About me

A few years later, I found my way back to horses through Western riding. When my husband and I moved for our studies, a recommendation from my aunt led me to a stable where I leased a horse. Over the following years, I also had several horses to care for.

It was during this time that my curiosity about groundwork began to grow. I wanted to understand horses beyond simply riding them. I became increasingly interested in how horses learn, how we communicate with them and how we can build trust and understanding from the ground.

Unfortunately, there was not much opportunity for this at the stable where I was at the time. Groundwork was often seen as something strange or unnecessary.

That changed when Romi Grotenhuis took over the stable with her own company, Fair to Horses.

I started taking lessons there and was eventually given the opportunity to join the team as a stable manager. Working at a large training stable gave me the chance to learn from many different horses and situations. I was also given the opportunity to follow the Centre's Riding instructor training, taking an important step towards becoming an instructor.

Alongside this training, we had weekly lessons in classical dressage with Nicolo, an École de Légèreté (EDL) instructor.

We also received extensive groundwork training, not only learning how to teach a horse the basics, but also how to safely start young horses and foals, and how training can be adapted to support horses experiencing physical or biomechanical difficulties.

Because Fair to Horses was a busy training stable, there were also regular clinics with different trainers and specialists. I had the opportunity to participate in many of these, which allowed me to develop a broad range of knowledge and experience.

Throughout all of this learning, one principle remained at the centre: the wellbeing of the horse comes first.

In 2024, my husband and I decided to move to Sweden.

Leaving the Netherlands meant starting a new chapter, but I was given the opportunity to bring something very important with me: the Fair to Horses name and philosophy. It was an opportunity I wanted to embrace with both hands.

At the end of 2025, Fair to Horses Sweden was born.

In May 2025, a childhood dream finally came true. Although I had worked with many horses over the years, I had never actually owned a horse of my own.

One of the reasons we wanted to move to Sweden was the possibility of keeping horses at home. And in May 2025, it finally happened. I could finally say: I have my own horses.

Meet Grim and Gandalf. They are two completely different young horses, and that is exactly what I wanted. Grim is a North Swedish horse who had just turned four when he came to us. Gandalf is a Lipizzaner who had just turned three.

I deliberately chose two young horses because I wanted the opportunity to educate them from the beginning and experience the entire journey with them.

I also wanted to demonstrate something that I strongly believe in: it is not the breed that determines what a horse can learn. With the right training, patience and intention, I believe that horses of very different backgrounds and breeds can learn dressage, jumping and liberty work.

Of course, every horse is different. They have different bodies, minds, strengths and challenges. That is what makes the journey so interesting. My goal is not to make Grim and Gandalf the same. My goal is to understand each of them as individuals and help them develop into the best versions of themselves.

And I am learning alongside them.

Today, through Fair to Horses Sweden, I work with horses and riders who want to develop their communication, understanding and partnership.

I am still learning every day. Every horse teaches me something new, and I believe that being a good trainer means never stopping learning.

My goal is not simply to teach people how to train their horses. I want to help people understand their horses better, communicate more clearly and build a deeper connection based on trust, understanding and mutual respect.

I believe that the best training happens when both horse and human are learning together.

I will not promise a quick fix.

Instead, I will help you understand why something is happening, what your horse may be communicating and how you can make your own communication clearer.

Because the more we understand our horses, the better we can support them.