THE CENTAUR RIDING SCHOOL'S Lesson Programme

Centaur Announces "Neigh"bours:

An Opportunity For Women Who Love Horses To Start An Affair!

This fall Shirley Guertin, Equine Canada Dressage Coach 3 and owner of Centaur Riding School, and Alison Overtveld, Ontario Equestrian-certified English Riding Instructor, will be facilitating an opportunity for women of all ages and backgrounds to befriend other equine-smitten-homo sapiens and learn basic horsemanship techniques!

Find out how horses came to be among our oldest parnters in transportation, work, war, sport, pleasure and...and, of course, love!

Who Should Attend?

Women who have little or no previous experience with riding or horses who'd like to know more about the magnificent creatures they've long admired from afar.

What Will You Learn?

Participants in Centaur's new ÔNeighÕbours program will learn how to safely approach, halter, lead, move, turn, groom and care for a quiet lesson horse.

Each week you'll have the opportunity for hands-on interaction with Centaur horses and ponies and to make fascinating discoveries about their evolution, history, breeds, colours, markings, instincts, behaviour and more.

You'll meet other horse-lovers and be invited to socialize at Cafe Resonance on Trim Rd. in Navan after each class. There's an Internet connection at the Cafe so participants can share their favourite horse-y Web sites. We'll talk about great books to read and movies to watch about horses.

When and Where Does Centaur's "Neigh"bours Program Take Place?

The first four introductory "Neigh"bours classes will take place in the tack room, barn and arena at Centaur Riding School on Frank Kenny Rd. in Navan.

The 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. classes on Fridays Oct. 19 and 26 and Nov. 2 and 16 will be followed by afternoon tea or coffee at Cafe Resonance.

"Neigh"bours can accommodate a maximum of six participants.

If these times and dates don't fit your schedule please let us know when you are available.

What Should I Wear?

Wear a jacket. Dress in layers and long pants. Clothing should be wash'n'wear -- unless you'd like the essence of barn scent to linger at home! Wear sturdy footwear to protect your toes. Leave your dangl-y jewellery at home! Bring gloves. Keep your head warm.

How Much Does The Program Cost?

Centaur is offering the new four-hour "Neigh"bours program at an introductory cost of $100 (+GST).

Afternoon tea or coffee at the Cafe Resonance following each "Neigh"bours class is "on your own".

Program Topics:

• the nature of the horse
• the evolution of equus
• the history of humans' relationships with horses
• horse breeds, colours, markings
• the horse's instincts
• the horse's senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell
• horse-speak: neighs, nickers other sounds and what they mean
• reading the horse's body language: ears, facial expression, legs, tail...
• stable management: an overview of what horses eat, drink, their day-to-day routine and seasonal health care
• stallion-mare "dating" services; how a breeding operation works

Program Activities:

• observe horse herd behaviour (lesson horses, broodmares and foals,
• yearlings and two-year-olds)
• learn how to safely approach, halter, move, lead and turn a horse
• dressage explained: an introduction to how horses are trained to be
• humans' partners
• follow-the-leader; an exercise in how horses and humans "join up"
• free longe-ing and -jumping: witness beautiful movement and learn to see the different gaits
• grooming tools and techniques
• bathe-ing and braiding
• observe a blacksmith trimming and shoe-ing
• measure horses' height and estimate weight
• horse health check: taking temperature, pulse, respiration

Suggested reading: "She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul", Mary D. Midkiff; Paperback; $10.88; available from www.amazon.com

Future "Neigh"bours classes could include: an introduction to English Riding for adult beginners, fitness for riders, yoga for equestrians.

To register, please complete the "Neigh"bours registration and acceptance of risk forms on www.centaurridingschool.com

"Neigh"bours Registration Form:

• Name
• Address
• Phone # where I can most easily be reached
• e-mail address
• describe your experience with horses
• what I'd most like to learn and do would be
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.

Yes! I'd like to participate in Centaur's "Neigh"bours program

The best time for me is:

• Monday mornings 11:00 a.m. to noon
• Friday afternoons 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• neither of these times and days fits my schedule; the best time for me is

How to Get to Centaur