18th/19th February 2023
Brumby Farm Clinics
Stage 1 - Introduction to Horsemanship (ground skills)
29th/30th November 2025
This is where it all starts - on the ground.
​
In our Stage 1 clinic you learn about horse psychology, how horses learn, how to build confidence and how to create responsiveness in order to stay safe and have fun on the ground.
This clinic is the pre-requisite to most of our other clinics, both ridden and liberty.
Cost: $440
Soft, Straight and Supple Clinic with Sue Edwards
14th - 16th November 2025
Our coach, Sue Edwards, from the UK comes over every November to help us with our horses and also runs a clinic at Brumby Farm. This year the topic is "Soft, Straight and Supple" for those of us that need some extra help with our flat work.
​
Sue is an FEI accredited eventing coach and has years of experience competing at the highest levels.
​
​
Lesson Day with Sue Edwards
17th November 2025
For those of you that would prefer some one-on-one coaching with Sue Edwards she will be teaching private lessons here at Brumby Farm.
​
Cost is $150/hr
Experience Week - Green Horses
1st - 5th December 2025
Designed for horses that are already under saddle, to keep things on track and further develop your progress,… or if needed get them on track.
Over five days we will evaluate their current developmental stage, highlight any gaps in their fundamentals and introduce you to a plan to build a solid foundation going forwards through our foundation programme. Both you and your horse will be learning and progressing.
​
Mornings are spent as a group and afternoons are your time to practice, have a one-on-one lesson with Russell or relax.
​
$890 includes horse board, camping and lunches.
Young Horse School
3rd - 13th January 2026
For the second year we are offering a course here at Brumby Farm where Russell will coach four lucky students through the process of starting their own horses. Running for eleven days from 3rd - 13th January 2026 (with one day off in the middle) this is an exclusive course for existing, dedicated students who have shown an appropriate level of competency. Successful applicants need to have demonstrated that they have advanced beyond the basic ground and riding skills to a point where they have the muscle memory and would be able to execute instructions without hesitation.
Russell will be demonstrating with a young horse that he will be starting starting during the week and then the participants will work with their own horses under his guidance. The young horses must be a minimum of three years old.
The cost is a $3000 for the 11 days, with lunches, horse board and camping included. We only have four places still available so if you want to take part in this unique event and feel that you can meet the criteria above please email Russell directly on russellhigginsnz@xtra.co.nz
Stage 2 - Control & Confidence in the saddle
24th/25th January 2026
The second clinic in the three foundation series clinics. This one is all about transferring your ground skills into the saddle with an emphasis on safety.
Learn how to prepare your horse for riding and develop the "three essentials" in the saddle of lateral flexion, hind quarter yields and "go". Students must have completed a Stage 1 ground skills clinic with us.
​
Cost: $440
Experience Week - Ride with Awareness
26th - 3oth January 2026
Everyone wants to be a better rider so why not spend a week learning all about YOU. This week aims to give you insights into how your riding influences your horse. We look at the effects of rider posture, balance, weight distribution and focus on your horse and give you the body awareness to begin to do less to achieve more. Mornings are spent covering:
-
Body awareness simulations
-
Theory sessions
-
Understanding how your horse moves and why some things are difficult
-
Rider makeovers
-
Seat awareness exercises
Afternoons are your own time to practice, chill out or have private lessons.
Cost $890 (includes camping, horse board and lunches)
Your horse needs to be able to be ridden in a group with no major behaviour problems.
Cow Working Clinic
14th/15th February 2026
Horse development through cow working. This is a great opportunity to give your horse a purpose as well as to learn about a low stress approach to cattle working from horseback.
​
You will learn how to influence both an individual cow's "bubble" and the herd "bubble" with your horse. It will give you a whole new appreciation of how good your yields and control need to be. It is also a lot of fun.
​
Cost $480​​
Experience week - Cow Camp
16th - 20th February 2026
Working cattle from horseback is a great way to develop your horse and give him and you a purpose.
This Experience Week is for people who have done at least our Stage 1 ground skills clinic. Over the week we will look at building your horse's confidence with the cattle and develop the yields that you will need to be able to influence the cattle both individually and as a herd.
​
The mornings are spent as a group and the afternoons are your own time to practice (not with the cattle), use the Brumby Farm facilities or have private lessons with Russell and Ruth.
​
$990 (includes camping, horse board and lunches)​
Arena to Trail Clinic
21st/22nd February 2026
Do you want to go trail riding, but can't get out of the arena? This clinic is a great way of introducing riding in a group and in an open space whilst still in a safe environment. Arena exercises will set you and your horse up for riding out in the Brumby Farm playground in a safe and controlled way. Great for green horses and less confident riders.​
​
Cost $440
Versatile Horse Week
4th - 8th March 2026
New for 2026 this week will give you a taster of lots of different purposes for your horsemanship. The mornings will be spent on general horsemanship preparing you for the afternoon specialism which could be Working Equitation, La Garrocha, Cattle Working or obstacles.
​
Unlike the Experience Weeks this camp will be full days with your horse.
​
The cost is $1390 and includes camping, horse board and lunches.
Stage 3 - Advancing Horsemanship
14th/15th March 2026
This is the third in our foundation series and concentrates on advancing the ground skills and riding from the previous two clinics. We cover increasing speed and distance on the ground, increasing responsiveness, introduce the support rein and the canter. This is open to anyone who has done the previous clinics.
​
Cost $440
Working Equitation, Naturally Camp
18th - 22nd March 2026
After the success of last year's camp we are offering another week long camp dedicated to Working Equitation. You will learn how to use a natural horsemanship approach to this exciting and growing sport. Confidence with the obstacles is obviously a big part of the learning as well as how to approach the obstacles with accuracy and flow. We will be joined on the last two days by Jo Bard of Mystery Creek Lusitanos who will share her experience of international competition with group.
​
The cost for the five days is $1390 and that includes camping, horse board and lunches.
Stage 4 Beyond the Basics
18th/19th April 2026
This is the fourth clinic in our foundation series and is open to anyone who has completed the previous three clinics.
In this clinic we look at the 3 systems of the horse; Mental – Respect, Emotional – Impulsion and Physical – Flexion and how to get them in balance to create Harmony.
We introduce patterns and skills that are designed to develop the intangible qualities of feel, timing and balance bringing the communication between you and your horse to a more sophisticated level.
In this clinic we introduce impulsion patterns for both impulsive and unresponsive horses, enhance sideways and back up, start developing true seat connection and introduce the soft feel.
Cost $440