Balance First

I am thrilled to invite you to join us for a one-day workshop at Moat Equine, near Newent in Gloucestershire!

The main topic will be Groundwork.

Groundwork is vital preparation for Longeing, Work in hand, Riding and Liberty work. It gives you and your horse the foundation you need to find physical and mental balance, develop clear communication with a series of mental and physical aids, and build a harmonious relationship.

At this workshop we will dive into the Groundwork exercises and how to teach your horse to move in self-carriage with subtle guidance from the trainer on the ground. We will work with a cavesson and one rein, starting with learning to control your horse's centre of mass, moving on to circles, haunches in, shoulder in, half pass and pirouette.

Before we start with the Groundwork we will be learning a series of preliminary exercises that are essential preparation for every horse/trainer when starting out with Balance First Groundwork. These exercises can be used to build up a warmup routine that you can use every day when you start working with your horse.

You will leave with a good understanding of natural asymmetry in horses, how to identify it in your own horse, and how you can address it with Groundwork exercises.

Who is it for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners and more advanced trainers. All ages, abilities and disciplines are welcome. It is also suitable for almost any horse above the age of 3.

If you are starting out or just interested to find out more, this will be perfect for you.

Workshop Details:

• Trainer: Wendy Poore, Founder of Balance First
• Date: Sunday 12th October 2025
• Venue: Moat Equine, The Moat, Kent's Green, GL18 1JG
  
  

Highlights:

• Limited Participants: 3-6 horse/trainer combinations and a limited number of auditors.
• Lessons: Two 30-minute private lessons with your own horse
• Theory: 1-hour theory session in the morning, plus 30-minute theory/Q&A session after lunch
• For Riders: You will receive personalised, face-to-face tuition with your horse. We'll put theory into practice and address any issues you bring.
• For Auditors: You will have the opportunity to learn from both the theory sessions and the riding lessons. Train your eye and gain new insights that you can apply to your own training. You'll leave with enough information to start at home with your own horse. Online coaching with Wendy is also available for additional support.
• Networking: Connect, catch up, and network with other Balance First students. You'll leave with inspiration and a deeper understanding of how to supple and straighten your horse.
  
  

Additional Information:

• Lunch and Refreshments: A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.
• Parking: Plenty of room to park your trailer.
• Stabling: Unfortunately, stables will not be available for visiting horses at this venue.

I highly recommend that all attendees watch the other lessons and theory sessions. There are many insights to be gained from observing others, making it almost as valuable as having a lesson with your own horse.

I look forward to seeing you at the workshop!