Everyone who visited Feldman Ecopark at least once knows that there is a marvelous island of beauty, grace and magic in its territory. The Horse Complex is the place always interesting to visit. Having once seen as talented riders skillfully keep astride majestic horses, there is a wish to drop what you’re doing and to become a horseman. Such desire is quite explainable, what other hobby can be so spectacular, extreme and useful at the same time!
The horsemen Feldman Ecopark are not just people united by one addiction, it is the real family, the big team, the single entity where everyone helps and inspires another. On the Horse Complex both skilled athletes and newcomers horn riding skills. The kids aged 2, 5 can begin to communicate with a horse. This is a real expanse for persons interested to comprehend ram-riding skills in the Ecopark: here you can visit the Pony Club, the Group of Young Horse Breeders, the Horse-racing Club, the non-Olympic Equestrian Sport Center, the Group of Soft Horse Education, and even the Children and Youth Horse Theater. Regardless what group the child would choose, the rules of horse communication and care are common for everyone. The work begins with them! We also suggest to get a view from the trenches of equestrian sport and to learn what is studied there and what rules the horsemen Feldman Ecopark follow.
Working with horses is not only trainings, but also a care of the ward therefore the young horsemen cleanse their favorites, feed, tidy up, bathe, check the occurrence of damages at the animal, and only after that the most interesting part starts – riding. “The first thing we teach children is careful attitude towards a horse. The horse is a partner who helps you, but not serves. It is necessary to be respectful to this animal – it has a gust of person’s mood. The feelings experienced by the rider influence the fruitfulness of work and the horse’s desire to make contact”, – the trainer of the Horse Complex Feldman Ecopark Karina Marchuk tells.
Golden rule of every horseman: working with a horse, don’t stay from the back! Even if the favorite has appeasable character and the most distinguished manners, the competent rider mustn’t ignore this rule – the safety is at stake. Having got into a saddle, the horseman begins to control a horse – they have special language of movements for this purpose. Among the main communication conciliators between a person and a horse is an internal and external headrope. Thanks to it a horse knows what direction to move. And here to set a movement temp – professionally called “pace” – the horseman slightly touches a horse’s belly by his leg. The pace can be easygoing – the “step” moderated – “trot” and quick – “gallop”.
“Training children, we surely pay attention to the force reflecting a horse: if we pull the headrope – we must do it slowly and accurately, of course, with the same carefulness we give it a sign by our leg.
The animal perfectly catches even the lightest touch and reacts at once. Not to cause pain and discomfort to the animal – one of golden rules of soft horse education”, – the trainer explains.
The most important part of horseman’s discipline is a constant equilibrium control, experts tell. Inexperienced riders have weak legs and that’s the reason they often transfer body weight to a headrope what the horse suffers from. Therefore before the beginner gets a headrope, the children must daily and even monthly ride without arms, improving their ability to dispose the body weight correctly.
The equitation art is a long process; it brings improbable miracles to your body: the posture is straightening, backaches subside, your legs and arms take nice muscle shape! Moreover, experienced horsemen claim that several muscle groups can be pumped up only by working astride a horse.
“The inner thigh is effectively exercised – because you won’t pump this part of legs in the gym the way you ride astride,”, – Karina declares.
The children training in the Horse Complex don’t think of muscles yet. The children are much more attracted by a trickery part of the work. The more tricks you know, the more authoritative horseman you are, the children joke. But jesting aside, kids wish to philosophize about the choice of a hobby. For example, 12-year-old Lilia practices only a year in the Ecopark but she found out a lot for this period: she not only keeps confidently in the saddle, but also knows a touch practically to each inhabitant of the Horse Complex.
“A horse is like a person. Everyone has the unique character. To find mutual understanding, it is necessary to throw all your efforts to understand a horse: the way it behaves in different situations. First of all it is necessary to find out: what your ward is afraid of not to cause him a sudden discomfort, – tells Lilia. – Here is my favorite – Mavr – a horse with self-respect. You shouldn’t treat it the same as a child. It isn’t recommended to humor fancy – the horse will be spoiled. And if to overplay your hand with commands – Mavr won’t forgive too. It is important to feel the horse, to love it, to respect, feed up, and then it will become your the best friend and the faithful assistant”.
Lilia it is sure that horse classes is the best hobby which can be found for the child. Not without reason this handsome are known as the chief therapists among animals. “Horses exist not only for jumping on their back. They cultivate kindness, care, and attentiveness in us. And what miracles happen on the Equine Therapy sessions – the children begin to speak and even to go – it is improbable”, – Lilia shares her impressions.
The young cavalry doesn’t even think to leave the classes, on the contrary, she dreams to turn this hobby into a life profession. For those adults who want their child to join the ranks of horsemen Feldman Ecopark, there is always an opportunity to try the child’s hand.
