The Dunes Equine

30/04/2025

Oh lord I miss riding my biggest teacher and best workhorse, with the kindest and gentlest souls. Let’s hope he makes a recovery soon ✨

26/04/2025

So well explained by a talented & dear friend of mine 💙

Some food for thought for y’all!

• Lightness with your hands and body •

I always try to use the analogy with riders of driving your car Vs riding your horse with the reins and your body.

Confused?.. 🤔

Let me explain… 😅

Have you ever gone to try out a new car, you put your foot on the break and suddenly get je**ed back in your seat, you realise then that the break is far more sensitive then your old car so you adjust how much pressure you put on the pedal for next time and before not too long you’ve got the feel of it. As you are driving along you have to make a right turn in 50m, you start to gently put your foot on the break and while doing so with your hands you smoothly (no death grip on the steering wheel) guide the car around the corner.

No vehicle drives the same but It’s effortless and second nature to you to drive a vehicle.

I try to use this example when I see riders who’s knuckles are going white from clasping the reins so tight or pull on the horse to stop like they are about to go over a 20ft drop if they don’t.

“Asking” our horses to stop with a soft feel or guiding them between our reins with gentle hands is so important to their learning, of course if they don’t listen the first, second or third time (which if you’ve been pulling on them for a while they no doubt won’t stop straight away as they will be anticipating you pulling on them) you may need to increase your pressure but it’s SO important to “ask” with a gentle feel first, to be smooth LIKE your foot gently easing on the breaks while your hands lightly guide the car to turn the corner.

This WILL eliminate resistance in them (pulling against your hands, chucking their head up, running through the shoulders for examples) and allows a relationship of trust and willingness to be built between the two of you.

I always say to riders who are quite nervous but want to practise being more relaxed and gentle through their hands and body, to start in a smaller area, re; round pen, then move to an arena and then try it out on a trail ride.

Build that trust, practise gentle hands, deep breaths to relax your body & eliminate the resistance in your horse and in yourself.

Make it second nature to ride your horse this way, like driving your car, effortless.

🚗🐴

06/04/2025

Seeing each horse as their own, working every horse in a way suited to them is my passion and helping horses find joy in training is what makes my heart full.
Milo is such a cool young boy loving his first year under saddle and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. ✨
Magical photos captured by

17/03/2025

When you literally have to hold you c**t back from going too deep in the ocean…

11/03/2025

Whiskey sure had a good time following mums example on how to roll in the sand after a good swim in the ocean ✨

09/03/2025

-Whiskey & Superstition-
Throw back to Whiskey’s first beach play. Can’t wait to see him grow into a confident and kind big boy.
Huge shout out to for capturing this amazing moment for us to forever look back on.

09/02/2025

-Marley & Wilson-
During my holiday in NZ I pushed Rach to jump on her own two boys, ( we all know that our own horses get left to be done when there are no clients 🤭) they were both amazing on their first 4 rides. What a fun week spent on the foothills of Okuku.

26/01/2025

-KOHA-
The journey with this guy was smooth sailing.
When he arrived to my life he was an unhandeled c**t.
He took everything in his stride and learned quickly. We fitted in lots of adventures in his first year under saddle including him modeling for a well know tailor suit company with his brothers!
Can’t wait to see what his future brings with a new loving 5✨ home.

20/01/2025

12/01/2025

My favourite view is between the ears 🤍
Brings me so much joy to be able to get on my old clients and see how much they have changed and grown with their owners. Mickey is one of a kind !

07/12/2024

Proof that dreams aren’t just meant for dreaming…
If you believe enough and put in the hard work they do come true ✨
Would you believe a little over a year ago Hugo was an unhandeled and very skittish stallion and now my most confident and trusting lead horse alongside with his little brother Milo. So thankful for these boys to have stepped into my life.
Thank you for sharing a special morning Saffy & Stella xx

Forever grateful for these gorgeous photos by

05/12/2024

Summer is here 💦

Glorious morning spent out by ocean with .cavallo_ & capturing some magical photos.
The boys summer coats are on point with products, the dapples 👌🏼