Nambucca Natural Horsemanship Club (NHHC) is one of the longer-running clubs of its kind in Australia, being established in 2001.
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It is a strong, supportive club, with a constant aim of seeking better ways to improve our horsemanship and relationship with our horse.
This year we have had many opportunities to achieve that.
The club calendar has so far been fun-packed, and there is much more to do in the last few months of 2019.
We've had a number of amazing clinicians pay us a visit this year.
In May, Mel Fleming came to teach us about 'connecting with horses and riding with synchronicity'.
Mel's horsemanship is more about a way of 'being' with a horse rather than a way of 'doing'. She teaches people to be the best possible version of themselves so they can connect with their horse on all levels.
"The Mel Fleming clinic was once again inspiring. Focus was on softness and keeping the horse's body in alignment. The biomechanics of the horse's movements was emphasized thoughout the clinic, resulting in the fluid movements for both horse and rider," member Vicki Hickey said.
In June, we were visited by Barry Christopherson for a cattle clinic.
"I was looking forward to the cow clinic and wondered what a retired racehorse might think about being in the pen and getting 'up close and personal' with a few cattle," club member Cheryl Hasson said.
"Sargent Doakes had come to us a few months earlier and I guessed he hadn't been around too many cattle during his racing career. Well, he pleasantly surprised me; he was very curious and calm and actually seemed to enjoy learning how to move the cattle around. We had a lot of fun."
Phillip Grace attended the clinic too with a newly-started horse and enjoyed the group environment as a means to "continue our education together in both horsemanship and stockmanship".
"Barry was a great clinician and I was really impressed with the way he tailored his tutoring to each horse and rider combination, which meant he had my young horse doing things that were really beneficial to where he is up to."
Mark Langley conducted a workshop at the Macksville Showground last month.
He has a unique approach to modern horsemanship with an emphasis on individuality rather than method training.
"Mark Langley of Equine Ability Horsemanship has an intuitive ability to 'read and assess' both horse and rider quickly and accurately ensuring great results. He gives one on one tuition asking what you are currently working on and if there is any issues needing to be addressed," club member Val Shaw said.
These are some of the examples of what NNHC gets up to in the year. Mel and Barry will be back before the end of 2019. Also the Crackerjack team will be here in October for a three-day clinic and much more.
New members are always welcome and enquiries can be made to enquires4nnhc@gmail.com.
