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Become safer, more confident, and better connected with your own horse, at your barn, in a clinic, or by video
Did you have a dream when you got your first horse? Maybe it was trail rides with nothing but birdsong and a relaxed horse under you. Maybe it was simply a horse who nickers when you walk up to the gate. Maybe you wanted to excel in your chosen discipline.
If that dream still feels further away than you hoped, you are in the right place. Every course here is built on love, communication, and leadership, so you and your horse progress together. It’s a win-win for both partners.
Our training events count towards continuing education credits for Equestrian Canada certified coaches and instructors. Ask us about it when you register.
Is This For You?
These courses are for horse owners who put the relationship first and want harmony to become the norm, not the exception. You might recognize yourself here:
- You want a deeper connection with your horse, built on mutual respect and confidence.
- You want unwanted behaviour to fade and to ride with confidence again.
- You feel overwhelmed by information and want clear direction for your own horse.
- You keep asking yourself: “Who do I have to become to be a better partner for my horse?”
You do not need talent or nerves of steel, and it does not take years to see results. All you need is commitment, heart, and desire, plus the right tools. Horses love to learn, and so do we!
What You Will Learn
Relationship-based horsemanship is built on the natural language and psychology of the horse. It applies to all horses and all disciplines, English or Western, and follows a systematic, progressive path.
- Groundwork: safe handling, games and exercises for a calm, connected, responsive horse
- Playing on line and at liberty: communication from close up to a distance
- Preparing to ride: saddling, pre-ride checks and reading your horse’s mental state
- Riding: fluidity, harmony, freestyle and precision riding, games in the saddle
- Horse psychology: understanding behaviour and your horse’s unique personality
- Lightness and performance: softer responses and the fundamentals of performance
My teaching rests on four things: safety for you and your horse, respect for the horse and rider, having fun, and making real progress.
Choose Your Path
Not sure where to start? Most students begin with a clinic. It is the most affordable way to build a strong foundation, and it opens the door to private coaching.
| Option | Best for | Group size | Gallery? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinics (recommended start) | A strong foundation, or one topic in depth, over 2 to 4 days | Up to 20 | Yes |
| VIP clinics | A 3+ day clinic built entirely around you | 1 to 3 | No |
| Workshops with your horse | Getting unstuck on one skill, pattern or theme | 6 to 10 | Yes |
| Horseless workshops | Learning a topic with minimal time and money, no horse needed | 20+ | No |
| Group lessons | Learning with friends and sharing the cost | 3 to 5 | No |
| Private or semi-private lessons | Focused one-on-one attention (after a first clinic) | 1 or 2 | No |
| Virtual coaching | Regular follow-up at home, 4 months minimum | 1 | No |
| Ad hoc video coaching | Quick help with one specific issue | 1 | No |
| J2S Your Journey to Savvy™ | Guided home study with assignments and a private online community, 4 months | Online group | No |
Private and Group Lessons
Lessons come to you, at your barn and with your own horse. Each one is tailored to your level and your goals, whether that means relaxing, gaining confidence, building ground or riding skills, or understanding horse psychology. You can also work with a horse you would like to build a relationship with.
Small group lessons (3 to 5 students)
Learning with friends at the same level is fun, and you share travel costs. For established groups, I offer a monthly lesson series: I meet your group at a set location for a personalized 3-hour lesson. A minimum of 3 monthly lessons is booked in advance.
Would you like to join or form a group? I can help you find like-minded students in your area.
Private and semi-private lessons (1 or 2 students)
This is the way to go for plenty of one-on-one attention, with no spectators. These lessons are mainly offered to clinic participants in the days around a clinic, while I am on site.
Good to know: you need to have taken part in a clinic with your horse before booking private coaching.
Best value: the 12-hour lesson package lowers your hourly rate.
10 reasons to organize a clinic or a group training
View upcoming events and organizing info
Clinics
A clinic is the fastest way to move forward: two to four days of savvy, live and in person, with your own horse. Students are grouped by level and experience, so everyone enjoys a progressive learning experience. Clinics welcome up to 20 riders, and gallery students are welcome too.
Each day blends theory, simulations, and practical exercises, along with time to discuss the philosophy behind natural horsemanship. Depending on the level, we may spend the whole clinic on the ground or split the days between groundwork and riding. Starter clinics are groundwork only.
Why attend a clinic?
- Start or progress your relationship-based horsemanship journey
- Get immediate feedback while you are there with your horse
- Get answers to your questions
- See it work with many different horses, for many purposes and at many levels
- Experience breakthroughs in yourself and your horse, and witness them in others
- Enjoy an intense injection of savvy as a group, and have fun!
See the 10 (11!) reasons to attend a clinic
Targeted clinics
| Clinic | Length | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Everything you wanted to know about circles | 2 days | Psychology, tools, techniques and strategies |
| Trail Riding with Confidence | 3 days | Preparation, obstacles, group etiquette, herd dynamics |
| Understanding Your Horse in Depth | 2 days | Reading and assessing different horse personalities |
| Riding with Fluidity | 2+ days | Harmony, balance, posture and timing |
| Learning to Jump | 2 days | Small and medium obstacles, hunter/jumper coaching |
| Trailer Loading Savvy | 2 days | Confidence, safety, knots, a relationship-focused approach |
| Playing at Liberty | 2+ days | Round pen geometry and personality-based strategies |
| Saddle Savvy and Makeovers | 1 or 2 days | Saddle fit, horse comfort and rider protection |
| Rider Biomechanics | 1 or 2 days | Seat, posture and balance (see below) |
Other formats include patterns, bridleless riding, rider confidence and kids’ clinics.
It is not about doing circus tricks. Obstacles and toys help us build a conversation and engage the horse’s mind to solve a puzzle.
VIP (Very Immersive Private) clinics
For 1 to 3 students who want a clinic built entirely around them. A VIP clinic lasts 3 days or more and is tailored to your goals. It includes free assessments and follow-up by email and phone.
Workshops
Feeling stuck on one thing? A workshop zeroes in on a single skill or topic in a relaxed half day or full day. Groups of 6 to 10 students advance together in good company, informally and with plenty of fun.
Workshops with your horse
Popular topics include trailer loading, preparing for the vet, preparing for a safe ride, games with obstacles, circling and lead changes. Workshops can also cover horse care, groundwork, first aid, or equipment.
They can run on a regular schedule at a hosting facility. Gallery students may attend with the host’s and students’ permission, since some groups prefer a more intimate setting.
Horseless workshops
Learn a lot with a small investment of time and money, and no horse to bring. Each workshop combines theory, simulations of the techniques, and a question period. If the facility allows, I may also demonstrate with a horse.
Topics are tailored to your group’s needs. Past favourites include:
- Understanding What Makes Your Horse Tick
- Introduction to Natural Horsemanship Principles
- Rider Confidence and Dynamics
- Everything You Want to Know About Not Lunging
- Having More Fun and Imagination with Your Horse
- Saddling Savvy: choosing and fitting a saddle
- Rider Biomechanics: seat, posture and balance
- Trailer Loading Without Drama
Host workshops at your facility
Virtual Coaching
One-on-one coaching wherever you are, with no travel and no trailer. Is there no instructor in your area, or is travel too costly? You send short videos of you and your horse, and we meet for a coaching appointment with personal feedback and next steps. It is almost like having me right there with you.
Virtual coaching subscription
For a fixed fee, you get monthly or weekly support by video, individual feedback, and direct access to me, over a minimum of 4 months. Three levels of support (Leisure, Progressive and Dedicated) match your commitment to progress.
Good to know: you should already be comfortable with the foundational groundwork skills (yielding, backing, leading, sending) before you start.
Ad hoc virtual coaching
Need help with one specific issue right now? Send a short video and get individual coaching at an hourly rate. Contact me first for the rate and instructions.
Rider Biomechanics
Ride longer, stronger, and safer by understanding WHY your body does what it does. It is not just “look up and get your heels down.” It is finding out why your heels came up in the first place. We look at your spine and anatomy so you sit in a strong, safe position, English or Western, at any level.
I am a coach certified by the International Society of Rider Biomechanics, trained by Colleen Kelly. She brought the best balance exercises from exercise physiology and rehabilitation gyms to riders. Paired with accelerated learning techniques, every rider can improve balance and coordination.
What rider biomechanics can do for you
- Sit stronger and safer, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned rider
- Prevent injury and help rehabilitate the ones you already have
- Ride long hours without pain
- Improve performance and gain a competitive edge
Talks and Conferences
Bring over 50 years of hands-on horse knowledge to your event, expo, seminar, or association. I am as comfortable with a small group as in front of a large crowd. Talks are held in a classroom setting, are interactive, and leave plenty of time for questions.
Signature talk 1: Read your horse’s mind and become the leader he needs
Every horse is unique, yet most fall into one of four main categories. You will learn to read the subtle signs your horse gives you, respond appropriately, and assess his unique personality. Most importantly, you will learn how to help him become calmer, more trusting, more motivated, and more willing.
We cover:
- The prey/predator gap and the horse’s key motivators
- Reading body language and assessing temperament
- How fear and lack of trust can hide your horse’s true nature
- Adapting how you play to your horse’s personality
- Real horses and how they evolved, with hands-on reading exercises
Signature talk 2: The Natural Horse basics
Feeding, social life, living environment and care, aligned with the horse’s true nature. Students often ask how I care for my own mares, who stay vibrant and healthy despite intensive training and long-distance travel. The horse world is full of myth, tradition, and products sold as absolute truth. This talk helps you sort through it and make informed choices, often at a lower cost. You do not need to spend a fortune to have a horse sound in mind and body!
We cover:
- The horse’s nature and basic needs
- Feeding horses like horses
- Living environment, social interaction, and mental well-being
- With or without shoes?
- The natural first aid kit
- Can human interaction be natural too?
I also share a few carefully selected solutions that I use every day with my own horses.
Host an Event
Many clinics start with a student who gathers a group, and hosts may ride for free when the clinic fills. Clinics, workshops, and talks can all be held at your facility or with your group.
What Is Your Dream With Horses?
Wherever you are on your journey, there is a next step that fits you and your horse. Not sure which one? Tell me about your horse and your dream, and we will find the right path together.