Clinic- Spain 16-18 February 2010
Clinic and Lecture Demonstrations - Wales 8-12 march 2010
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By popular demand D.Francisco is making his 2nd visit to the west country this year
D.Francisco has been breeding and training Lusitano horses for over 30 years, having himself trained as a young man with the late renowned Mestre Nuno Oliveira and Mestre David Ribeiro Telles, two world renowned exponents of classical equitation. Like his mentors, Francisco always aims for lightness, harmony and a beautiful picture. He has a great talent for helping his pupils improve their position by becoming more aware of how their position affects the horse. He believes is the key to improving the way of going of the horse.
He is regularly invited to teach throughout Europe, USA, Canada and later this year visits Australia.
From amateur novice rider wishing to thoroughly understand the basics of the classical seat to the grand prix rider who wants to improve piaffe, passage and tempi changes, this will be a rare opportunity not to be missed.
DATES and VENUES
SUNDAY 13th - MONDAY 14th JUNE - Petloe Court GL2 7ND by kind permission of Mrs Jane Gillman
TUESDAY 15th JUNE - Court Farm Llanmartin NP18 2EB
WEDNESDAY 16th JUNE - New Priory Stud Leigh Deleware SN14 6JP by kind permission of Mrs Brenda Morelli
COST - £60.00 per 45 minute lesson. All venues have a separate warm up area and ample parking.
Hire of a schooled horse (Lusitano) can be arranged. All booking enquiries to
Jennifer Myerscough mobile - 07710 171 004 or home - 01633 267 700 email - southwaleslusitanos@live.co.uk
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Some feedback from the last clinic
I very much enjoyed my
lesson with Francisco. I was sorry that it was over so soon.
I have taken a lot of
what he said home and I have managed to practice it as well.
This is what makes a
good clinic in my opinion if you can remember what was said and try it again at
home.
Thank you very much
for organizing it and I will certainly look forward to the next one!
Sylvia Lunnon
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Article by Jenny Myerscough, organiser of the last clinic
No one really knows how long ago the people of the Iberian
peninsula started selective
breeding of the horse , but we do know for sure that by the time the Roman
Empire started to expand, the Iberian horse was the most prized cavalry mount
of all. His short, compact, powerful body and lightening reactions made him quite superior in battle, and, his ability to thrive on frugal rations,
his iron hard feet and generous temperament meant that he could survive and
flourish through long and hard military campaigns.
This horse can still be found in Portugal today, where he is
bred for his ability in the bullfighting ring (exactly same qualities looked
for in his ancestors two and a half thousand years ago are a requirement
today), his trainability and last, but not least, his sheer beauty.
Portugal is also home to a remarkable tradition of
horsemanship, and is considered by many to be the true home of classical riding.
One exponent of this art is Dom Francisco de Braganca, a
breeder and trainer of the Lusitano horse, who recently held a series of
clinics in South Wales. D.
Francisco de-mystified “classical equitation” for many who attended, with his clear and exact
definitions of correct position and aids.
Without exception, all his pupils finished their lessons with big smiles
on their faces, many saying that they wished they had been exposed to his
methods years ago, and asking when is he coming back again!
His message is simple. The rider must be as still as
possible on the horse, particularly with the seat and the hands; then the horse will recognise
smaller changes in the rider’s weight distribution, and start responding to lighter hand and leg aids. The
overall picture then becomes lighter, softer, more pleasing to the eye, better
for the horse, more enjoyable for the rider.
Of particular
importance is the outside rein, D. Francisco demonstrating very clearly in both
of his lecture demonstrations how the horse can be ridden just using the
outside rein (inside rein in a loop) on turns and circles. Many of the riders were introduced to
exercises unfamiliar in the UK; introducing lateral work with the
“shoulder-out” on the long side, familiarising the horse with the aids for this
movement using the natural support of the wall; progressing to “shoulder-in on
the circle” (easier for the horse than on the long side), and so on. All of a sudden the mystique was taken out lateral work,
with the pure mechanics clearly and exactly explained, and put within the reach
of the ordinary rider.
D. Francisco explained that the term ”dressage” only means
training (literally “straightening”), and the more dressed, or trained the
horse is, the more capable he will be to take part in all the disciplines,
whether pure dressage, show jumping, cross country riding, even endurance,
because he will have developed his muscles evenly and also his understanding of
his rider’s requests.
Anyone who missed these clinics will be pleased to know that
they can still have a lesson (or several lessons) with D. Francisco by visiting
his residential training centre (40mins from Lisbon) where he has upwards of 12
Lusitano horses working at Prix St. Georges level. Many of these horses are of his own breeding, most are for
sale. Visit the website www.quintadoarchino.net or look him up on facebook for more
pictures.
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