Situated on the Comeragh Mountains, only a stones throw from the Nire Valley, Toorala is a magical setting for training horses in the art of Classical Dressage. We are located only 10min from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and 20min from the coastal town of Dungarvan.
Liz Frayling, our head Coach, has a background grounded in the Classical Dressage methods combined with a love of nature and history. Influenced by the teachings of Pluvinel, Baucher, de la Guérinière, Oliveira and more recently Rupert Isaacson we have developed a centre in our corner of Ireland to allow everyone the chance to experience Classical Dressage at it's finest. No matter what discipline or level of experience, our horses will enable you to understand and work towards a clear, stress-free goal of lightness and suppleness.
Classical Dressage
Private Lessons
At Toorala Equine we offer private ridden or Classical in-hand training lessons at our base with Liz Frayling (please see ABOUT US for more info). Private ridden lessons are with your own horse or if you would like to train in the inhand work with one of our talented Schoolmaster's. Discuss any topic you wish, work on the horses' way of going, test riding etc. Liz uses her expertise as a Classically trained dressage rider and Rider Biomechanics Coach to create fun, informative sessions to help both you and your horse succeed.
What is Classical In-hand Training?
In-hand lessons mark the basics for all of our horses but can be started at any age. This is a great way to start lateral work and teach all of the different elements on the ground first. For example, shoulder-in, travers, leg yield and half pass. By teaching the horse from the ground we eliminate a lot of tension from the equation that often occurs when lateral work is introduced under saddle. It is also a fantastic way to build muscle and improve suppleness. Eventually this then leads to collected work such as piaffe and passage and also canter pirouettes and changes. It's a great way to work the horse in its own right, as part of your warm up or for rehabilitation following injury.
Lessons can be booked on an individual basis or in a block. Please contact us for more information to discuss your requirements.
We Come To You
Your horse will only do something wrong if you haven't given him the tools to do it right. Our aim is to give you those tools!
It doesn't have to be complicated!
We aim to educate both horse and rider in simple terms and by making each training session enjoyable and most of all fun.
Tension is the biggest cause of mistakes in each and every partnership. If there is too much tension then the learning capacities of either or both parties will diminish and that lesson will also then have created a negative connotation. We want to create confident horses and confident riders or handlers. And most importantly we want it to be a fun learning experience. Learning without tension is a much more memorable experience!
We can offer a variety of training packages to suit you and your horses needs both ONLINE and IN-PERSON at your yard.
Training From The Comfort Of Your Yard
Clinics or Workshops can follow a variety of different formats from 1-day affairs to 2 or 3 day Workshops. They can also cover a variety of topics (see below). Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
In-Hand Training
The basis and foundation of all of our training. Suitable for all ages and stages. We strongly recommend that you undertake one of our Inhand Training Workshops to receive training with our Schoolmaster's before receiving training with your own horse. This is a fantastic skill to have in your toolbox but is A SKILL that requires practise. The results at the end of the day are amazing and allow you to teach your horse shoulder-in, half pass, pirouettes, piaffe & passage all from the ground before tackling these movements under saddle, creating happy athletes that know what is expected of them.
Private Lesson
Enjoy a private ridden lesson in the form of dressage, pole work or inhand training. Discuss any topic you wish, work on the horses' way of going, test riding etc.
Rider Biomechanics
Work with Neuromuscular Therapist and Certified Franklin Method Instructor, Liz Frayling. Each session includes assessment, plan and follow-up exercises, work on/off horse using Franklin Method Equestrian balls, bands and mobilisation techniques.
Please feel free to for more information.
