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HZA Training - Training Info

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:39 |

Written by Tamasine |

Training - HZA Training

Horsemanship South Africa: Training Information

Free demo DVD's available on request

Please note that generally students MUST bring their own horses. HZA horses are only used for Comfort Zone students or those already studying Silversand Horsemanship and are of a standard deemed satisfactory by HZA to work with the resident horses. Please note that in most cases there are special rates available for Comfort Zone members. If you are a member, please remember to ask about these rates when booking!

Demo days/information days

These are for anyone interested and are charged at R250 per person. I like to try to schedule that more than one person comes for a morning. There will never be more than 4 people for one of these information mornings and they involve demo/talk/Q&A/DVD's and so on and usually run 09.30 until 13.00. They are an ideal way to find out more about the training, ask as many questions as you like and to find out if this kind of horsemanship is for you. You also get to "meet the teacher" as well as the HZA horses.

Group clinics at HZA

For a minimum of 2 people and max 3 together. Students can come to HZA for their own "private clinic" and work for a 3 hour session. They can stay locally or at HZA (when accommodation is available) and can spend the afternoon chilling out, watching any training that might be taking place or study from the HZA library - books and DVD's. Students must bring their own horses.

One on one sessions

These are run over 3 hours or split 1.5 am and 1.5 pm depending on circumstances/my availability/other students etc. The cost of the sessions allows students to have the whole day at HZA and will allow for watching any other work going on during the day/borrowing from the library/have private practice/do outrides and so on at HZA in addition to your lesson time. Please contact us for current rates.

Foundation Clinics

These are run as 2 day clinics plus an evening lecture the night before. Prices are based on max 6 people taught 3 x am and 3 x pm. I will teach fewer but the rate will of course work out at more per person - the same fee is still applicable as if 6 people attend. Spectators a welcome but are limited to 4 and they must also attend the evening lectures/intro and both full days. We have found that this is the most successful format for clinics and by limiting spectators, the students with their horses are more relaxed and there is more consistency. Having listeners attend all days and evenings means that there is less disruption and they also get the full information. Where possible, the cost of transport to the venue is included but there may be additional charges for flights and accommodation and so on - it will depend on how many days I will be teaching in an area and where that area is. I do not do Foundation work other than as a clinic unless someone is coming to HZA for a study period of a few days or bringing a horse for starting/re-starting - there is a lot to cover and usually a one or two hour session is far too intense and too much to take in for one person and one horse. It is better to set yourself up for success - and so the clinic format is by far the best for students starting out on this journey.

General clinics and mini-clinics

Mini-clinics run with two people riding together over 2 hours and they must be of a similar level. Usually they are run when there are students who have gone beyond Foundations and are moving on, maybe to more ridden work. There are still 6 students over the day, taught in pairs and they will all watch the other lessons also. They are usually done as "add on days" to general clinics unless there are enough students to run a few days of mini-clinics. On these occasions I sometimes it may be possible to organise one on one sessions but again there needs to be 6 x students over a day. Sometimes these sessions can be added on to a half day Foundation Clinic, still held over two days, but where there are students wishing to get started but not enough to run a clinic of 6. This usually happens in an area where students have already started studying and new people are beginning to show interest.

Sometimes one on one sessions are not as cost effective as the cost can be higher, especially if I am in an area only for a day or so. I like to try and keep charges as reasonable as possible. All lessons are around an hour to an hour 20 minutes - to allow for discussions/questions and thinking time! Rates are different for when I am away from HZA and one on one sessions are always possible at HZA and at a lower rate. As outlined above, it is better to set yourself up for success - and so the clinic format is by far the best for students starting out on this journey.

One on one lessons - available at HZA for both Comfort Zone members and non-members although the rates will differ. If I travel locally to teach there is a charge per km on top of this and a charge for the travel time. It is often better for someone to book a private day here as outlined above or to organise your own clinic with friends as this is the most cost effective method. Also, it is much more fun and better for the learning process to study with friends. I do not do Foundation work other than as a clinic unless someone is coming to HZA for a study period of a few days or bringing a horse for starting/re-starting.

Video Lessons - Comfort Zone members only charged per hour of my time.

Training for horses/humans - Livery training is also available at HZA but with a maximum of 3 months and maybe 4 under special circumstances. The first week to two weeks is of intensive training and is charged at a weekly rate, thereafter the charge is "per month" of training. Sometimes a horse may require the first two weeks as intensive but this is not always the case - it can be useful during a young horse start or a more difficult re-start. Horses will not be turned into the HZA herd unless under special circumstances an then only if they are well mannered with other horses and without shoes. Do not expect your horse to join the herd. Feet will be maintained but we will not deal with difficult foot pathologies - please consult a hoofcare professional and details can be found on our Links page. All food must be provided although we hope at some point to be able to provide hay. Horses should have passports and the usual HZA vaccination requirements for AHS, Flu/Tet and strangles where applicable or requested. We hope to soon offer accommodation so you can stay on site with your horse where and when possible, although there is always good, local accommodation within driving distance.

Young Horse Starting/Re-starting

Please see our specific section on this work.

Other requests for quotations and up to date rates for intensive training, training with accommodation for the student, working student places and so on: please contact us via our Contacts page

Last Updated (Saturday, 31 July 2010 12:44)

HZA Training

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:28 |

Written by Tamasine |

Training - HZA Training

Young Horse Handling and Early Training Available at HZA

We have been finding that we are getting increasing numbers of requests from owners about young horse handling prior to starting. Often owners find that their young horse is not as easy to lead as they would like, it tends to rush, push on them, is lacking in confidence and so on. We have therefore decided to offer training options to help with some of these issues and we aim to address this during the training sessions - usually offering to take in horses for between one and two weeks. Sometimes, but not often, a horse may require a longer stay - but this is usually for an owner's specific needs or if there is some particularly difficult issue that may need addressing.

We are happy to consider horses of any age - so if you have a youngster that is not yet weaned and still with mum - you would be welcome to bring both horses to stay. Dates and requirements should be checked at the time of booking as, for example, horses from some areas must have had their second AHS vaccination in place for 60 days before travel is allowed.

Work includes catching, haltering, leading, simple obstacles, confidence building, trailer loading, water crossing, basic yields, gates, foot handling, worming preparation etc. Owners are required to spend at least two sessions working with their horse in order to be able to continue working with their young horse at home and we invite owners to watch as much of the training as they can and a DVD and daily diary are provided at the end of the training time. There is no additional charge for the two sessions.

Remember - you get out as much as you put in and training will only stay in place if the human handler/owner is dedicated, committed and consistent with the training and is prepared to continue the work.

Booking Information:

Please contact us for a quotation
Contract and further details are given on booking
Vaccination requirements - Flu/Tet, AHS 1 and 2.

Please contact us if you are interested or would like more information on this, restarting horses, general training, residential study or for details on organising a clinic in your area. We sometimes hold young horse starting camps and these will be detailed under Events.

Free demo DVD's available on request.
Support group and training programmes available for onward study for those interested.

Last Updated (Saturday, 31 July 2010 09:59)

Young Horse Starting and Re-starting

Thursday, 29 July 2010 07:24 |

Written by Tamasine |

Training - HZA Training

Young Horse Starting and Re-Starting

Please note: priority booking and preference will be given to members of the Comfort Zone and those already committed to studying Silversand Horsemanship. We do offer, from time to time, young horse starting and re-start clinics and periods of training with visiting instructors - please look out for those on our Events page. These specific clinics are hosted in different areas of RSA and are with Silversand Associate Instructors who have a special interest in this kind of work or with ProHorse Germany (see their details under Training).

Requirements for Attending

Horses must be a minimum of 3 years and must be in good health and condition. We will require some information on your horse - size, age, photo, breed and so on and all horses must be up to date with the AHS and Flu/Tet. Not all horses are of a size, build or mental state to have the first starting work done on them at 3 years and this is why we need as much information as possible to decide if your horse should maybe wait a little longer before being started.

Different horses learn at different rates and we usually recommend that a horse is with us for around 3 months, however some may be able to go home earlier, but this will depend on the horse and also the experience and ability of the owner/handler of the horse. It must be noted that horses are still very green when they return home and the work must be continued in a consistent way and one that continues the work already started in the same way. A clear idea of how to continue and how much to do with your horse will be given when you take it home. Work should be steady and the horse not over-ridden. Most work should take place from the time the horse is 4 or 4.5 years onwards and then it should be gradually increased over time. The horse must be allowed to learn and develop in a correct and sustainable way so that he may carry a rider into his old age without harm.

Horses coming for re-start work may require additional input and owners/handlers will need to be very clear and consistent in their onward training. There may be a very specific programme that you are asked to follow.

Horses are checked by an Equine physio during their time here and should also have their feet and teeth in good order before arrival. All horses should have been chemically de-wormed prior to their arrival. This applies for any venue where young horse or re-start clinics are held over a period of time.

What is Covered During Training

Horses will usually be under saddle, be able to walk, trot and canter alone and in company in that time, go on outrides and be able to perform basic moves including sideways and back up and they should be able to perform halt to trot and maybe halt to canter departures. They may not have done much bridle work in that time but will have been introduced to the bridle. Horses will have worked with trailer loading and be able to negotiate small obstacles with a rider on board, they will cross water, be introduced to ropes - dragging alongside them in various gaits and with a rider on top, they will have done basic schooling and be used to riding out with dogs. They will be able to stand on a block and be confident with ropes around their feet and hind quarters. Should there be any reason that something can not be achieved in the time available - maybe for a physical reason or historic reason, this will be discussed with the owner and documented. Ideas and suggestions about how to proceed will also be given.

For the first two weeks are of intensive work, horses are worked each day with two days off during the week. They then generally move on to being worked around three days per week. Sessions are not usually longer than an hour, but sometimes work may be done in short training sessions several times per day. Horses are always given time to 'think' and rest. Problem horse work/re-starts can be more complicated and take longer - but sometimes the situation is not as serious as the owner may think and this kind of horsemanship and equine learning theory can often make extraordinary and fast changes in the horse. Usually we have a good idea about the state of mind of the horse and how serious or not the issue may be in the first day or so and often in the first session, so we are able to give owners a report about what we might expect and the time scale it may take.

Owner Participation

We like owners to be present as much as possible and it is important that they undertake some training with your horse. The horse usually is easy to train and learns quickly - the human needs to learn to understand their horse and be able to continue the work. We do have a support group, home study programme and offer help and support to on-going students. A free DVD of your horse, taken during training, is provided to each owner at the end of the course. More details can also be found about training in other areas of this website.

Other Conditions

Quotations are given on request and of course, if horses are ready sooner, they will return home sooner.
The rates include a grass paddock, but not hay, lucerne or concentrates - owners must provide these for their horse
Owners get three free lessons with their horses per month - additional lessons can be booked
Ideally and if you have one, you should supply saddle and possibly bridle with your horse although the latter is not essential
For HZA starts and re-start work you should have an interest in Silversand horsemanship, but this might not be the case with all clinics organised or with other visiting trainers
Full and more in depth details are given on booking along with a contract
Owners are welcome from week 2 and can attend daily if they so wish
In some cases there may be a paddock charge, although this is generally not the case with longer term training

Accommodation

For horses sent to HZA - there is good, affordable local accommodation for their owners and we can give you information on this. Where possible and when it is available, accommodation can be provided at the centre. We hope to be able to supply hay in the future, but even if we can, this will not always guaranteed. Currently owners must supply hay with their horses.

Last Updated (Saturday, 31 July 2010 09:34)