My approach to Horsemanship is based on some fundamental principles of leadership and communication.

I provide lessons, consultations, and workshops.


Robin Shen
Horsemanship Lessons
Enlightened Horsemanship



12th June 2010

Photo with 2 notes

I started riding horses around the age of 6. My mother had race horses and as a small child she would let me exercise the retired ones around a small paddock that we had in the back yard.  Occasionally she would take me to a small polo club in the town we lived in and I would ride a horse or two there. But my love affair with Dressage started years later when I joined the Marine Corps and found my true calling as a sergeant in the Marines commanding troops in close order drill. I loved being in the Marine Corps and the tight precision, discipline, and devotion to training and fitness was a heaven that I hated to leave. They say that no one ever really leaves the Marine Corps and I have to say that is true for me. I still hear the echoing cadence of time well spent in service to a cause.  And in truth, as I continue to work with horses, I am unavoidably drawn to the team work, precision, discipline and devotion to training. I am just now starting to enjoy great success in this endeavor but I could not have done it alone. And just as I have ridden to success in dressage on the backs of gentle giants I could never have done so without the help of some of the greatest teachers and mentors to guide me.  One teacher of note is an obscure instructor of classical baroque equitation living in Horse Town USA Norco California named William Sanders.  Regular training with him involves 8 hours of driving on the gridlocked freeways of Southern California. But it is worth every minute. From him I have learned the essence of dressage and have arrived at a pinnacle in my training. My mare did not start out with great conformation. She is long backed, and her neck is set low. Over all more down hill than any one would care to pay for.  Not a horse that anyone would ever say is good for dressage.  She is half Morgan, half Quarter Horse and if you look at her you would not be surprised at her breeding. But when I am riding her, she is transformed and no one can believe that I am riding a Morgan Quarter cross.  This was all made possible by the careful, systematic, and precise application of the teachings of William Sanders. I have been on a series of trail rides lately with a variety of friends.  One of the things I have noticed is that on the trail and in particular, on hills, my horse has remarkable stamina and agility.  Marines in battle are noted for their remarkable strength and endurance. But they are not in battle everyday. Their abilities come from precise daily drills and practice during peace time. I have applied the same principles to my horse and it is called dressage. Thus, when I am on the trail, my horse looks like she was born in adversity. Thanks to William Sanders, I have the drills to supple, strengthen, and temper my horse’s sinews, muscles, and endurance.  For those interested, the following are the drills that I do on a regular basis: Warm up walk: Walk straight along the rail for about 10 strides then perform a small volte (circle) bringing the horse back onto the rail and continue on for another 10 strides and repeat. Do this in one direction in the arena for 5 minutes and then again for another 5 minutes in the other direction. Warm up trot: Perform the same drill as the warm up walk except at the rising trot. Transitions: Walk to Rein back. Walk 5 strides, then stop and rein back 5 steps. (note, a stride is 2 steps) Repeat for 5 minutes Trot to Rein back. Trot 5 strides, then stop and rein back 5 steps. Repeat for 5 minutes Canter to Rein back. Canter 5 strides, then stop and rein back 5 steps. Repeat for 5 minutes. Walk to Trot. Walk for 5 strides then transition to a trot for 5 strides, then go back to the Walk for 5 strides. Repeat for 5 minutes. Walk to Canter. Walk for 5 strides, Canter 5 strides, Walk 5 strides. Repeat for 5 minutes Trot to Canter.  Trot for 5 strides, Canter 5 strides, Trot for 5 strides. Repeat for 5 minutes. Laterals at the walk: While walking the rail, walk 5 strides straight, then perform Travers, (Haunches in) for 5 strides, then straight for 5 strides, then Renvers, (Haunches out) for 5 strides, then straight for 5 strides, then Shoulder in for 5 strides, then straight for 5 strides, then Shoulder out for 5 and repeat for 5 minutes. Laterals at the trot: Repeat the above exercise at the Trot for 5 minutes. Piaffe prep: Walk for 5 strides, counted walk for 5 strides, walk for 5 strides, Highly collected trot for 5 strides. 5 minutes. Pirouette prep: Trot for 5 strides, Canter for 5 strides, then collect the canter as much as possible. Shorten the strides by repeated arrets with the outside hand and the seat. When the horse gives you one or two canter strides that are extremely short AND SOFT, extend the canter for 5 strides and give her plenty of rein to stretch then bring it back to the trot and repeat.  Over time, you will be able to get the collected canter sooner, and keep it for more strides. Do this for 5 minutes. This entire routine takes 65 minutes. But with prep and grooming, it is about 90 minutes. A perfect amount of time to spend. I recommend this routine about 3-4 times per week interspersed with ground training. If you live in Southern California, get in touch with William Sanders. Drive to see him and take lessons. Yes, he is a bit eccentric, but all great teachers are. Here is his website: http://www.baroqueequitation.com/

I started riding horses around the age of 6. My mother had race horses and as a small child she would let me exercise the retired ones around a small paddock that we had in the back yard.  Occasionally she would take me to a small polo club in the town we lived in and I would ride a horse or two there. But my love affair with Dressage started years later when I joined the Marine Corps and found my true calling as a sergeant in the Marines commanding troops in close order drill. I loved being in the Marine Corps and the tight precision, discipline, and devotion to training and fitness was a heaven that I hated to leave. They say that no one ever really leaves the Marine Corps and I have to say that is true for me. I still hear the echoing cadence of time well spent in service to a cause.  And in truth, as I continue to work with horses, I am unavoidably drawn to the team work, precision, discipline and devotion to training.

I am just now starting to enjoy great success in this endeavor but I could not have done it alone. And just as I have ridden to success in dressage on the backs of gentle giants I could never have done so without the help of some of the greatest teachers and mentors to guide me.  One teacher of note is an obscure instructor of classical baroque equitation living in Horse Town USA Norco California named William Sanders.  Regular training with him involves 8 hours of driving on the gridlocked freeways of Southern California. But it is worth every minute. From him I have learned the essence of dressage and have arrived at a pinnacle in my training. My mare did not start out with great conformation. She is long backed, and her neck is set low. Over all more down hill than any one would care to pay for.  Not a horse that anyone would ever say is good for dressage.  She is half Morgan, half Quarter Horse and if you look at her you would not be surprised at her breeding. But when I am riding her, she is transformed and no one can believe that I am riding a Morgan Quarter cross.  This was all made possible by the careful, systematic, and precise application of the teachings of William Sanders.

I have been on a series of trail rides lately with a variety of friends.  One of the things I have noticed is that on the trail and in particular, on hills, my horse has remarkable stamina and agility.  Marines in battle are noted for their remarkable strength and endurance. But they are not in battle everyday. Their abilities come from precise daily drills and practice during peace time. I have applied the same principles to my horse and it is called dressage. Thus, when I am on the trail, my horse looks like she was born in adversity.

Thanks to William Sanders, I have the drills to supple, strengthen, and temper my horse’s sinews, muscles, and endurance.  For those interested, the following are the drills that I do on a regular basis:

Warm up walk: Walk straight along the rail for about 10 strides then perform a small volte (circle) bringing the horse back onto the rail and continue on for another 10 strides and repeat. Do this in one direction in the arena for 5 minutes and then again for another 5 minutes in the other direction.

Warm up trot: Perform the same drill as the warm up walk except at the rising trot.

Transitions:

  • Walk to Rein back. Walk 5 strides, then stop and rein back 5 steps. (note, a stride is 2 steps) Repeat for 5 minutes
  • Trot to Rein back. Trot 5 strides, then stop and rein back 5 steps. Repeat for 5 minutes
  • Canter to Rein back. Canter 5 strides, then stop and rein back 5 steps. Repeat for 5 minutes.
  • Walk to Trot. Walk for 5 strides then transition to a trot for 5 strides, then go back to the Walk for 5 strides. Repeat for 5 minutes.
  • Walk to Canter. Walk for 5 strides, Canter 5 strides, Walk 5 strides. Repeat for 5 minutes
  • Trot to Canter.  Trot for 5 strides, Canter 5 strides, Trot for 5 strides. Repeat for 5 minutes.

Laterals at the walk: While walking the rail, walk 5 strides straight, then perform Travers, (Haunches in) for 5 strides, then straight for 5 strides, then Renvers, (Haunches out) for 5 strides, then straight for 5 strides, then Shoulder in for 5 strides, then straight for 5 strides, then Shoulder out for 5 and repeat for 5 minutes.

Laterals at the trot: Repeat the above exercise at the Trot for 5 minutes.

Piaffe prep: Walk for 5 strides, counted walk for 5 strides, walk for 5 strides, Highly collected trot for 5 strides. 5 minutes.

Pirouette prep: Trot for 5 strides, Canter for 5 strides, then collect the canter as much as possible. Shorten the strides by repeated arrets with the outside hand and the seat. When the horse gives you one or two canter strides that are extremely short AND SOFT, extend the canter for 5 strides and give her plenty of rein to stretch then bring it back to the trot and repeat.  Over time, you will be able to get the collected canter sooner, and keep it for more strides. Do this for 5 minutes.

This entire routine takes 65 minutes. But with prep and grooming, it is about 90 minutes. A perfect amount of time to spend. I recommend this routine about 3-4 times per week interspersed with ground training.

If you live in Southern California, get in touch with William Sanders. Drive to see him and take lessons. Yes, he is a bit eccentric, but all great teachers are.

Here is his website: http://www.baroqueequitation.com/

  1. theenlightenedhorseman posted this