Training for your Horse
We offer a variety of horse training services, tailored to your needs. We keep you closely involved to ensure long term benefits and learning for both you and your horse. Many riders have big dreams for their young horses. It's important to understand that a horse who has been started under saddle will not become a reliable schoolmaster overnight. The start is exactly as the name suggests, a ‘start’ to the horse’s learning under saddle. Having a horse accept saddle and rider and basic aids is generally the easy part. Doing this with the horse being relaxed and confident is more challenging. It is the consistent and clear training that follows that will build on the foundation and understanding by the horse to become willing and soft under saddle.
In this video Andrew explains our underlying training principles that form the basis of how we approach all of our training.
Groundwork
Having a horse that leads well and has good ground manners is paramount for safety and to build a quality relationship with your horse. Most problems start on the ground and having a solid foundation on the ground with your horse will allow you to progress much more safely and easier under saddle. Groundwork not only builds a horse’s confidence and softness it is also vital to help the horse to use its body in a bio-mechanically correct way in order to encourage self-collection and lifetime soundness.
Early Education
The ‘Start’ is the most important aspect of a horses “working” life. How the start is presented will influence a horse’s attitude, trust and willingness to learn and ‘try’ throughout its life. The building of a strong foundation is pivotal for a responsive, connected horse who is willing to learn. Early education is everything from leading, float loading, exposure to different environments and preparation for riding. A lot can be accomplished before the first ride to ensure the horse is happy and confident.
In-hand Training
Once a horse has a basic groundwork education established, that is, it can softly follow a feel, it's important to now focus on building the horse’s core strength and fitness for soundness. Poor body posture, tension and incorrect motion sets a horse up for a lifetime of soundness problems and pain that often result in behaviour and training problems later on. We care about a horse’s long-term welfare and soundness and incorporate in-hand training for all of our horses.
Starting under Saddle
How your horse is started under saddle will affect and impact him for life. It's therefore one of the most important decisions that you can make as a horse owner. A solid foundation under saddle is essential whatever discipline or riding style you ultimately choose with your horse. A key focus that differentiates us from many other trainers is our focus on ensuring that horses carry themselves in a healthy posture right from the start of their ridden career. And we place more emphasis on relaxation and positive experience for the horse than speed of advancement.
Problem Solving
The reality is that horses need to get along with their owners in a domestic environment to avoid being passed on from home to home, or end up at the knackery. It is not unusual to come across an issue with your horse. By seeking assistance to determine both the cause and possible solutions to the problem you often avoid developing negative ingrained behaviours in your horse (which are much harder to ‘fix’ in the long term). Not only does resolving behaviour problems help your horse, it also helps to keep you safe.
Advanced Training
Once a horse has a basic foundation established, it's time to introduce lateral movements such as shoulder-fore, shoulder-in, haunches-in (travers), haunches-out (renvers), leg yield, side-pass and half-pass. These help to develop self-carriage, healthy posture and suppleness in the horse. We carefully select tack and training tools that work best for individual horses based on their conformation and preferences. Advanced training includes plenty of trail riding and exposure to experiences such as working with cattle, mechanical cow and attending clinics and Working Equitation training days.
why the tools matter
It's important to us to find the most comfortable tools that facilitates soft communication between horse and rider. Tools we use include the Cavesson (for in-hand and under saddle), the California-style Hackamore (Bosal and mecate) and a variety of different bridles and bits fitted for individual needs. We use various styles of saddles including traditional Baroque, Vaquero and Dressage saddles, again depending on what works best for the individual horse.
Things you WON'T find in our tack room are gadgets and 'quick fixes' that compromise the horse's welfare such as side-reins, tie-downs, tight nose bands, and the list goes on!
why the tools matter
It's important to us to find the most comfortable tools that facilitates soft communication between horse and rider. Tools we use include the Cavesson (for in-hand and under saddle), the California-style Hackamore (Bosal and mecate) and a variety of different bridles and bits fitted for individual needs. We use various styles of saddles including traditional Baroque, Vaquero and Dressage saddles, again depending on what works best for the individual horse.
Things you WON'T find in our tack room are gadgets and 'quick fixes' that compromise the horse's welfare such as side-reins, tie-downs, tight nose bands, and the list goes on!
Do you have a young horse who you want to prepare for a happy and long, sound life? Do you want to advance your horse's education?
Could you horse benefit from a period of thoughtful and careful schooling and new experiences?
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