My Training Philosophy

“There is much we can learn from a friend who happens to be a horse.”

Aleksandra Leyland.

Professionalism

I always endeavor to perform and behave in a professional manner as fitting to being a professional equestrian. I actively encourage and practice mutual respect, applying this equally to humans and horses. Being a professional, also applies to everyday activities, where integrity, compliance, health, safety and environmental awareness must be implemented and adhered to, to act and work in an appropriately professional manner.

Empathy

I always strive to use empathetic training methods. Such methods focus on the capacity to understand or feel what the person/animal is experiencing from within their frame of reference, i.e. That is to place oneself in another's position and use this understanding to match the (training) approach to the specific situation. Such methods are instrumental in teaching horses to perform tasks willingly, providing the manner in which the horse is trained/encouraged to perform, is based on mutual respect, communication, the reading of body language, empathy and a positive environment.

Patience

Patience is a virtue, and this is especially so with horses. Therefore, agreeing a clear timeline and goals when working with owners and riders is very important. The horse can often be set back (in its training/re-habilitation regime) by injury, dietary or psychological issues, and even in some cases by impatience. So, it is very important to evaluate the horse, rider and boundary conditions, then agree on the goals and the timeline together, to ensure a successful outcome for both horse and rider.