clinics
AEBC Clinic formats
Clinics at AEBC focus on teaching riders to train their horses following the principles of learning theory. Whether you have a horse that is obedient or one that demonstrates behavioural problems, you will learn how to improve your training.
By teaching you how the horse is able to learn the riders aids, and what aids are required to produce the desired response, you will be able to improve obedience and relaxation in every facet of your horses' behaviour.
We start clinics for riders as young as 6 years but you are never too old to learn! We cater for riders of many different standards and their horses are all breeds, shapes and sizes.
Aside from our standard advertised clinics there is the possibility of arranging private clinics if you have an interested group, and wish to do so.
Pony Camps and Junior Clinics
Children enjoy the company of others their age whilst developing their riding and training skills.
Pony camps are suitable for riders age of 12 years and under. Junior Clinics are suitable for riders age 12 to 18 years.
The daily format includes 3 lessons in the morning involving dressage, jumping (including cross country course) and active riding. Active riding lessons develop horse handling skills on the ground as well as balance skills for riding bareback. The afternoon sessions include a lecture or question & answer time, show jumping rounds and cross country rounds.
There is a maximum of 25 children per clinic. If staying at AEBC, they bring their own breakfast and lunch – we advise food required to be shared between them for the evening meal prepared by our Camp Mothers (one of the children's mothers) who also look after them at night. Our clubroom has full kitchen facilities and food is stored in the fridge and cubicles provided. Children eat meals in the clubroom which overlooks the indoor arena. Accommodation is provided in bunkrooms with adjoining shower and toilet facilities.
Between lessons, children spend time watching others, playing, swimming (in summer), watching videos at night, and of course looking after the needs of their ponies or horses (They are required to bring their own feed and buckets for their horses)
Parents are welcome to stay with their children, but accommodation can be limited in the bunkrooms so many choose to stay locally or sleep in their horse floats away from the noise of the kids!!
Young Rider Clinics
These clinics are aimed at the more serious competitor of a standard grade 3 Pony Club and above. Many of the riders compete at higher level horse trials and dressage. Group lessons are limited to 4 riders, of similar standards - to a maximum of 24 riders aged 14 years and over.
The daily format includes lessons in Dressage, Show Jumping or Cross Country Jumping, Ground Handling skills and training bareback balance skills. The riders also learn about more advanced learning theory and training through lectures and demonstrations. They will also ride show jumping courses and cross country courses to learn the skills of course walking and riding a course for competition.
Riders acquire improved skills in training by developing improved rhythm and contact, horse handling skills and understanding learning theory and its application to training.
Adult Clinics
Understanding how horses learn and how the aids are applied and trained to produce relaxed horses are the main emphasis of lessons in adult clinics. Adults come from all over to understand horse training and improve their horses' obedience and performance in all aspects of training – both under saddle and in hand. These clinics are suitable for riders 16 years and over, of all standards. Junior riders may apply.
These clinics are an opportunity to be with friends or meet new people with similar problems or aims with their horses. The friendly atmosphere of the AEBC and its excellent facilities are a great environment in which to learn and train. Instructors teach in a logical and coherent manner to train clear and consistent responses in the horses, and increase the riders confidence in their ability to understand their training.
All adult clinics include 2 x 1 hour group lessons per day. Both dressage and jumping are taught at whatever level the rider feels comfortable and riders are grouped accordingly. (If you don't want to participate in a jumping lesson, then a second non-jumping lesson can be arranged.) There is also a lecture on learning theory and its applications to training, or a demonstration on various aspects of horse training. There are 2 day clinics are held over weekends throughout the year and we also hold a 4 day clinic in January.
Intensive Clinics
Intensive clinics are run over 4 days mid week. The maximum number of participants for these 4 days is 8 riders. Each day intensive clinics consist of one group session, where concepts are taught either in-hand, under saddle or in lecture or demonstration format and then a private lesson where skills can be practiced and honed. private lessons can be either flat or jumping.