February 2025 Newsletter - Issue 9
- Tania Greenwood
- Apr 24
- 6 min read
OK... I said last year was a lumpy start to our Ranchlands year, a little cyclone, loss of power,
heat wave, blah blah blah. I'm thinking this year has well and truly topped it!!!! Lessons were due to start on the 3rd of Feb...
The ponies had a good extended summer holibobs, 8 weeks of green lush vegetation, creeks, dams and being horses. OK, so the last few weeks they may have been under monsoonal conditions, with us unable to access them, and the 3 amigos, Whiskey, Kevin and Lil Bob, extending their time out bush by playing with the ‘other’ herd on the other side of the swollen creek – sneakily being unreachable! Of course, we all know that Kevin and Whiskey would be part of this trio!! Such boys... will have to have words with Lil Bob though... not to be influenced.
The herd was collected the first week of the monsoonal conditions, in between large rain
events and flooding, to try to get them in, to give them some TLC over the lead up to lessons, and hard feed to start conditioning, it was certainly good to have them back xx
If you are a regular student with us at Ranchlands, you know we cannot jump straight back
into full on lessons on week 1. A few factors to take into consideration; the ponies will all be
unfit after a nice break, the riders (you) will also be unfit. It will be very hot and humid for
both the ponies and riders; horses suffer just like we do in the heat, but cannot escape into air conditioning. Like many horses in North Queensland after the monsoonal rain, we have been treating rain scald and mud fever, all part and parcel from being in paddocks whilst such torrential rain occurred.
With this in mind, we have a staggered start to the year. Lessons start later in the afternoon
/evening when it is cooler. As the months progress, we will push lessons forward again. This means, we have limited ½ hour positions at the start of the year, and potentially less in the hour groups, but do not worry, we will be in touch if you are on the list and build as we go. Of course, with the monsoon season still in swing, I would imagine some more ‘rain’ days may occur too.... But we are keen to have Ranchlands a hive of activity again - The ponies are certainly keen for their treats.
Stable News
VALE Leo and Scout
It is with great sadness that we must let you know that Scout has passed on. Scout was out on his holidays with his paddock mates – living his best life on a lush, green, 500-acre paddock when he sustained an instant paddock injury. Whilst it is such a shock and completely out of the blue, it is also lovely that he was on his holiday, spending time with his herd, being a horse, doing horse things.
Unfortunately, this is a side of horse ownership that is very real, and perhaps as a weekly riding school pupil, you never experience. The injuries, the maintenance of ailments, the decisions – it’s heartbreaking, but part of life.
Leo
It was also time to say goodbye to our poster boy Leo. He was recently retired due to a medical condition, and he finally told us he would like to cross the rainbow bridge. What a unique pony, we have had him for over 20 years, and he was the ears of our deaf Maggie and also took on looking after half blind Patsy. He didn’t let size affect him in anyway. He stood up to the bigger horses, all bluff of course, but they believed him, one of his favourite pastimes was chasing Scout, and he could even keep up with him.
Thank you, our faithful friends, we will miss you both.
With the retirement of a few good faithfuls and sudden loss of Scout, we were on the hunt for some new Unicorns over the break. Jenny scoured the pages, searching for the right one (ones) to join our beautiful herd. For the first time we popped an advert outasking people if they thought they had the right fit for us. Well, some thought they did…..
We have 3 new horses to trial over the start of the year. EXCITING! They will be ridden by staff and then more experienced Ranchlands Riders, working through the ranks to learn the ropes. We shall trial our new ponies and see if they fit the herd, are able to teach you, our riders, and like it here with us. It is not just a case of buying a new horse and chucking them in a lesson. A riding school horse is a special breed. Even if a horse is known to be a quiet horse, been there, done that, he may not have worked in a riding school format before, this takes time and training. Trust, patience and time. Not all horses like this job, some love it. It is our job to observe and listen to our horses to see if we have our next unicorn.
Dates to pencil into the Calendar
Time to get out your calendar and block out some dates - these are the ones you do NOT want to miss :)
All
Equine Awareness Learning (EAL) - Awareness Morning
Set for the year of Riding - Date TBA
A morning to connect with yourself through the horse and build self-esteem, empowerment, focus, concentration, happiness, communication skills, self-awareness and relaxation, to name but a few benefits.
Adults
Ranchlands Revel - Sunday 18th May
Christmas in July Gymkhana - Sunday 27th July
Open Challenge – Sunday 8th June (competent teenagers)
Easter Holidays
Intro to Horses – Tues 8th April
Follow on to Intro – Thurs 17th April
Adopt a Horse Day – Thurs 10th April - Full Day
Adopt a Horse 1/2 Day - Tues 15th April (beginners)
Winter Holidays
Intro to Horses – Tues 1st July
Follow on to Intro – Thurs 10th July
Mini Challenge – Friday 4th July
Adopt a Horse 1/2 Day - Tues 8th July
Admin
NEW *Cancellation Policy Update*
Failure to attend a scheduled class without notice – FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED – NoMakeup
All Classes – We require 24 hours’ notice of cancellation – NO CHARGE
All Classes - If cancelled under 24 hrs - full fee is required, but class can be made up
Online Payments Preferred
Ranchlands Equestrian Centre
BSB: 034668
ACC: 456417
Ref: Riders Name / Lesson Date
Lesson Plans
Term 1
Getting back in the saddle. For all riders young and old, it is not a case as popping back in the saddle and kicking off where we left in December 2024. It will have been 8 plus weeks that you have not ridden. For the younger rider, who are more supple, yes may be a little easier, but still balance and thought need to be bought back into play.
In term 1 we will be working on rider balance – helping riders gain their independent seat. What this means is; ‘The independent seat happens when a rider can move one part of their body independently of other parts of their body and independently of the horses’ movements, while maintaining balance. The rider is moving with the horse but still maintaining a level of independence so if the horse stumbles or transitions gait the
balance is maintained. There is a level of softness to the contact and aids, with no added pressure’.
An independent seat is not a naturally easy achievement. It can take years of practice and
correction of bad habits, both on the ground and in the saddle. Luckily for you at Ranchlands, riding different horses, helps challenge, test and perfect your seat.
To help you achieve the highly sought after independent seat, you require:
Balance
Good Posture
Core Strength
Coordination
Positive and action orientated mindset
The knowledge of how to use your aids to communicate with your horse
Working without stirrups, standing exercises, sit trot, transitions, repeated exercises and of course, bum in saddle time, all go towards this end goal. Out of the saddle, Pilates, yoga, swimming, exercises that work on core strength and cardio are all beneficial.
Of course, the herd have also had 8 plus weeks off work. Their muscles will be fatigued, and they will need to be bought back into work slowly too. Also, their headspace may not be in the game, they may still be in holiday mode and not ‘listening’ to the rider. This is where groundwork comes into play before you even get on. By guiding your horse, through moving their feet, stretching, gaining their attention and ensuring they understand that you are the leader in the relationship, before you mount. This partnership then transfers to the saddle, where you can repeat the ground exercises, have your horse step away, flex, bend. Stop with a breath. Create the partnership with your mount for the lesson, achieve this in 10/15 minutes – longer if required and build. This is important for our younger riders too, to gain confidence on the ground, transfers to the saddle, so the horse does not take the leader role 😊 as this will happen if the rider does not take the position for themselves, as someonee has to! And it's best if this is the rider!!!
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