5 Day Foundation Course

With Kelly Marks

Held at Hartsop Farm, Witney, Oxfordshire

These world exclusive five day foundation courses are fully endorsed by Monty Roberts and run by the only qualified teacher and holder of his 'Advanced Professional Certificate', former European Champion lady rider, Kelly Marks.
During these five days you will gain practical experience in: Join Up Follow Up First saddle Long reining Halter work You may like to take a riding assessment (optional) And you will enjoy lecture/demonstrations in:- Preparing your horse for the farrier Loading And Saddle Fitting

Each person will have the opportunity to go into the round pen a minimum of five times to practice 'join up' with a young horse under supervision. You are welcome to bring your own horse if arranged in advance with Ian Vandenberghe (Tel: 01993 868914).

Each student completing the course will be issued with a certificate stating completion which may be used against future certification of the Monty Roberts methods. Non "hands-on" students are most welcome at the cost of £30 per day.

Each student has the opportunity to do 3 join ups without tack, 2 'full' Join Up's with tack and long lining in the pen, 1 individual training halter session, 1 individual long lining session, 1 replay of video session, as much additional human to human body language as they choose plus learn to tie a bolan knot and make a 'wild horse halter.' There may be opportunities to watch Ian Vandenberghe work with young and remedial horses after classes have finished.

On Thursday or Friday, instead of a ‘join up with tack session’, to have a private riding lesson with Nicole or additional long lining, or JUST LET US KNOW what you feel would be most useful to you and we will do our best to accommodate.
At least one of your Join Up sessions will be videoed and replayed with a tutor for you to assess together.

From July 2009 Kelly will teach on Mondays and Fridays and there will be some small changes to the order of lectures. Do ring the office on 01488 71300 if you have any questions

General Five Day Course Schedule

Kelly Marks teaches personally on Mondays and Fridays. Each student will have at least one Join Up lesson with Kelly.

Please note that the course content may be subject to change but if you are coming as a one day spectator for a particular subject, you can ring the office for further details on 01488 71300 (up to 4 pm).

Monday – Introductions. Morning Lecture - Principles of Join Up Body language practised 'human to human'. Lunchtime video - 'Countryfile'. First student Join Ups (without tack).
Afternoon Lecture - Putting on saddle and long lines in roundpen with Kelly.

Tuesday - Morning lecture - Introduction to Long Lining with Linda Ruffle or Sandra Williams. 10.30 am Practical long lining 2 miles on roads and tracks. Lunchtime video -'Blushing ET'. Afternoon. Student Join Ups (some with tack) and long lining. Lecture - First principles of halter training with Linda Ruffle or Sandra Williams.

Wednesday - Shopping orders taken first thing (optional!) Morning lecture. Intelligent Riding Lecture with Julia Fisher or Rosie Jones. Lunchtime video 'Animal Passions'. Afternoon. Join Ups and halter training also opportunities for students to have riding assessment in place of a Join Up with tack. Lecture – Training and handling your horse for the farrier with Ian.

Thursday – Morning lecture. Saddle Fitting Lecture with Julia or Ian. Students given Concepts. Day continues with Join Ups, individual lessons with training halters and some riding assessments as requested. Lunchtime video ‘Whispering the Wild’.

Friday - Morning Lecture: Kelly on loading including dealing with difficult or unschooled horses. Lunchtime video 'How Not to Load your Horse'. An introduction to Equine Touch is included in the day. Afternoon. Join Up’s. Student presentations of concepts. Certificate presentations.

Feedback from a course participant who brought their own horse:

Just a note to say thank you so much to you and your team for a fantastic week. Murphy and I have gained so much from it. It exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I went there looking to improve my 'bond' with Murph and came home with the answer to so many unanswered questions that remained from my years working with horses.

I had always felt with conventional training that it was so prescriptive... 'This is the way to do it 'with an unwritten subscript which read ' and if your horse doesn't respond like this then you are clearly incompetent!!'

What a refreshing change. I felt comfortable from the start with everyone, trainers and fellow participants alike being open and friendly. There was a supportive and sharing atomosphere where I felt happy to try my best, knowing any observations were supportive and positive, not judgemental, and felt my horsemanship grow as a result. The quality of the training was outstanding, (coming from a teacher!) and I have come home inspired to continue my education with IH as a result. It was interesting to see Equine touch at work and what a treat seeing Monty in action with Pumpkin as well. It was inspiring to see him work. We certainly had our money's worth!