The Riders' Programme

Another new exciting chapter in our Somerset life !

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The idea was that we wanted to stop topping the grass (we have too much for the horses) and instead offer it to other livestock.

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A few visits to sheep owning friends and in June three lambs arrived and they have totally stolen our hearts!

🐑Phoebe 🐑Rachel 🐑Monica

I've been very interested in how we breath and and why that's so important, since I read "a life worth breathing' Max Strom, during my first yoga teacher training back in 2017.

So finally, I booked myself onto a Breathwork Mastery course and loved it and want to know (and share) even more!

This was new to me:

I have been lead to believe that slow breathing will bring you into a relaxed state. But there is a caveat; the Polyvagal theory throws up a new dimension. In a simplified nutshell the theory highlights a distinction between flight/fright and freeze. If we try to downregulate our nervous system when we are already in freeze mode, it's not going to be helpful enough; it may even exacerbate the freeze mode. However, if we are In flight/fright it is helpful to calm our hyper state. Does that make sense ? it may come as a surprise, but when you take a moment to think about it I feel it makes sense.

Knowing what central nervous system state you are in, is step no 1 and then applying the most useful breathing technique thereafter. So, we all need to increase our self awareness, consider breathing practices to assist us and then expand our tolerance of coping with the inevitable highs and lows. This is what will keep us balanced in the longer term and makes sense for our wellbeing.

Fascinating I think ! we share this type of knowledge, and a whole lot more, in our classes.

DM us for more info

Bella & Taisie xx

So, the baby boy Lago Quizzical (Quizz to his friends) has arrived at The Horse Place in North Devon (sea views!) and it seems he is, so far, taking it all in his stride. He loaded well and travelled well ( lets not mention that I think I honed my reversing skills on this trip!) and since then he's had almost two weeks with David Zuend and I am delighted.

Davids reassuring young horse starting techniques are exactly why I chose him for Quizz. He works with terms like 'working with the horse so he sees us a friend and then a leader' and 'waiting for the horse to be ready for this'. In this way he is more likely to be confident and emotionally balanced. Importantly, he says, "I have a general plan but then adjust to each horse. So far so good.

More updates soon, when I take a visit to see him very soon.

Bella x