Training at Yardah

The word Horsemastership in our title "Classical Horsemastership International", is not an accident, it is a deliberate statement of our constant aim of seeking perfection and aiming for mastery.

A critical part of our business is training "people" on how to manage, educate and train horses. We achieve this by offering a variety of "On Campus" courses at Yardah, tailored to the individuals needs and "Off Campus" intensive clinics (normally five days).

The objectives of the courses are to introduce a system of horsemastership based on classical dressage principles. These principles are clear, logical, understandable and most importantly - achievable.

The programs stress the concepts of: lightness without abandonment, harmony, softness, strength and obedience. These principals and concepts are of value to any rider regardless of their discipline, level of skill or ambition.

Marji and her staff will act as consultants and facilitators throughout the training process and provide the student with the knowledge and tools required to proceed with further training and development of their own and other horses.

The clinics and immersion programs conducted at Yardah involve an accelerated learning experience exploring many facets of horsemastership. They include: training philosophies, ridden work, ground skills, classical in-hand training, lunging, long reining and hands-on skills in the management and handling of horses (foals, adolescents, mature horses, including stallions).

The C.H.I. clinics developed by Marji whether at Yardah or Off-Campus, are much more than just "dressage" they've been described as "a unique five day learning experience." A whole spectrum of horsemastership in the training of both horses and riders is explored. This includes, lunging, in-hand work and in depth riding techniques.

C.H.I. is proud of the fact that people of all ages, from 7 to 70 attend. Participants include World Championship medal winning endurance riders, horse breakers from the Snowy Mountains, National Champion Western competitors, three day eventers, pony clubbers, F.E.I. dressage competitors and even nervous novice adult riders. All have found great benefit and a value from the clinics.

We pride ourselves on offering a high level of uncompromising, professional and safe training and whilst not insisting on glamour we do endeavour to uphold the high standards reflected by our professional attitude and training philosophy.

Our home campus is based at Yardah House where we operate as a College of Horsemastership and Equestrian Art. Students learn to work with horses under Australian rural conditions on a functioning farm, so that they have a REAL and practical understanding of operating under all conditions, with the wide variety of challenges and circumstances that one would come across in an on-going equine career.

We are in a unique position of having access to a diverse range of horses by special arrangement with our founder Marji Armstrong. This means that we have access to horses schooled to Haute Ecole both In-hand and ridden, stallions used for breeding and riding, horses at every stage of development from young foals to grand prix and beyond.

For more information about the Yardah horses - click here

On-campus courses include:

5 Day Intensive Training Courses (dressage clinics - covering ridden and In-hand training either with your own or one of the Yardah horses)

The Monthly Immersion Program - Come and spend a month (or more) and be totally immersed in the daily activities of an establishment which is dedicated to the welfare and training of horses and riders in horsemastership and the classical equestrian arts. Competency is achieved in a practical and logical way that is accessible to all horse enthusiasts.

The Accreditation Course. - This course is for the dedicated student seeking a career within the equine industry. The student who completes all modules of the accreditation course, will be thoroughly and practically prepared for a career within the equine industry, whether as a rider, trainer, teacher, manager or owner.

Click here for more information on the Accreditation Course Subjects

Special development program can be tailored for individual requirements and skill levels.

There is accommodation on campus or nearby. We currently have six private rooms ("people stables") on the premises with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. The accommodation is fully self-contained and is in the style of the traditional Aussie shearers quarters

We have a variety of horses available to cater for most peoples abilities and experience during their stay at Yardah.

We are not just aiming to produce competent riders, our goal is to enable people to become "fine" riders with the ability to have a horse working softly with correct posture and using his body in a way that is most beneficial for the horses physical and mental development. The fact that our horses are not "pack horses for people", we train riders on sensitive fine horses, means this provides the opportunity for students to attain this goal.

Our training is second to none.