Our Natural Horsemanship courses are open to children aged 8 to 12.

The children will be given one of our ponies, according to their height, for the duration of the course. They will care for him and look after him "as their own". Alternatively, they are welcome to bring their own horse or pony with them to the course.

Let's go to see the Equipements !   

Programme :

• Care of the ponies: grooming, turning out in the fields etc
• Vaulting sessions designed to help the children with the coordination of their movements
• Discovering the language of the ponies
• Theory classes on the basis of equine ethology
• Pony games

and much, much more,

for and with respect for the horse.

The Firfol Académie d'Enseignement Comportementaloffers courses designed to help children grow and blossom whilst taking part in a variety of activities...

We value and encourage mutual respect, support and sharing.

Your horse:

Children are welcome to bring their own horse with them; they will be put up in boxes, on straw (we mean the horses, of course!). Daily access to pasture is available except in case of rain. The additional livery fee is €15/day.

08:00 am : Wake-up time

08:30 am : Breakfast

09:00 am : Calling the horses in from the fields

09:30 am : Grooming

10:00 am : Simulation session

10:30 am : Groundwork

11:30 am : Theory class and journaling

12:00 am : Stable duties in teams (feeding, sweeping, tidying up, bedding)         

12:30 am : Lunch time

01:30 pm : Tidying up the canteen (team rotas)

02:00 pm : Pommel horse session

03:00 pm : Voltige – vaulting session on horses at liberty

03:30 pm : Trampoline session

04:30 pm : Goûter: tea & cake

05:00 pm : Trail ride or hack on the beach (depending on riding level, on weather condition and on the tide).

06:00 pm : Stable duties, care of the ponies, setting up the evening activities

07:00 pm : Shower time

08:00 pm : Supper

09:00 pm : Tidying up the canteen (team rotas)

09:15 pm :Theme night (bonfire, musical quiz, games etc)

10:15 pm : Quiet time and bedtime.

PS :The schedule may vary to suit general organisation

The students will be welcomed by our attentive and enthusiastic team of professionals, all trained by Laure at Firfol! and experienced in Natural Horsemanship.

Your child will be part of a group of 8 students of similar level in Natural Horsemanship throughout the duration of the course. The group will also keep the same tutor throughout the course, which helps to create an atmosphere of trust and bonding between them.

Laure Bousquet is a registered riding instructor (BE-2), the only one of that level in France to have been trained in the US by some of the most renowned horsemen. Her certification as a BFEE-3 instructor (Brevet Fédéral d'Equitation Ethologique Level 3) gives her license to teach the complete programme of the "Savoirs d'Equitation Ethologique" level 1 to level 5.

Health & Safety is given particular attention at Firfol!

Moreover, all our courses are registered with the Direction Départementale de la Jeunesse et des Sports (local branch of the Ministry of Youth and Sports).

We are registered as an organising body (N°d'organisateur) under the number 014ORG0199, and as a holiday riding centre under the number 14200002.

We are therefore regularly inspected. Herebelow are some of the things the inspectors want to check upon:

• The number of children being accommodated on the premises.
• Whether we conform to legal requirements in terms of staff (1BAFA certified tutor for 12 children). We work with approximately 1 tutor for each group of 5 children.
• Whether the educative project is being followed
• Whether personal medical requirements are being thoroughly followed through.
  

We have also spontaneously invited the Lisieux fire brigade to inspect our premises, particularly the dormitories, and to organize smoke and fire evacuation exercises. The Lisieux police brigade know our premises and our staff, and will be ready to intervene immediately, should we report a missing child or a suspect presence around the premises. The very location and layout of the premises would allow any suspect or unusual activity to be detected without delay.

The ranch is located at the end of a 100m long dead-end street and access to it is limited by an electric gate system.

Arrival:

Parents and children will be welcomed to a tour of the ranch on the Sunday afternoon (1st day of the course) from 3.00 pm on.

Station shuttle: available only for the train arriving in Lisieux SNCF at 4:24 pm from Paris St Lazare (train leaving Paris at 2:45).

Plane : Each case is particular, you’re going from the world ! Please contact us.

Departure:

The course ends on the following Saturday at 10.00 am.

We will be happy to provide lifts to the Lisieux train station for the train leaving at 10:36 am (train arrival in Paris St Lazare at 12:15 am).

Season 2013-2014

October holidays (Halloween !) 2013 :

6-day courses for €615 full board (sunday to saturday).

February 2014 :

6-day courses for €615 full board(sunday to saturday) .

Easter 2014 :

6-day courses for €635 full board (sunday to saturday).

Summer 2014 :

6-day courses for €635 full board in july (sunday to saturday).

6-day courses for €615 full board in August (sunday to saturday).

1/ Please complete the Application form, enclose a deposit cheque (50% of the total amount of the fees) and send through the post. Application and payment via our website are also possible (secured Credit and Debit Card payment, let’s see on  www.equitcomportementale.com > Réservations).

2/ We will then send you a receipt as well as a medical form, a kit list, road directions to the AEC and the disclaimer form.

3/ Please return the medical form and the disclaimer form signed and dated and settles your payment at least 1month before the start of the course.