Levels of riding ~ which one are you interested in?

If you are interested in casual riding, you can begin by coming to the group lunge lesson and attend whenever you have time.  When you demonstrate an ability to walk. trot, stop and steer independent of the instructor's help, you can switch over to the group lesson, or attend both! 

Competition riding requires even further commitments of either (a) riding three times a week and practicing skills between lessons -or- (b) attending both SU sponsored lessons and the Mastery Seminars each week. Experience has shown this to be an optimal way to prepare for IHSA competitions. A further IHSA requirement is to have a minimum of six months of professional instruction.  

The SU Equestrian Team has  2 remaining openings for Fall '08 - Spring '09.
To compete, you need to get signed up and get your rides in!   
call Coach Lynn at 512.869.7903

 You can do all your riding on the horses at Satori Stables, through lessons and leases, or you can board your horse at Satori Stables and ride your own horse in addition to a weekly lesson.    Four lessons are included in the monthly board.  Minimal Summer '08 board for SU students is $460.00/mn.  You can also board and ride elsewhere locally; however, you still have to go through an evaluation process for proper placement on the IHSA team and you will not receive any discounts for any lessons.

Fall 2008

Two SU sponsored events are held weekly:

Individual, semi-private, and group lessons can also be scheduled beyond this. 

If you wish to compete in the Fall IHSA competitions,  the Open House is Aug 22nd and Tryouts are on Aug 23rd.  You'll also find it beneficial to attend the Mastery Seminar Series, where you learn the secrets to great riding!  (OK, it's body awareness and skills to communicate effectively with horses in their own language.)  (But that's an incredible thing to know!) This is the foundation of riding and will count as a '3rd ride' for a week.  

Mastery Seminars are usually held on Sunday evenings from 5-7pm in the Olin Hall lounge.

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Spring 2009

Students who have been riding weekly in Fall 2008 will most likely be riding at or above Level 3 and will be able to compete in Spring 2009 if they didn't compete in Fall 2008. Four weeks prior to the competition, you will need to increase your riding so you are prepared for competition.

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Summer 2009

No SU sponsored events are held during the Summer semester; however, Satori Stables is open during most of the summer and individual, semi-private, and group lessons (according to ability) can be scheduled.  Southwestern students who purchase a package of 4 lessons will receive a $20 discount overall as well as a complimentary Lease or 'Trail Ride' at the end of the month.  (Lessons do not transfer to other months.)

If you wish to compete in the Fall competitions, summer is a great time to hone your riding skills.

Are you interested in a Summer Riding Camp?  If so, please send me an email!  (lynn@satori.com)  

Meet the crew at the Open House during Orientation Week, and/or schedule your spot for Try-Outs.

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What kind of lessons are there?

There are 2 SU sponsored 'group' lessons each week.  

The lesson on Tuesday is where all 'new' students begin -- this is 'new' to riding or 'new' to Centered Riding.  It's also a great lesson for intermediate and advanced students to hone and refine their skills.  Of the two weekly lessons, this is the more important lesson to attend.  It is conducted on the lunge.  Each student has up to 30min of individual attention given to them.

The lesson on Thursday is a regular group lesson, with everyone riding on a different horse at the same time.  This lesson is only for those who have demonstrated they can consistently use the Centered Riding techniques.

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Credit for Riding Activities

At this point in time, the only way to get credit for riding is to pursue independent study credits.

In the future, there are two possible options which, if there is enough interest and drive, students might be able to persuade the school to consider:

Why's the TEAM so small?

Because you're not on it yet!  Join in and make it bigger.  SU's riding team is brand new -- only two years old right now.  Come join in and help build the team to be what you want it to be!

You can, basically, get 3 lessons for the price of 1, devoting less than 6 hours/week, and learn to ride from the first few steps to taking 3' jumps or Level III dressage.

It's a great opportunity!

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What kind of horses does SU have?

None.  SU doesn't have any horses at this time.  

Students currently ride at Satori Stables, using the coach's horses.  There are three horses at this time.  IRS is a paint-Trakehner cross; Carlos is a "Rocky Mounted Spotted Walking Horse" (apparently...); Blitzen is a Thoroughbred.

If you have a horse you want to bring, you can board at Satori Stables and use your horse in lessons, or ride one of the coach's horses in lessons and ride your own horse during the week.  If you have your horse at Satori Stables, a couple options to offset costs are to find another student to do a partial lease or, if your horse is suitable, to allow others to ride the horse in lessons. 

If you would like to donate a horse, let's talk.  

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What's involved in IHSA competitions?

IHSA competitions are like catch riding.  

Students are allowed to mount their horse, which is drawn randomly, about five to ten minutes prior to their class so they can line up to go into the ring.  No 'warming up' is allowed.  As soon as they enter the ring, they are judged. 

There is no guarantee about the training or ability of the horse, although the schools providing horses do their best to match the horses to the classes.

What's the difference between IHSA and NCAA competitions?

NCAA is a varsity sport while IHSA is a club sport.  

Part of the difference is in intensity.  Part of it's more practical.  Part of it is philosophical.

NCAA teams usually ride at schools with a full riding program - an indoor facility, a string of horses, and equipment provided by the school.   And they ride about five times weekly.

IHSA teams often ride at barns located off campus, independent of the school, anywhere from once a week to five times a week.  Arrangements differ from school to school.

Both types of teams take both 'Art'/experience and competition into account. IHSA teams lean more towards the 'Art' or experience of riding, while NCAA teams lean more towards the competition aspects.   

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What's available: Seminars, Mini Clinics, Lessons, Leases

A Leadership Seminar series is offered for students interested in learning horse communication, horse care, round pen technique, lounging, and long lining -- all the fundamentals of owning, riding, and training your own horse. This is good for students who are unfamiliar with horses or would like to learn about how to communicate with horses in an assertive, confident way or for students who have recently purchased a young or green horse. It is the foundation of all successful riding.

The Mastery Seminar Series has been put together to provide an economical forum for students to learn to ride. It's like getting another lesson at a fraction of the price, enhancing learning and increasing skill while providing economy. Ideally, team riders would ride at least three times a week; many competition schools require riders to ride five times a week. In the spirit of maintaining balance in life, the groundwork portion of lessons has been seperated out to allow students to learn more intensely with less impact to their schedules. In these seminars, students can interactively learn their own proper body use to achieve what they want in the horse, and return to classes quickly.  Attending these seminars can serve as the 3rd ride time for team members.

Fall '08 Schedule

Mini Clinics are available to riders who have demonstrated a Level 3 ability, or higher. Mini Clinics consist of groundwork and a group lesson and follow the same general progression as the Mastery Seminars. Students who have achieved a Level 3 in their riding can participate in the group lesson; students at lower levels can attend the ground work portion of the mini clinic.  The Fall '08 Mini clinics will be held on Saturdays.

Riding Requirements for Competition 

The Southwestern Equestrian Club competes in IHSA club sports in Hunt Seat Equitation on the flat and over fences, with about 7 levels of skill starting at walk-trot and continuing up to 4' jumping classes.  The goal of past students has been to ride and compete with skill and competence while maintaining balance in their academic life. 

There are two weekly SU Group riding lessons which students can attend, ($20 ea) as well as the weekly Mastery Seminar Series. ($10/session)  And those students who are qualified can also attend practice sessions. ($10/session)  A weekly expenditure could be as little as $40/week.  For those who are interested in paying once, packages are available.

To re-iterate, if you are interested in competing, you are required to:

Scheduling Appointments

Students who are new to riding or new to Centered Riding will come to the Tuesday lesson.  Students who are familiar with Centered Riding and have mastered walk, trot, stop, and steer, (as agreed to by the coach) can also come to the Thursday lesson.  The Mastery Seminars are available Saturdays this Spring. To schedule private lessons, we'll compare schedules and find a time that's best.

Southwestern students who purchase and schedule lessons and/or Mini Clinics in a 4 week package (usually coinciding with a month) and attend those lessons, seminars, and/or Mini Clinics receive a $5 discount on each lesson and a $50 discount on each Mini Clinic attended. Cancellations are explained below.

The 'Fine Print' - Pricing, Scheduling and Cancellations

Southwestern students who attend the Tues/Thurs lessons can take advantage of a substantial savings due to the generosity of SU and Satori Stables.  Instead of purchasing lessons for $45, they need only pay $20.

Students who wish to schedule additional lessons or attend the Mastery Seminar series can also enjoy a discount if they purchase in bulk.  It is possible for students to ride three times weekly for as little as $80 provided they purchase their additional riding lessons in advance.  Or, if a student wishes to be on the team and doesn't have their own horse and wishes to be economical, they can ride twice weekly and attend the Mastery Seminars for $50 weekly, provided they reserve and purchase their seminar sessions in advance.

Additionally, students who purchase a month's worth of riding lessons (ie 4 riding lessons) at the beginning of the month, are able to partake in a complimentary lease or 'trail ride' at the end of the month.  (purcasing 8 lessons in advance allows for 2 complimentary leases or a complimentary lease and 'trail ride' at the end of the month.)  The lessons are not transferable to the next month and must be used during the month in which they are purchased.

In all mounted activities, riders are expected to tack up their horse properly prior to the lesson time and be ready for riding at the time given for the riding lesson. ie If the lesson is at 4pm, then the rider would present themselves at 4pm fully attired and with the horse fully tacked up and ready for riding.

If it is raining and the ring is unusable, the lesson will consist of groundwork.

If an appointment other than the Tues/Thurs lesson is not kept, the money is forfeited. Riding lessons can be rescheduled with 24 hours notice and availability of myself and a horse. If a rider cannot regularly keep their appointments, they can purchase lessons individually, without a discount, and schedule their lessons a day ahead, subject to availability of myself and a horse.

Exceptions can be made at my discretion.

Pricing for Spring '08

Pricing for Fall '08

What can I get here I can't get anywhere else?

With this riding, you'll find your riding becomes much more refined and sophisticated, and so more effective, elegant, and competitive. 

This will happen because at Satori Stables, you'll get the HOW of riding, along with the WHAT of riding.  You'll learn how to communicate with the horses in a body language that makes sense to them -- both on the ground and in the saddle.  So you won't have to leverage, haul, coax, pull, or kick your horses around the course or through a test.  You'll be able to ask your horses for what you want and then flow with them as they deliver it.

Because you'll  learning to communicate with horses in a way that makes sense to the horse, you'll find great success in improving all levels of horses -- the good, the moderate, and the bad, very often being able to turn around horses others had given up on.  You'll find your rides 'easier' and more enjoyable, with less reactive-ness and resistance in the horse.  It's very common for students to come back from vacation with great stories of how well they could ride the horses back home, even better than the owners sometimes! 

In learning to communicate with the horses, you'll still learn the 'classically correct' or 'traditional' riding -- you'll just learn it in a way that's more comfortable for your body and makes more sense to your horse.  So both you and your horse will feel better and get better movement and scores.

The reason it's more comfortable is the cross-training aspects of Centered Riding,^® which incorporates visualization, an understanding of how the brain and learning work, Tai Chi Chuan and the techniques of Alexander.  

Lynn Larson, the SU Equestrian Club IHSA Team Coach, is the only current Centered Riding^® Level III Clinician/Instructor in Texas and a large part of the mid-west.  She started her Centered Riding^® career with Sally Swift in 1991 and has stayed current, taking clinics with Robin Brueckmann, (When Two Are One) Sandra Code-Cabel, (fabulous at Alexander & Feldenkrais work!), Susan Harris, (Anatomy in Motion, USPC Manual of Horsemanship: Basics, Intermediate, Advanced, AHA manuals) Wendy Murdock, (Simplify Your Riding)  Mary Fenton, Sally Haney, and Peggy Cummings, to name a few.   

Her original instruction was laid down by Vera Ellis and Mark O'Donohue, IHSA Coaches for SIU-C '78 - '81, and was furthered by Suzi Williams, located in Binghamton, New York.  

She has a B.A. in Mathematics from SIU-C  which she used in the corporate world until she retired.   She most recently worked in Customer Support identifying and re-coding code problems and as a Project Manager for small mainframe development before that.  (The customer support and re-writing code was more fun!)

Also after retiring, she pursued an avenue of 'changing reality' through paradigm and frequency shifts via Reiki, Resonance Repatterning, and PSYCH-K.  This work has also given her great sensitivity to what is happening and how it can be shifted in the rider and horse at all levels - physical, mental, and emotional.

She also has a black-stripe-brown belt in Kuk Sul Won and engages in yoga, somatics, pilates, Egoscue, Feldenkrais, and Alexander for her own benefit.

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Compatible Sports and Activities

Some sports have proven themselves compatible with riding, while others have not.  If you are thinking to compete, check out the list of activities below!

Sports and Activities Compatible with Competitive Riding

Sports and Activities Incompatible with Competitive Riding