Horse Training in Lightness
Over the past 27 years Leanne has achieved her Equestrian Australia, National Coaching Levels 1, 2 & 3 in Dressage and is a level 2 Jumping Equitation Judge. Leanne is a level 1 licensed teacher in Philippe Karl’s School of Légèreté.
During her riding career Leanne trained and competed Avoca Black Saint to Grand Prix and in that time represented both Australia and Victoria. Leanne’s currently continuing the development of her riding with the School of Légèreté and studies many aspects in maintaining and improving the horse and rider’s wellbeing with a bio-mechanical explanation.
Leanne's Five Steps Process to Training in Lightness
Leanne has dedicated her life’s work to the best and kindest training procedures for the most successful results.
It all starts with 5 simple steps...
Intro to Cavesson
Cavesson work aids horses in developing their strength, improving balance, and improving suppleness, all of which teaches them to use their bodies more sustainably and comfortably (for us and them) for riding.
By working on these points, we create horses with an increased performance life.
Lunging Inc Cavalletti
During lunging, we introduce movement whilst maintaining a relaxed posture while we assess the muscular development of the horse.
It is the first time we get to look at the natural balance of the horse while moving.
Including Cavalletti:
Cavelletti training on the lunge is a wonderful way of building confidence, co-ordination, bascule (lowering of one end while raising the other), strength and symmetry in your horse.
Mouthing Process
Part 1: Contact
Our method involves no backward actions on the mouth, instead, all actions are in an upward direction – as a rule, up the line of the cheek piece.
Part 2: Balance
For the horse to have a truly relaxed mouth we need to be able to maintain as much balance as possible laterally (right/left) and longitudinally (forwards/backwards) and diagonally in all positions.
Part 3: Bend
During halt, develop neck bend of 45 to 90 degrees to the body, without poll flexion. There should be no loss of balance during this process.
Part 4: Extension
Extending the neck forwards and downwards, so that the poll is lower than the withers, without losing balance over the shoulders.
In-Hand Work
Once the horse is confident with all initial exercises, both from the front and from the side (left and right) we can add movement (walk & trot) while working on the contact, balance, bend and neck extension.
We start with the basics but with work, you can begin all the lateral movements such as shoulder in, travers, renvers, half pass and walk pirouettes.
This ultimately leads to the development of the piaffe and passage exercises.
Mounting & Riding
The ultimate outcome for the mounting process that we have designed, is for the horses to stand so quietly that any person of any age, or ability, can mount.
Once we reach the ridden stage, we revisit previous steps while riding to ensure the horse understands that we are asking for the same things under saddle as we did on the ground.
The first four stages of training should not be forgotten and always be re-visited when necessary.
Training options with Leanne Williams at Avoca Park or with our affiliated Partners.
Performance Horses
Performance Horse Training is for horses of all levels and is based on improving the education, rideability and athletic performance of your horse.
Horses are worked 5 days per week and training is tailored to you and your horse's needs.
We use cavalletti and have a 250m track and trails to hack out on with an obstacle course to mix it up.
First Steps to Piaffe - Jason McInnes & Leanne Williams
First Steps to Piaffe is a joint venture by Leanne Williams and Jason McInnes.
Leanne and Jason are students in Philippe Karl’s School of Légèreté, both being drawn to Philippe’s logical and empathetic training system.
Between the two of them, Leanne and Jason have in excess of 50 years of experience in training horses regarding breeding, initial handling, the backing process, groundwork, in-hand work, competition training and general horsemanship.
Dressage in Lightness Online
Dressage in Lightness Online is a platform designed by Leanne Williams which is dedicated to helping owners train their own mounts in safe and productive steps.
Foundation Training
Foundation Training introduces weanlings to all the necessary basics of life as a well-trained horse.
Duration: 2-3 weeks
Includes:
Catching & Leading
Tying Up
Handling Legs & Hooves
Washing & Rugging
Re-Training
Does your horse have problem behaviours in-hand and/or under saddle? Is your horse 'lazy' or 'pushy?' Do they feel crooked, tense or nervous?
Our re-training is tailored to you and your horse's specific needs.
Duration: Depending on horse. Minimum 2 weeks
Float Training
Float Training
Special Needs Training
Specialty training for horse lovers/riders with unique situations. Discuss your needs with us so we can tailor your horse's training.
Intro to Cavesson
The cavesson training is an important part of our initial work with the horses, we use a very simple cavesson with one single ring on the nose. The cavesson is NOT to be used as an instrument for punishment in any way shape or form, the cavesson is to aid us in teaching the horses how to use their bodies in a way that is more conducive with comfortable riding for both us and them.
Lunging
Lunging is an integral part of our training system, it is the second stage and is the time that we commence the locomotion whilst maintaining a more relaxed posture and natural balance (the balance that the horse travels in without any influence form us). This can be longitudinal, lateral or diagonal balance.
It is also the time that we get to expose them to the arena and surrounding environment. All the while allowing them to learn how to organize their bodies and develop strength in a way that is conducive with carrying a rider with beauty.
Including Cavelletti
We incorporate cavalletti into the lunging stage of training after the horses have started to develop some natural balance both longitudinally, laterally and diagonally.
It is also a great way to continue to develop your relationship with your horse, communicating via body language, verbally and with the extension of your artificial aids.
Mouthing Process
Also known as the 'education of the mouth process.' Can be broken down into four easy to understand components:
CONTACT
'Contact' is the connection between the rider’s elbow and the horse’s mouth, through the hand via the reins and to the bit. 'Acceptance of the Contact' is answering the question “how confident is the horse to the rider’s rein aids?” Confidence comes from understanding the bit and the rein aids.
There should be no backwards action on the mouth as it causes unnecessary pressure on the horses’ tongue and teeth which can be the first step to loss of confidence in the bit or the hand. We want to see a relaxed jaw (chewing without tension). The mobility of the jaw is essential in the ongoing training of the horse, as a tight jaw cannot have a relaxed mind or body.
BALANCE
Front legs should be at a 90-degree angle to the ground and the point of hock should be underneath the point of buttock. This enables us to access the power of the hind quarter by asking for energy, in turn bascule is initiated by the engagement of the core muscles and the process of lengthening the neck has begun.
BEND
Once we have improved the balance we can then ask our horses to bend both to the left and to the right. Bend is the lateral flexion of the horses neck – or more specifically the cervical vertebrae. The horses back remains straight through the thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebrae. During bend we are looking for the nose to stay vertical to the ground, with no head tilt or poll flexion. and be able to stretch around without force in both directions.
NECK EXTENSION
We not only maximise the stretching of the muscles in the outside half of the neck, but we also stretch the horse’s topline. We use an aid called action / reaction to develop this posture.
In-Hand Work
The in-hand work leads directly on from the “education of the mouth”. Once your horse is very confident with all the initial exercises, both from the front and from the side (left and right) we can add in the locomotion. That is, walking while working on the contact, balance, bend and neck extension. Initially it will just be working on stop, go, turn left and turn right, you can begin circles, counter bend turns, rein-back and transitions including walk / halt / walk, walk / trot / walk and halt / trot / halt. With work, you can begin all the sideways movements such as shoulder in, traver, renver, half pass and walk pirouettes. This ultimately leads to the development of the piaffe and passage exercises.
Mounting Lessons
The ultimate outcome for the mounting process, that we have designed, is for the horses to stand so quietly that any person of any age, or ability, can mount.
Ridden Work
Once you get to the ridden stage it is an exciting time, but the first four stages should not be forgotten and always re visited when necessary.
The world has now opened to the all the exercises that will aid in helping the development of your horse’s symmetry and continue the journey of the new relationship you are developing with your horse.
Remember to take your time, give yourself time to develop your own skills and give your horse time to understand what you are trying to achieve. Once you are into the ridden stage enjoy the learning.
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