PRIVATE LESSONS

Diana Thompson's emphasis during all of her lessons is teaching the horse handler how to do various methods (massage, acupressure and nonviolent training) themselves so they can successfully use the methods with their horse on their own.

During HANDS-ON HORSE CARE^® PRIVATE LESSONS, Diana Thompson helps horse handlers identify why a horse is not performing or behaving as desired. She evaluates the horse for muscle, spine and movement problems, training problems, saddle fit, and shoeing and dental issues. Horse owners are instructed in various massage, acupressure, flower essence, and movement sequences which will work towards solving the issues. (See detailed description of Hands-On Horse Care® private lesson below)

RIDING LESSONS and private SADDLE FITTING sessions are also available.
Diana also designs HORSE TRAINING and REHABILITATION PROGRAMS for horse owners who wish to train their young horses or retrain or rehabilitate adult horses in various stages of training, recovery from injury or abuse.

Horse owners may sign up for LESSONS WITH THEIR OWN HORSE or arrange for PRIVATE LESSONS WITH A HORSE PROVIDED BY DIANA.

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PRIVATE HANDS-ON HORSE CARE^® LESSON

THESE SESSIONS INCLUDE A FULL HORSE EVALUATION AND A HANDS-ON LESSON. They do not include a saddle fitting unless time is scheduled in advance. During the evaluation, Diana assesses the horse for body soreness, healthy and inefficient movement patterns, healthy and inadequate muscle development and shoeing. Behavior and performance problems will be discussed. Skeletal Charts noting the problem areas are filled out.

Horse handlers learn what their horse's facial expression, posture, muscle tone and physical movement patterns mean in terms of his or her overall health, coordination and performance. Diana shows the client how to feel the problem muscle or visually recognize an odd movement pattern so the client can then track the problem themselves. Often, minor or long-term problems in movement or behavior can be "figured out" before they become major injuries or difficult behavior problems blocking performance. Diana's evaluation is extremely thorough and takes between one and one-half hours.

During the hands-on lesson, Diana teaches the client specific massage, acupressure, movement and training methods which relax and calm the horse and alleviate the tight and sore areas identified during the evaluation. Diana will initially work with the horse to determine his sensitivity to a particular method and then involve the client hands-on doing the method themselves. Notes are taken on each method.

During a wrap-up session at the end of the lesson, Diana writes up sample homework routines for the horse handler to follow during the next month. She prioritizes which methods should be used before or after work and suggests general routines to follow during a body work sessions. The emphasis during the lesson is teaching the horse handler how to do the work successfully themselves so they can carry out the methods in the weeks ahead.

Lesson size: one horse, horse handler and one additional person

Total time: three hours. If you want saddle fitting as well as the full evaluation and lesson, extra time must be scheduled in advance; additional fees are charged hourly.

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Once a horse handler has completed the above 3-hour session, Diana offers FOLLOW-UP LESSONS where she reviews the horse's progress and teaches the handler additional massage and movements. These lessons are 1 ½ hours in length.

EVALUATIONS ONLY: Once a student has completed the Hands-On Horse Care^® group clinic or taken a full private lesson (and learned a core number of massage and acupressure methods), Diana will evaluate additional horses without an entire hands-on lesson. Evaluations only are usually 1 ½ hours in length.

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