AMT Equestrian Services

28/12/2025

27/12/2025

When I teach riders, I’m not chasing pretty; I’m chasing true. A horse doesn’t care how it looks, it cares how it feels underneath you.

23/12/2025

🎄 Christmas Wishes from AMT 🎄

As the year draws to a close, I just want to pause and say thank you.

This hasn’t been an easy year.
There have been a lot of changes, plenty of uncomfortable moments, and a whole lot of growth personally, professionally, and behind the scenes. Learning to balance fatherhood, horses, work, life… and learning that it’s actually okay to do “people” things too. That part hasn’t always come naturally, but it’s been an important lesson.

To everyone who has supported AMT this year through clinics, lessons, training horses, conversations, check-ins, encouragement, and simple acts of kindness - thank you. None of it goes unnoticed. Sometimes it’s the small messages, the quiet support, or just showing up that makes the biggest difference.

Horses, as always, keep us honest.
They don’t know it’s Christmas.
They don’t care what kind of year we’ve had.
They just keep showing up steady, present, and true, and in doing so, they remind us what really matters: Consistency, Kindness, Patience & Connection.

I’m deeply grateful for the horses here at AMT - my special ponies, my teachers, and my grounding force and for the people who help make this place what it is.

A heartfelt thank you to Paris, Paul, Jemimah, Letisha, and Robyn, and to everyone who has contributed time, energy, care, and belief. You know who you are. You matter more than you probably realise.

Looking ahead to next year, I’m quietly excited. There are some interesting things in the pipeline, some beautiful people around me, and a growing sense that what we’re building here can, and will become something very special. A place to enjoy horses, enjoy the beauty of the Perth Hills, and enjoy life a little more fully.

To those walking their own journey right now whether it’s smooth or rocky - I see you, and I wish you peace, strength, and moments of light and joy along the way.

From all of us at AMT,
Wishing you a safe, gentle, and meaningful Christmas,
and a New Year filled with growth, connection, and beautiful horses.

With gratitude,
AMT Equestrian Services 🤍🐎

20/12/2025

Groundwork isn’t about controlling the body; it’s about influencing the mind. When a horse finds clarity on the ground, the work under saddle becomes simple. It’s all connected.

18/12/2025

** Gratitude & Appreciation | Jeff Sanders Clinic Series**

As the dust settles on the Jeff Sanders clinic series, I want to take a moment to publicly express my sincere gratitude to the people who helped make this series possible and to the community who showed up so wholeheartedly.

First and foremost, thank you to Vaughan and Kristy Smith.
Vaughan was instrumental in hosting and supporting the New South Wales clinic, which marked the beginning of this series. While numbers were modest, the commitment of those who did show up — and Vaughan’s willingness to back the clinic regardless — mattered greatly. Thank you for your support, your trust in the process, and for helping set this series in motion.

Thank you also to Jenny Jackson and Horsemanship First.
The venue is truly world-class. The arena, the layout, and the overall feel of the space created an environment that allowed both horses and riders to learn, settle, and progress. Jenny’s generosity and the care she has put into building such a beautiful facility played a huge role in the success of this series.

To Reena McFarlane — thank you.
Behind the scenes, Reena provided ongoing support with the logistics and organisation of the clinic series. Coordinating multiple clinics is demanding, and her willingness to step in, assist, and keep things moving helped make the series possible. Her continued commitment to learning and improvement — both personally and in her horsemanship — deserves recognition.

I’d also like to acknowledge Robyn and Letisha, whose assistance with advertising, administration, and payment logistics helped keep everything running smoothly. Alongside them, thank you to the broader AMT team (Paris, Paul and Jemimah) — this series simply would not have happened without your behind-the-scenes support.

And of course, thank you to Jeff Sanders.
Jeff has spent a significant amount of time away from his family to be here, sharing not only his immense depth of knowledge, but his unwavering commitment to the welfare of the horse. His advocacy, honesty, and clarity are rare. Jeff does not sugar-coat or soften words, and I am deeply grateful for the direct, truthful feedback he offered me personally. That honesty, along with the homework and challenges he set, has provided clear direction on where I need to improve in order to show up better — for the horses, for the people around me, and for the work itself.

Finally, to every participant who turned up — thank you.
You faced heat, fatigue, sore bodies, injuries, long hot days, and the mental challenge that real learning brings. Yet you kept showing up, kept trying, and kept putting the welfare and understanding of your horses first. That commitment is what true horsemanship looks like, and it was a privilege to witness.

We’re now starting to look ahead to possible dates for next year. With a few tweaks, refinements, and earlier planning, I truly hope we can make this happen again.

From all of us at AMT, thank you for being part of this journey.

— Andrew
AMT Equestrian Services

17/12/2025

In your horsemanship journey, you’ve likely discovered that developing your own skills is just as vital as training your horse. Focusing solely on your horse’s progress means missing half the picture. That’s why we encourage you to actively participate in your horse’s training every step of the way.

From time to time we are able to host riders who want a few days of steady, hands-on work with their horse. It offers a chance to slow down, learn at a comfortable pace and really settle into the feel of the work. Some people like to come with a friend, others prefer a quiet solo stay. If this is something you might be interested in, Contact me for more details.

12/12/2025

Biomechanics is conversation. How I move tells the horse how to move. Once I accept that, training becomes dialogue, not demand.

10/12/2025

We have loved reading the feedback coming through from riders who joined the recent Jeff Sanders clinic in NSW. The common theme has been a real appreciation for his generous teaching style, his depth of knowledge in the Californio Vaquero tradition and the way he notices the small efforts in both horse and rider. That kind of encouragement goes a long way and helps people stay committed to improving their horsemanship in a thoughtful and balanced way.

A big thank you as well to everyone behind the scenes who helped bring the clinic together. Hosting these days is always a team effort and we are grateful for the support that makes it all possible.

We look forward to seeing more riders experience this style of work and the positive changes it brings to their horses.

Stay tuned for the WA clinic update soon ..... Andrew

09/12/2025

Boundaries are kind. Personal space keeps everyone safe. At the gate, ask your horse to wait, then invite one step at a time. Reward the try with a breath and a rub. If they push, back the feet softly to the last good spot, then begin again. Clear rules reduce anxiety. Struggling with pushy ground manners & need help ? Drop us a DM 😊

29/11/2025

“The real victory begins in that quiet space between what you feel and how you choose to respond.”
Chamod Senevirathne

One of the greatest lessons horses ever teach us is the value of emotional neutrality.

Not suppression.
Not force.
Not lip service.

But the discipline to feel something… and still choose how we respond.

John Saint Ryan often spoke about “the pause” that tiny moment between the question and the response.
A moment of stillness.
A moment of awareness.
A moment where feel and thought meet.

That space is where horsemanship is either made… or lost.

Because a horse doesn’t judge us for what we feel they only respond to what we bring.

If we react impulsively, emotionally, or from old habits, the horse feels it instantly.
If we offer clarity, softness, and intention, they feel that too.

And so much of the magic happens in that small still moment where we choose:
• Do I react the way I always have?
• Or do I show up differently this time?

As the saying goes:
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.”

This applies equally to riding, groundwork, relationships, and the way we walk through life.

Horses mirror the world within us, not the one around us.
If our internal landscape is chaotic, rushed, frustrated or distracted, the horse becomes unsettled.
If our internal world is calm, clear and deliberate, the horse finds peace in our presence.

Strength in horsemanship has never come from controlling the horse
it has always come from mastering ourselves.

When we stop letting impulses guide our hands, our voices, our decisions,
everything becomes clearer:
• our timing
• our boundaries
• our feel
• our leadership
• our relationship with the horse
• and our relationship with ourselves

The quiet discipline of choosing neutrality again and again is the kind of power no force can replace.

So today, and every day, may we practice the pause.

May we stand in that space between emotion and response,
and choose to show up a little softer, a little clearer, a little better than yesterday.

Because that’s where the true horsemanship begins.
And that’s where transformation for both horse and human - becomes possible.