The "Fair to Horses" philosophy
Fair to the horse. Fair to the rider. Fair to the partnership.
What does "Fair to Horses" mean?
Being fair to a horse does not mean asking nothing of them. It means taking responsibility for how we ask.
Good training starts with understanding. Before asking for more, we should make sure that the horse understands what we are asking and that we have given it the tools to succeed.
Every horse is an individual. They have different personalities, experiences, physical abilities, strengths and challenges. Training should therefore be adapted to the horse rather than forcing every horse into the same system.
What we believe
- A horse should understand what we ask.
- Communication should be clear rather than confusing.
- Relaxation cannot simply be forced. It has to be developed.
- Training should improve the horse rather than simply make the horse perform.
- Every horse deserves an education adapted to its individual needs.
- Progress does not have to be rushed.
- We don't want the horse to simply obey an aid. We want the horse to understand it.
The horse comes first
The horse's physical and mental wellbeing should always be considered.
Training should help the horse become stronger, more balanced and more capable, while maintaining relaxation and willingness to participate. This means paying attention to the horse's responses and adapting when necessary.
There is no need to rush. There is no need to perform an exercise simply because we can.
Progress is not always about doing more. Sometimes progress is about doing something better, with less tension and greater understanding.
Clear communication
The horse should be able to understand what we are asking. Our aids should be as clear and consistent as possible.
Instead of asking the horse to simply obey, we aim to create a dialogue where the horse can respond, and where the rider learns to listen to that response.
We don't want the horse to simply obey an aid. We want the horse to understand it.
Balance and correct development
Training should support the horse's physical development.
Balance, coordination, strength and suppleness are developed progressively, taking the individual horse into consideration.
The exercises are tools to help the horse develop. They are not goals in themselves.
Welfare and enjoyment
A horse should be able to feel safe enough to learn.
This does not mean that training should never be challenging. Learning can be difficult, and horses can be asked to develop and improve. But challenge should be appropriate and understandable.
There is room for seriousness, discipline and ambition while still keeping curiosity, enjoyment and a positive relationship at the centre of training.
Long-term development
We are not looking for quick fixes. A strong foundation takes time.
The goal is to develop a horse and rider who understand each other and can continue learning together.