clinics
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AEBC Clinic's format
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.
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 30 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 food and buckets for their horses and are supervised by the staff at the AEBC regarding horse care whilst yarded in the undercover yards.)
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 in higher level horse trials (Pre Novice and above) or in Dressage competitions. Group lessons are limited to 4 riders, of similar standards and ages - 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. Sports psychologist Sarah Neville-Lavingdale has also lectured in relaxation and motivation and preparation of the riders for competitions.
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 or performance in all aspects of their horse's behaviour – whether it is under saddle or on the ground. 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.
Andrew and Manuela McLean are the main instructors for adult clinics. The 2 day clinics are held during weekends throughout the year and we do have clinics of 4 or 5 days in January for that extra special holiday break.
Intensive Clinics
These are often the social highlight for many riders to have a holiday with their horse whilst learning and meeting others. We run the intensive clinics over 4 days mid week. The maximum number of participants for these 4 days is 10 riders. Our school horses are available for riders to use if they do not have their own - see lessons information.
Each rider has a private lesson per day, as well as sharing a group lesson. The private lessons can be either in dressage or jumping. Group lessons include lectures, ground handling skills, demonstrations of training, dressage or jumping lessons.
We have recently introduced visiting specialists like Horse & Human Physiotherapist Emma Vowles to demonstrate suitable exercises to improve the horse's flexibility.
Why not make up a group of people that you enjoy being with, and have your own intensive clinic?