Once you have the ‘letters’ of our alphabet understood and are starting to make words and sentences it is time to try your hand at refining the language, adding some adjectives and adverbs! 

 

 

This is done in the Equispeak Dance™ lessons.  
Here you are introduced to the advanced ground work and in-hand lessons based on Alexandra Kurland’s work as well as movements taken from the Classical Schools, including Bent Branderup, Bettina Drummond and Anja Beran to mention a few who I follow.

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We start with the rein mechanics but without the reins. Learning how to carry on a conversation first without reins and then via a cue transfer process through the reins with the lightest of tactile yet non-aversive cues is the goal. Here I build your eye and feel even more to recognize and capture the correct bio-mechanical movement in the horse to ensure soundness.

 

 

 

This leads us to exercises using dynamic food delivery to activate awareness in the horses body. Each building on the subtlety of moving together as partners in a dance, each partner whispering to each other through tactile and energy cues. These further develop the balance and self-carriage of the horse.

 

 

 

Following easily after the preparation exercises you will see shoulder in and haunches in readily becoming available during your dancing.
The classical ground work combined with the cue transfer process will allow the work to transfer seamlessly into ridden work.

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And while ridden work changes the positions of the partners in the dance the language remains the same and cues are easily transferred using a cue transfer process that was learned early on in the language (like synonyms).

 

 

 

You may choose to ride or not.

Enjoying your dance is not based on being able to or wanting to ride and so makes equispeak™ dance perfect for both young horses or older horses (and older ‘riders’) to continue to dance well into their golden years together.