TALK CITIZEN - 2007-2008

THE LITE BRIGADE

A brief description

Featured in the "BEST OF WESTCHESTER" section of The New York Times, The Lite Brigade is strictly an Equestrian Arts Teaching and Training Institution, offering a complete riding instructional system, covering children and adults, beginner and advanced riders. Additionally, we offer on site training and conditioning for a limited number of privately owned horses and, for those looking to a wider view and enjoyment of equestrian sport, pleasure cart driving instruction and training are also available.

During the summer months, a unique day camp provides, to no more than 15 children per week, highly supervised instruction in horsemanship skills, hands on organic farming and ecological use of the land.

We enjoy a large and unique facility, which allows us to conduct lessons and training all year. Here, the school horses are turned out, as nature intended, in small compatible groups, which safeguards their instincts, development and mental stability, as a requisite for keeping the outstanding "schoolmaster horses" for which we are well known. They are tame, safe, well trained and, in conjunction with our classical instructional methods, they constitute the backbone supporting our student's rapid equestrian achievement.

In our rings and open outdoor courses, students are schooled in balanced seat, dressage, modern stadium jumping and cross country riding. This is done primarily in private instructional sessions, one on one, which permits customizing lessons to each students abilities and learning style. Consequently, the advancement is far more rapid, while the highest safety standards are maintained, as supervision is constant and limits well kept.

At such time as the student has reached comfortable control of horses at all paces, and is capable of sustaining attention for longer span, we offer semi-private lessons. Here two students, riding at a compatible level, are schooled by one instructor for twice the length of time, work on more demanding aspects of equitation, but also to build up the focus and endurance required for hunter paces and other competitive activities.

Our Equitation Master, Raul Diaz, also conducts hour private lessons, providing individual students and other trainers with insights to the how and why of horse control and performance. Raul conducts most of his lessons while on horseback and insists that all other instructors do the same. We do "tell and show" and, by riding in close proximity to our students, we can be better heard, visualize problem areas, instill confidence and keep student and instructor focused.

On occasions, Raul conducts "clinics," where specific equestrian subjects are given exhaustive attention over the course of several hours. There, theory and practice are combined to provide participants clear understanding and practical teachings of the subject at hand. The combination of humorous expressions, riding skill, in depth knowledge and true teaching mastery, make his clinics a fantastic and pleasurable learning experience.

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From: Horseppl@aol.com [mailto:Horseppl@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:52 PM
To: sballer@voyager.net
Cc: Horseppl@aol.com
Subject: Camp 2007. Today's lessons 7/12/07 ring-track-X Country and trail

SparksWillFly205

 

Today, 4th day of Summer Camp, we worked in the indoor ring, the half mile race track (originally built to train sulky trotters), the cross country course and the rosa rugosa and honeysuckle mountain trails. I have 2 little girls who had never been on a horse before Monday and I take them on the trail on a lead line. The gray horse, ridden by the little blond girl, is "Old Duke", 39 years old, sound and with all of his real long teeth (tell your dentist friends), I'm on my personal mount, Lightning Jack, a 12 year old American Paint (a son of Miss Speedy), who is as tame as he is powerful, fast and obedient. Star is seen both under saddle and harness.

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I should be free enough to do this come spring. In which case The Lite Brigade would charge a very modicum fee, plus expenses.  Most of the work is, research, advertising and administrative.

First you have to establish if there are "fox hunting clubs", riding academies, boarding stables, tack shops and horse shows,  within a 100 mile radius of the projected Pace area, find out names, addresses, phone, E-mails, who runs them and how many riders they service. In case of horse shows, find out their dates, last attendance and get a "price list" (term of art, which means a list of classes, entry fees and price money or trophies and ribbons).

I need a good description of the prospective location, including parking area, restroom facilities, food serving facilities and a map of the intended riding area (trails, meadows, streams, etc.).

With this in hand, I can contact the "important people" and make a determination of interest, attendance

prospect and entry fees (here they range from $30 to $80). Plus set a date that would not be in conflict with shows or area events.

I can also determine if we can do a full fledged pace, such as our John Jay, with over 10 miles of riding a about 50 field jumps, which brings in the hard riders and top horses; or one like our 6 mile, Pound Ridge Pace, with no jumps, which attracts a lot of beginners and older riders; or, for starters,

a Country Pace, which is done in a smaller area of about 20 acres, with up hill, flats and down hill portions, where reasonable jumps are set and rider's INDIVIDUALLY run the course, are given points for each jump they take (jumps are given values) and their time on the course is divided by the accumulated jump points,  with the lowest number being the winner. Each run should take about 10 minutes, and riders set out every 2 minutes.

I will then need to know the equipment and people (pros and volunteers) available to cut logs, work terrain, set up jumps, mark the pace path, serve as start and finish line time keepers, stand by as EMT's, Vet and Ferrier, log entries (riders and horse Coggins tests), account for money, tabulate times and determine rider's placements.

Depending on all of the above I'll come 2 weeks prior, set up the course, make sure that all the administrative and support people are on the ball, resolve any situations and supervise the actual event.

A town that is horse friendly, and promotes equestrian events, will attract horse owners, generally, people with higher income.

Love,

Raul

From: Horseppl@aol.com [mailto:Horseppl@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 10:52 PM
To: sballer@voyager.net
Cc: Horseppl@aol.com
Subject: Camp 2007. Today's lessons 7/12/07 ring-track-X Country and trail

SparksWillFly205

Today, 4th day of Summer Camp, we worked in the indoor ring, the half mile race track (originally built to train sulky trotters), the cross country course and the rosa rugosa and honeysuckle mountain trails. I have 2 little girls who had never been on a horse before Monday and I take them on the trail on a lead line. The gray horse, ridden by the little blond girl, is "Old Duke", 39 years old, sound and with all of his real long teeth (tell your dentist friends), I'm on my personal mount, Lightning Jack, a 12 year old American Paint (a son of Miss Speedy), who is as tame as he is powerful, fast and obedient. Star is seen both under saddle and harness.

http://pic6.piczo.com/SparksWillFly205/?g=45533020&cr=6

The small black horse belongs to Katrina Marks, one of our campers, she took the opportunity to stable it for the last two weeks of camp to get her trained, being that she is a very green 3.5 year old filly, who essentially had only been given ground work, some walk-trot under saddle and just started to wear a snaffle bit.

The first day, we saw her problem, put side rains and taught Katrina the use of the "high hand aid" to have her come down on the bit. With this done we got her to canter, halt by use of the riders back, back lifting her front legs (she used to drag them) and ride with other horses.

There is a picture of Little Ava, age 8 and very light, jumping 2' 2", riding Rudy.