The Holistic Horse Handling Program WORKS!

We have spent the last 2 years putting our holistic horse handling skills in to practice with real working horses in a riding school environment that requires good, safe, confident horses that know how to look after their riders.

And it works

It works so well that even when I'm lost in a rabbit hole with a horse that has an issue and I don't know where to start, I go back to our holistic horse handling principles.

And you know why it works?

The horses helped shape it.

By giving horses

• consent,

• choice,

• language,

• ways to share their tension holding patterns,

• ways to ask for support when unsure, stressed or in pain, and

• permission to stop and self regulate when coming up in nervous tension,

They have helped us shape how to use these tools as a way to support them as a working horse, willing, engaged with a positive work ethic.

We've instilled boundaries, held accountability, lost students who weren't prepared to do the work, supported students who have found putting the horse before their personal goals challenging. Demanded and expected our students to care about these horses and what they give and sacrifice to support so many different riders in their equestrian careers.

When I started working at the riding school when I was just starting out 18 years ago, we used to pick the horses up from the doggers and rehab, retrain and integrate the horses into the school. Over time they would gain soundness of mind, body and emotion, be able to take on greener and less balanced horses and eventually they would get paired up with a student and be a students first horse. I will never deny a school horse a family and loving forever home.

And that's where the journey started and this is where we are returning home to. With more sound practices, more education and more practice.

So if you're looking for a light to shine down the tunnel, a community of equestrians that get it and have overcome more hurdles and challenges than you can think of and a framework to help navigate these challenges that brings your and your horse closer together, make sure you check out our Holistic Horse Handling Program.