Horses carry physical and mental trauma, whether it’s from day-to-day minimal wear on joints, or from the more serious impacts of abuse and neglect. Trauma affects neural pathways, leading to pain and restriction, causing compensatory patterns which impact the well-being of our equine friends. Proprioception is, essentially, the awareness of where parts of the body exist in space and time, and how they respond to outside stimulus. Proprioceptive exercises can re-educate pathways away from compensatory patterns.
Join us for this inclusive, laid-back introduction to proprioception and a closer look at the equine pelvic and psoas muscles. This series interweaves human and equine proprioceptive exercises to support healthy collaboration and conditioning between horse and rider. All sessions will include unmounted and optional mounted work, and all levels, disciplines, and breeds are welcome! Lesson horses will be available to approved participants with priority given to existing clients (please let us know in advance if you need to use one of our horses).
Co-facilitated by Erin Calhoun of Pas de Cheval Horse Rescue and Siv Watkins of Skeleton Key Equine.
Future clinics in this series will include:
June 30th: The Equine Spine
September 29th: The Thoracic Sling
November 17th: The Head, Neck and Poll
Investment: n.b. This is clinic one in a series of four.
$275 per clinic, or
$250 per clinic if participant signs up for all four.
Auditors welcome! ($20 per clinic).
To register, contact Erin at erin.elemental.equestrian@gmail.com
Photos by Helios Equine Photography
Your facilitators:
Erin Calhoun is a certified Centered Riding Instructor and Founder of Pas de Cheval Horse Rescue - a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to the rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming of ex-racehorses. Erin has worked with a wide variety of horses in her rescue work, which has built her foundation in horse training. Her background as a professional ballerina helps to inform her body-centered approach to riding instruction. She is committed to supporting both horses and humans to feel better in their bodies, in order to cultivate deeper relationships to themselves and each other. To learn more, visit www.elementalequestrian.com and www.pasdecheval.org
Siv Watkins is an Associate Practitioner of Equine Positional Release, a Ph.D biologist, and an experienced backcountry rider. Her professional interests include the mental and physical support and rehab of senior horses, horses who have experienced trauma, and ex-racehorses. Siv works with clients to bring balance and strength to their equine companions through science-informed principles of biomechanics and non-force modalities of bodywork. You can find out more about her work at www.skeletonkeyequine.com