until they see the RIBBONS!
This camp has a SCHOOLING SHOW at weeks' end
put on in conjunction with the Glamorgan farm series.
A Schooling show is basically a show where you can
learn the ins' and outs' of putting together your skills
to show off a bit - and makes for less nerves, since
it's low key & RELAXED. The Dressage Show is here at
the farm, which makes things easier - and our campers
will learn that the best way to learn to show is DO IT!
AND YES! Like every other horse show, there's tons of
ribbons!! Fear NOT! Our job is to get you ready, so you
can enjoy your show and feel confident and ready to ride.
This is a friendly event, and we'll help our campers learn
how to braid, how to dress, and bathe the horses - if
you love riding, you'll love showing, because it's almost
like having a giant barbie to get ready! It's not hard
and even our most timid riders always admit
by the end of the day that SHOWING was really FUN!

As always, we go for full
immersion!  From our cozy cabin
with nightly crackling campfire
in an on farm wilderness
campsite ~ to our nightly ritual
of goofing around & relaxing
by a roaring fire or watching a
movie - it's an atmosphere
that's proven itself to be a
popular teenage experience!
There's room for everyone
in this spacious cabin - but
no fighting over the couch!

Relaxing at night and enjoying
marshmallows is a main attraction
of all our horse camps!

Follow this link to a page we've made highlighting all the greatest tack stores
just in case you wish to purchase something for your child's summer horse camp
experience.  We'd like to help you outfit your campers within budget!

For more information on how to sign up,
please contact

Highland Wilderness Tours
Matt & Penny Nicol, Box 211, Maynooth, Ontario, K0L 2S0
1-613-338-2330  or toll free    1-866-RYD-WILD
info@ridethewilderness.com

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