The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.  Sharon Ralls Lemon

Whether handling or riding our horse, we would all like them to be responsive to our requests and this requires a common language. The Harmony Foundation Program aims to establish a clear communication across a minimum of 52 everyday tasks, resulting in a calmer, braver and more willing horse. Its the basis for all horse and rider training programs and lessons.  

Harmony Foundation Program List of Tasks & Experiences

On-Line (halter & lead)

1. CATCH
Horse is caught without evasion
2. HALTER
Horse turns towards, lowers, 
& holds head still for haltering
3. TOUCH
Horse can be touched all over with flag, rope, & plastic bag
4. SPACE
Horse stands while swinging a rope
around & cracking a stockwhip
5. TARP
Horse follows, drags, crosses,
stands on & carries a tarp
6. SOUND
Horse is exposed to a wide variety
of ‘scary’ sounds
7. STAND
Horse stands while held on-line 
& when tied for up to 3 hours
8. FINGERS
Horse moves in all directions from fingertip pressure
9. ENERGY
Horse moves in all directions from non-contact energy
10. LEAD
Horse leads from the shoulder walk, trot, halt, turns & backup
11. BALANCE
Horse circles with balance
at all gaits
12. TRANSITIONS
Horse transitions up & down through all gaits
13. SIDEWAYS
Horse travels sideways from the side & in front
14. NARROW
Horse walks forwards, backwards & underneath through narrow spaces
15. POLES
Horse negotiates ground poles
forwards, backwards & sideways
16. JUMP
Horse clears small jumps & can stop, turn & wait after a jump
17. PATTERNS
Horse can figure 8, weave, 
& rollback
18. OBSTACLES
Horse sends through gates, crosses water & negotiates hills & ditches
19. PEDESTAL
Horse stands on a pedestal/platform
20. WEATHER
Horse is exposed to umbrella,
raincoat & fly repellant spray
21. DRIVE
Horse drives one & two reins 
at all gaits
22. ROPE
Horse performs all online exercises with a neck rope (no halter)
23. TRAFFIC
Horse leads & ties near traffic
24. BEAUTY
Horse stands quietly for grooming, hosing & clippers
25. HEALTH
Horse accepts injection, worm paste & farrier simulations
26. FLOAT
Horse walks into the float, stands
& backs out, directed from outside

Under-Saddle (ridden)

1. SADDLE
Horse stands still for saddling
2. BRIDLE
Horse turns towards, lowers head,
& takes up the bit
3. WARM-UP
Horse responsively warms up on-line at all gaits & jumps
4. MOUNTING
Horse positions & stands 
for mounting from ground or a block
5. CONTROL
Horse turns softly to direct reins, indirect reins & backing 
6. TOUCH
Horse stands while rubbed all over with hands and legs
7. BASICS
Horse rides at all gaits, turns, stops, stands & backs up
8. FOLLOWS
Horse follows a fenceline & a trail 
at all gaits
9. BALANCE
Horse circles with balance 
at all gaits
10. TRANSITIONS
Horse transitions up & down
through all gaits
11. STRAIGHT
Horse travels straight at all gaits
12. PIVOTS
Horse turns on FQ & HQ 360˚
13. SOFT FEEL
Horse accepts a soft feel on the reins at all gaits
14. SIDEWAYS
Horse travels sideways shoulder-in 
& haunches-in 
15. PATTERNS
Horse rides figure 8s, weaves, 
& rollbacks
16. NARROW
Horse rides forwards & backwards through a narrow space
17. JUMP
Horse clears small jumps & can 
stop, turn & wait after a jump
18. OBSTACLES
Horse drives livestock
19. BARRELS
Horse performs a 6 barrel pattern 
at all gaits
20. DRAG
Horse drags items with a rope
21. CARRY
Horse rides with a 45’ rope, flag, plastic bag & tarp
22. TRAIL
Horse negotiates hills, ditches, water, gates, wildlife, & traffic
23. TRAFFIC
Horse rides calmly past traffic
24. WEATHER
Horse rides in the rain, the wind 
& the dark
25. COMPANY
Horse rides alone, in a group 
& leading another horse 
26. TRAVEL
Horse floats out for riding

To download a PDF of the comprehensive array of the experiences the Harmony Foundation Program entails, click here.

Email kylie@kyliegodwin.com.au for more details.

 
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