Welcome to Accel!

Level 1

The Level One seminar!

  • We start by discussing a list of rules that I call "Basic Principles". These "Basic Principles" are a list of "do's and don'ts" that relate instinctive equine behavior patterns and idiosyncrasies in a way that enables you to utilize the "stimulus, response, reward" training method in a much more natural and palatable manner for the horse. These rules are what define the difference between Principle-Based training, and traditional training.
  • The next segment, "Anatomy and Collection," will help you to fully understand how your horse is physically capable of doing the things that you want him to do. Being a good horseman is like being a good mechanic in that you need to understand how a car functions before you can fix it. It is helpful to know how the engine relates to the transmission, how the power relates to the steering etc.
  • The third part of this seminar is about putting the Basic Principles and the knowledge gained during the Anatomy of Collection segment to work by introducing your horse to a series of softening exercises involving movement of your horse's body to develop a soft mouth. These moves have been sequenced in an order that enables you to gain control, in a progressive manner, over every part of your horse's body. We will then go one step further and put these moves together at the walk, trot, and canter, developing a balanced, soft frame.
  • These exercises are the basics that every horse should understand before the specialization of different disciplines, or "finishing training" occurs. For this reason, as much as possible during the Level One seminar, we will take all of the "labels" off of our horses. The labels that I am referring to are those that designate disciplines or frames, such as Western, English, Hunter, etc. For four days we will be working with just plain ol' horses, and endeavor to teach them all the responses that they need to know, and respond to, if we are to become responsible for our own "ride." Our goal is to create the responses necessary for our horse to work in a balanced, soft, and supple manner, that we control at all times.

What can you expect to be different about your riding ability after an ACCEL seminar?

    1. You will have an understanding of how to truly soften a horse so that they quit "running through the bridle".
    2. If your horse does start to rush or charge the bridle, you will have an effective strategy to diffuse the situation.
    3. You will have already learned to "soften your horse", so when your horse starts to become less responsive, you will know precisely where to start with respect to "re-tuning" him.
    4. The ability to diagnose your own problems will enhance your confidence level. Imagine how confident you would feel if the quality of your ride started to deteriorate, you could "fix" it in one schooling session.

     

    Visit our descritive pages for each
    level of the Accel Series.

    [ Accel Basics ] [ Level 1 ]
    [ Level 2 ] [ Level 3 ] [ Accel Jr. ]

     

[ LaCroix Home ]