This is a full time professionals course, studying with Craig Stevens and Mary Anne Campbell, and it requires a full one year commitment to study classical equitation. We are NOT just looking for cheap help, we want to train professionals. If a position at any barn would be okay, that is...if your passion is for horses in any form, and you're not driven to learn to become a professional trainer and instructor in the French classical method this position is not for you. If you are ready to be a sort of "horse monk" for a year, this is an amazing experience. If you are concerned you'll be taken advantage of, count on it. You will. And it's up to you to take advantage of us right back! If you are a person who counts their hours and ducks out at end of day, don't come. If you are a person who stays after to work a school horse and asks for extra lessons to sort out ideas, you're going to have an amazing year. If you apply yourself here you will learn to teach, and you will learn to train horses, and how far you take it from there is up to you. All disciplines are welcome, and the work we do is old classical dressage: which is horse training, with the aim to create a truly great riding horse. It is not about competition, though you may compete-- it is about creating a great riding horse.
We start everyone as a beginner no matter your skill level. The only person to impress is the horse, and there's no such thing as advanced riding-- just better and better beginner riding. You must be healthy, self motivated, able to read, write and speak english. Consider this a "masters degree" program and plan to work that hard to make it happen. You'll be learning from doing, from reading, from studying, and from writing about your experiences. Park your ego and bring your passion to learn. If you learn only by riding, go away. Here you'll be expected not only to ride, but to read, to write and speak about your questions and discoveries, to look intentionally and with integrity for the information you are hoping to learn.
You must be able to support yourself, including housing and food and at-cost for your horse if applicable, for the year you are here. We insist that you meet us, learn what's different about our approach and that you are clear this is exactly what you want for your professional development before you commit. And your commitment is your agreement to put in one full year.
IF you fully participate, you will finish the program able to train, teach, and ride professionally. Whether you accomplish this is related to how much effort you put in, but we'll meet your passion with the information, experience and training you need to get where you want to go. We expose you to business management ideas as well as giving you experience as a stable hand, groom, trainer, and instructor. You'll have access to a library of more than 1,000 books, as well as videos.
Craig Stevens and Mary Anne Campbell run a training barn where the rider works with the mind of the horse and learns to bring out the unique quality present in each animal. We specialize in instructor and professional training, as well as horse training and beginning to beyond FEI level riding lessons. Along with the training, lesson program, and international clinic tours, we offer a professional's course to train riders, trainers and instructors. Indoor and outdoor arenas, gymnastics course in progress. We are a full service training barn, known for being world class yet unpretentious and fun, where the horses are the center of attention and no one notices the cost of the boots you're wearing.
