Or: Are we having fun yet?

Many times, horse/human teams go through the motions – whether it be with groundwork or riding techniques, or bodywork techniques. Okay, now I’ve done that, now what?

In this class, you are invited to go out of your mind and into your body, out of your head and into awareness – with your bodywork and groundwork. You’re invited to have fun with your horse!

Where do you start? Beginning with listening and coherence. What is coherence? 1. The quality of being logical and consistent. 2. The quality of forming a unified whole.

In 2025, Equine WinterWork – Exercises and Bodywork for Mind, Body and Soul  was offered as a largely video-based three-lesson course to those interested in finding ways to share instructive, enriching exercises  with their horses.

For 2026, we continue with Equine WinterWork – Exercises and Bodywork for Mind, Body and Soul II, with an emphasis on

• Coherence and listening
• Breath
• Body Consciousness
• Building Trust
• Create Safety – create the space and boundary.

As you move through the exercises, your attention will be on these foundations you have built together.

Whether you have a young, unschooled horse or one you’re rehabbing, an older horse you can’t ride or just want to have some fun during the cold months, this is a great way to experience quality time with your horses and keep minds and relationships active.

The winter months are an excellent time to try things.  I could say, “it’s never too cold to work,” but that’s not absolutely true! You will need to be gentle with yourself as you decide that for yourself, but also don’t make excuses! The Winterwork you do will pay off when it comes time to  ride or do other work in better weather and footing. The goal is to have fun, enjoy good exercise and connection simultaneously.

Take advantage of sunny, milder days, with a patch of space you can work with, to bring your horse’s mind and body into connection when you can’t do much aerobic training.

These activities create valuable bridges in the formation of relationship, allow you to slow down and listen. The lessons may also make some tasks easier with your horses by making them feel more confident about approaching new things. Primarily we will be working with our own consciousness and coherence, breath, groundwork, dimensions, proprioception, and bodywork for support. 

Remember the words of Chuang Tzu:  “A path is made by walking on it.”

Lesson #1 – Breath, Consciousness and Coherence

• Breath
• Consciousness and Coherence
• Listening & Tracking
• Our bodies and our horse’s bodies
• Workspace

Lesson #2 – Embracing Resistance

• Feel body parts and space around you
• Recognize pain
• Ground Exercises to move from resistance to curiosity
• Ground Exercises involving backing, gradation, platform

Lesson #3 – Out of Your Head and Into Awareness

• Tracking change in you and your horse
• Shapes
• Working with the Liberty Rein or at Liberty

Items you may want to have:

• A rein or thin rope you can tie or clip together to form a large loop
• A mound of dirt or platform, or hill
• Ground poles that can be landscape timbers, PFC pipe or formal cavalettis if you have them, approximately 8 feet long or longer if you wish!
• Traffic cones of any size
• Dressage whip, preferably 120 cm but a riding crop or natural reed can be used as well. Primarily we want to use something light to touch the horse’s body gently.
• Baling twine

Content includes handout, video list and charts which are yours to keep. Each lesson is recorded so that you can view it several times afterwards.

Early bird deadline January 28th, 2026.