About RidingLight and Nisca Warthen
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RidingLight for the rider or non-rider:
Offering Yoga, Massage, BodyTalk, and of course, Riding lessons!
Have you ever wanted to ride your horse as if there were nothing between you and them? Have you wished you
were that '"natural" rider you've heard of? Do you despair of ever moving as one with your horse in freedom and
grace? Or perhaps you've suffered some injury or illness that prevents relaxation and freedom of movement
while riding or going about your daily activities or maybe you're just ready to let go of old restrictions or bindings
in your life and body.
Nisca Warthen, a classically trained horsewoman, and Integrative Yoga Therapy Yoga teacher who has also
studied Centered Riding, provides help for the rider who struggles with their body due to injury or is not the
"natural" rider that finds balance, movement and grace on a horse so easy. Nisca offers Riding Light, a
combination of classical horsemanship, techiniques from Centered Riding, Yoga for Riders and other body
therapies to unlock, balance and connect riders in movement with their horses. Once the rider finds a release
of pain, combined with balance and freedom of movement within their body, they can let go and get out of the
horses way achieving communication that is subtle and efficient. Riding Light students learn that the majority
of horse resistance can quickly be remedied once the rider becomes aware of and releases unconscious
patterns of movement.
Nisca Warthen has been riding horses since childhood. She has competed in and trained western, hunter and
dressage. Along the way, life stresses and multiple automobile accidents began to add wear and tear to her
body. She found that the comfortable movement once possible on the horse had deteriorated. She realized that
her body had begun to challenge her position, effectiveness and ease in the saddle. Traditional riding
instructors and trainers were not able to help her regain the fluidity, unlock her body or connect in movement
with her horse as she once had. They told her what to do (sit deeper, balance, relax) but could not help her
understand how to get her body to do it. This realization led her to Centered Riding and the practice of Yoga.
Nisca started her practice of yoga in 1974 and became certified as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner
in 1999 and followed that up in 2003 with Integrative Yoga Therapy Teacher training and certification . She
began her study of and training in Centered Riding in 1997. Nisca has continued to study the body, movement
and horsemanship, always seeking knowledge of the connection for the rider and improvement of the horse
through the years. Attending clinics, workshops and trainings as a rider and seeker of inner knowledge is one
of her greatest joys. With this intent, Nisca has recently begun her study of the BodyTalk System and will be
certifying in AnimalTalk as well. Nisca's awareness of the working of the human body, knowledge of classical
horsemanship and horses, and gentle teaching style will help you become the rider you dream of. Contact
Nisca for information or to schedule private or group lessons.... All with the intent of RidingLight in mind, body
and spirit.
Education:
1969-1972 University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC- Studies in Anthropology and Psychology
1993 Montgomery College, Rockville, MD- Certified Cartographer
1993 Reddemeade Farm, Silver Spring MD. Completed Instructor course.
1997-2000 Meditation Workshops with Pennie Harvison , Ashton MD
1997 Centered Riding Instructor- Certified at Level I in 1997, Level II in 1999, updates annually
1997-present. Wendy Murdoch, The Murdoch Method. www.wendymurdoch.com
1998 Alexander Technique- lessons and workshops
1999-2000 Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy,Completed PRYT Level I and Level II completed
2000 PRYT Level III training completed and 650 hour certification received. Main office located in West
Stockbridge, MA. www.pryt.com .
2001 National Center for Homeopathy- Homeopathy 101-Foundations in Homeopathy
2002 Integrative Yoga Therapy Teacher Training, founder Joseph LePage. 200 hour certification received. Main
office located in Hudson, OH. www.integrativeyogatherapy.com
2002 Thai Yoga Massage, Completed Level I training with Kam Thye Chow at the Potomac Massage Training
Institute in Washington, DC. 30.0 CEU’s
2003 Thai Yoga Massage, Ahjarn Pichest Boonthamme, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 60 hours.
2004 Maniken Myologik , Human Anatomy in Clay, Zahourek Systems. Morvan Park, Va. 40 hours.
2004 Naader Shagagi Yoga workshop, Montanabliss, Big Fork, MT
2005 The SaeUn Method intensive, Flathead Lake, MT
2005 Jenny Otto Yoga workshop, Big Fork, MT
2006 Judith Lasater Yoga Workshop, Big Fork, MT
2007 JJ Gormley Yoga Workshop, Hot Springs, MT
2008 JJGormley-Etchells Yoga Workshop, Hot Springs, MT
2008 BodyTalk Modules 1 & 2, Missoula, MT
Work History and Riding Influences:
Pony club Roswell, GA
Pimlico Race track, Baltimore, MD
1980-1990 Managed various restaurants in the Washington DC metropolitan area
1982-1985 National Center for Therapeutic Riding in Washington, DC
1987-1991 Assistant Manager, Swartz farm, Derwood, MD
1991-1993 Barn Manager and Assistant Trainer, Noteworthy Farm, Sandy Spring, MD. Owned by Wendy
Carlson, R Judge, trainer and instructor, taught and trained in the manner of Nuno d’Oliverira with whom she
studied at both the Potomac Horse Center in Potomac, MD. and in Portugal.
1993-2002 Riding Instructor, Reddemeade Farm, Silver Spring MD.
2000 -2002 Clinic Organizer and Main Riding Instructor, Trinity Farm, Burtonsville, MD.
1994-2002 Phillips Publishing International, Potomac, MD. Manager, Consultant
1998-present. Yoga Instructor, offering Yoga for riders and non-riders, Workshops and Classes.
2003 - Trainer introducing Oberlander horses, owned by Bob Ricketts, to the dressage world, Elmo, MT
2002 - present. Ridinglight programs birthed, offering lessons and clinics throughout NW Montana and on the
East Coast.
2003 - present. Salish-Kootenai College-Yoga Instructor
2007- present. Earth & Sky Studio, owner & studio coordinator offering Yoga, BodyTalk and Massage.
Riding Clinics, training and additional course work:
1993 - 2001 Ride or audit clinic’s with Walter Zettle, German Gold Medalist and past Canadian 3 Day Olympic
team coach monthly at Reddemeade Farm, Sandy Springs, MD. Walter instructed the Reddemeade instructors
each month in a group lesson which I attended.
1997 - Attended the Open Centered Riding clinic instructed by Wendy Murdoch at Potomac Horse Center,
Potomac MD
1997 - Attended CR Instructors training Level I with Susan Harris, at Sprucelands in Java, New York.
Received certification as CR Level I Instructor.
1998 - Audited two USDF pre-certification clinics on lunging, teaching and riding. Served as scribe for Gerhardt
Politz during the lunging clinic.
1998 - Audit Charles de Kunffy clinics at Evergreen Farm, Fulton, MD.
1998 - Attended CR Update clinic with Saundra Cabell at Springdale Farm, Mendenhall, PA.
1999 - Attended CR International Symposium at University of Delaware.
2000 – Audited Gerhard Politz Lunging Clinic and Understanding the Training Scale at Bluebird Farm,
Friendship, MD.
2000 - Attended CR International Symposium at University of Delaware
2000 - Attended Instructor Update clinic with Wendy Murdoch at L .G. Equestrian Center
2001 - Recognized as Centered Riding Level II instructor by Centered Riding, Inc.
2001- 2002 Instructor clinics with Jean Paul Pare’ monthly at Trinity Farm, Burtonsville, MD. Jean Paul’s
original training was with Nuno d’Oliverira and he imparts that to his students.
2001- 2002 Organized, participated in and assisted Wendy Murdoch lesson clinics monthly at Trinity Farm,
Burtonsville, MD.
2001-2002 Weekly lessons with Carolyn Del Grosso, USDF Certified Instructor, USDF Gold Medalist, MD.
2004 Attended Wendy Murdoch clinic, Corvallis, MT
2006 Attended Tracy Lert clinic, Polson,MT
2006-7 Attend Wendy Murdoch lesson days, Culpeper, VA
2007 Audited Arthur Kottas 3 day clinic, Ashanti Farm, VA
2008 Dr. Gerhard Heuschmann Clinic, Bozeman, MT
2008 Alice Trindell Clinic, Kalispell, MT
Showing:
1991-2002 Schooling Shows, Potomac Valley Dressage Association, 60% average
1993 Potomac Horse Center, Recognized Show, Training Level 3, 65% average
2003 Unrecognized Schooling show-Dressage Intro 1,66%, First place & Training 2, 60%,third place- First
dressage show with Digger, Oberlander horse owned by Bob Ricketts.
2003 Missoula Horse Trials, smurf level, 28%, First place dressage, disqualified cross country, clean round
stadium jumping. First event for Digger, breed Oberlander, owned by Bob Ricketts.
2007 Missoula Horse Trials, Schooling, Intro test, 24% First time out for 'Mouse'
Professional Society Memberships:
1997 - 2005. Centered Riding © Inc.
1997 - 2003. Potomac Valley Dressage Association
1997- present. United States Dressage Federation affiliate member
2002 - present. Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance
2002 - present. International Association of Yoga Therapists
2003 - present. Montana Dressage Association
2004 - present. Flathead Combined Training Association.
2008-present. IBA membership.
Offering Yoga, Massage, BodyTalk, and of course, Riding lessons!
Have you ever wanted to ride your horse as if there were nothing between you and them? Have you wished you
were that '"natural" rider you've heard of? Do you despair of ever moving as one with your horse in freedom and
grace? Or perhaps you've suffered some injury or illness that prevents relaxation and freedom of movement
while riding or going about your daily activities or maybe you're just ready to let go of old restrictions or bindings
in your life and body.
Nisca Warthen, a classically trained horsewoman, and Integrative Yoga Therapy Yoga teacher who has also
studied Centered Riding, provides help for the rider who struggles with their body due to injury or is not the
"natural" rider that finds balance, movement and grace on a horse so easy. Nisca offers Riding Light, a
combination of classical horsemanship, techiniques from Centered Riding, Yoga for Riders and other body
therapies to unlock, balance and connect riders in movement with their horses. Once the rider finds a release
of pain, combined with balance and freedom of movement within their body, they can let go and get out of the
horses way achieving communication that is subtle and efficient. Riding Light students learn that the majority
of horse resistance can quickly be remedied once the rider becomes aware of and releases unconscious
patterns of movement.
Nisca Warthen has been riding horses since childhood. She has competed in and trained western, hunter and
dressage. Along the way, life stresses and multiple automobile accidents began to add wear and tear to her
body. She found that the comfortable movement once possible on the horse had deteriorated. She realized that
her body had begun to challenge her position, effectiveness and ease in the saddle. Traditional riding
instructors and trainers were not able to help her regain the fluidity, unlock her body or connect in movement
with her horse as she once had. They told her what to do (sit deeper, balance, relax) but could not help her
understand how to get her body to do it. This realization led her to Centered Riding and the practice of Yoga.
Nisca started her practice of yoga in 1974 and became certified as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner
in 1999 and followed that up in 2003 with Integrative Yoga Therapy Teacher training and certification . She
began her study of and training in Centered Riding in 1997. Nisca has continued to study the body, movement
and horsemanship, always seeking knowledge of the connection for the rider and improvement of the horse
through the years. Attending clinics, workshops and trainings as a rider and seeker of inner knowledge is one
of her greatest joys. With this intent, Nisca has recently begun her study of the BodyTalk System and will be
certifying in AnimalTalk as well. Nisca's awareness of the working of the human body, knowledge of classical
horsemanship and horses, and gentle teaching style will help you become the rider you dream of. Contact
Nisca for information or to schedule private or group lessons.... All with the intent of RidingLight in mind, body
and spirit.
Education:
1969-1972 University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC- Studies in Anthropology and Psychology
1993 Montgomery College, Rockville, MD- Certified Cartographer
1993 Reddemeade Farm, Silver Spring MD. Completed Instructor course.
1997-2000 Meditation Workshops with Pennie Harvison , Ashton MD
1997 Centered Riding Instructor- Certified at Level I in 1997, Level II in 1999, updates annually
1997-present. Wendy Murdoch, The Murdoch Method. www.wendymurdoch.com
1998 Alexander Technique- lessons and workshops
1999-2000 Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy,Completed PRYT Level I and Level II completed
2000 PRYT Level III training completed and 650 hour certification received. Main office located in West
Stockbridge, MA. www.pryt.com .
2001 National Center for Homeopathy- Homeopathy 101-Foundations in Homeopathy
2002 Integrative Yoga Therapy Teacher Training, founder Joseph LePage. 200 hour certification received. Main
office located in Hudson, OH. www.integrativeyogatherapy.com
2002 Thai Yoga Massage, Completed Level I training with Kam Thye Chow at the Potomac Massage Training
Institute in Washington, DC. 30.0 CEU’s
2003 Thai Yoga Massage, Ahjarn Pichest Boonthamme, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 60 hours.
2004 Maniken Myologik , Human Anatomy in Clay, Zahourek Systems. Morvan Park, Va. 40 hours.
2004 Naader Shagagi Yoga workshop, Montanabliss, Big Fork, MT
2005 The SaeUn Method intensive, Flathead Lake, MT
2005 Jenny Otto Yoga workshop, Big Fork, MT
2006 Judith Lasater Yoga Workshop, Big Fork, MT
2007 JJ Gormley Yoga Workshop, Hot Springs, MT
2008 JJGormley-Etchells Yoga Workshop, Hot Springs, MT
2008 BodyTalk Modules 1 & 2, Missoula, MT
Work History and Riding Influences:
Pony club Roswell, GA
Pimlico Race track, Baltimore, MD
1980-1990 Managed various restaurants in the Washington DC metropolitan area
1982-1985 National Center for Therapeutic Riding in Washington, DC
1987-1991 Assistant Manager, Swartz farm, Derwood, MD
1991-1993 Barn Manager and Assistant Trainer, Noteworthy Farm, Sandy Spring, MD. Owned by Wendy
Carlson, R Judge, trainer and instructor, taught and trained in the manner of Nuno d’Oliverira with whom she
studied at both the Potomac Horse Center in Potomac, MD. and in Portugal.
1993-2002 Riding Instructor, Reddemeade Farm, Silver Spring MD.
2000 -2002 Clinic Organizer and Main Riding Instructor, Trinity Farm, Burtonsville, MD.
1994-2002 Phillips Publishing International, Potomac, MD. Manager, Consultant
1998-present. Yoga Instructor, offering Yoga for riders and non-riders, Workshops and Classes.
2003 - Trainer introducing Oberlander horses, owned by Bob Ricketts, to the dressage world, Elmo, MT
2002 - present. Ridinglight programs birthed, offering lessons and clinics throughout NW Montana and on the
East Coast.
2003 - present. Salish-Kootenai College-Yoga Instructor
2007- present. Earth & Sky Studio, owner & studio coordinator offering Yoga, BodyTalk and Massage.
Riding Clinics, training and additional course work:
1993 - 2001 Ride or audit clinic’s with Walter Zettle, German Gold Medalist and past Canadian 3 Day Olympic
team coach monthly at Reddemeade Farm, Sandy Springs, MD. Walter instructed the Reddemeade instructors
each month in a group lesson which I attended.
1997 - Attended the Open Centered Riding clinic instructed by Wendy Murdoch at Potomac Horse Center,
Potomac MD
1997 - Attended CR Instructors training Level I with Susan Harris, at Sprucelands in Java, New York.
Received certification as CR Level I Instructor.
1998 - Audited two USDF pre-certification clinics on lunging, teaching and riding. Served as scribe for Gerhardt
Politz during the lunging clinic.
1998 - Audit Charles de Kunffy clinics at Evergreen Farm, Fulton, MD.
1998 - Attended CR Update clinic with Saundra Cabell at Springdale Farm, Mendenhall, PA.
1999 - Attended CR International Symposium at University of Delaware.
2000 – Audited Gerhard Politz Lunging Clinic and Understanding the Training Scale at Bluebird Farm,
Friendship, MD.
2000 - Attended CR International Symposium at University of Delaware
2000 - Attended Instructor Update clinic with Wendy Murdoch at L .G. Equestrian Center
2001 - Recognized as Centered Riding Level II instructor by Centered Riding, Inc.
2001- 2002 Instructor clinics with Jean Paul Pare’ monthly at Trinity Farm, Burtonsville, MD. Jean Paul’s
original training was with Nuno d’Oliverira and he imparts that to his students.
2001- 2002 Organized, participated in and assisted Wendy Murdoch lesson clinics monthly at Trinity Farm,
Burtonsville, MD.
2001-2002 Weekly lessons with Carolyn Del Grosso, USDF Certified Instructor, USDF Gold Medalist, MD.
2004 Attended Wendy Murdoch clinic, Corvallis, MT
2006 Attended Tracy Lert clinic, Polson,MT
2006-7 Attend Wendy Murdoch lesson days, Culpeper, VA
2007 Audited Arthur Kottas 3 day clinic, Ashanti Farm, VA
2008 Dr. Gerhard Heuschmann Clinic, Bozeman, MT
2008 Alice Trindell Clinic, Kalispell, MT
Showing:
1991-2002 Schooling Shows, Potomac Valley Dressage Association, 60% average
1993 Potomac Horse Center, Recognized Show, Training Level 3, 65% average
2003 Unrecognized Schooling show-Dressage Intro 1,66%, First place & Training 2, 60%,third place- First
dressage show with Digger, Oberlander horse owned by Bob Ricketts.
2003 Missoula Horse Trials, smurf level, 28%, First place dressage, disqualified cross country, clean round
stadium jumping. First event for Digger, breed Oberlander, owned by Bob Ricketts.
2007 Missoula Horse Trials, Schooling, Intro test, 24% First time out for 'Mouse'
Professional Society Memberships:
1997 - 2005. Centered Riding © Inc.
1997 - 2003. Potomac Valley Dressage Association
1997- present. United States Dressage Federation affiliate member
2002 - present. Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance
2002 - present. International Association of Yoga Therapists
2003 - present. Montana Dressage Association
2004 - present. Flathead Combined Training Association.
2008-present. IBA membership.