UPDATE: The Natural Connection has closed the doors for boarding and Ms. Jean has now moved the business direction towards trail riding and teaching lessons on the trail.
On April 1st, 2017, Ms. Jean and family made the lengthy two month move to the Marriott Ranch, in Linden, VA. Yes, the same Marriott Ranch that essentially created and was the driving force for Ms. Jean and the Natural Connection.
The Natural Connection was conceived back in 2003 at a small farm in Centreville, VA. At this small 17 acre farmette, Ms. Jean created her business prototype and began rehabilitating horses and teaching students on a part-time basis.
From 2009 to 2017, The Natural Connection had two primary locations, one in Loudoun for majority of it's time and a short amount of time at a beautiful farm in Fauquier County. While at these locations, this lesson and training program focused on working horses in an arena and out on trails. It was available to a specific "breed" of person. This program was created for people interested in the Natural Horse and our amazing connection to these beautiful creatures. The primary focus is on natural care, horses living outdoors 24/7 in a herd environment, natural trimming, riding with appropriate gear per horse, finding horses through adoption for lease or ownership, and the basics of natural horsemanship training and riding. English and western riding lessons were available for ages 12 and up. Beginners were required to stay in private lessons until they could demonstrate a specific skill set under-saddle, showing his or her ability to ride in semi-privates safely. The large majority of students in the Natural Connection owned their own horses and took lessons on a weekly basis, in either private or semi-private lessons. These students were a pleasure to work with and have now moved on to the next step in their lives with their wonderful horses.
Instructor, Jean French, has over 15 years of experience in training, coaching, riding and instruction together. With a Masters in Education and always aiming for attaining various certificates of continuing education yearly, Ms. Jean has brought her experiences of all ages together to offer a rare and valuable program to the Northern Virginia area and to the authentic western atmosphere at the Marriott Ranch. Riders and horses are looked at as individuals...
What makes this program unique? At the Marriott Ranch, students learn to ride out on the trails. Private sessions allow for one on one time with Ms. Jean. Students learn about the challenges in riding on trails, while also learning to ride at the same time. Horses are carefully selected to match the riders skill level to help create a positive learning environment.
Students have the option to learn a different take on the western discipline and are expected to learn about horse care, management and training, as well as the basics of horseback riding!
- RECREATIONAL TRAIL RIDING
- GREEN HORSE TRAINING, COMMUNICATION IN ROUND PEN AND LUNGING
- HAVE AN ASSESSMENT DONE ON YOUR HORSE AND RECEIVE A SHORT-TERM PLAN ON HOW TO REBUILD YOUR HORSE/RIDER RELATIONSHIP
- PROBLEM HORSE ASSESSMENTS AND TRAINING (SOME EXCEPTIONS APPLY)
- "WHOL-ISTIC" (Ms. Jean's version of holistic) HORSE CARE IS ENCOURAGED
- Instructor knowledge, and education; experience combined with the desire for continued education in horsemanship.
- Ms. Jean seeks education yearly, attending clinics in natural horsemanship (Clinton Anderson and others), clinics in hunters and jumpers and is thrilled to be taking lessons as often as possible with top eventer and clinician Stephen Bradley. Attending seminars on horse care and management keep this program up to date with the newest practices.
- Horses for trail riding are often carefully selected from adoption and rehab situations, giving each horse the potential to be in this unique program and get a second chance at life.
- Body language and communication are an integral part of the horse and rider partnership.
- Horses are allowed to be horses, with 24/7 turn-out, access to water and forage 24/7, non-severe bits used in shows and trail riding, trimmed or shod horses based on the footing.
- Horses and riders that join the program have individualized lesson/training plans based on the rider's goals combined with the horse's abilities, medical needs, exercise and training needs and capabilities.
Must be willing to think and learn "non-conventionally" in comparison to what many equestrians are doing in the traditional horse world today. Beginners, ages 10 and up, ride in private trail riding lessons. Beginner II, Beginner III and Advanced Beginner and Novice riders will have the options of riding in semi-private trail lessons for learning arena and trail etiquette. CURRENTLY ONLY ACCEPTING ADULT RESTART STUDENTS AND CHILDREN OVER AGE 10 WITH SOME PREVIOUS RIDING EXPERIENCE. 250lb WEIGHT LIMIT.
Students have the opportunities to participate in and get exposure to activities such as but not limited to:
-Trail rides
-Clinics with professional horsemen and women from varying disciplines held at the Marriott Ranch arena
-Encouraged to go on Field trips to specific locations for on-site learning on weekdays and winter-time
-Encouraged to Attend horsemanship clinics
-Train your horse with Ms. Jean at your facility, pre-scheduled times during the winter months
-Encouraged to attend Veterinary seminars
-Encouraged to go with Ms. Jean for Horse shopping and learn about the challenges of buying and selling
Email for private ride times to jfrench@marriottranch.com
Or you may go to naturalconnectionprogram@gmail.com to request more information.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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In this program, you, as a student, can expect to see the below, at minimum:
Learning how to start, exercise, train or retrain the young, green, repurposed, older or rehabilitating horse.
Including:
- Ground exercises
- Round penning
- Lunging
- Ponying
- Trail riding
- Introduction to Discipline training
- Lower level western dressage, Phase I (long and low), Phase II (slightly lifted), Phase III, (On the bit)
Round Penning
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| Fundamentals under saddle |
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| Ponying |
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| Lunging |
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| Trail Riding |
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| Gymnastics |
 |
| Dressage |
 |
| Lessons over fences |
 |
| Practice, practice, practice |
Congrats on launching your blogspot - this is great! What an awesome picture of Barney with his little buddy - I love it !!!! And the other pictures are wonderful too, making a great start to your blogspot! Dennis, Julia and I are excited to have been part of the orginal members of The Natural Connection because Jean has taught, and continues to teach, us SO many wonderful things about loving, caring for, and enjoying our horse, Teddy (whom we own all because of Jean; we'll have to post our Teddy story here one of these days) in addition to all of Jean's horses. Sabi, that adorable Arabian you see on the home page, is still my favorite of all Jean's horses past and present (after Teddy, of course! But since we bought Teddy for Julia ...). So come enjoy horses with us ... but I call first dibs on Sabi! :-)
ReplyDeleteDebbie and family,
ReplyDeleteThank you to you, Jules and Dennis for your loyalty and support for the last 3/4 years as I made every effort to find the right home for the Natural Connection.
Teddy adopted you and Julia, we simply had to let him tell us...your relationship together is priceless and you guys should be proud to have created a relationship with a horse as special as Ted.
I had forgotten how much you liked Sabi, and I am truly excited about your starting to work with him. Because you know Sabi's history and how far he has come, I have a feeling that you will have a deeper connection to him than other riders.
Let me know if you guys want some good pics of Teddy to post on a blogspot for your family!
Jean,
ReplyDeleteYour new site is wonderful. I cannot rave enough about working with you and leasing my wonderful horse, Barney, from you. It is wonderful to see him on the site. Even though I have been riding most of my life I have learned more from you than all of my instructors combined. Your vast amount of knowledge and wonderful demeanor around the horses is much appreciated. Your field trips to learn about all different aspects of horsemanship add a very special dimension to your program. It is another one of your special touches that makes your program so unique. You are quite an asset to the horse world.
Candice
heyyyy Jean!!!!
ReplyDeletei found your blog! your web site is soooo coool ! i just had to write here! i just want to say thank you for believing in me and making such a difference in me and annie's life. she is the most wonderful mustang in the whole entire world. so thank you so very much. and thanks you for teaching me the natural way to take care of annie and others she is deff happier that way. i so happy you made all this happen and i cant wait to watch you make a difference in every single person that goes through your program.
-krista
Jean-
ReplyDeleteI have to thank you for saving my horses. Kiddo and Dottie are safe, in a loving environment, thanks to you. Thank you so much for your knowledge and love. I look forward to trail rides and lessons in the near future! Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts...
Emily, Abby, Dottie & Kiddo
Carol Biang Testimonial
ReplyDeleteJean French is the consummate “horse whisperess”. In only one session, she transformed a rebellious “teenager” into a “quiet/complient” young man. We are totally looking forward to our upcoming weekly training sessions with Jean. What was so impressive was Jean’s ability to immediately communicate in horse-ese with out speaking a word and establishing herself as the leader in less than three minutes. After 20 minutes, our horse was following Jean everywhere “off lead” and waiting to be “invited” to approach her. Jean made Cody walk, trot and canter around her by just using her body language and other “magic” she possesses. I highly recommend utilizing Jean’s incredible talents on any horse, at any level. Cody is usually an above average “spooker”, but when Jean introduced him to new experiences (lunging), he didn’t spook or blow and just responded to her aids as if they had been lunging for months. It was simple awe inspiring.
Our Story: A friend of mine, a very novice rider purchased his first horse after he recently retired and took two and a half months of English riding lessons. Before his purchase, Cody had been out to pasture for the past three years and wasn’t ridden on a regular basis. Cody is not a “beginner” horse and when we got him, Cody could not be touched on his face, could not be haltered, could not be tied and could not be led on a lead line. We were also told that he couldn’t be tacked up. He has an extremely sweet temperament and loves attention, and is extremely intelligent and a quick learner. After a month and a half of solid ground work, we could walk Cody on a lead line for about 20 feet and then he’d lean into us or head butt us and stop moving forward. This happened consistently for a week. We knew that we needed help desperately. Somehow, by luck and fate, we found Jean French on-line was even more elated when we found that she was located in our area. We called her immediately and scheduled an evaluation session. After our first session and the incredible change in Cody transpired, we have our hope returned to one day will ride Cody where it’s pleasurable to both horse and rider with Jean’s tutelage.
Jean - congrats on your blogspot. And here is our story:
ReplyDeleteWe moved here from Texas 2 years ago. My daughter, Sarah, was 8 at the time. She had been riding Western since she was 4 yrs old. Animals are Sarah's true passion. Sarah has speech and learning difficulties, but when she is with her "babies" as she calls her horses, she comes to life. She truly loved to ride and to learn how to take care of a horse. When we moved here we tried to find the "right" instructor for Sarah, someone that was gentle, yet knows when to challenge a child and a horse to do their best, a person that is calm, patient and encourging. Miss Jean is all this and more. Sarah has learned so much, she has become more self confident, she has become a stronger person when she is with her horses and Miss Jean which also helps her in other areas of her life. Sarah favorite horses are "her Barney Boy" and "Hanky". Through Miss Jean teaching, guidance and love, Sarah has grown and will continue to grow. Miss Jean is a blessing to Sarah and our family.
Thanks Jean for all you do, you are the BEST! Mindy
My story with Pheonix, or Mama as I usually call her, starts only a few months after my introduction to riding. This was a big change for me because prior to my lessons with Miss Jean, I had a strong dislike for horses. Since I had paid off my truck I decided that I would start looking for a horse of my own. Miss Jean sent me an email for a horse that looked like a good possibility so we decided to go take her for a test drive. She was soooooo slow. Since I was a total greenie I was a-ok with that and she had such a sweet personality that I knew this was my horse. She had been a broodmare for years and years and as she came back from broodmare land and into the world of saddle horses again I learned that she was amazingly responsive and well trained. One thing led to another and my great western horse ended up being a wonderful English horse! And so Mama began teaching me equitation. We’ve done a few shows and done quite well. We enjoy our time together in the arena and especially on the trails. Since she is older and hasn’t worked in such a long time now she’s teaching me how to get a horse back into shape. She has been a wonderful gift who has taught me a lot about love, horses, compromise, and training. It’s been a wonderful ride!
ReplyDeleteToday is a momentous occasion for me, having signed a lease on the amazing and amusing Hank, and so it's a good time to share my experience with The Natural Connection. After my husband and I lost our two wonderful 15+ year old Border Collies within a very short time of each other last summer, I was a pretty sad girl without animals in my life. I needed to regroup and recover and decided that all the spare time I had on my hands (that had been filled by caring for the pups in their declining months) could be focused on getting back into riding. In the back of my mind I recalled that Mimi Miran, a friend from church, "had horses" and through the wonder of Google I found a very unique sounding horsemanship program at Miran Farm. I contacted Miss Jean, went for a trial lesson and have been riding since last October. Of course, Barney got my training going and as he was transitioning into retirement (and as I switched from English to Western), Jean matched me up with Fareed's Hank (a.k.a. Hankopotamus although I have taken to calling him Hanksta the Gangsta) and I fell in love with this bemused Paint. Miss Jean and Hank have brought me a long way in riding skills and confidence and though I have a great deal more to learn, I am looking forward to every minute of it!
ReplyDeleteVery informative thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLearning to see the world from the horse’s point of view – this includes figuring out “what’s in it for them” when asking something of your horse. Understanding your horse’s basic personality type so that you can work with him in the most effective way possible, given his particular psychology.
ReplyDeleteJean – Duke and I are proud to be part of the 2012 additions to your program and we would love to share our story…
ReplyDeleteIn early 2012, one of my friends told me to check out Miran Farm after I told her I was interested in picking up riding again at a barn that offered both English and Western lessons. I took my first lesson with Ms. Jean (an Marcus!) in April and was hooked. I relished learning about all aspects of horsemanship and being at a barn with such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, elements I had found nowhere else previously. A little over a month into my twice weekly lessons, Jean and I discovered that I was just too tall for all the horses in the program. My heart sank at the prospect of having to leave a place considered my “little bit of heaven on earth.” So with some interim teaching from Ms. Jean’s retired 17.2 hh mare, Jazz (love you, Big Mama!), we set out to find a tall horse of my own.
On June 30th, we ventured to Doswell, VA to see Duke (then known as Mr. Mojo), a 17.3 hh dapple grey thoroughbred gelding who had never officially raced, but spent most of his life at the track in Charlestown, WV. Ms. Jean channeled her supernatural sixth sense to see Duke’s potential amid the chaos of our test ride. In the best way possible, my life has never been the same since Duke came home to Miran. Ms. Jean has helped me get Duke on the path to better health and we’ve stayed flexible in developing training regimens that best suit our needs. Undoubtedly, the best part of being with Duke is seeing how much happier he has become at Miran Farm and building our bond together—the feeling is simply indescribable. Duke and I are thankful to have found the Natural Connection Program and look forward to journeying wherever the trails lead us. We would love for everyone to read about our journey together at www.dappleduke.blogspot.com.
Thank you, Jean, from the bottom of our hearts!