Riding








At Russells Equestrian Centre we have been teaching for over 30 years. We are the only RWYM™ accredited coaches in Hampshire. Our aim is to teach/coach every rider to be the best that they can be, whether this is success at competition or just to be safer when riding out. It depends on the person and what they want from their riding.

We use many different techniques to help you achieve your riding goals and we strive to enable you to work with horses in a holistic and ethical way. Our main influeneces are Ride With Your Mind™, NLP, Sports psychology, EAGALA and Classical Principals including Philippe Karl and Paul Belasik.

Our belief is that all horses if ridden with skill and understanding can have a happy and successful working life. All riders have a responsibility to treat horses with respect and understanding at all times. When this is in place there is no better riding experience.

Carol and Verity receive ongoing training in RWYM™, as well as keeping up to date with new techniques and changes in the industry. This ensures that all pupils can benefit from these new insights.

We teach the safest method of riding, with correct rider biomechanics as our main priority and having the horse working in balance without pain or tension as our goal. Other styles of riding can often be about being rough and using unnecessary force to achieve competition success. But these styles result in tension and loss of balance to the horse, which may cause injury to both horse and rider.

What is rider biomechanics and Classical Riding?
Rider biomechanics is how a rider balances themselves over the horse's centre of balance, and how this is maintained with the forces of movement acting upon them. In this position the rider can ask the horse to perform any task they wish because they are not impeding the horse in any way.

Classical Riding was based on fighting on horseback. With the reins in one hand and a heavy sword in the other, the knight had to be able to manoeuvre his horse by legs and body weight alone. Else he would not come back from battle! Keeping the horse working freely and in balance drastically lowers the risk of accidents and injury in what is know as a risk sport. It also gives the rider the truest experience of working with such beautiful animals.

Tuition

 Our tuition caters for all levels from complete the beginner to advanced rider. We teach the same techniques to adults and children. Tuition starts with a 30 minutes assessment lesson, before tailoring your training to suit your learning requirements. We hold group lessons at 10am (beginners) and 11am (jumping) every Saturday, and 10am every Sunday. Private individual or shared lessons are available every day except Monday. We also run residential training and clinics over several days, to give you an intensive experience and help further your riding.

Special Needs

 Riders with special needs are very welcome and can be catered for in groups or in private lessons. The riders have the opportunity to groom and work with the horse from the ground before riding, building their confidence and enabling them to get the most out of their session. We can provide riding for most kinds of disability. We also work with clients who have specific learning goals, eg overcoming the effects of bullying at school, assertiveness, or fitness issues. Please contact us for more information.

FACILITIES







We are approx ½hr away from the South Downs, the south coast and the New Forest by horse box/trailer. The yard is 250yrds from the Itchen Valley Country Park bridle path and we have a small cross country course in over 12 acres of our land.

The yards consists of 40 large boxes, 4 standings, a hay barn/feed store, workshop room and 60 acres of grazing land. The owners live onsite and are available for contact.

We also have guinea pigs, a Hinney (like a mule but smaller) and a pet pig called Arthur for children to see.