Since 1993 Avoca Park Equestrian has developed a facility where horse and rider want for nothing and training is at the fore-front of ALL our working with horses and their humans .
At Avoca Park Equestrian, we are dedicated to the art of horse training, drawing on over 35 years of experience and a deep passion for equine development. Founded by Leanne, whose journey has included working with thousands of horses, our program is built on the understanding that every horse teaches us something new. Leanne's impressive credentials include representing Victoria and Australia in Dressage, achieving qualifications through every level up to Level 3 with Equestrian Australia, and earning her Legerete Level 1 Licence under the esteemed Philip Karl and his School of Legerete.
Our training philosophy is rooted in a thorough understanding of equine bio-mechanics. We believe that by optimizing a horse's physical symmetry, we can enhance their performance and longevity in various disciplines—be it dressage, jumping, racing or general exercise. At Avoca Park Equestrian, we strive to create a harmonious partnership between horse and rider, ensuring that each horse reaches its full potential while enjoying a fulfilling and healthy life.
She has created a 5 Step program that will benefit ALL horses, riders and trainers.
1. Cavesson work
2. Lunging including Cavelletti
3. Mouthing Process
4. In Hand
5. Mounting & Ridden
Join us in this journey of growth, learning, and excellence in equestrianism.
Leanne has dedicated her life’s work to the best and kindest training procedures for the most successful results.
It all starts with 5 simple steps...
The cavesson training is an important part of our initial work with the horses, we use a very simple cavesson with one single ring on the nose.
The cavesson is NOT to be used as an instrument for punishment in any way shape or form, the cavesson is to aid us in teaching the horses how to use their bodies in a way that is more conducive with comfortable riding for both us and them.
Lunging is an integral part of our training system, it is the second stage and is the time that we commence the locomotion whilst maintaining a more relaxed posture and natural balance (the balance that the horse travels in without any influence form us). This can be longitudinal, lateral or diagonal balance.
It is also the time that we get to expose them to the arena and surrounding environment. All the while allowing them to learn how to organize their bodies and develop strength in a way that is conducive with carrying a rider with beauty.
We incorporate cavalletti into the lunging stage of training after the horses have started to develop some natural balance both longitudinally, laterally and diagonally.
It is also a great way to continue to develop your relationship with your horse, communicating via body language, verbally and with the extension of your artificial aids.
Also known as the 'education of the mouth process' Can be broken down into four easy to understand components:
'Contact' is the connection between the rider’s elbow and the horse’s mouth, through the hand via the reins and to the bit. 'Acceptance of the Contact' is answering the question “how confident is the horse to the rider’s rein aids?” Confidence comes from understanding the bit and the rein aids.
There should be no backwards action on the mouth as it causes unnecessary pressure on the horses’ tongue and teeth which can be the first step to loss of confidence in the bit or the hand. We want to see a relaxed jaw (chewing without tension). The mobility of the jaw is essential in the ongoing training of the horse, as a tight jaw cannot have a relaxed mind or body.
Front legs should be at a 90-degree angle to the ground and the point of hock should be underneath the point of buttock. This enables us to access the power of the hind quarter by asking for energy, in turn bascule is initiated by the engagement of the core muscles and the process of lengthening the neck has begun.
Once we have improved the balance we can then ask our horses to bend both to the left and to the right. Bend is the lateral flexion of the horses neck – or more specifically the cervical vertebrae. The horses back remains straight through the thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebrae. During bend we are looking for the nose to stay vertical to the ground, with no head tilt or poll flexion. and be able to stretch around without force in both directions.
We not only maximise the stretching of the muscles in the outside half of the neck, but we also stretch the horse’s topline. We use an aid called action / reaction to develop this posture.
The in-hand work leads directly on from the “education of the mouth”. Once your horse is very confident with all the initial exercises, both from the front and from the side (left and right) we can add in the locomotion. That is, walking while working on the contact, balance, bend and neck extension. Initially it will just be working on stop, go, turn left and turn right, you can begin circles, counter bend turns, rein-back and transitions including walk / halt / walk, walk / trot / walk and halt / trot / halt. With work, you can begin all the sideways movements such as shoulder in, traver, renver, half pass and walk pirouettes. This ultimately leads to the development of the piaffe and passage exercises.
The ultimate outcome for the mounting process, that we have designed, is for the horses to stand so quietly that any person of any age, or ability, can mount.
Once you get to the ridden stage it is an exciting time, but the first four stages should not be forgotten and always re visited when necessary.
The world has now opened to the all the exercises that will aid in helping the development of your horse’s symmetry and continue the journey of the new relationship you are developing with your horse.
Remember to take your time, give yourself time to develop your own skills and give your horse time to understand what you are trying to achieve. Once you are into the ridden stage enjoy the learning.