Hatha Equus
the Home of Co-Creational Horsemanship
Co-Creational Horsemanship Clinic with
Hatha Equus International
where Science meets Soul
with the goal of a
Consenting, Athletic, Confident and Mindful
Horse/Human Pair
Session 1: November 3-5
Session 2: November 7-9
@ Shining River Ranch, Louisburg, NC
"This clinic transformed my relationship with my horse, and I can't wait to continue!
I gained new training skills, AND so much more.
Fun and laughter were at the heart of the experience, combined with mindfulness, communication, and consent. I did not know that such a deeply moving experience could also be lighthearted and silly!
I now find myself practicing co-creation, not only with my horses, but even with my dogs. The possibilities are endless!
Image
It was the best clinic experience I have ever had!"
-- Ellen Glover, Equestrian
CALLING ON:
Caring Horse Owners
at driving distance from Louisburg, NC
If you are in the process of:
colt starting or
re-starting their horse under saddle
rehab or re-conditioning
"correcting" unhealthy inversion
And You're Dealing With...
strong objections to being ridden
an un-postable, pogo-stick-like trot
your horse running through the aids
a cookie-monstering ball of (equine) anxiety
a good boy/girl who simply tolerates you
a very complex rescue case
and/or your horse looks like this:
and You are Sick of...
chasing your horse around a round pen for hours on end
having to compromise your ethics in training
being told you're too soft
feeling judged and inadequate
everything horse-training being so darn grim and serious!
spurs, whips, nosebands and bits
doing things this way because "that's how it's always been done"
feeling forced to fit in a box
the frequent cognitive dissonance in the ethical horsemanship world
Join Us on November 3-9th!
Co-Creational Horsemanship Clinic
with Hatha Equus
Whether you're looking to build muscle, rebuild trust, or rekindle joy with your horse —
this is where movement science & biomechanics meets the art of co-creation.
🎯 No grim drills
🎯 No obedience theatre.
🎯 No ego-driven performance.
🎯 Just authentic, mindful, playful partnership.
(All disciplines welcome!)
"Roy's movements were astounding...wow!
Achieving such safe play from the ground has been a long-held aspiration of mine...and now we're finally making it happen 🥹😍
Encouraging and inspiring him to move without any sense of pressure is incredibly beneficial for both of us.
It allows us to have fun, it enhances our communication, and
it supports Roy in developing better proprioception and unleashing his fullest potential in this rehab & riding prep journey we're on!"
-- Benedetta Sarri, Equestrian
IN THIS CLINIC WE WILL WORK ON:
💞 Being Relationship Co-Stars — Reading each other like an open book, ability to down regulate (and not co-disregulate), making the other feel seen and heard
🎖️Becoming Mindful Citizens of Each Other's World — calm, knowledgeable and confident horse and human from vet prep to fly spray and tack!
🏸 Your Horse & You = Workout Buddies — fitness through fun, science-backed-play-based workouts for your horse
📜 Clear Communication — from the ground and under saddle: shared leadership and boundaries with love
All Horse Breeds, Ages, Disciplines
and Body-Types Welcome!
(as long as cleared by the vet to participate)
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THIS FEELS LIKE:
RELIEF: You thought being soft made you a weak horse handler?
Brace yourself: we'll invite you to be softER!
THERE ARE NO LIMITS: there's nothing you can't do when you start from joy, softness and self-efficacy!
COMMUNITY: you're not alone in listening to your intuition and choosing kindness (AND efficacy!). These clinics feel like selfless mutual support without judgment
FUN! Turns out you don't need to be always so serious with your horse after all
(All disciplines welcome!)
MEET YOUR GUIDE ON THIS JOURNEY
Giorgia Ghizzoni
Equine Consent Specialist and
Super-Athlete Coach
↑↑↑ Click on the image to hear about Giorgia's Journey
Hi, I'm Giorgia Ghizzoni. In my "previous life" as a professional performing artist, I have learned what co-creation means and how to embody it at a very deep level.
Every day - whether I am helping a horse through their trauma, teaching them new behaviors, supporting them to expand their comfort zone, enjoying nature with them, playing with exhilarating movement games or actually playing my cello for them...I am making music with them. And it's the best feeling in the world. It's transformational. It's oneness.
After years of dedication and discovery of science, technique and soul, it is now my pleasure to help you and your horse on your journey to making art...together, collaboratively, wherever both your definitions of art might cross.
Hatha Equus
The Home of Co-Creational Horsemanship
Flavia Verillo - Equestrian
"As I stand on the brink of motherhood, I've pondered over the superpower I'd wish for my daughter. Deep reflection led me to value one above all: freedom—the freedom to think, to speak, to choose, and to express herself.
I believe that truly embracing freedom requires attuned observation, to understand an individual's needs and unspoken signals. It requires the space to communicate without the dread of judgment. It requires each individual respecting others’ choices, even if we may disagree.
Giorgia has profoundly influenced my journey towards these realizations.
Her guidance has shed light on the significance of unbiased observation and granting space for one to simply be. The liberty to be oneself is the cornerstone of a relationship that’s undeniably honest, meaningful, and genuine. With each passing day, I grow more certain that embracing this approach is the right path for me".
We Know What Clinics Can Feel Like
WE'VE BEEN TO CLINICS (EVEN SOME RUN BY ETHICAL TRAINERS)
THAT LEFT US FEELING:
🚫 Incompetent
🚫 Invisible
🚫 Patronized
🚫 Pushed
🚫 Or spiritually bypassed
...and we though...
...not on our watch!
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING...
Been There - Done That!
I'Ve Attended A Million Clinics
and I Always End Up...
...feeling incompetent and small
...being yelled at in public
...feeling alone in the crowd
...feeling weird for daring to think outside the box
...feeling lesser than just because I don't compete
...being considered mediocre because I "just" trail ride
So I Tried Some Ethical Instructors,
and Even Then I Was...
...continuously red-flagging ethical and logical incongruencies in their teachings
...evasively redirected when I enquired about the foundational science to their method
...walking on egg-shells in trying to stay clear of any rivalry they might have had with other instructors I am studying with
...therapized in public for the whole hour,
then left open with no emotional support
...led through a bunch of shamanic rituals
(which were interesting, but had little to do with my horsemanship goals)
...unable to replicate the clinic breakthroughs at home
So Here's What We Do Differently
EMOTIONALLY SAFE
...to maximize your (and your horse's) all-round learning
🔆 We hold space for learning, fumbling, laughing, crying—and growing.
🔆 You’ll never be mocked or rushed.
🔆 We use humor, presence, and compassion to create a truly human learning environment.
PRE-CLINIC &
POST-CLINIC SUPPORT
🌟 You’ll receive access to our Pre-Clinic Video Course so you can arrive grounded and ready.
🌟 You won’t leave wondering “how did we do that again?”
Join our follow-up Zoom Q&A to troubleshoot and reflect.
COMMUNITY
You’ll likely leave with more than new tools.
You might leave with new friends, too.
Tentative Schedule for Each Session
2 Days of Group Clinic
8:15am: Sign in
8:45am: Horse-Free Morning Exercise involving all
9:00am-10:15am First Group
10:15am-11:30pm Second Group
11:30pm - 12:00pm Q&A
12:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch Break
1:30pm-1:45pm Horse-Free Exercise involving all
1:45pm - 2:45pm First Group
2:45pm - 3:45pm Second Group
3:45pm - 4:15pm Q&A
1 Day of Semi-Private Lessons
(open to auditors)
8:30am - 9:45am first semi-private
9:45am - 11:00am second semi-private
11:00am - 12:15am third semi-private
12:15pm - 1:45pm Lunch
1:45pm - 3:00pm last semi-private
3:05pm Q&A
At Shining River Ranch
1575 Sam Horton Road Louisburg, NC 27549
Stalls (12’x14’) available. First come, first served.
$30/horse/stall. Grain, hay and care is owner's responsibility.
Current Coggins required to bring your horse to the property.
Contact Kelli directly to make arrangements for your horse's overnight/day needs.
[email protected] / +1(919) 675-3297
Spots will be limited!
Reserve yours early!
Frequently asked questions
WILL I BE FORCED TO USE TREATS?
Absolutely not. We are here to support YOU and YOUR HORSE in your unique journey, not to force our methods or choices onto your relationship.
With our own horses, there are certain exercises in which we've found over time that low value food rewards make the training more effective and quicker, but we'll be glad to present alternative reinforcers if you feel strongly against food rewards.
IF you do wish to try and use low value food rewards in some parts of your training - we do NOT suggest high value food rewards almost ever - then we'll be glad to introduce you to our 'Civilized Food Receiving Manners' techniques to make sure that it's a positive experience for both human and horse.
IS THIS CLINIC PRESSURE AND RELEASE FRIENDLY?
Indeed it is! We use pressure and release in our training as well, especially in the context of boundaries setting and emergency communications with our horses. Our pressure and release approach has grown to include many interesting principles borrowed from other contexts, and the Hatha Equus approach to pressure and release has proven eye opening for many students.
This said, you must know that this is not purely a pressure and release clinic. The tides of change that we bring to the equestrian communities we visit include much more than this framework, and we hope that you'll fall in love with all the other ones as well.
WHAT'S YOUR HORSEMANSHIP BLEND MADE OF?
Positive reinforcement, Emotional Horsemanship, Natural Horsemanship, Intrinzen, Dressage, Yoga, Equine Assisted Learning, energy work, mindfulness, Active Listening Playground, creativity, humility, fun and empathy.
MY HORSE AND I DO DRESSAGE. IS THIS FOR US?
Oh yeah 😎 Imagine your horse in complete self carriage, lifting you up for the smoothest, supplest dressage sequence, and all you have to do is whisper a cue and enjoy the magic. Here's a photo of Elizabeth and her mustang Riggins, whom, through Co-Creational Horsemanship training, shows off his dressage moves even tackless and at liberty.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN SCIENCES YOU BASE YOUR WORK ON?
Modern Movement Science (Ecological Dynamics, Constraints Led Approach), Affective Neuroscience, Behaviorism, Stress Science, Physiology.
MY HORSE AND I ARE JUMPERS. IS THIS FOR US?
Co-Creational Horsemanship nurtures horses' genuine love for movement, and at some point in the journey most of them start actively and independently choosing more challenging obstacles, having realized that harder=more fun. Here's a photo of our student Marta (testimonial at the start of this page) having taken her mare to competitive jumping levels (bitless) through our approach ❤️
WHAT DO YOU GUYS SPECIALIZE IN?
Anything liberty, natural dressage, husbandry made easy and fun, horse rehabilitation (physical and emotional), liberty colt starting, bridleless dressage, trailer loading, trail riding prep, yoga for horses, farrier prep, problem solving, natural horse management, gentling.
MY HORSE AND I TRAIL RIDE. HOW CAN THIS CLINIC SUPPORT US?
We find that Co-Creationally trained horses do great on trail rides, even if they start off as skittish and insecure. This approach:
Makes them pros at down-regulating quickly, even after big spooks.
It transforms them into strong, sure-footed athletes.
It strengthens their togetherness instinct, so they check in often and communicate plenty, instead of being deeply distracted or "in their own world".
WHO HAVE HATHA EQUUS STUDIED WITH?
Elizabeth: Ann Gibson, Karen Rholf, Klaus Hempfling, Lockie Phillips
Giorgia: Mustang Maddy, Kathy Sierra, various Parelli instructors, Will Rogers, Alyssa Aubrey & Gaby Fabian (Equine Assisted Learning), Lockie Phillips, Philip Himanka (master hoofcare practitioner)
PRICING OPTIONS
Active Participant Ticket
$849
INCLUDES:
4 Group Sessions (first two days of each session)
1 Semi-Private Session (third day of each session)
6-Day Auditing of all other sessions
6-Day Q&A
Ability to participate in horse-free group training when applicable
Opportunity to participate in Pre-Clinic Meet-n-Greet Dinner for Participants with Giorgia @ Shining River Ranch
Opportunity to book catered lunches at Shining River Ranch
Access to the Clinic-Supporting Video Training
Post-Clinic Zoom Q&A Group Session with Giorgia
Unlimited Auditor
Auditing Any Day (even all 6!) + Extra Perks!
$239
INCLUDES:
Any Day Auditing (up to 6 of course)
Any Day Q&A (up to 6 of course)
Ability to participate in horse-free group training when applicable
Opportunity to book catered lunches at Shining River Ranch
Access to the Clinic-Supporting Video Training
Post-Clinic Zoom Q&A Group Session with Giorgia
Daily Auditor
Auditing as many days as booked
$74/Day
INCLUDES:
Same-Day Auditing
Same day Q&A
Ability to participate in horse-free group training when applicable
Opportunity to book catered lunches at Shining River Ranch
Access to the Clinic-Supporting Video Training
Post-Clinic Zoom Q&A Group Session with Giorgia
Active Participant Ticket
$769
INCLUDES:
4 Group Sessions (first two days of each session)
1 Semi-Private Session (third day of each session)
6-Day Auditing of all other sessions
6-Day Q&A
Ability to participate in horse-free group training when applicable
Opportunity to participate in Pre-Clinic Meet-n-Greet Dinner for Participants with Giorgia @ Shining River Ranch
Opportunity to book catered lunches at Shining River Ranch
Access to the Clinic-Supporting Video Training
Post-Clinic Zoom Q&A Group Session with Giorgia
Unlimited Auditor
Auditing Any Day (even all 6!) + Extra Perks!
$239
INCLUDES:
Any Day Auditing (up to 6 of course)
Any Day Q&A (up to 6 of course)
Ability to participate in horse-free group training when applicable
Opportunity to book catered lunches at Shining River Ranch
Access to the Clinic-Supporting Video Training
Post-Clinic Zoom Q&A Group Session with Giorgia
Daily Auditor
Auditing as many days as booked
$74/Day
INCLUDES:
Same-Day Auditing
Same day Q&A
Ability to participate in horse-free group training when applicable
Opportunity to book catered lunches at Shining River Ranch
Access to the Clinic-Supporting Video Training
Post-Clinic Zoom Q&A Group Session with Giorgia
sign-up questions
WHAT ARE YOUR BOOKING AND CANCELLATION CLINIC POLICIES?
Booking happens on a First Come First Served basis. To view our cancellation, refunds policies and more, please click here.
WHAT IF I CAN ONLY BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT ON 1 OR 2 DAYS, AND I'D LIKE TO AUDIT THE REST?
These 'separate' tickets might be available in case we'll still have participant spots by late December, but so far that seems unlikely. We'll keep y'all posted. In case, make sure you enroll in our newsletter to stay tuned!
CAN I BOOK ON BEHALF OF MY FRIEND/FAMILY MEMBER, TOO?
Awww you're so kind to do that for them 🥹 We do ask that, in this case, that you kindly start a separate booking in their name. That is going to help us with logistics, official documents and more!
I CAN'T ATTEND ON THESE DATES/IT WAS SOLD OUT WHEN I TRIED TO ENROLL. HOW DO I NOT MISS YOUR NEXT CLINIC IN LOUISBURG?
Don't worry, we'll be back soon. Circle back soon and we'll have a waitlist for you to sign up for for our next clinic in Louisburg, NC 🤗 And make sure you enroll in our newsletter to stay tuned!
I'VE ALREADY ATTENDED LEVEL 1. WHICH DATES ARE BEST FOR ME?
Hatha Equus doesn't recognize levels. It's part of an effort to bringing horsemanship back to what your unique, personal definition of happiness with your horse is. It's not a pre-traced linear path from A to Z. If you've already clinicked with us, maybe you've even taken our online course and you feel like you have a strong grip on the Co-Creational Horsemanship foundational science, skills and soul, we are really glad for you! ...AAAAAND the best way to learn your chosen next chunk with us, for now, is still the Co-Creational Horsemanship clinics! We structure them in which we can tailor to each participant's needs and experience. Groups are small and the learning is varied and beautiful.
So long story short, enroll wherever works for you/whenever there's still room...and then make sure you talk to Hatha Equus about your training goals!
WHAT DOES THE HATHA EQUUS JOURNEY LOOK LIKE?
Again, the journey is unique for every human-horse pair who walks it, but we can tell you what we can help you with, in whatever order your horse and you will need/want!
Co-Creational Gentling
Co-Creational Care and Husbandry
The Rehab & Riding Prep Playground (Get Your Horse Fit through Science-Backed Play!)
Consensual Colt-Starting or Re-Starting
Consensual Riding
Artful Riding
Co-Creational Liberty
Co-Creational Dressage
Co-Creational Dressage...Unbridled!
Ethical Trailer Loading
Co-Creational Trail Riding
Bianca
Equestrian, Trainer and Instructor
Thanks to Hatha Equus, he's not just prepared for these challenges—he relishes them!
"Thanks to Hatha Equus, we've reached a point where Seven not only tolerates the saddle but actively seeks it out. His movements, once lackluster and uninspired, gain an entirely new dimension as soon as the challenge of carrying weight is introduced. It's nothing short of incredible, considering there was a time when getting Seven to accept any kind of tack seemed impossible.
Now, he's practically begging for the chance to prove his mettle, eager to demonstrate not just to others, but primarily to himself, the remarkable feats he's capable of.
Seven, once labeled as 'lazy, overweight, and gluttonous,' is now the driving force behind our adventures into new, uncharted, and more demanding territories.
He's not just prepared for these challenges—he relishes them".
