HOLISTIC TRAINING FOR HORSES AND HUMANS

Friendly Trails is Marin County's leading riding, training and "horsekeeping" program, also offering  Equine Assisted Growth and Learning programs (eagala.org) that include individual and group EAL activities for all ages. Located in the beautiful San Geronimo Valley, Friendly Trails provides a comprehensive range of youth and adult programs. Students are exposed to a highly effective, holistic approach to training for horses and humans alike. This natural, well-balanced approach to leadership, horse training, and herd care honors the individual, both equine and human.

What is holistic training and horsekeeping?
Honoring the communion of equine and human relationships. From a simplistic view, this could be seen as taking natural horsemanship to the next level. Like natural horsemanship, the program is based on always considering what gets the most natural reaction from the horse. However where the program incorporates a truly holistic approach is that the overall focus is on how to keep everyone in the entire herd healthy, equine and human. Every action taken uses a holistic lens to understand the reaction and overall impact to the herd's well-being.

What does this mean in practical terms?
Our program focuses on developing gentle leadership for both horses and humans. This highly effective approach to human/equine interaction is modeled after a long-time Friendly Trails lesson horse named Jeff.  As herd leader, Jeff always got the results he wanted - but never used kicking, biting or any aggressive behavior. Instead Jeff clearly demonstrated his intent, and from this he was able to consistently get the reactions he desired. Through learning to communicate clear intent, we are able to practice a gentle but unquestioned leadership role.

Obviously we put the greatest emphasis on developing leadership in our human students.  We also employ a heavy use of body work, such as feldenkreis and t-touch, to make the horse feel very good while simultaneously requiring him to be submissive. The horse learns he is rewarded for being relaxed, attentive and responsive.

Because we use the holistic lens, we are always thinking of all the people and horses in our program.  We consider the horses and students as a single herd, looking out for each other and always working cooperatively, with a goal of health and happiness for every member of the group. For example all the horses get out at least twice a day, and are all groomed and handled at least once daily.

Another aspect of the holistic approach is to involve the work of a top treatment team. In addition to the trainer, Friendly Trails employs a body worker, a chiropractor, a trimmer and a vet. Through regular wellness care with all of the treatment team, our horses are kept healthy (are all barefoot) and provided an optimal diet which includes quality grass hay with an organic vitamin and mineral supplement. Additionally as weather permits, the horses are out in pasture and allowed to graze extensively.  The pasture is most critical for health as it mimics more closely the horse's natural habits of walking between 30-50 miles a day in search of food.

Our program results in people and horses that are healthy, balanced and sound. We invite you to contact Alane with any additional questions!