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UPCOMING EVENTS**

Event

Hotels in the vicinity of Windhorse International

The Curtis House Inn
11 miles (20 minutes)
Located in picturesque Woodbury, Connecticut (CT's antique capital), in the foothills of curtis house inn lobby Western Connecticut's beautiful Berkshires, The Curtis House Inn is Connecticut's oldest inn and an exceptional venue for relaxing, lodging, dining, and/or celebrating those special events. We offer a variety of quaint guest rooms, spacious dining/banquet rooms, a warm and inviting pub and a rich history. The Curtis House has been kind enough to offer discounts to Windhorse International clients so be sure to let them know you are a part of our group.
http://www.curtishouseinn.com/

The Heritage Inn
15 Miles (26 minutes)
The Heritage Inn was built in 1870 and transformed into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in 1988. This traditional New Milford hotel was selected for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 right after its opening.

Located in shining New Milford CT, the restored 100 year old tobacco warehouse has 20 spacious guestrooms with a hot breakfast included each morning. Within walking distance to quaint shops, restaurants, cafes, spas and New Milford famous town green.
http://www.theheritageinnct.com/

Rocky River Inn
17 miles (30 minutes)
Nestled along the rippling Housatonic River in New Milford, Connecticut, Rocky River Inn exudes boutique charm with modern flair. Our quaint hotel, which features newly renovated accommodations and two new wings, is surrounded by 10 verdant acres for a peaceful weekend getaway or an extended stay. At Rocky River Inn, you'll enjoy plush comforts, modern amenities and exceptional value.
http://www.therockyriverinn.com/

The Homestead Inn
15 miles (26 minutes)
The Homestead Inn was originally built by John Prime Treadwell in 1853, as his private residence which housed three generations of Treadwells until 1915. It was then owned by George T Sperry until 1928, when it was established as The Homestead Inn.
Located at the top of the New Milford green in the heart of the Litchfield Hills, this quiant fourteen room Inn has been owned and operated by Bill & Sherry Greenman since 2003.
www.homesteadct.com/

The Newbury Inn
22 miles (37 minutes)
The Newbury Inn is an affordable yet luxurious hotel located in the business district of Federal Road in Brookfield, CT just a few minutes from Danbury, CT and New Milford, CT.
www.newburyinn.com/

 

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PAST EVENTS

Windhorse International, in conjunction with Bettina Drummond and Wendy Murdoch, is pleased to invite you to our third Retreat Weekend. This retreat, using time established techniques designed to balance horse and rider's mind and body, will be held June 22, 23 and 24.

Each day will begin with a short, professionally led, meditation designed to settle the mind and enable the student to better "hear" what the teacher has to offer. After the Friday morning meditation session Wendy will guide participants through a 3-4 hour session of mat exercises using her unique system, the "Murdoch Method®", which develops the functional awareness of horse and rider in both their mounted and unmounted environment. The Method emphasizes the human body as the primary vehicle for self-learning and communication with the horse, expanding possibilities for movement, enhancing inter-connection and improving performance.

On Friday afternoon, Wendy will watch while Bettina puts each horse and rider pair through a pre-established sequence of training movements that are the essential platform for classical training. These training sequences will help identify where the riders balance points are challenged as well as any physical blockages. This knowledge will help Bettina and Wendy guide each horse and rider towards achieving their chosen goals.

On Saturday morning, after meditation, using the information gathered in the Friday sessions, Bettina will assist the rider with in-hand exercises designed to work through their blockages, and Wendy will conduct one hour table sessions using the Feldenkrais Method® to reconnect each person to their natural abilities to move.

On Sunday Bettina and Wendy will work together. This overlapping session will begin with Bettina putting the horse and rider pairs through more advanced classical training patterns. Mid-session Wendy will help to unblock the rider thereby ensuring the best possible results when, at the end of the session, there will be a second opportunity to ride the training patterns with Bettina.

On Friday and Saturday there will be a lunch featuring local foods prepared in house by nutritionist Elizabeth Caruthers, who also will talk to us about the nutritional needs of the dressage athlete.

Windhorse International offers a tranquil setting for focusing one's energies and learning joyfully with like-minded people. We hope that you are intrigued by our thought-provoking agenda and that this retreat will take you and your horse to new levels of understanding. In order to maximize opportunities for one-on-one instruction, we are capping the available spots at ten. If you are interested, please contact us as soon as possible to make reservations.

*For more information on The Feldenkrais Method® visit the mind/body page of our web site

Wendy Murdoch Clinic - June 25th, 2011

Wendy Murdoch, author of "Simplify your Riding" will offer an all day clinic at Windhorse International on Saturday June 25th.  Wendy's unique system, called the Murdoch Method, develops the functional awareness of horse and rider in both their mounted and unmounted environment. The Method emphasizes the human body as the primary vehicle for self-learning and communication with the horse, expanding possibilities for movement, enhancing inter-connection, and improving performance.

Wendy will touch on a variety of modalities (auditory, kinesthetic and visual) that will help riders to understand how their whole body cooperates in any movement, the Murdoch Method encourages them to express themselves more clearly to their mounts, allowing them to ride with increased comfort, efficiency, and pleasure. Enhancing the student’s knowledge of bodily cues and facilitating communication, the Murdoch Method can have long-lasting positive effects on both horse and rider.

This clinic is open to riders of all ages and in any discipline. The principles Wendy teaches, while applicable to every riding style and skill level, are customized to meet the needs of each student, whether they are a weekend pleasure rider or a competitor at the highest level.

Wendy holds a Master’s Degree in Equine Reproductive Physiology from the University of Kentucky (1986). Her background includes intensive study with Linda Tellington-Jones, Founder of TEAM®; an apprenticeship in 1992 with Sally Swift, Founder of Centered Riding®; Dr. Joyce Harman, holistic veterinarian and noted authority on saddle fitting; Bettina Drummond, the only authorized representative of the Nuno Oliveira School in North America; Jon Zahourek, creator of Zoologik® Equiken® Anatomy in Clay, system for learning anatomy; and Dr. Hilary Clayton, recipient of the McPhail Chair at Michigan State University to study biomechanics in dressage horses.

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Windhorse International's Past Retreat Weekends

Meditation for riders with Padma Karma got participants ready to focus on the days sessions.

Bettina working with Elly Lessin and Ufo in day one's in-hand training session.

Marty Whittle works with Wendy Eibsen and Dash during mounted Equi-Yoga session.

Lunch was prepared by our in house Nutritionist and guest lecturer Elizabeth Caruthers.

Lynndee Kemmit during Saturday's mounted position session with Bettina Drummond

Q & A wrap up session with Bettina and Padma in the Yoga Room at Windhorse International.

** All events held at Windhorse International, LLC are weather dependent. At temperatures below 34, during extreme heat or high winds clinics may be cancelled at the discretion of the organizers. It is your responsibility to please call before shipping in.