Training

Horses are all individuals and they progress at their own speeds and develop their own talents. Lauren has experience working with horses from unbacked babies to mature elite hunter/jumper athletes. She believes in using natural horsemanship techniques to teach and develop each horse in a way that they each understand. Groundwork is the foundation of good communication between horse and rider. Through proper technique, groundwork established respect for the rider and a calmer understanding for the horse. This stage is the fundamental where most behavioral issues are addressed. Once this connection is established, a horse will be trained to master rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness, and finally true collection under-saddle. These elements are achieved by building on the teaching techniques established in groundwork with patient practice that encourages the success of the horse. Ground poles and jumps are introduced to keep the horses attentive, interested, and adjustable. We only jump horses twice a week to keep them sounder and more interested in jumping when those days arrive. The focus for jump days is on relaxation, proper technique, and ridability, again looking for ways to help the horse succeed and build confidence with each lesson.

Coaching

Lauren wants to help her students grow to be their best on and off the horse. As a barn, we promote an uplifting team environment and focus on building each rider up through both encouraging and challenging each rider in a positive way. Lauren is attentive to each student’s individual goals and want to work with each student to help build a course to keep them on track to achieve those goals whether it is getting good enough to compete at an A rated hunter show or moving up to the Jr/AO jumpers in the stadium. Competitive ShowJumping is a sport and Lauren treats herself and her students as athletes. Barn workouts are offered and specifically designed to build strength and flexibility for riders. All students are encouraged to attend or follow the weekly workouts on their own at home.

Management

The care of the horse should always come first. We love our horses and that is why we are dedicated to providing the best care for our equine teammates. We are committed to providing a clean, safe environment, a detailed and individualized nutrition program, and keeping up to date on the latest injury prevention and maintenance research. We feed by weight of the horse and weight of the feed in order to give each horse exactly what they need. Ice is used after every jump session. Water is kept clean and available at all times. We work with owners and vets to maintain deworming programs for each horse to maintain their individual health and the cleanliness of our paddocks. Management practices are specifically designed to meet the demands of hunter/jumper athletes.