Nicolas Blondeau                   nicobio.gif

Simplifying life for man by making it comfortable for the horse

 

Nicolas Blondeau has a very special gift of communication with the horse.  His gentle but firm approach has helped many horses overcome their fears and uncertainties, from being afraid to go into a trailer to a refusal to leave the starting gates at a race.   Youngsters who go to the Ecole Blondeau for breaking-in will leave with confidence, ready for schooling and their future, be it competition or leisure.

Nicolas Blondeau was born on 5 December 1955 in Châtellerault, France. He learnt about horsemanship under of some of the greatest international horsemen. From an early age he looked after ponies and went on to practise the three Olympic disciplines and race as a gentleman rider.   His real interest, however, has always been breaking-in.

He has devoted more than twenty years to developing his principles for breaking-in, which form a comprehensive training method. He gives the horse a solid foundation so that its subsequent education progresses smoothly to the highest levels in all disciplines including flat racing, steeplechasing and trotting.

His method has all the advantages sought by horsemen everywhere, be they owners, breeders, trainers or riders:  harmony, effectiveness and rapidity.

Since May 2005, Nicolas Blondeau has directed the Blondeau School in Saumur, where horses and students receive a warm welcome.  He travels throughout France and abroad to carry out training and breaking-in.  He has a BEES2 instructor's qualification and is an approved instructor for Ethological Horsemanship.  In 2006 he received an award from the Academy of Agriculture in recognition of his extensive and innovative work.

Nicolas Blondeau's website is now in English as well as French.

http://www.ecoleblondeau.com

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The Method


The method designed by Nicolas Blondeau has all the advantages sought by horsemen everywhere, be they owners, breeders, trainers or riders: harmony, effectiveness and rapidity.

This method is based on the classic and well-tried principles of: respect,           firmness and sensitivity.

Nicolas Blondeau always works alone with the horse which makes for better contact since the horse will be more at ease concentrating on one person,          rather than several.

The process develops the effectiveness of the aids and stresses the true role      of the rider’s hands, which control both brake and accelerator.  The legs only come into play when needed.  Nicolas Blondeau also makes use of the voice    and a hazel stick at the shoulder.
The step-by-step Blondeau method is easily assimilated by students who    possess the qualities needed to educate horses:  calmness, concentration          and firmness.

The different stages of the Blondeau method can be summarised as follows :
The gaining of confidence and first exercises in the box;  work in hand- walk,      trot, halt and transitions;  going into and out of the trailer one step at a time;  mounting in the stable;  riding at the three paces and transitions; working on varied terrain.

The means used are those of classical dressage:  bending, contact, impulsion      and cadence.