Naturally Started

For a young horse, a good start in life is very important. It can help prevent all those annoying problems often seen with older horses. It is how the young horse is introduced to the things he will have to face as an adult which will shape his opinions of humans - either as helpers and friends or bossy inconsiderate autocrats best avoided.

Natural horsemanship is a way of communicating with horses based on trying to understand their point of view first, and using that knowledge to mould the horse into what we ultimately want him to do with us.

Naturally started horses tend to be calmer, cleverer, braver and more accommodating than some horses broken in using more traditional methods.

What I’m trying to do is use my skill, knowledge and experience of various methods of natural horsemanship to develop young horses into accepting humans as friends, guides and leaders, ready for their new owners to take on to whatever their chosen discipline is.

Most of the young horse’s skill set can be learned in the first few months of life. This includes things like be caught, tie up, be groomed, accept tack, stand still, be clipped, be loaded, be shod, be calm, cross obstacles, go and whoa, hack out alone. Be honest - I bet you know quite a few adult horses which would benefit from being able to do all these basic tests.

All the horses came to me unbroken, some un-handled and some completely wild! (eg off the moors, mountains or forests of the UK) They are kept outdoors on pasture, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year - except for short periods when they are learning to accept being in a stable.

The newest member of the herd meets the older babies.