Anamir Equine

29/09/2026

We have some participant spots available 8/9 Nov 😊😊

Coming home to Australia – for the 8th time 🇦🇺

G'day Australia – I'm coming back! 🐴💛

In just a few weeks I'll be packing my bags for Australia, for the 8th time! From mid-October to mid-November I'll be teaching nine clinics, from Perth all the way to Minimbah. On my very first tour, I could never have imagined how dear this country, its horses and its people would become to me. Australia truly has a special place in my heart, and every time I return, it feels a little more like coming home.

What I love most about teaching in Australia is the openness and curiosity I meet there: riders who want the best for their horses and are happy to look closely, ask questions and try something new. A horse softening and letting go, a rider's face lighting up when something finally clicks... these are the moments I travel halfway around the world for.

**Learning together, in person**
We live in a wonderful digital age. I teach online myself, and I love it. But nothing replaces standing next to you and your horse in the arena. At a clinic I can see the small details, feel the atmosphere, and adjust in the moment. And you get something just as precious: a relaxed, positive group of like-minded people, learning from each other's horses, sharing a cup of tea and a good laugh between lessons. There's a theory lecture every day, and spectators are very welcome. Many tell me they learn just as much from watching, and they go home inspired, sometimes with new friends.

**Understanding, not just following**
In the Academic Art of Riding, we start with connection: a horse who feels safe and relaxed. Then we build clear communication through the aids, and only then do we use exercises as gymnastics with a purpose. So we focus on balance and aids rather than just performing exercises. My goal is that you understand *what* you are doing and *why*. You learn to judge your own work, read your horse and make good decisions on your own. In other words, you become independent. Harmony between horses and their humans is not just an advertising slogan for me. I really strive to help humans and horses understand each other better, one lesson at a time.

**Everyone is welcome**
It's important to me to teach with respect for both the human and the horse. We don't filter participants by level, and I value leading training just as much as advanced work. You can work bitless or with a bit, ride in a saddle or in a pad. I simply support you and work with what you already have. Each participant with a horse receives 3 individual lessons, and I'll do my best to send you home with tips and a clear plan to continue.

**For those of you who teach**
If you are a coach yourself, you are very welcome too. I work with clear, teachable steps and a logical progression that you can take home and pass on to your own students.

**Not a one-off event**
It matters a great deal to me to support the growth of gentle dressage in Australia and to help build a real community there. That's why these clinics are not a one-off. Between my visits, I'm here for you with online lessons, and you can keep learning with the theory lectures, training videos and step-by-step explanations in my online Art of Riding Classroom. I will do everything I can to return regularly, so that together we can build a solid education for you and your horse, one step at a time, year after year.

**What's new this year**
We have a new location in northern Victoria. The Sunshine Coast clinic has moved to Brisbane. And in Aldinga and Minimbah you can join two back-to-back clinics.

I'm so grateful to Anke, who organises the whole tour and hosts two clinics herself. I'm also grateful to Andrew, Liz, Sarah & Marina, Judy, Susan and Len for hosting their clinics. Most of them have been part of this since the very first tour!

**Please don't wait for "next time"**
I want to be honest with you: with the rising conflicts and uncertainty in the world, long-distance travel is not something I can take for granted anymore. I truly hope to keep coming back, but I can't promise that I'll be able to return next year. So if you've been thinking "maybe next time," please use this chance now.

**Here are the dates:**

📍WA - Perth October 17/18 2026, organized by AMT Equestrian Services [email protected]

📍QLD - Brisbane October 21/22 2026, organized by Liz Inder [email protected]

📍VIC - Narre Warren October 24/25 2026, organized by Sarah Meachem [email protected] & Marina Morton Dressage and Horsemanship

📍VIC - Bendigo October 28/29 2026, organized by Judy Bragg, [email protected] Judy Bragg

📍SA - Aldinga October 31/ November 1st 2026, organized by Susan Castel Equine Consultant/Coach [email protected]

📍SA- Aldinga November 3/4 2026, organized by Susan Castel Equine Consultant/Coach [email protected]

📍NSW - Bywong November 7/8 2026, organized by Anamir Equine [email protected]

📍NSW - Minimbah November 11/12 2026, organized by Anke Hawke Balanced Dressage [email protected]

📍NSW - Minimbah November 14/15 2026, organized by Anke Hawke Balanced Dressage [email protected]

I can't wait to see so many familiar faces again and to meet new ones. If you know someone who would love this, please share this post with them. 💛

See you soon in Australia!
Bettina
https://www.bettinabiolik.com

26/08/2026

Good video showing what poll movement can tell you about the horse's back.

Bettina will be here 8/9 Nov. Rider spots still avail 😊

03/08/2026

Functional Horse Training by Thirza Hendriks will be teaching a three day masterclass at Anamir Fri 23 Oct - Sun 25.

She is one of our regulars, combining classical dressage, rehabilitation expertise and a deep knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics and physiology.

If you are interested to attend but want to learn more, this Wednesday she will do a webinar on her approach. Details below. And if you miss out let us know as it will be recorded 🙂

Link to the clinic booklet in the comments

Coming Soon!
A complimentary online evening with Thirza Hendriks of Functional Horse Training! 🐴

Thirza will be joining me to talk about her return visit to Australia this October, which will finish up in Victoria in November.
This year, Thirza will also be running an Intro Functional Masterclass, which will be open to new students.

For anyone interested in finding out more about what is involved in this foundational Masterclass either as a spectator or participant with a Horse, then this will be a fantastic opportunity to join us online! 🤓

When is the Webinar?
Wednesday 5th August at 6pm AEST

Please register your interest using the link below. 👇

Hi there,

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Aug 5, 2026 06:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mSpJ9Z3wSjOjSXCQMtvzXg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

22/06/2026

Congrats to our friend Deb for getting this great opportunity for people to hang out with her adorable mini ponies up and running.

Deb is as lovely and friendly as the ponies, so a great recommendation for friends (with or without kids!) looking for some safe and enjoyable horse magic ✨⭐️🤩💫

08/06/2026

Here it is! Link in the comments of original post 😊😊

03/06/2026

This will be a super digital resource from someone well worth supporting, who puts a lot of care into sharing quality information 💕

I keep seeing terribly inaccurate AI drawings of anatomy being shared as fact, with lots of people
commenting positively which is a bit scary.

30/05/2026

Some beautiful bitless high collection. So much to love here.

Academic Art of Riding - Bettina Biolik is an excellent coach and one of Marius' students. She will be here 7 & 8 November.

We have a waitlist for rider positions, spectator tickets available ($80/day).

Contact us for more info 😊

01/05/2026

If you are looking for a nice PRE this guy is a stunner! And Argento have some other very nice youngsters 😍

22/02/2026

🦄 Day 3 of whole herd integration 🦄

Couldn't be happier than to see these guys all together, with this kind of diversity and cohesion.

Elsa Sinclair specialises in teaching (among other things) how horses communicate and interact with each other.

As a student of Elsa's I have found the introduction of Diego and Nathan to my herd absolutely fascinating, especially as Diego is young and inexperienced at complex herd life, but full of enthusiasm and big, bouncy greetings.

It has been an absolute masterclass in leadership from my gelding Linus and oldest mare, Mahlia. I think they should be running executive retreats 😆

I was lucky enough to have Elsa here shortly after Diego and Nathan started living with Linus and Mahlia, and so Elsa
was able to break down for me in detail what was happening in their conversations.

One particular lesson that stood out to me was Linus teaching Diego how and when he has to pay attention, and communicate back that he had noticed important things.

"See that? Linus charged at Diego because he looked at him, waited for acknowledgement, didn't get it, looked with more intent, still didn't get a response, so then had to make a point to Diego that he has to pay attention!"

Like a typical teen boy, Diego was often in his own world mentally!

It has been great to witness so clearly how attention is a critical part of horse currency.

It makes sense. If you don't notice a lion in the bushes or that your herd-mate has subtly asked for your attention, or you missed the cues about how and when we're moving (even when it's just a tiny step) or how your buddies are feeling then you aren't being a good herd-mate, and you are definitely not helping everyone else to stay safe.

This week I added Lulu and Caesar to the mix.

Diego demonstrated that he has learned a lot about herd communication and how to be a good citizen, and even provided great support to his Uncle Nathan when he needed it.

Previously Diego made a lot of mistakes, like coming in a bit too hot with his greetings. He's learned to cool his jets (sometimes!) and make a casual, slower arced approach, rather than a speedy excited bee-line. This is much better received by all his herd mates.

Mahlia helped broker the introduction of Lulu, stepping in to help Diego feel supported when he needed an ally, telling him to move NOW when he put himself in foolish places and then very blatantly removing herself and napping in the corner when she felt it was time to take a step back.

Likewise, Linus was insistent on access to the herd when he felt he had stuff to sort out, but made a point of being very busy in far away locations when it was best for others to make their own negotiations.

Elsa talks a lot about the different ways you'll see horses using mirroring, being 'the same as', pair bonding, work at a distance, parallel versus perpendicular alignment, and obstacles like trees to assist their communications or how they are feeling.

I absolutely saw all of this play out with my herd as they negotiated relationships or expectations, supported others, asked for help or set their personal boundaries. I also felt I could understand and predict the conversations.

Not only was this fascinating, but it made me better able to set my herd up for success and even step in to help them out a bit.

As the herd find their new dynamic, I see every horse working their pair-bond with every other individual.

Elsa will be here again at the end of March. Link in the comments if you want to come along . In the workshop you'll get to practice your skills with these legends 😊