Saddling Services Offered
- BALANCE Saddling Consultations.
- Saddling re-assessments & help for those who have previously bought saddles ( although for this there is a 2 hour minimum if Mary is not already at the location. Mary is happy to fill the time with a ridden lesson, in hand work or dismounted work).
- Lecture-Demos and Workshops/Courses/Clinics
- Coaching & Support for those helping their horses through the BALANCE Remedial Programme
- Follow up support using Skype/Facetime/Videos and phone calls
- Trailer in possible. Riding ring and 6′ x 60′ round pen available. Overnight stabling and room also available.
- Distance/Remote help with the BALANCE Remedial Programme
- Distance/Remote Pad Checks
Other Services Offered
- Distance/Remote Riding Lessons
Areas Covered
Throughout USA & Canada…
Day trips driven within 2 hours or less of Harrington, DE, USA. Overnight can be further, usually driving to surrounding states.
History with BALANCE
“I attended my first lecture/demo by Carol in 1999. At that time she gave me a hand-walking plan for use on a Friesian who was lame (unknown cause), had a dropped back and back leg fetlocks that almost touched the ground. It worked and cured all three issues! He had become a powerhouse! I was hooked and never looked back.
“I took the training for Test Ride Facilitator. I travelled extensively with Carol whenever she came to the US for clinics (Test Rides and teaching), mostly on the East coast.”
Equestrian Experience
“I attended a Gavin Scofield clinic in Kentucky and am very aware of cranial sacral work as I have a friend practitioner, Lynn Henderson, who cured my horse of a constant trickle nose bleed. I am very aware of hoof/leg foundation issues. I have attended many training classes with K. C. Lapierre and Applied Equine Podiatry. I have experience of English, Western, race training and driving.
“I have been riding since I was 12 years old and participated in New Jersey 4-H and showing till 19 yrs. I attended many riding clinics by various instructors over the years. I have been a 4-H horse project riding instructor for over 10 years. I’ve taught riding to mildly disabled children from a large local community organization. I have attended many instruction lessons given by Carol Brett and have taken many lessons from her. I gained much experience from Carol on breaking down the issues or problems with more advanced movements to a lack of competence or correctness in the simpler components of the movement.”
Testimonials
Current Courses
Saddling Talks
Free/fundraiser to groups (4-H, Pony Club, Future Farmers, youth groups, horse groups).
Saddle Judging Sessions
Similar to horse judging. I bring a selection of saddles, English and western, and the participants have to list features by whether they are horse friendly or not, place the saddles in order of best to worst, then give oral reasons about their placing. The saddles brought for each group of 4 saddles can range from beginner knowledge to advanced students. The advanced has the addition of rider and horse information added to each group. Saddles can be grouped by riding style also.
Dismounted Rider Clinic Series
Half day or full day. Covers rider only in several dimensions for balance, straightness, mobility and some Feldenkrais. Also, explores contact qualities of leg, seat and hand to achieve PEACE, as Carol Brett describes it, which addresses Positive, Elastic, Attentive, Consistent, Equal feel. For a small group, a half day can be combined with an afternoon private lesson which applies the morning work to a conversation with your horse.
Dismounted Horse Clinic Series
An in-hand session which works with both you and your horse on the ground. This used to be called the Remedial Program and is now called the Equine Pathway Programme. (EPP). It is extremely effective for horses with postural issues, muscling issues, tension, movement issues or physical damage. Also, very effective to improve the quality of movement for a healthy horse. Covered will be the appropriate type halter/cavesson and lead, tempo, straightness, straightness on a curve, square halt, upward transition from halt in self carriage, addressing one sidedness and lunging. Wither tracings will be used to document effectiveness of work and use taught as a training aid. Halters, leads, flex curves and touch sticks will be provided for use during the clinic if needed.
Mary’s version of Constructive/Functional Riding clinic series.
Covers combining dismounted rider and dismounted horse subjects with a ridden horse and rider. The dismounted clinics are not a prerequisite.
Riding Instruction
Can be customized to address specific issues of horse and/or rider. Especially useful for horses and riders with a physical issue(s). Also, useful to work on advancing horse and/or rider.