Free Rein Horsemanship

14/07/2025

Wise words from Ben Atkinson share if you agree.
Have you listened to our latest ep where we discuss some of the latest videos that been released and the reason riders have given for there actions.

We all make mistakes. Let’s start to recognise them and do better - we owe it to horses.

13/07/2025

🐴🐴 Places now open for our next Rescue Horse Connection and Training Workshop 🐴🐴

This 6 week workshop focuses on the art of horse training, connection and horsemanship. You will be working with a combination of schoolmasters, liberty horses and previously rescued horses to learn how to connect, communicate and understand a two way language between human and horse. I will also be teaching guests my techniques on training unhandled horses as I train the new rescues, and guests will be practicing these techniques on their partnered horses.
Guests will also be connecting with handled rescue horses and learning techniques to build connection.

In this group, guests will learn about body language, connection and zero-pressure techniques, energy work, in-depth positive reinforcement training methods, two-way communication with the horse, joining up, meditation and breathwork practices, problem solving, step by step training and all elements of basic Liberty groundwork.
There is no riding involved in this class, as it is based around the union of horse and human from the ground, where it should all begin.

After establishing a foundation of knowledge, you will partner with a horse for the duration of this workshop with whom to learn from and create a special bond.
All experience levels can join in this group and horses will be delegated depending on their compatibility and connection with each person. Lessons will be tailored in difficulty to suit what you are comfortable with and capable of. Participants will have first option to adopt any rescue horses once they are ready in the future.

All levels welcome
Located Coopers Shoot, NSW
15+ years
6 week workshop
$400 pp (total)
Every Saturday 9-11am
Commencing 26th July

Please PM me with any inquiries or to book a place in our Rescue Horse Connection Workshop 🐎
Limited spaces available.

11/07/2025

Young rescue, Echo, was introduced to some obstacles for the first time yesterday, after a couple of months of building trust, connection and basic handling skills (he was previously unhandled).
Suffice to say, he did so well! What a clever little man 🐴

27/06/2025

***Spaces are now full***

🐎 Now taking bookings for our next Adult's Horse Riding and Connection Workshop 🐎

This is an extensive, fun and holistic 6 week workshop which will be running every Saturday 2-4pm, commencing July 12th.
Suitable for all rider levels (lessons will be divided where necessary and tailored to individuals) 🐴
Horses are provided!

This workshop is for those who love riding horses, but more than that, want to truly connect with a horse and experience the magic of conscientious horsemanship and riding practices, instead of just "get on and go".
Guests will learn how to understand horses, listen to them, learn their language and be able to communicate and create a real bond and friendship with a horse in a safe environment, while learning to establish softer cues and develop a kinder riding style.
Our adults riding and horse connection class will begin with 1 hour of horse husbandry, connection work and groundwork, followed by 1 hour of riding.
In this class, all following areas will be covered:

🐴 Understand horses on a deeper level by learning to read their body language, become aware of our own energy and practice self-regulation and breathwork techniques both on the ground and in the saddle
🤝 Create a connection through two-way communication
🏇 Training techniques and how to think critically and problem-solve
🦄 Experience the magic and connection that is possible while working with trained Liberty horses
🏹 Mounted archery
🌿 Horse care, grooming, feeding and tacking up
⛰️ Navigating obstacles with your equine partner and learning how to lead *and* follow
🥕 Learn about the fundamentals of Positive Reinforcement training and what is possible
⚠️ Safe handling, safe riding, hazard detection and emergency procedures
⚖️ Correct seat, riding position and establishing good balance
🪶 Learning how to soften cues and establish good "feel" of the horse to build the foundations of a concise, kind and attuned rider
🎉 Fun days and gymkhana mounted games!

$550 for the 6 week workshop
Ages 15+
Limited positions available
Located Coopers Shoot, NSW

Please PM me with any enquiries, or to book a place in our Adult's Horse Riding and Connection Workshop 🐴
Gift vouchers available 🎁

16/06/2025

***BYO Horse Workshop cancelled due to not filling spaces. Will be replaced with our usual Workshop with my schoolmaster horses***
PM me if you would like to arrange private lessons with your horse 🐴

🐎 Adult's Horse Riding and Connection Workshop, With Your Own Horse! 🐎

This immersive, supportive and fun 6-week workshop is designed for those who want to deepen their connection with their own horse while developing conscientious, kind and effective horsemanship and riding skills. This workshop will be run similarly to a clinic, but with ongoing support over 6 weeks instead of only a couple of days.

Held every Saturday from 2–4pm, starting June 28th, located in Coopers Shoot, suitable for all rider levels. Lessons will be tailored to each horse-and-human partnership based on experience level, ensuring a safe, enriching and personalised experience for both.
Each session includes one hour of connection-based horsemanship, groundwork and training techniques, followed by one hour of riding and mounted activities (or similar activities in the ground if preferred!) 🏇

Skills you will develop throughout the workshop:

🐴 Understand your horse on a deeper level:
Learn to read your horse’s body language, manage your energy, and practice breathwork and emotional regulation techniques, both on the ground and in the saddle.

🤝 Create connection through two-way communication:
Discover how to listen to your horse and build trust, leading to a more responsive and enjoyable partnership.

🧠 Training insights and critical thinking:
Explore gentle, effective training approaches that encourage you to problem-solve and adapt to your horse’s unique needs.

🥕 Positive Reinforcement Training:
Gain a solid foundation in R+ and learn what’s possible when motivation is mutual.

🦄 Liberty training:
Experience the freedom and magic of Liberty, and start establishing liberty groundwork with your own horse.

🏹 Intro to mounted archery:
Begin exploring this exciting sport and learn how to safely introduce your horse to it with confidence.

⛰️ Obstacle navigation and partnership work:
Develop communication and leadership as you guide your horse through groundwork and ridden challenges.

⚠️ Safety procedures:
Safe handling, hazard awareness, emergency skills and responsible riding practices.

⚖️ Correct seat:
Improve your posture and balance.

🪶 Soft cues and feel:
Refine your ability to communicate clearly, softly and effectively with your horse.

🎉 Fun days and mounted games:
Join in group games and challenges, at whatever pace you and your horse are comfortable with.

Whether you're looking to strengthen the partnership with your horse, explore new ways of working together, or simply enjoy quality time in a supportive and like-minded community, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to grow, learn and connect, both in and out of the saddle.
Join us for six weeks of transformation, trust-building, and joyful discovery alongside your equine partner.
We can’t wait to welcome you both.

$600 for the 6 week workshop (Only $50 per hour!)
2-4pm Saturday's
Ages 15+
Limited to only 5 participants to ensure plenty of individual support for each horse and rider.
Located Coopers Shoot, NSW

Please PM me with any enquiries, to find out whether this workshop will be suitable for you, or to book a place in our Adult's Horse Riding and Connection Workshop 🐴
Gift vouchers available 🎁

We will also be running a similar workshop during the week with my herd of wonderful horses, if this workshop interests you but you do not have a horse of your own. Please PM me to find out more 🐴

28/05/2025

They stood alone with wary eyes,
Shadows shaped by fear and fight.
I offered no commands or ties-
Just presence in the fading light.

Their past was deep, a silent well,
Each scar a tale they couldn't speak.
But still I stayed, and stayed to dwell,
And waited days, and then a week.

With time they stepped a little near,
A breath, a blink, a softened head.
I held no rope, I held no fear,
Just space for healing hearts to tread.

They taught me things I never knew-
That trust is earned, not won or forced.
And now I walk a path more true,
Led by the souls I once had nursed.

- Lisa Willey

28/05/2025

Adventures with Ruby on the showgrounds at Equitana, 2024 ❤️

25/05/2025

🐴🐴🐴 RESCUE UPDATE: 🐴🐴🐴

There was a huge number of "kill pen" horses at the sale last weekend, more than I have ever seen before.

I was able to save 6 lives which is absolutely awesome and wouldn't have been possible if not for my good friends Claudia and Joel making the trip as well, to be able to bring so many home.

I am incredibly grateful to Darren and family, and Danie and family for donating towards the rescue of these beautiful beings. Every bit of help is more appreciated than you can imagine!

They now each have a name to signify the beginning of their new lives.

The rescue herd are now living in Alstonville where I will begin to build trust and let them get to know me.
One young c**t remains here in Coopers Shoot to be handled first, so that he can be gelded before being paddocked with mares.
Along with these guys are two young chestnut geldings, Echo and Sakari, who were rescued last month and are doing well and now readily connecting with Claudia and I at liberty.

Tragically, hundreds of horses are sent to slaughter every single week in Australia. I am so grateful to be able to change the lives of a small few, but I implore anyone with the space in their paddock and in their hearts, and the time to learn to handle and connect with them, to rescue a horse. If you put in the time and patience towards working on yourself, letting go of expectations and taking every day and every interaction one step at a time, they will change you for the better, and change your life forever.

This beautiful herd will be trained in full by me, and will join in on Free Rein Horsemanship's upcoming Rescue Horse Training and Connection Workshop 🐴❤️‍🩹

16/05/2025

I will be attending this sale tomorrow to rescue a few horses who are in need of saviour. The horses I get tomorrow will be trained in full by me before being rehomed, but if anyone is thinking about getting a (most likely) unhandled rescue horse and has the time and patience to connect with and train them, I encourage you to do so. There are a lot of horses in the kill pens here, so many will be in dire need of a kind heart to save them from the doggers.

I hope one day someone in power makes a change and puts an end to the needless over breeding of horses on stations and implements laws to protect the rest. In the meantime, all we can do is try to change the world for the lucky few 😔

15/05/2025

13/05/2025

Outlaw is a rising 15yo, 16.1hh registered Australian Draft Horse gelding (similar to a Clydesdale in feather and build). He is an absolute stunner, very stocky and broad with a gorgeous long mane and tail. He is a good do-er, has 3 lovely gaits and will stop and back up with just a shift in weight.

Please see Outlaw's video here:
https://youtu.be/rCCWQYiMd0Y?si=3uMH2SZATkBtIhHP

Outlaw loves trail riding and has been out and about to many places, including beach days, through towns, to pubs, orchards, forests, a waterfall, and has even been mustering.
He walks out on a loose rein on trails and is happy to pick up with just a click and rise in energy. He is a superstar at mounted archery and absolutely loves it, waiting relaxed at the start and end of the archery run, with a smooth but powerful contactless canter in between.
Outlaw has learned basic liberty and will pick up and lower his energy when you do. He enjoys obstacles and learns to tackle new obstacles very quickly.
He was driven in harness with other horses a few times when he was young, but he hasn't done any harness work with me or for many years so would need to learn from scratch, however I'm sure he would learn quickly considering his nature.

He was previously handled as a youngster, then started and trained by myself using positive reinforcement and connection-based training techniques, and responds incredibly well to these methods.
By nature, Outlaw doesn't give out his affection freely, but once you have created connection, he is affectionate, loving and will be the first to greet you in the paddock with a snicker. He would suit a person who is more interested in putting the time and effort into creating a connection and having a great relationship rather than just a hobby horse to get on and ride. He is not suitable for anyone who has a traditional approach to horses as he would quickly disconnect from anyone with rough handling/ riding techniques. He is a gentle boy with no nasties and no spooky behaviour etc, is relaxed tied up for any length of time and has wonderful ground manner.

Although Outlaw has been ridden by beginners in and out of the arena under supervision, he is looking for an intermediate rider who is soft, clear and consistent with their aids and therefore will not confuse him.
He is currently ridden often by a beginner/novice rider on accompanied trail rides.

Outlaw would not be suited to dressage etc as he doesn't enjoy long sessions of circle work. He does love liberty, obstacles and most of all, trail riding- so he is looking for a partner who is interested in similar things and will continue to adventure with him.

This beautiful boy has a heart of gold, and I will be looking only for someone who is as suitable for him as he is for them.
If you are interested in Outlaw, please message me with some information about yourself, your experience and what you're looking for so I can give you an idea on whether you will be suited to one another 😊

17.5🥕

Located in Coopers Shoot, NSW
Vet check welcome 🐴

Video of Outlaw here:
https://youtu.be/rCCWQYiMd0Y?si=3uMH2SZATkBtIhHP

31/03/2025

We still have places available for Free Rein Horsemanship's Art Workshop! 🎨
Held each Thursday from 9 - 10:30am
Commencing 10th April, 2025

We will join some of the beautiful herd who will be wandering around us at liberty, free to approach and connect with us if they choose to, as we express through watercolour painting the emotions, movement and images that they offer us.

This class focuses on using painting as a creative and fun outlet where we can come together and be free and expressive through watercolour painting. I will be available to help you to find techniques that work for you, explain colour theory, guide you through working with watercolour paint and be available for pointers at any time.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to share space with not only the beautiful, healing energy of the horses, but also other like-minded people as we come together and find peace, introspection and presence through art.

All art supplies are provided 🎨

1.5 hours
$140 for the 4 week workshop (only $35 per class!)🐴
Thursday 9am - 10:30am

Classes limited to only 6 people.

If you would like to join, please pm me to book your place 😊