I thought this New Year I might take the opportunity to share with you why you might like to train with me, or at the least join my online coaching group.

I’ve owned and trained horses since I was a teenager (although as a teen I didn’t realise I was training my OTT standardbred )

I’m a lifelong student of the horse, I personally still attend lessons and clinics, and invest in my ongoing education.

I’ve trained across multiple disciplines, and competed in English dressage, western events, ranch and cowboy dressage.

I was a qualified Working Equitation style and speed judge (I didn’t renew), and I am a level 3 with distinction Cowboy Dressage judge

I start Colts under saddle and train my own competition horses - meaning I understand the “foundation to finish” process and have the broad range of skills required

I still ride pretty much daily and I have 4 of my own horses in training - one that is not started under saddle yet, one that is green started, one that is coming back to work, one that is a performance horse, and I share with you these ongoing training sessions. This means my knowledge and riding and handling skills are kept up to date and evolve constantly,

I travel and teach clinics full time and have for over a decade, meaning i work with hundreds of different horses and humans per year of various disciplines, breeds and level of training.
I’d love to work with you,

T x

Living on the East Coast of Australia can be a wild ride when it comes to weather. It’s probably the most talked-about challenge that horse owners face here. From itchy horses to mud fever to abscesses, we often find ourselves doing more veterinary care than actual riding.
This summer is shaping up to be no different. Some weather outlets are predicting extreme heat, while others are forecasting one of the wettest seasons yet.
Either way, we horse owners need to be ready to pivot when it comes to our training days.

Lately, I’ve been working on leaning into the challenges I face and finding ways to work with them, rather than doing nothing at all.
My first example is with Saffi. I’m bringing her back into work now that my travel schedule has eased, so we’re revisiting all her foundation exercises. The other day it was a scorching 35 degrees, so I thought what better time to work on her acceptance of the hose, which will eventually lead to her being washed? I hadn’t spent any “hose time” with her since owning her. I know it sounds crazy, but our horses are really just left to be horses aside from the necessary care. So I took her to the hose, which she’s not overly fond of, and we spent some time working on that.

The second example also involves Saffi. The next day we trimmed her feet, and she was a little sensitive. Once again, I had to pivot. I don’t mind asking a horse to work when they’re a little tender, but in this case, I felt that pushing through would have been counterproductive and may turn training into a negative experience. So, back to the hose we went. She only needed to stand still, and rather than doing nothing, I saw it as a good investment.

After all, teaching her to accept the hose isn’t just about the hose. It’s about building confidence, learning to tolerate a “tickling” sensation, and accepting things that don’t always feel great. It’s all connected. The more confident your horse becomes in one area, the more it flows into everything else.

I’ve written many articles and filmed videos about what we can do when we have to pivot. This season, let’s be prepared to keep working and training our horses even when the weather isn’t on our side.
Yours in soft feel,

T x

“Take the time it takes.”

The mantra of the greatest horse trainers in the world.
But sitting on the lips of every results-focused rider is the inevitable question, “How long is that?”
I’ve written and spoken before about measuring progress with our horses — 'taking the time it takes' and setting goals — ideas that can seem contradictory. The truth is, human beings are results-focused. Some more than others, yes, but on some level, we all keep “doing” , whether playing a sport, sticking to a diet or exercise routine, or studying — because we see progress or have our eyes on the prize: the result.
In the horse world, for some people that means taking a horse and “polishing” him with good feed and training, watching his body and appearance transform. For others, it’s putting in the early mornings and long days to train for a discipline, competing among peers for recognition or a prize. And for some, it’s about the progress in ability and partnership between horse and rider, whether in relationship or maneuver.
The problem is that once we set a goal to measure progress, our human brain becomes task-focused in pursuit of that goal , often at the expense of the horse.
Think of setting a goal to compete in a dressage competition. Suddenly, our focus shifts to whether our horse can do a 20-meter circle, halt square, walk a straight line, or make transitions on the markers. Instead of asking:

• Is my horse balanced enough to do a full 20-meter circle with correct bend?
• Is he strong enough to ride a five-minute test in self-carriage?
• Is he tuned in and responsive enough to be guided in detail?
• Does he have the combined strength, balance, and responsiveness to perform a transition on a set marker?
  

And this mindset doesn’t only apply to dressage or competition. Horsemanship organizations have levels to aim for; classical dressage follows a progressive system; pony clubs, endurance, and show jumping all have stages.
You get the picture.

Some of you might be thinking, “That’s not me, I just trail or beach ride.”

But even there, we find measures of progress. When was the last time you felt disappointed that your horse wouldn’t cross a river or bridge, or seemed a little spooky on the trail? The truth is, even our trail horses need to be fit, strong, balanced, and confident if we’re both going to have fun.

So, what are the solutions?

Consciousness
As always, the first step is awareness. Once we become conscious of our actions with our horses and start asking ourselves “Why am I asking him to do this?” we can shift our intent. Is this exercise making him stronger? More confident? More responsive? More balanced?
When we find purpose in our training beyond simply completing a task, we begin to make decisions that truly serve the horse.

Balance
We must find balance between what humans need (to see progress and results) and what horses need (time and some need more than others). Balance lies in how we apply these needs in our riding and training.

Reconsideration
Perhaps we need to reconsider how we measure progress. Is our version of success too surface-level? Such as, completing a maneuver or a dressage test?
If we modify that surface definition into a deeper one (balance, confidence, self-carriage, strength), we create space to measure progress in ways that benefit the horse. And in turn, that mindset gives us the motivation to truly take the time it takes.

The New Year is full of promises—promises we make to ourselves for better health, greater wealth, and wiser choices.

Beyond resolutions, we might go as far as joining a gym or opening a savings account, but often, our motivation falters there.
Here’s the key: you have to do.
And the secret? To do, you must decide—truly decide—because it’s a mental game.
After all, it’s the old you that smokes, drinks, eats unhealthy food, or skips exercise.
The truth is, you haven’t changed... yet.
You can change—absolutely, this is a fact.
But the problem with New Year’s resolutions is that the old you sets them. You convince yourself that the old you will achieve them.
It won’t.
It’s the new you that will.
So, ask yourself: What would the new me do?
To become the new you, you must take the actions of the new you.
It may sound strange, but it’s true: the actions of the new you transform the old you into the person you want to be.
Your new life will cost you your old one.
So take action now. Stand up, do some squats, stretch, run in place, cook a healthy meal.
This is your sign.