Quantum Savvy Moreton Natural Horsemanship

Level 1 camp, QSE 2009

I've been home from camp a couple of days now and I'm still on a high! Thanks to Shane and the other students for creating a great supportive environment.

I expected to make some progress with my relationship with my horse and improvements with my horsemanship skills - with my feel, timing, phases. I got all that and more in BIG heaps. I know I have had a marked improvement in every area.

What I didn't expect was for Shane to open up my 'too hard basket' and shake out the contents. He lead (and sometimes gently nudged) me past my anxieties and I found myself practicing and progressing with the stuff I found tough. Exactly what I needed! I have come home with a real appreciation of what it takes to see the progress I want and a huge sense of satisfaction with what I accomplished in the 9 days. Thanks QS (Matey, QS Forum)

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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 (from QS forum)

Walloon Quantum Weekend

January 10th - 13th 2009

Venue: Palmerston Equestrian Centre (Indoor Arena)
Anthony's Road, Haigsley/Walloon

Daily Programme:

Morning - Level 1 Primary: Lessons 1 & 2
Learn how to communicate more effectively with your horses - Have a more willing, co-operative horse with much more positive ground manners - How to Float Load safely and Easily

Afternoon - Level 1 Advanced: Level 1 Overview
Combine skills learnt in Level 1 - Build your Confidence in all gaits - Prepare for Level 2

With Thanks to Petra Doerfling, Quantum Savvy Agent for Moreton, for co-ordinating this event.

Some Feedback from the Weekend

Hi Everyone

it was an awesome weekend and we all had some huge tah dahs and stretches of comfort zone. Everyone achieved so much with their horses.

We had quite a few young horses there and it was interesting to observe how the relationship between their riders and them changed and trust was established on both sides. It was awesome.

My goal for the weekend was to find and fill some holes in Stubby and my relationship so we could become better partners and firm our foundations to help us with our L2 tasks and get started on the riding bits.

Stubby and my relationship really has improved so much since the QW, even though we had our moments together and my comfort zone was stretched during the canter transitions. It was awesome and I learned soooo much.

I am soooo looking forward to the next QW in March.

Cheers

Petra

Hi Everyone,
Well I have now returned from my trip to QLD, holding two events which are the furtherest from my home in Broken Hill. There is quite a bit of preperation that comes with making these events happen and to read through all the wonderful Ta-Da's that you guys have experienced over the 4 days I spent with you, it really does make it all worth while.

We welcomed some new students into the Programme with our Level 1 Primary Lessons at Walloon, and I was thrilled to watch their confidence with their horses growing as the weekend progressed. We also had an amazing situation with one student who brought two horses along to the event. As Janice could only work one horse at a time, she kindly offered one of her horses, Redman, for me to use as a demo horse whilst I was teaching the lesson. Redman was completely new to the programme and as I had no knowledge as to what he would be like, I was a little unsure about how well I would be able to demonstrate each task. I needn't have worried as this situation actually presented a fantastic opportunity for everyone to learn from. Quoting Shane with 'it is the release that teaches the horse', Redman got LOTS and LOTS of Comfort in between each task whilst I was talking to the class and everyone could see how well he responded with his curiosity in me and his trying for me when I ask for yet another new task from him. It really was amazing and Redman even surprised me with his response. Thank you Janice, for that wonderful and unique learning opportunity.

For the afternoon group doing Level 1 Advanced Lessons, we reviewed some Level 1 Assignments, had a good look at our rein positions and focused on stretching our comfort zones just a little each day. As each student were at different stages of the Programme, some did actually stretch a little more than others and I was really proud to see that EVERYONE was willing to give it a go. Fiona was a shining example of the benefits of following the programme as she had been very wary about riding her horse and letting him go. In preperation for this weekend, Fiona did lots of homework card ticking and had gotten to the stage of being comfortable with her horse at the walk. Fiona's next challenge was the trot and through stretching her comfort zones, each day and her willingness to give it a go, Trotting had become a breeze for her by the end of the Weekend. Well done Fiona and everyone who attended this Quantum Weekend, putting in a huge effort to become a better leader for their horses! Thank you also to Petra for your dedication to bringing QS to the Moreton area.

(by Mel Peacock)

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QS Agent for Broken Hill and Gippsland
Endorsed Instructor and Entry Level Foundation Trainer
Ph; 1300 133 220
www.qssunraysia.com.au

Hi Mel,
Thanks for a great weekend. Since the weekend I have been doing my HW cards and Lacey and myself have achieved a lot. Each day we have built a bond and my comfort zone has grown with Lacey. My daughter Mariah keeps me on track with my phases with the stick and even Lacey has become softer horse with that.
Yes, It was great meeting you Mel we both enjoyed it so much.
Might see you in March..

Sylvia

Hi All,
It really was a great weekend wasn't it! Danny and I came home with lots of homework to do and it seems we are going in the right direction.
I am trying very hard to lighten my feel. I had to ask Danny to take a few steps back today when I was feeding him, I hardly had to touch him on his nose and he walked back, I was very impressed!
Thanks again to Mel for her wonderful instruction! It was great to be able to audit the other lessons over the weekend. I feel I learnt so much that I hadn't been doing and now I feel we are on our way too having a good foundation to work with.

We will definetly be doing more passenger lessons and desenseitising with the rope.
I can't wait for the next QS weekend in March! Hopefully we will have a few more assignments ticked off by then!

(by shirleyk)