January 18, 2025

Sage Knoll Farm

Salvisa, KY

Lecture and discussion by Annemieke Buis of Equine Connection Freelance Training about the influence riders have on their horses, including the language of the aids and our posture.  Students will learn to identify their strengths, weaknesses, facilitated pathways, and related asymmetries through unmounted exercises that can help us become better riders even outside of the saddle!

Shannon Runke, LMT will collaborate, offering integrated bodywork and movement to release biomechanical restrictions in the riders so they can better manage Annemieke’s unmounted activities and later apply them to their horses.

This is a lecture, discussion, unmounted activity, and bodywork seminar-- no need to bring your horse.

Price: $200/person

June 14-15, 2025

The Show Arena, LLC

Swanton, Ohio

Annemieke will present on how the equine nervous system works, and the role its regulation plays in posture and biomechanics. Through understanding how horses perceive the world, we can better understand how to make them feel safe. Training from the parasympathetic nervous system is not only more effective for the horse’s learning, but also is essential in keeping them sound as they age. We will discuss how the thoracic sling lifts the withers and rocks the sternum back, enabling the horse to step more into the center of gravity with the hind legs. We will also discover how the hyoid apparatus and temporomandibular joint are the keys to unlocking the muscular, neurological, and myofascial chains through the body to find true relaxation and connect the horse’s mouth to the hind limbs. We will look into sources of asymmetry and postural patterns in horses to better understand the nature of the horse and therefore how we can encourage improved balance and posture. Participants will each have 45 minutes of in-hand work with Annemieke to learn how to regulate their horse’s nervous system, read posture, and improve biomechanics. They will learn key techniques from Annemieks’s signature Emotional, Mental, and Physical Posturing work. All levels and disciplines are welcome!