as we go down the rabbit hole of exploration of what it means to be in relationship with our horses, ourselves, and the training process.
Do you feel like there’s more to riding than just the “riding” part?
Have you gotten glimpses of an inner world that you could explore within yourself and with your horse?
Have you felt that within that space there is so much you could learn about yourself and develop within your relationship with your horse?
But have you found that you talk yourself out of that…
“No, people will think I am crazy?”
“That’s not going to get me further in my training.”
“I don’t want to be the only one doing this. I don’t want to do this alone.”
Well, let me tell you…
Join us for an intensive Masterclass series with Catherine McCrum and Thomas Ritter where we will be exploring these concepts and more. Together.
In 2019, the Aware Rider Program was created by Catherine McCrum, Thomas Ritter, and Shana Ritter as an online learning experience for those who understand that their own health and well-being ties into the health and well-being of their horse.
It was created as a safe, nurturing space to explore out-of-the-ordinary conversations about the physical-mental-emotional realm of experience with horses.
This is a conversation about the conversation we have with our horses.
In 2022, we are doing it again with....
In the third course of the Aware Rider series, Thomas, Shana, Catherine and Charlotte are delighted to continue the ‘conversation about the conversation you have with your horse’
In this 6 week course - Riding in the Relational Field - we will explore how the interconnectedness between you, your horse, and the environment lays the foundation for a successful partnership with your horse. Combining psychological theories with the practise of Feldenkrais lessons you will develop awareness of how the ways you think, feel, sense and move impact your riding, your relationship with your horse, and your life.
For six weeks, we will meet live on zoom to discuss how key principles from the Gestalt theory of relational dialogue, and the somatic awareness practise of Feldenkrais can help your riding, your relationship with your horse, and enhance your daily life. We will further explore the weekly concepts with weekly Exploration Meetings (optional) on Wednesdays. Catherine will additionally teach a short "Awareness Through Movement" Feldenkrais lesson on Thursdays. Furthermore, Charlotte Rhonwen Zetterberg is creating a series of short Feldenkrais lessons especially for this course titled 'Lose your mind... and come to your senses'.
Intrigued? Join us!
"The human heart yearns for contact – above all it yearns for genuine dialogue … Each of us secretly and desperately yearns to be ‘met’ – to be recognized in our uniqueness, our fullness and our vulnerability.'" - Hycner and Jacobs, 1995
Week 1 -
Building a strong and mutually beneficial partnership with your horse
Every thinking rider would like a relationship with their horse based on mutual trust, respect and consent. In Week 1 we will discuss the prerequisites that create the optimal conditions for a strong working alliance.
Monday, June 27 - Discussion &Short ATM Lesson 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, June 29 - Exploration Meeting 12:00pm GMT+1 (optional)
Thursday, June 30 - Full-Length ATM Lesson 10:00am GMT+1
Week 2 -
A dialogue not a monologue - walking in your horse’s hooves
Horses communicate through their senses and their body language whereas we love words and thinking. In this week we will use Feldenkrais lessons and psychological exercises that will help you become more horse in your movement, posture and sensory communication!
Monday, July 4 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, July 6 - Exploration Meeting 3:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, July 7 - Full-Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Week 3 -
Somatic communication - an embodied and whole-hearted approach to conversation
Deepening the themes of Week 2. The quality of our presence has a big impact on those around us and on our horses. Sometimes we need to increase our presence and sometimes we need to know how to be smaller. This week we will play with changing our size, width, length - you name it, we'll explore it!
Monday, July 11 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, July 13 - Exploration Meeting 12:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, July 14 - Full-Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Week 4 -
Seeing, sensing and engaging with the *phenomenological world of your horse
Week 4 takes us into the realms of present moment attention, living in the here and now, and learning how to observe from a different stand point than our usual familiar place. An absolute must if we want to deepen our understanding and experience the sensory world of our horses.
* Definition of Phenomenology - Literally, phenomenology is 'the direct investigation and description of phenomena as consciously experienced, without theories about their causal explanation and as free as possible from unexamined preconceptions and presuppositions’.
Monday, July 18 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, July 20 - Exploration Meeting 3:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, July 21 - Full-Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
One-Week Break (July 25-31)
Week 5 -
Finding the focus (yet remaining adaptable!)
It's important to have clear overall aims and to understand the tasks that will help us reach them. Sometimes though it's not so easy to identify what we first need to pay attention to before we are freed to move towards our goals and our dreams.
Monday, August 1 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, August 3 - Exploration Meeting 12:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, August 4 - Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Week 6 -
Ending well - savouring the moment and knowing how to rest
Do you take the time to feel satisfied with your work with your horse, yourself and your life? In the last week we will discuss how to ensure that you feel nourished by the time spent with your horse and how to finish with a sense of a job well done.
Monday, August 8 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, August 10 - Exploration Meeting 3:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, August 11- Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
June 27 - August 12, 2022
This is a 6-week course, however there is a 1-week "break" between weeks 4 and 5 (July 25-31).
Each week will cover a different theme. We open each week with a discussion (followed by an ATM lesson) about the topic for the week. We will explore concepts, share experiences, and invite thought-provoking exploration. All sessions are held on Zoom, all are recorded and downloadable afterwards.
In this case, "ATM" doesn't stand for Automatic Teller Machine. 😆 ATM refers to a Feldenkrais "Awareness Through Movement" lesson. It is not mandatory to show up live for these lessons, although we encourage you to do so if you are able. All of these lessons are recorded and downloadable. You can do these lessons as many times as you like (and we hope that you do!).
Feldenkrais is mindfulness in action, and this is what it can do for your riding:
• Develop science-based strategies to learn what the talented riders just "Do."
• Change your movement patterns and improve your riding.
• Address your habitual way of moving and open up for the new.
• Learn how to make choices with awareness while riding.
• Discover how to act with choice rather than compulsion.
• Experience how the smallest movement in one part of the body changes the whole body, and how doing less can get you more.
• Achieve better coordination, focus, and harmony with yourself and your horse.
Exploration Meetings will be held weekly on the week's theme topic to further explore the concepts for each week, but in a slightly different format. Also held on Zoom, but as a "meeting" so that all participants have the option to be on screen (not required) and speak. This enables a deeper, richer conversation between all participants. All sessions are recorded and downloadable.
Whereas we encourage you to attend LIVE as much as possible, it is not required. Every session is recorded, and there will be ongoing discussion in the Facebook Group for as long as the course remains ongoing.
Week 1
Monday, June 27 - Discussion & Short ATM Lesson 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, June 29 - Exploration Meeting 12:00pm GMT+1 (optional)
Thursday, June 30 - Full Length ATM Lesson 10:00am GMT+1
Week 2
Monday, July 4 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, July 6 - Exploration Meeting 3:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, July 7 - Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Week 3
Monday, July 11 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, July 13 - Exploration Meeting 12:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, July 14 - Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Week 4
Monday, July 18 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, July 20 - Exploration Meeting 3:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, July 21 - Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
One-Week Break (July 25-31)
Week 5
Monday, August 1 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, August 3 - Exploration Meeting 12:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, August 4- Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Week 6
Monday, August 8 - Discussion & Short ATM 6:00pm GMT+1
Wednesday, August 10 - Exploration Meeting 3:00pm GMT+1
Thursday, August 11- Full Length ATM 10:00am GMT+1
Honestly, you don’t even need to own your own horse to take this course. You only need to have an open, inquisitive mind and a desire to explore deeper into the possibilities of relationship with yourself, the horse(s) you interact with, and your riding.
As far as tech, you will need a device such as a computer, tablet, or phone. You will need an internet connection and access to your email account to receive your login information. You will need a web browser to access the recordings and Facebook Group. You will need to download the free zoom software to attend the live sessions. There will be a google calendar available for the sessions in this course, so you will need a google account to access that calendar, but this is optional. Any issues along the way, just email our team and we will try to do everything we can to help you.
6 Weekly Themed Discussions (Live)
On topics designed specifically to inspire your curiosity, exploration, and inspiration. We invite you to join us to explore out-of-the-ordinary topics that will enrich your relationship and riding experience. Within each discussion, there will be a short Feldenkrias Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Lesson to help stimulate the mind and senses. Hosted by Catherine McCrum and Thomas Ritter.
6 Weekly Exploration Meetings (Live)
Because sometimes one discussion is not sufficient to fully explore each side of a concept. And because sometimes, as a new concept ruminates in your mind, it brings up other questions and areas for discussion. So, we meet a few days later for a “meeting-style” session where everyone has a voice and a chance to discuss their understanding and ideas. Hosted by Catherine McCrum, Charlotte Rhonwen Zetterberg, and Yvonne Lübcke.
6 Full-Length Feldenkrais ATM Lessons (Live)
To round out each week, there will be a full-length Feldenkrias Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Lesson to help you develop awareness of how the ways you think, feel, sense and move impact your riding, your relationship with your horse, and your life. Taught by Catherine McCrum.
And more...
6 Mini Feldenkrais Lessons
An additional series of short Feldenkrais lessons especially for this course titled 'Lose your mind... and come to your senses' designed to do exactly that!… Get you out of “thinking” mode and more into “sensing” mode. These are integral tools to help you step out of the endless chatter of the mind and experience the sensory world, just like your horse does. Pre-recorded lessons taught by Charlotte Rhonwen Zetterberg.
6 Weekly Insight Lessons
Relationship-building exercises you can do with your horse which will help you develop your partnership in a fun, inquisitive way that helps support the working alliance between you and your horse. Building consent, learning from the horse, and nurturing the horse’s role in the partnership. Lessons taught by Yvonne Lübcke.
Exclusive, Private Facebook Group
For the full length of this course, there will be much to share, discuss, and explore. This is why we have created a special space for the discussions that will happen outside of the live sessions. Within this nurturing community, you can share your interactions with your horse, the results of your lessons, ideas or thoughts that bubble up through the process, as well as document your journey of exploration with your horse. You will be surrounded by a group of like-minded explorers, who share your interest in exploring the extra-ordinary realms of relationship, communication, and partnership with horses. This Facebook Group is exclusive to the 2022 live run of this course.
The Aware Rider Podcast
Every audio/video lesson and live session recording will be put together into a podcast you can access from any device, so that you can listen to the lessons anytime, anywhere, as many times as you like. You want to listen at the barn, while riding, on the drive to the horses, or while walking the dog or cleaning the stable? THIS is for you.
Aware Rider 2022 begins on Monday, June 27, 2022.
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“As sure as ferrets are ferrets” Guarantee
We hope you will love this program. You will have a full 2 weeks from the start date of the course (until July 11) to see if it is right for you. If it doesn’t resonate with you, just let us know and we will refund your money. No hassles. No hard feelings.
Aware Rider 2022 Enrollment Options
