Foundational Horsemanship (HS101)

Mid-Week Intensive: TBD
9a – 3p

Weekends: April 16 – May 21, 2023, 3p – 5p

Choose a 5-Day Intensive course or the weekend option for six weeks. Either way, we will take you and your horse through the fundamentals that are key to a life-long partnership and learning. You can learn with your horse or one of ours.

For the new horseman:
Get a jump start on your natural horsemanship journey. You will learn the foundation of Language, Leadership and Lightness, how to ride with a connected seat, basic rein positions and the skills needed to ride with lightness and balance.

For the experienced horseman:
Find and fix the challenges you are having with your horse. Clinicians agree; most problems go back to the basics. Stop the struggle by improving your communication and partnership with your horse.

  • Stop your horse from crowding and pushing on you
  • Get your horse to move softly and willingly off pressure
  • Stop your horse from spooking at everything
  • Make trailer loading easy
  • Quit bouncing in your seat

Course Outline:

  • Understanding the Language of the Horse
  • The unique characteristics of the horse
  • Leading quietly and respectfully
  • Respecting your space
  • Reducing the spooks–desensitizing your horse
  • Equinality Assessment
  • Earning Leadership
  • The Power of Focus and Intent
  • Yielding the forequarters
  • Yielding the hindquarters
  • Backing
  • Ground tying/Standing still
  • Moving the horse, not yourself
  • Moving sideways
  • Riding Balanced and With Lightness
  • Grooming and saddling
  • Pre-ride attitude check
  • Mounting safely
  • Finding your balance
  • Go and whoa
  • Staying straight
  • Basic rein positions
  • Sitting the trot

Format

Intensive: The course hours are designed to accommodate busy folks with family responsibilities (9a – 3p). You will receive three hours of instruction each day, practice your learning for another 1-2 hours and then study readings and videos for an additional hour.

Weekend: The course hours are designed to accommodate those who have more freedom on the weekends. You will receive two hours of instruction each week for six weeks. Students are expected to study required readings, watch videos and practice their learning outside of class time. Practice time with an NWNHC school horse can be scheduled.

Courses are limited to no more than six students at a time. This provides more individualized attention and learning.

Download HS101 Syllabus

Your Instructor

Jim “Hutch” Hutchins
Hutch began his horse journey in earnest with a beautiful, but troubled, Thoroughbred from off the track. The search to bring peace and trust to this beautiful grandson of Secretariat led to Hutch’s discovery of natural horsemanship and study with horse masters such as Pat and Linda Parelli, Craig Cameron, Jack Brainard, Anna Twinney, Sylvia Zerbini, and so many others. These studies gave Hutch an understanding of the horse based on fairness, leadership, and partnership. He has been sharing these lessons with hundreds of students for more than 15 years. As director of education for NWNHC and a former adult education teacher at the University of Washington, Hutch has created certificate courses that simplify the learning process, clarify the horse/human relationship, and encourage and motivate students.

Tuition: $600
$200 deposit required to hold your spot.

Register Online

Discount available for additional family member
Choose one or multiple
Choose one.
We will invoice you for your tuition. You can pay online via credit card, PayPal, or send a check.