Clinics & Workshops
"Wow, wow, wow!!! What a difference! I feel like a different rider. My body has held on to the feels I got last week and it's great."
Clinics:
2026
Open Centered Riding Clinic
Sept 5th & 6th
Open Centered Riding clinic
for any level
You’ll learn how to achieve an independent seat and how to move in harmony with your horse. This information applies to all disciplines. Clinics also include saddle fitting, basic obedience and ground training for the horse.
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We start 8:30am Saturday & 9:00 Sunday mornings unmounted, working on Sally Swifts 4 basics & Groundwork.
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Lunch will be provided.
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Participants usually finish by 4:00 pm, both days. A strong Centered Riding foundation is carefully constructed throughout the weekend.
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$425 A maximum of six participants ensures each rider receives personal attention and feedback.
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Auditors $65 Take part in all activities except riding. It is a great way to expose more people to Centered Riding.
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Riders may arrange to have their lessons videotaped. With the new video camera system, participants will be able to view their progress during the clinic! (click here for info) Attending instructors are invited into the arena to learn hands-on bodywork techniques.
Many interesting opportunities for clinic participants are available; please contact Susan directly. click here.
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Open Centered Riding clinics usually involve around 4 hours of mounted riding instruction.This is intermixed with unmounted on the ground work with the horse & body awareness work on the riders & auditors.
Centered Riding clinics for special populations such as pony club, riding club, therapeutic riding centers, obstacle training, and trail riders associations are available.
Contact Susan for more details
Note: Please mail all payments to:
Post Office Box 279
Geneseo, NY 14454
Host Your Own Clinic!
Not able to attend an Open Centered Riding Clinic at the Big House Equestrian Center?
Or are you interested in hosting your own clinic?
Please contact Susan as we still are booking dates 2026.
"Beyond my Expectations !
Can't believe how easy it was to become ( A great start anyway) a better rider!"
"Outstanding instruction.
Very knowledgeable about a wide range beyond just Centered Riding."
"I had a wonderful time at our Center Riding Clinic!
The instruction was life changing.
I found a new balance in myself, and a much better connection with the horses I rode.And those horses were great! So patient and willing with those of us who are not the best balanced riders."
"Spot on. Susan knew how to assess each of 3 riders and their differences/specific needs. She found my weakness and gave clear instruction on how to improve."
I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed Saturday’s workshop! I had a very pleasant bareback ride tonight and loved implementing all the things I learned - especially those turns! And my horse loved it too.... turning left suddenly started going much better! :)
"Excellent Instruction
Susan explains well in different ways to reach different learning abilities and styles. She demonstrates well what she is teaching and is respectful everyone participating"
Video Evaluations (in repair mode):
One of our most valuable teaching -and learning-tools is the unique application of video for lesson feedback and analysis. Connecting what a student feels when riding and then seeing how it looks often provides that "aha!" moment to understand and incorporate those necessary changes and be the better rider.
Through multi-camera usage in the indoor arena, Susan now has a crucial edge in her ability to identify and diagnose why a rider is having problems, then give them the aids to fix those issues through her knowledge and application of Centered Riding techniques and her experience teaching riders for over 50 years!
In the video below, we show an illustrated Video lesson with our friend Kristen, who is riding our "School-Master" Scotty. This rider has a common problem- She "unconsciously" sits more on heavily on her "right" seat bone while riding. Therefore when Kristen asked Scotty to canter onto his "right" lead, he took wrong lead. Why? you might ask - Because the rider unbalanced the horse making it quite difficult for him to carry out her wishes. As you watch Kristen learns to place more weight on her left, the "outside" seat bone to get a good right lead canter. Susan most often rides while teaching as this allows her to view her student from all angles and demonstrate how to solve the "puzzle" and find success.
Big House Video Evaluation Demo
Learn the basics of the five building blocks of alignment with Level 3 Centered Riding Instructor Susan Strong Kelley.
This video is a recent winner of the Centered Riding 4 Basics video contest.