FAQ

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Does my horse need to have his own tack when coming in for training?

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Yes, he will need at least the basic tack for himself: his grooming & care kit and a Natural Horsemanship halter and rope, plus any specialisation equipment that you need for your goals: i.e. saddle or harness if relevant. For yourself, a riding hat comforming wih current UK standards is compulsory for all riding lessons, and for children it is compulsory for grounwork too.

Please do not buy cheap / counterfeit tack as yours and your horse's safety and comfort rely on it – ask us for advice if you're not sure what to buy.

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What about feed and extra care?

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You will need to provide your own feed, supplements, and any medicine your horse might need, wormers etc.

The price of Basic Livery as part of the training packages is kept to an aboslute minimum in order to facilitate affordability, therefore only the most basic care is included so that if that's all your horse needs, you won't over pay. Any extra care or handling however (i.e. feeding, tending to wounds, exra handling outside training etc) is provided according to the horse's needs and charged for at an hourly rate. So please account for that when setting your budget!

When the herd is being fed hay the cost is split between all the horses and your horse's share is added to your bill.

If your horse needs vet care or her hooves trimmed while with us you will need to arrange and be present for that – although we will help where needed. Special circumstances can be discussed to find a plan that works for you.

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How long does it take to get a horse through the entire curriculum?

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We recommend 8 to 12 weeks to train up to L7 on a standard package. It can take longer if your horse has some issues or if you choose a Budget training package, or if they have never been ridden before. It can also be shorter if your horse has already had a good foundation training and/ or is a confident and quick learner.

Remember that you will be learning too! To keep up with your horse's level you may need to carry on taking lessons for yourself after your horse comes home.

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If my foal went through the Mare & Foal plan, how long to get her through L7 or 8 when he's old enough?

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If your horse has achieved a L6 as a youngster, and especially if you have carried on handling him and playing with her in this approach after that, he will be very quick at picking up the Competence skills as they are only transferred from the preparation levels. Even if he's had a long break in between it will come back to him quickly: skills learnt at an early age are deeper ingrained and more stable than those learnt later.

For L7, typically count 2 to 4 weeks. For more solidity and confidence, allow more time (either in training or at home with you).

The duration of L8 will depend on your horse's natural ability for balance, and on what he's been doing in the meantime. We will discuss all this together when working out your horse's plan.

Of course all horses are different and some may need more support and longer learning time, but in all cases it is always most valuable to give them a sound and solid start.

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Will my horse cope with the lifestyle at Horse & Heart?

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Our herd lives together, outdoors 24/7 high on, browsing on wild plants and drinking from streams. 

After an integration period (1 to 5 days) guest horses run with the herd – although special arrangements can be made when practical. All horses who join the herd must be barefoot (you will need to have shoes taken off before arrival if your horse is shod) and, of course, they have to be sound and healthy.

In the Spring & Summer, all horses should be able to live that lifestyle comfortably. In the Winter, rustic breeds and healthy horses cope very well in these natural conditions too, but as often not much training can take place in the Winter due to the weather anyway we recommend keeping your horse at home then.

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Why do I need to take lessons as part of my horse's training?

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Your horse will be, in effect, learning a common language between horses and people: how to relate to each other in mutual trust and respect, and a series of subtle cues for given tasks to perform. You will need to learn the same language so that you can understand each other. 

And most of all, the journey of Holistic Horsemanship is one of partnership: the language is only the tool to create a bond of trust and respect between you. As for horses only certain individuals in the herd are qualified to give others directions, you need to learn how to be that qualified horse so that your horse responds to you as well as she does to me.   

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Can my children take the lessons within the training package?

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Yes, absolutely. They will need to if they are the ones who will be handling / riding the pony.

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Do you use bits & saddles?

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The entire curriculum is done in a Natural Horsemanship rope halter and at Liberty. You will never need to use a bit for riding if you do not wish to.

If you wish to use a bit, you will need to understand why and how they function and train your hands as well as your horse to the utmost level of lightness. Bits should never be used for control, only for precision in finesse, and should not be introduced before Refinement level.

We will help you horse transition from the bit if you are already riding bitted.

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Horses are typically trained to be ridden using a bareback pad, and then whatever other equipment you wish to bring.

The welfare of the horse will be the priority when considering tack: a horse needs strong back muscles to be ridden bareback and some horses may need an appropriate saddle to support your weight if they are to be ridden – or more time to muscle up.  

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Why don't you accept stallions?

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As stallions can procreate, we would need to keep them separate from our mares. We do not have the adequate fencing or space to do so effectively. 

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Are you insured?

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Yes, we are fully insured.