Horse & Heart
Holistic Horsemanship & Wellbeing
Not-for-Profit Social Enterprise
Dartmoor, Devon, UK
Courses
in Holistic Horsemanship
for Adults & Children
We offer courses for all ages and with different themes depending on what you are looking for on your journey.
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Holistic Horsemanship is for everyone – young or wise, with or without experience, whether you are a complete beginner or a professional seeking refinement.
All needs and sensitivities are welcome.
To a horse, everyone is unique. The journey is yours.
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All the courses we offer are taught through natural, kinetic and positive learning practices, and empowerment, confidence, resilience, empathy and social skills are an inherent part of the learning process.
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All courses are taught to the highest standards of horsemanship and can lead to professional skills if you wish to study to that level. Simply enjoying taking where the journey takes you is welcome too!
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Walk the path at your own rhythm and in your own style, starting with a taster session and with classes offered:
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With the Horse & Heart herd, or with your own horse, pony, donkey or mule;
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As part of a regular class or as one-off courses & workshops;
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for Adults / Children / Professionals
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for Individuals, private Groups or Organisations*
Please note that every student is required to agree to our T&C and Responsibility Charter before joining any lesson or class.
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* We are currently looking for partner organisations to set up sponsored classes
focusing on empathy, resilience, emotional & social skills and recovery.
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Regular Courses for Adults
The wisdom of resilience, emotional understanding, true connection, and social confidence – straight from the horse's mouth.
Where authentic horsemanship meets recovery and empowerement, a beautifully life-affirming course in support of mental health and wellbeing, created in partnership with the NHS.
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Courses of 5 weekly classes, between March and October.
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable 18+
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
Develop your horsemanship skills with a holisitc approach to equine education.
Sessions follow the Levels curriculum and include Liberty, Groundwork & Theory in Equine Ethology, and Riding/ Harness work for those who wish.
Suitable for beginners and accomplished equestrians – this course will give you an incomparable set of tools to engage with a horse. Levels Certificates offered.
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Weekly or Fortnightly classes
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable 16+
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
A deep journey of self-discovery, spiritual connection and Holistic Horsemanship including Animal Communication, Shamanic connection & Healing.
Explore who you truly are in total welcoming, learn how to reconnect to your own healing power, and meet the hearts of horses.
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6 whole day workshops spread over the year, from March to October.
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With the Horse & Heart herd.
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Suitable 16+
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
Courses offered on Request
For your own group, booked at your convenience according to availabilities.
Choose the focus of your learning journey with a course tailored to your own needs:
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Confidence – Resilience – Empowerment – Recovery from Trauma – Emotional Intelligence – Empathy – True Connection – Positive Relationships – Play & Creativity – Positive Leadership.
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Courses of 3 to 5 days
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For your own group or family group
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Consultations for individuals & couples
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable all ages
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
From beginner all the way up to professional standard, follow the curriculum of equine communication and education to Mastery level.
Includes Liberty & Ground skills, Equine Ethology & Psychology, Desensitisation, practical skills (trailer loading etc), Riding Naturally (optional), and Natural Husbandry and care.
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Foundation Programme of 6 Courses
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Or learn by Theme
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For your own group
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At your own venue with your own horse
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Or with the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable 16+
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
A Natural Horse Handling course for vet, hoof, dental and general horse care.
Learn how to prepare your horse for handling and use positive communication for a calm and helpful response during daily care and specialised treatment.
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Invaluable for all equine care professionals – vets, hoof care professionals, dentists, osteopaths and healers – as well as all horse owners. For safety, calm & efficiency!
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3-day course
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For your own group
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable 16+
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Further training available
For true Horsemanship for Working Horses, a curriculum designed by Horse & Heart. From beginner all the way up to professional standard, take your horse to working partnership at its most refined.
Includes all the standard education steps from Liberty & Ground skills, Equine Ethology & Psychology, Desensitisation, practical skills (trailer loading etc), Natural Husbandry and care, all the way up to working in harness.
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Foundation Programme of 6 Courses
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For your own group
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At your own venue with your own horse
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Or with the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable 16+
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
A full day of connection in consciousness with horses and Nature as teachers – a truly special blessing for a connection that lasts forever.
Suitable for weddings & joining of hands ceremonies, personal rites of passage, vows & spiritual quests.
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Setting your personal intention
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Heart Connection with the horses
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Tailored Ceremony (optional)
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Photo Shoot (optional)
Touching their Hearts is a unique home study course in animal or plant Phenomenology, developed by Marie over years of experience in subtle connection and communication.
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Following the 4 traditional modes of study of Phenomenology and enriched with further depth of self-development and heart connection, this course is a profound and life-changing experience creating an intuitive understanding between the student and her/his animal or plant partner. A path of amazing discovery and a foundation to Animal Communication and partnership.
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Duration 4 or 6 weeks. Available to anyone 13+.
Regular Courses for Children & Teenagers
A learning programme for high competence in Holistic Horsemanship and Natural horse care open to teenagers and children who would like to develop their skills further.
Sessions include all the Holistic Horsemanship themes (practical & theory), personal growth and social skills, and students participate in horse care and land maintenance tasks as well. A path to Mastery and professional skills.
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Fortnightly classes
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Apprenticeship (full day) – 14 to 19 y.o.
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Youth Club (half day) – 10 to 13 y.o.
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
Horse Whispering classes to discover real pony language.
Build confidence and safety around horses, play at Liberty, teach your pony new tricks and how to overcome fear, learn how to be gentle like the true Masters – and much, much more...
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An experience, and a bond, that will last forever.
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Holiday classes
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Whisperkid'z – 9 to 13 year olds
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Mini Whispers – 6 to 8 year olds
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
Courses offered on Request
For your own group, booked at your convenience according to availabilities.
Choose the focus of your learning journey with a course tailored to your own needs:
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Confidence – Resilience – Empowerment – Recovery from Trauma – Emotional Intelligence – Empathy – True Connection – Positive Relationships – Play & Creativity – Positive Leadership.
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Courses of 3 to 5 days
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For your own group or family group
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Consultations for individuals
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable all ages
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
The Holistic Horsemanship curriculum for children, with age-adapted sessions.
Building confidence and safety around horses, learning true finesse and gentleness in handling – a foundation to Mastery.
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Including Liberty & Ground skills, overcoming fear, teaching horses new tricks, Riding (optional) and Theory.
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Courses of 2 to 5 days
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For your own group
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At your own venue with your own horse
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Or with the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable 8 to 15 y.o. (groups of similar age)
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
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A special day out with the family, learning from the horses, together.
A wonderful way of bonding and learning positive communication and cooperation skills – becoming a true Tribe.
All just through play and fun!
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For family & extended family groups
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Suitable all ages including babies
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
A special day of connection and ceremony to mark a personal rite of passage, a vow or a quest.
Accompanied by Marie and by the horses, a journey of consciousness for a deeper heart connection.
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Setting your personal intention
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Heart Connection with the horses
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Tailored Ceremony (optional)
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Photo Shoot (optional)
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Suitable all ages
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Offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis
Discover the Holistic Horsemanship approach with a demo.
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Half day or full day
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With the Horse & Heart herd
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Or at your venue with yourown horses
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Book your own demo for your group or check our Events calendar for a scheduled demo.
Our Community Events are open to people of all ages, families and friends, local or from afar: weaving Storytelling, Nature crafts, Music and Ceremony – for moments of shared Magic among the horses, and a feeling of true belonging.
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Keep an eye out for them on the Events Calendar!
Guest Courses
Riding with Release
Alexander Technique with Delia Rosenboom
A beautiful approach to body tension release, the Alexander Technique is invaluable for horse riders across the board.
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Reaching deep into muscle and tissue through thought and visualisation and with Delia's gentle guidance, a practice that can be continued at home for freedom of body and mind, and an exraordinary connection with your horse.
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Dates & Duration vary
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"Off the horse" –
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No riding experienced required
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Suitable 16+
Tellington Touch for horses and dogs
with Heimke Moll
A safe and relaxing healing technique, the Tellington-Touch has a profound effect on the body and emotions and can help with physical tension as well as trauma release and overall wellness.
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A very simple method that can then be applied at home on all animals and humans alike, for a very happy household.
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Dates & Duration vary
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Easy for everyone to learn
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Suitable 16+
Our Values
And Code of Best Practice
Whether regarding people, horses, or the land, we work to a code of best practice and our core values are present on the Horse & Heart site as well as in our courses and teachings.
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Safety
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Authenticity
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Responsibility
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Inclusion
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Respect and Openness – across species
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Positive Learning
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A path of Resilience
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A path of Excellence
Testimonials
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« I never expected such depth of connection and communication. I thought I had to "train my animal", now I have a generous partner. And I am becoming a better person, too. » Bruno
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« I can't believe this is the same horse. I thought she "couldn't do" stuff. I just never knew how to listen. Everything is lightness now. » Serge
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« I have been a riding instructor for 12 years and what I learnt today was completely new to me. I feel like I have met horses again on a whole new level! » Jackie
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« My son has benefited so much from this course. He feels settled, confident, and happier, too. » Ali
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« Excellent teachmanship, clear, progressive, encouraging... Every moment is a nugget of wisdom – it's a lifetime's worth of learning. » Patrick
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« This is extraordinary depth. I have known several Natural Horsemanship teachers, but none of that level of knowledge and skill. » Diana
About Marie
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Marie is a qualified BFEE2 Natural Horsemanship practitioner and an experienced instructor.
She has developed the Holistic Horsemanship approach through years of intensive study and practice with master horsemen and women and through immersion in herds of semi-wild horses, as well as through training in shamanic healing and Animal Communication.
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Marie is passionate about education and is a dynamic instructor dedicated to the continued development of her teaching skills with adults and children. Her background in alternative and conscious education gives the foundation to the ongoing improvement of unique teaching programmes for holistic learning, community building and personal growth.