Solid Foundation Equestrian

Solid Foundation Equestrian Horse training with a balance of Natural Horsemanship and English Riding with an emphasis on building trust and connection leading to a strong partnership.

I’m an experienced horsewoman having over 25 years in the equestrian field, with the majority of this time spent starting, training and competing horses for all English disciplines. I have a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from a variety of equestrian professionals as well as a background in vet nursing, farming and animal husbandry enabling me to develop a holistic approach to producing

horses. I am qualified in equine studies/sport horse, coaching and agriculture, as well as being a National Show Hunter judge. I believe building trust and connection are the foundation blocks to a successful partnership. I offer the following services:

• Handling foals, halter and lead training and preparing them for farriers and vets.

• Float training

• Pre starting

• Starting (putting under saddle)

• Bringing horses back into work

• Schooling

• Giving life experience (farm experience can be included)

• Providing competition experience (showing, show hunter, show jumping, dressage)

• Coaching/lessons

13/11/2025

Meet Toast 🥂🐴
This special mare has had a challenging start to her ridden career, made even harder by a few illnesses during her time away, which has left her with a lot of trauma, tension, and deep worry around new people 💛. She’s come to SFE to gently finish what was started — with the goal of helping her feel safe, understood, and genuinely happy under saddle 🤍.

In the beginning, Toast’s coping strategies were big: she would shut down, dissociate, or try to push us away when things felt too hard 😔. So we took a big step back and focused solely on rebuilding trust. Little by little, she began to let her guard down 🌿.

We started seeing beautiful changes:
• She slowed her feet and began to stay present 🧘‍♀️
• Her trot softened, and the running stopped 🌬️
• She offered softness into the contact rather than bracing 🤲
• And as she came back under saddle in her latest session, she stayed with us — asking, “Okay… what do you want me to do?” 💫

Every time she participated, she was rewarded and given space to process 🧡. And then something truly magical happened…

Toast began releasing the trauma and tension she had been holding while under the saddle.
Deep breaths, stretching, softening through her body — the first real signs of healing ✨. It was such an honour to witness and to be part of that moment with her.

(And yes… the video is a little blurry because she released so much tension that some of it landed on the camera lens 😅 but I wasn’t about to stop the moment to wipe it!)

With my injury still needing a bit more time before I can safely ride a big, powerful mare like her, Toast has now gone to Karolina’s to continue her journey — and she’s in the best hands 💛🌿.

We still have plenty of work to do, but this was such a beautiful first step in the right direction. 💛🐴

It never gets old… these views, this sunshine, and the quiet miles with a good horse for company 🖤🌾Hacking is such a bea...
10/11/2025

It never gets old… these views, this sunshine, and the quiet miles with a good horse for company 🖤🌾
Hacking is such a beautiful way to freshen up not just the horses, but me too. A little reset for the nervous system and the soul ✨

This is Blue, a Gypsy Cob stallion who made the big move from Taupō down to Canterbury. The change was a lot for him, and he began rearing and barging past the handler whenever another horse was nearby. In those moments, it was as though the person didn’t exist — and understandably, it really frightened his mum.

For Blue, the work has been about rebuilding connection and helping him learn to stay with his person even when he’s feeling big, activated energy. That has looked like:
• Clear, consistent boundaries
• Redirecting his focus rather than suppressing it
• Teaching him how to pause and think
• Repeating the process calmly, over time

Bit by bit, the change has come.

He can now walk down the laneway in hand, with mares on both sides, without rearing or pushing through. He stays present, breathing, and thinking. That’s a huge shift for him.

Both Karolina Anna Dyszy and I have been doing the in-hand work with him, each stepping in where needed. It has truly been a team effort — and I’m really grateful for the extra set of skilled hands and eyes on the ground. And full credit to his mum for trusting the process through the harder moments.

He’s actually a lovely ride, so the next step will be introducing him to riding in company again 🦄

Firm, fair, consistent.
Always working toward connection 🤍🌿

08/11/2025

Who pulled the best face? 🤪

Honestly… I’m not sure if it was the horses or me! 🫣💁🏼‍♀️
We had a very serious and professional training session as you can clearly see 🤭😂

But in all seriousness — sessions like these are such a good reminder that building trust and relaxation doesn’t always look polished. Sometimes it looks like funny faces, wobbly moments, scratch-bliss, and just being together while the nervous system softens.

First up was River (bay/white) on his very first sit.
He let me know he was ok for me to get on — lovely, soft, breathing.
Then he took a step and he said:
“…Actually nope. Not ready.” 👀

So I listened.

I had Michelle (one of the wonderful humans who keeps things flowing here in the background — from mucking out to feeding hay to emotional support crew 💛) come and stand with him.
No pressure. Just reassurance, presence, space.
He softened again beautifully when he was ready.

Next, I hopped on Peaches (palomino/white) and got the “you found THE spot” face 😌
Lots of scratches, lots of dopamine, lots of yes-please-don’t-stop.
These are the moments that make the mounting process something they enjoy — not just tolerate.
Connection first, always.

So the important question is…

Which face wins today?
1️⃣ River’s tongue-out chaos contribution
2️⃣ My “I’m fine, totally fine 😂” expression
3️⃣ River’s soft, settled “ok I’m ready again” moment
4️⃣ Peaches’ blissed-out scratch face 😌

Cast your vote below 👇

🐴💛

Who pulled the best face? 🤪Honestly… I’m not sure if it was the horses or me! 🫣💁🏼‍♀️We had a very serious and profession...
08/11/2025

Who pulled the best face? 🤪

Honestly… I’m not sure if it was the horses or me! 🫣💁🏼‍♀️
We had a very serious and professional training session as you can clearly see 🤭😂

But in all seriousness — sessions like these are such a good reminder that building trust and relaxation doesn’t always look polished. Sometimes it looks like funny faces, wobbly moments, scratch-bliss, and just being together while the nervous system softens.

First up was River (bay/white) on his very first sit.
He let me know he was ok for me to get on — lovely, soft, breathing.
Then he took a step and he said:
“…Actually nope. Not ready.” 👀

So I listened.

I had Michelle (one of the wonderful humans who keeps things flowing here in the background — from mucking out to feeding hay to emotional support crew 💛 to photographer 📸) come and stand with him.
No pressure. Just reassurance, presence, space.
He softened again beautifully when he was ready.

Next, I hopped on Peaches (palomino/white) and got the “you found THE spot” face 😌
Lots of scratches, lots of dopamine, lots of yes-please-don’t-stop.
These are the moments that make the mounting process something they enjoy — not just tolerate.
Connection first, always.

So the important question is…

Which face wins today?
1️⃣ River’s tongue-out chaos contribution
2️⃣ My “I’m fine, totally fine 😂” expression
3️⃣ River’s soft, settled “ok I’m ready again” moment
4️⃣ Peaches’ blissed-out scratch face 😌

Cast your vote below 👇

🐴💛

07/11/2025

Meet River 🐴✨
River has recently come in to be started after spending his winter out on the hills. He’s a big, sensitive soul, and he’s letting me know that he needs a little more time to feel comfortable with the idea of being sat on — and that’s totally okay 💛

One of the most important parts of starting young horses is listening.
If he says “I’m not ready yet”, I don’t push him through it. I acknowledge it, give him a moment, and try again when he feels safe. 🤲

In the video you’ll see him step away when things feel a bit much — that’s his way of communicating. When he chooses to stay with me, I reward that. Then we build from there… slowly, consistently, and with patience. 🌿

Note: This is a long video! There were lots of moments where I was simply sitting with him, giving scratches and reassurance. I’ve trimmed those parts out to shorten the video — but they’re just as important in the process 💛

Little by little, we will get there. These are the building blocks of trust and connection — and horses are very good at keeping us humble and grounded along the way 🧡

Patience is key. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of simply “getting the job done” — I’ve definitely found myself in that trap before when things feel like they should be progressing faster. But every time, the horses remind me to slow down and listen. The real progress comes from doing it with them, not to them. ✨

05/11/2025

Let me introduce the sweetest (and possibly smallest “horse” in disguise 🤔) who is here to be started under saddle… Peaches 🍑🦄

Peaches is a very special mare. She lost her left eye in a paddock accident, which means she experiences her environment a little differently to most horses. Although this could easily lead to hesitation or uncertainty, Peaches has shown nothing but heart, curiosity, and an incredible willingness to try 💛

Over the past few sessions, I have been focusing on:
• Developing trust, connection, and confidence in close contact and communication 🌿🤍
• Teaching her how to present to be mounted and establishing a calm, consistent mounting routine 🪜✨
• Introducing self-management, body awareness, and nervous system regulation in potential real-life situations 🧠🌸

Because Peaches only has vision on one side, I adjusted my usual approach and taught her to present on the side where she can see me. This allows her to clearly understand my intention, stay relaxed, and feel secure in the process. Small adjustments can create big changes in a horse’s confidence and clarity. ✨

This is my first time starting a horse with one eye, and it has been a beautiful reminder that training is never one-size-fits-all. Every horse deserves to be met where they are — mentally, physically, and emotionally — and supported in a way that helps them feel safe and successful. 🌙💗

Peaches is already proving that her “limitation” is anything but. She is soft, willing, thoughtful… and an absolute little treasure. 🩷

Welcome Peaches 🍑🦄

In case you were wondering what that bright thing is at the top of the hill… don’t worry, it’s just me in shorts ☀️😅 No ...
04/11/2025

In case you were wondering what that bright thing is at the top of the hill… don’t worry, it’s just me in shorts ☀️😅 No need to raise the alarm 🚨 — just another day out working horses and making the most of the sunshine!

Sophie and her new pony, Rabbit 🐰, having a lesson today!Somehow, she ended up without her stirrups 🤭 — and handled it l...
04/11/2025

Sophie and her new pony, Rabbit 🐰, having a lesson today!
Somehow, she ended up without her stirrups 🤭 — and handled it like a champ!

Riding without stirrups is such a valuable exercise for improving balance, core strength, and an independent seat. It’s not always easy (as many of my students can confirm!), but it makes such a difference in the long run.

I think a few of you will relate to Sophie’s sigh of relief when I finally said, “Okay, you can have a break now” 😂

02/11/2025

Fancy reminded me yesterday why I love starting young horses — seeing them grow in confidence and understanding is so rewarding. 🦄

True to her name, this lovely 5-year-old Warmblood has some very fancy moves 💃🏼. Today we introduced the idea of presenting to be mounted, and she picked it up so well! By the end of the session, she was happy for me to lean over, put a leg across, and quietly sit up. 🙌🏻

With any horse, but particularly sensitive horses, it’s about going at their pace and making sure they feel comfortable and understood with each new step. When they feel safe in the learning, everything tends to fall into place naturally — and Fancy was a lovely reminder of that today. 💕

I’m really looking forward to watching her confidence continue to grow as her training develops. 🌱

01/11/2025

🌟Wyllie Update!🌟

Wyllie is doing incredibly well — today he had his first canter under saddle and even took his first walk around the arena! He was pretty sure the boogeyman was hiding in the bushes at “E”, so we went over to introduce ourselves… and he decided the roses could use a little trimming 💁🏼‍♀️🌹

A huge thank you to Karolina Anna Dyszy for stepping in to help while I’m recovering from my injury. I’m so grateful to have her on board — she brings a wealth of experience from starting and producing horses to a high level in Europe, along with her expertise as a bodyworker and her fantastic understanding of biomechanics. It’s wonderful to have someone who shares such a thoughtful and holistic approach to training 🙏🏼🐴

30/10/2025

Just a little arena makeover! 💅🐎
Fresh sand going down and it’s looking fab — the horses are definitely going to approve! 🙌😍

27/10/2025

✨Lynbrook Pocket Money (Lu) – Show Hunter Debut!✨

Lynbrook Pocket Money (aka Lu) made her debut in the Show Hunter ring this weekend, and we couldn’t be more proud of our little squirrel 🐿️ 😝. She is improving with every outing and is really starting to blossom into the superstar we’ve always known she would be. 🌟

A huge thank you to Paige, who did a fantastic job giving Lu such a positive first experience. 🙌 It’s a big atmosphere for a young horse to take in, but Lu stayed calm, willing, and took it all in her stride like an absolute pro. 🦄💕

We’re so excited for her journey — this is just the beginning, and the future is looking bright for this special mare. ✨

Address

306 Mound Road, Broomfield
Amberley
7482

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+64273634442

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