[meredith]

QSE LEVEL 1 CAMP TA-DAHS

- Jill did 4 throw overs in a row without roping anything
- Emily kept a loose rein YAY!
- Discovered the 'Corridor Of Comfort'
- I put brumby in the float from on the roof!!!!!
- And here comes Short Range Shazza again
- The balance between clear direction and release
- Brumby enjoying cantering in the mob
- If all else fails with your brakes try Sharons stopping tree!
- Sharong riding Calypso backing her through a gate
- Hearing Jilllaugh while her horse was cantering in the PL
- Somtimes /often, less is more
- we survived the trot PL!!! Yay!
- Emily got trot changes
- Getting the pattern
- Calypso cantered at phase 1!
- Jill got awesome sideways in contact riding
- Deb got radical rebounds.
- Emily got a nice down transition from the canter
-Saw Emily let go whe cantering Danny
- Sharon cantering off a light phase
- Me getting Big Fella off the halter going forward better with a softer hindquarter
- Zola played follow the leader
- everyone cantering with 1 rein in the big open spaces with loose horses around too
- Emily, Mog and Deb all float loading from the roof
- wonderful follow the leader at trot out in the Big Paddock
- Everyone backing their horses through every gate and narrow space on the place

And so much more......wow, its great to see what can be achieved in 9 days.

[vicki marr]

Sounds like you all had a great time filled with fun and discovery . . . . . can't wait for my turn (just under 3 weeks now . . . . but who's counting )

[lizarch]

WOW!!!!!!

Boy am I jealous I missed out this year!!!!!

Well done everyone

Liz

[TraceyE]

Good work everyone! I really hope you had the best time....oh OF COURSE YOU DID!

[deb]

Sounds like lots of fun happening. Well done to all.
Cheers

[annie]

Wonderful achievements for everyone , I like the sound of loading from the roof, Mmm, but how to get up there
Cant wait to read everyones experiences of camp.

[conrad]

Sounds like everyone had an awesome time and yes the loading from the roof sounds interesting but dont think i would have the guts to get up there to start with. Bet you all went home tired. Cant wait to hear more.

Denise & Butterfly

[lizarch]

oh,to be loading from the roof- I'd be happy just loading from the ground at the moment!!! LOL!!!

Liz

[ann]

Woo hoo.

Fun was had by all. All you brave girls, doesn't it make a difference when you know you're in good hands.

Float loading from the roof seems interesting, but I feel too high when I'm on a horse! ! ! ! !

Lots of great tah dahs.

Well done everybody, you're all truly inspirational.

Luv
Ann and Eddie

[belinda]

wow, what a fantastic list of ta dahs!!! awesome girls, sounds like you all had sooooooooo much fun

[benwerrin2002]

It was my privilege to be a participant in the 2009 Level 1 Camp - what a wonderful experience for my little horse, Aloha Zola and myself. I would not hesitate to recommend the Camp experience to other horse lovers.
Zola was one of several young green horses in the Camp and Shane took our Level 1 group along a fun-filled journey that was always interesting and often challenging to our comfort zones.

The Camp is not just about learning some horsemanship techniques. I found it was also an opportunity to understand more about how we learn and what our horses can teach us and how we cope with difficulties.
Zola is a feisty, opinionated Arabian, rather used to getting her own way. However, during the Camp I noticed she was happy for me to show more leadership and she still seemed to want to be with me - even if I went to phase 4 on her.

There were some things that initially Zola and I could not manage, and ofcourse I would despondently think: "I am going to get left behind". However by the next day, when we tried it again, we would do it better - perhaps it was 'sleeping on' the issue and/or talking about the problem with the other students during dinner or perhaps it was just magic. In any case, I quickly learned not to get frustrated with a difficulty because I knew it would magically become relatively easy in due course.

Zola and I did our first passenger lesson on Day 2 and this was rather exciting because Zola was determined to avoid all the other horses. My little Arabian did some roll backs away from the other horses that would make a quarter horse envious.

The group quickly progressed to one rein halter riding - a new experience for Zola and I. I was fine unless I had to throw the rope over her head at the trot to change direstion. Knowing I have always been hopeless with ropes, on the first day I confirmed my own belief structure by botching nearly every throwover, regularly catching Zola around the nose and making her quite indignant and affording her the chance to rush forward with her pretty little nose pointed skyward. Sometimes, I did get the rope clear over her head only to lassoo my own boot. I really needed some 'magic' for this throwover problem and happily it arrived by the last day.

Ultimately I hope to do Endurance Competition with Zola and I brought her to the Camp to see if I could change her 'rush everywhere and get in front of everyone else' habit. I wanted to teach her to conserve her energy and I believe she has learned this. By the end of the Camp, I was cantering her in a one rein halter on a loose rein either amongst, behind or in front of the others. It is nice to have options!

To Shane, Meredith and my fellow students, a big thank you for all your support and encouragement. I could not have done it without you all. Zola and I are looking forward to the 2010 Level 2 Camp.

JILL MOSS BOONAH QLD

[mog]

Hi Jill, great to see you on the forum!!! What a wonderful recount of you L1 camp, you & Zola certainly did come a long way. Interesting what you say about Zola & her response to your step up in leadership, it can be too easy sometimes to think "my horse doesn't like that, so I wont ask it of her," & leave it at that....only to leave your horse confused thinking "am I the boss or is she?"Being herd animals, horses really depend on a fair & strong leader & I'm sure Zola is seeing this even more in you now that you have taken her through some of those tasks she was more oppinionated /unconfident about. Like you said , by the end she was cantering calmly on a loose rein listening to you rather than what all the others were doing around her, ..a huge ta dah!! Yay.
cheers, Mog.

[stubby]

Hi Jill,

what an amazing post. I had tears of joy. It really is a magical experience doing camp and Shane has a magical touch to bring the best out in our horses and us. Well done Jill and Zola.

And woohoo seeing you on the forum .

Petra

[monica]

Sounds like you had an amazing Level 1 Camp. Congratulations to everybody!

And Jill, thank you for sharing your experience - welcome to the forum!


Regards, all the way from England,
Monica

[TraceyE]

Hi Jill!!

Welcome to the forum it so good to see you on here. Thank-you so much for sharing your camp experience. I loved reading it. I sooo know where you are coming from. Gotta love those arabs.

Congratualations and so pleased you're coming back next year.

Cheers Tracey