Davidson's Triple Play Farm and The Tree yoga studio are offering yoga on horseback.

A Davidson horse farm and a local yoga studio are teaming up to offer an unusual class this fall that will get yoga practitioners up off the mat onto horseback.

“Roll up your yoga mat. You’re not going to need it for this class,” read a press release from Triple Play Farm, on Kistler Farm Road off East Rocky River Road in east Davidson.

The farm is joining forces with Kim Bridi, owner of The Tree: A Therapeutic Yoga Studio, to offer a 6-week “Mindfulness Yoga on Horseback” class Tuesdays Oct. 4-Nov. 8, 11 a.m. to noon. Using a horse as partner and mat, students will practice breathing techniques and grounded and mounted yoga poses to improve mind-body awareness, create greater flexibility and build soft strength. Classes will end with a short, guided meditation.

Kris Batchelor, the farm’s owner and certified equine specialist, said her farm’s draft horses work in equine facilitated therapy and learning programs at the farm, and are well suited to beginners in this yoga practice.

“Horses are exquisitely sensitive prey animals. Their very survival depends on their ability to be mindful of their surroundings,” Ms. Batchelor said in a press release. “They give you immediate and honest feedback and I expect that they will have many lessons for the participants.”

Ms. Bridi recommends the class for  people who want to create more awareness and mindfulness as they practice, something easy to ignore in a studio environment. “When the student is moving through a mounted pose, he or she will have to pay particular attention to how her movements are impacting the horse,” Ms. Bridi said.

During classes, horses will be held or led by farm volunteers and Ms. Batchelor will teach safe horsemanship. The program is aimed at people at all levels of yoga and equine experience.

To register or learn more about the horses, contact Kris Batchelor at 704-608-8441, KBatchelor@aol.com, or www.tripleplayfarm.com

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