At Folsom Ridge we choose to honor our horses’ generosity through patience, respect and kindness.
Folsom Ridge educates the whole horse, mentally, physically and emotionally, constantly keeping the well-being of the horse as the primary focus. We develop the horses’ natural athletic ability and willingness to perform while maximizing its potential as a riding horse by employing the artistic dressage principles of lightness, balance and relaxation.
Classical training begins with relaxation, balance and suppleness. Building a trust and connectedness with our horses allows us to teach them to relax in his body and mind. Once relaxed, the horse is more likely to respond correctly to an aid. Suppling and gymnatizing exercises are taught and practiced in-hand as well as from the saddle. These exercises create strength and impulsion through relaxation and flexion with the result being the ability of the horse’s balance to shift beneath the rider without the utilization of a driving leg or strong hands. They gait naturally and respond to extremely subtle aids. This eliminates the need for big bits for control or spurs for impulsion and creates a lightness that cannot be explained but must be experienced. Folsom Ridge Rockies spend equal amounts of their training time in hand, in the arena and out on the trails. With this education they flourish into calm, confident, happy and willing partners for the discerning rider.
Equally important as the development of the horse is the education of the rider. To classically ride and train a horse, we also must be relaxed, balanced and supple in body and mind. Achieving harmony between horse and rider, calls for us to willing examine and make necessary changes to ourselves in order to have a positive impact on our horse. Lifelong education for both horse and rider is a passion at Folsom Ridge Farm. We are dedicated to carefully selecting our teachers and continuously learning from the very best.
It must be remembered that this process is not defined by time. Each horse and rider is an individual. In our fast-paced society, time demands results. Horses, on the other hand, ask for unconditional time. As good stewards, we are responsible for their development and well-being.
Every moment spent with our horse is both a pleasure and a privilege to be enjoyed to the fullest.
