New Horse Training

13/08/2024

✨ Belle ✨

Yesterday we began long lining Belle, so I can establish solid communication with her. It was pretty windy but she connects to me and our task to get the job done. You can see Belle has her bit in but I work off of the halter. I don't want to overload her brain with too many new things at once. I also feel that if she were to have a reaction of any level which she would be fully entitled to do so while she learns, a jam in the mouth from the bit at this stage would cause a negative association. Lottie sat on her at the end of a great session

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New Horse Training

09/08/2024

🌟 Crumpet 🌟

Another blank canvass to be working with 🥰

Crumpet is rising four so will be on a similar journey to Belle, however she is going to be my daughter's pony and is only 11.1hh so will need to take a slightly different route with her

Bitting/mouthing will be her first/main point of contact as she will mainly be a lead line pony. We will be doing a lot of long lining so she can use her confidence to take the lead

To finesse the aids with Crumpet, in hand work is going to be key for communication

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New Horse Training

09/08/2024

Here is the very first time Belle has had a bit in her mouth. We went for a walk while she happily plays with the bit, did some very basic groundwork, moving away from energy to keep her thinking and allowing her to adjust to the bit but not solely focussing that the bit is there. Ideally, I'd like the mouthing/chewing to stop before we progress any further with bitting/mouthing

If you'd like to enquire about having your horse mouthed/bitted, please get in contact. It's your first point of contact with your horse, so just as important as saddling/backing

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New Horse Training

26/07/2024

We've slowly started backing Belle. Her first 4 weeks will be very light work, establishing steering, stopping, starting and accepting a rider. Then I will turn her away for a while as she's young and just keep refreshing her as time goes on, slow and steady, kind and soft

26/07/2024

Little update on Belle

We had the dentist out as I'd noticed her caps hadn't come off her front teeth and were then jamming the adult teeth from coming in straight. The dentist said this isn't uncommon but often is missed as we assume younger horses don't need filing or dental work. He also said that it's about 50% chance the same could happen on the bottom jaw, which would have caused her life long issues.
Her next set of caps to come off will be her bottom two front teeth. They all come off in stages, like humans.
She had her wolf teeth taken out, so she will be comfortable when I start mouthing her 😊

30/05/2024

After some time off, organising my human life I am ready to pick the reins back up with training ☺️

Introducing Bell

Bell is a station bred filly from Tangadee Stn. She's just over 14hh, 3yrs old & has a very calm, level headed nature about her

18/02/2024

A little update from Bart's new family 🥰

10/02/2024

Boxie New 🤍🤍🤍

06/01/2024

As I dive deeper into my coursework for the bigger my curiosity grows as to why we have our saddles professionally fitted but not our bridles and bit?

They are both equally as important to communicate with our horses, yet often we select a snaffle for not knowing what else is available or having further knowledge of what's available and why.

A bit shouldn't be used to correct or fix symptoms that have underlying causes but the right bit will deliver a method of communication that is easier for your horse to understand your questions. Whether it be for dressage, show jumping or eventing, you may have a different bit for each discipline to work in harmony together

Please get in touch if you're after bit advice so I can put into practice my knowledge and experience 😊

03/01/2024

The little standy, Bart, that came to me for re-training has now gone onto a wonderful family as a pleasure horse. He will be living it up on his new 50 acre farm with plenty of little people to make a fuss of him. I hear he has an array of farm friends and endless trails to meander down. All the best, Little Horse 🧡🧡

19/12/2023

This is a great read 👌

I used to think I must be a terrible rider for a professional, since my instructor corrects very basic riding mistakes all the time. We work endlessly on the way I sit, the way I hold the reins, the way I ride a transition, the way my feet hang in the stirrups, and so on. I’ve had many students comment to me that they expected I’d be working on much higher level things-

I realized over time these are things that separate a mediocre rider from an excellent one. Many riders, especially trainers, ignore these details to get stuff done, and forgo basics for exciting and higher level looking riding. I stopped feeling bad when I realized I didn’t know many trainers willing to work this much in basic skills being done well, especially in public - because I hope one day to be an excellent rider, in time.

I’ve realized over the years that much of professionals taking lessons is being validated and elevated, or being seen with big names for photo opportunities and career boosting, without their teachers really calling them out for their faults at a very basic level.

No upper level rider wants to be told they pick up the reins offensively or too quick; and so forth , but that begs the question: how did they get to be upper level with such basic faults? Why did no one correct these on their way up?

I believe if we are to produce top quality riders, not just riders focused on winning the public’s favor with winning ribbons, not just riders who can stay on and make a horse appear round without understanding the elements required for development - if we’re going to produce quality professionals who understand theory, it’s application, how to use their seat and how to safely develop a horse over the haunches - someone needs to be calling them out, and they have to have the gall to learn basic things with excellence, which means being corrected, time and time again, by someone better than you.

The culture among trainers has quickly turned into flashy reels, pictures of high level movements with grossly underprepared horses, and exciting head turning movement, self proclaimed experts with a trick or two but no mentor - but less value over refinement, preparation, basic skill, and quiet day by day training. You don’t turn any heads with a TikTok video of teaching a horse to just be straight, but, it is in fact what we desperately need- and we need trainers committed to it like their lives depend on it.

20/11/2023

My big boy 💙

30/10/2023

So friendly 😊

29/10/2023

What greater duo of
Horses and the beach 🏖️
You can't beat it 🥰

Our Annual Beach Rides are Back!

Available selected dated in Nov, Dec and Jan. Book early to avoid disappointment!

04/02/2021

Another update on my first Aussie pony, Lottie. Absolutely smashing goals with her owner and I cannot wait to see them out this coming season 💖

15/12/2020

Dennis 💙💙

15/12/2020

Dennis out on trails this afternoon ❤️

15/12/2020

Ollie and I went to visit Santa tonight 🎅