Equestrian Clinic, Texas
in the Texas Hill Country near Bandera

Located in the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country near Bandera, the Equestrian Lodge offers first-class accommodations and quality riding clinics!
The lodge lies on the northeast boundary of the Hill Country State Natural Area - a 5,400 acre primitive area, which boasts two live streams and 35 plus miles of riding and hiking trails. An ideal place for horseback riders as well as a peaceful retreat for bird-watchers and nature-lovers of all types.
The Equestrian Lodge features specialized instructions in its equestrian facilities, offering private and group instruction to it's guests, in such disciplines as Western Horsemanship, English Equitation, Reining, Cutting, Dressage, and Combined Training.
The Riding Clinic can be applied to either Western or English disciplines, and include study and practice of the following topics: Psychology of the horse and the rider's place in it. Developing trust and respect between horse and rider. Developing a "Good Seat". Balance, relaxation, posture, and proper biomechanics for the rider. Developing "In Frame" movement in the horse. Balance, flexion, collection, and relaxation. How to use proper cues to accomplish the desired result. Applying the above principles to specific disciplines and events.

RCTX01 
2008 Rates  include lodging, all meals, 6(4) full days of riding instructions and trail rides (2.5 hrs instructions and 2 hrs hacking)  Maximum: 4 riders 
- 1 instructor for each 2 riders
7 day/ 6 night     $2,214
5 day/ 4 night     $1,475
kids 5-12   25% discount
Gratuities 10% pay locally 
TAX: 6% 
Meeting: Bandera
Airport: San Antonio
Transfer:  $150 per group (1-4), pay locally
Horses: Registered Quarter Horses from champion bloodlines, that have excelled in various events and disciplines, including Western Horsemanship, English Equitation, Reining, Cutting, and Trail.
Level: all levels
Pace: Moderate with trots and canters
Tack: Western, some English
Min/Max Riders: 2-4
Note: Maximum weight 225 lbs

Day-to-Day Sample Itinerary
"Whole Horsemanship"
5-Day Clinic Outline
Day 1
Early afternoon arrival of participants. Reception, Introduction, Welcome.
Round Pen. Lecture/Demonstration on Horse and Rider Psychology. Herd dynamics. What does a horse really want? How does the rider fit into this picture? The language of Equus, uncommon sense, intuition. Developing trust.
Join-up- Demonstration, followed by each participant being introduced to their mount for the week, and "Joining-up" with them. Barn Picnic Area. Dinner, followed by campfire with entertainment at Ranch Headquarters.
Day 2 
7:15 Ranch Headquarters. Breakfast.
8:00 Barn. Riders warm-up and stretch, followed by Centered Riding and other exercises, emphasizing balance, posture, stabilization, relaxation, and breathing for the proper 'seat".
9:00 Tack-up. Riders will groom and tack up their own mounts, with help from instructors. Proper technique and safety issues will be discussed/ demonstrated.
9:30 Round Pen and Arena. Participants will mount up and work in the group and individually with instructors at the walk and trot, emphasizing principles taught in the warm-up session. Each individual will be video-taped. 11:30 De-tack and groom horses.
12:00 Noon Ranch Headquarters. Lunch.
1:00-4:00 Free Time. Medina River tubing or antiquing/ shopping excursion in Bandera and/or Fredericksburg, Texas.
4:30 Barn. Bridle, groom, and mount horses. Bareback Exercises for balance and relaxation. Or, evening trail ride as riders prefer.
6:30 Return to Barn. De-tack, groom, feed.
7:00 Barn Picnic Area. Fajita or Barbeque dinner. Afterward, trip to local rodeo and/or dance hall.
Day 3
7:15 Ranch Headquarters. Breakfast.
8:00 Lecture/discussion with diagrams on developing "In Frame" movement in the horse. How does a "Balanced" mount move? Center of Gravity. The planes of movement. How are a balanced horse's body parts are aligned when moving
1) In a straight line, 2) On a diagonal, 3) On a circle or curve left or right.
Using flexion and collection to achieve balance.
Flexion: horizontal, (side to side.) Ribcage, neck.
Collection: vertical, (front to back.) Back, neck, poll and head.
How to create flexion and collection.
On the Ground:
Warm-up and stretches for the horse. "Bitting up" and lungeing. Equine massage. In the Saddle
1) Create forward momentum. Relaxation. 2) Use proper cues
Legs:
1)"Driving" the horse forward. 2) Flexing the horse- Moving the ribcage Front/back, Suppleing the neck
3) Collecting the horse- Lifting the back "Rounding" the neck Bending the poll Hands:
1) Guiding the horse- the leading rein vs the indirect rein
2) Flexion- Positioning the horse's head/ neck to accommodate flexion and direction of a particular part of the horse's body.
3) Collection- Asking for rounding of the neck, bending at the poll. Proper cueing- Steady hands. Strong, but not jerking movements. Cue/response/remove cue. Repeat and/or adjust cue. Repetition and conditioning.

9:00 Barn, Round Pen and Arena. Practice of discussed techniques. Warm up and stretch horses. Tack up and bit up, lunge horses. Mount up and practice in the group and individually flexion and collection cues and techniques. (Work will be at the walk and trot, and may advance to the cantor, depending on the skill level of the riders.) Video riders. Relaxation- The "Calm Down" cue.
11:30 Barn. Break, de-tack, equine massage.
12:00 Noon.
1:00-4:00 Free time. Tubing, shopping, relaxing.
4:30 Barn. Tack-up for evening ride. May be used as practice time for skills introduced earlier in the day, or as an evening trail ride.
6:30 Return to Barn. De-tack, groom, feed.
7:00 Barn Picnic Area or Ranch Headquarters. Dinner and Campfire with riders participating in entertainment.
Day 4
7:15 Ranch Headquarters. Breakfast.
8:00 Barn. Rider warm-up.
8:30 Horses warm-up and stretch.
9:00 Tack up and mount up. Continue with practice of "Balanced Mount" techniques from previous day. Advance to preparation for/execution of the cantor/lope, and/or flying lead changes. Video riders.
11:30 De-tack, groom.
12:00 Noon Barn Picnic Area or Ranch Headquarters. Lunch. 1:00-4:00 Free time.
4:30 Barn. Tack up. Evening practice of "Balanced Mount" techniques. Application/use in specific disciplines and events.
6:30 Return to Barn. De tack, groom, feed.
7:30 Depart for dinner and dancing in Bandera.
Day 5
Morning. (Late morning or early afternoon departure of participants).
6:00 AM Barn. Tack up. Depart on Sunrise Trail Ride.
7:30 Breakfast on the trail.
8:30 Ride back to barn.
9:30 or 10:00 Barn. De-tack. Participants get ready for departure.

Program Director/ Head Instructor Dianne Tobin has over 30 years experience training horses, from starting youngsters under saddle, to working through problems of older mounts. She has competed successfully and won high-point awards in Showmanship at Halter, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Reining, Trail, English Pleasure, and English Equitation. She also spent eight years as a successful Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, and has an extensive knowledge of human biomechanics, kinesiology, and mind/body awareness. This knowledge, coupled with her horsemanship experience, gives her a unique perspective on the horse and rider relationship, and a special ability to communicate concepts and ideas to her students.

Cabins and Suites
The lodge is located on an authentic working guest ranch. An Early Texas/Ranch architectural theme is carried throughout the newly constructed cabins and barn, while the existing historical ranch house provides an operational and thematic centerpiece.
Make yourself at home and enjoy the modern amenities that all the cabins and suites have to offer. In addition to your comfortable surroundings, you'll fall in love with the beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country.
The cabins feature Bedrooms and Living Rooms with 22' Cathedral Ceilings ~ Limestone Fireplace ~ Sleeper Sofa ~ Kitchen/Dining ~ 2 Baths ~ Central Air and Heat.
Suites have Bedroom ~ Sleeper Sun Room ~ Kitchenette ~ Bath ~ Central Air and Heat.
For the comfort and safety of the guests, lodge interiors are no smoking and pets are not permitted.

Other available services at the lodge:
Treat yourself to the de-stressing benefits of our spa services in the privacy of your cabin or suite. It’s the perfect way to spend a quiet afternoon, or to end an active day. (Spa services must be booked 24 hours in advance.)

Therapeutic Massage $65 (50 minutes), $90 (80 minutes)
Uses a variety of advanced techniques to relieve tension in problem areas, and to promote relaxation throughout the body.

Swedish Body Massage $60 (50 minutes), $90 (80 minutes)
Traditional Swedish techniques promote relaxation of the body and mind.

Hot Stone Therapy $100 (80 minutes)
Warm river stones relax muscles to allow the deepest therapeutic massage benefits, while energy work balances the chakras.

Raindrop Technique $75 (50 minutes)
This powerful, non-invasive technique integrates essential oils and light massage, dispensed like drops of rain along the vertebrae. The effects may last for days after treatment.

For those wishing to venture out from the ranch, area points of interest are just a stone's throw away:

• Bandera - 10 minutes. Shopping, dining, night-clubs.
• Hill Country State Natural Area - Recommended by National Geographic Adventures Magazine. Adjacent to the Lodge.
• Flying "L" Golf Course
• Medina Lake - 15 minutes. Fishing, swimming, boating.
• Fredericksburg - 60 minutes. Historical German community. Antiquing, shopping, festivals.
• Sea World - 50 minutes.
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas - 50 minutes. Amusement theme park.
• Lost Maples State Natural Area - 45 minutes.
• Medina River - tubing, kayaking, and canoeing