Horse Training

To successfully train horses is a true skill. There are so many different ideas, equipment and techniques that can be and are being used – who’s to say who is right or wrong. My slant on the horse training situation is that my team and I have gathered many different skills, tools and experiences, so when a horse comes to us we are totally governed by that particular horses individual needs and the owners needs, not dictated by a particular method or piece of equipment. No one horse or person is ever given the same training at Learning To Listen. This accentuates my teams ability to really understand a horses language and the owners needs, instead of relying on one particular tool or technique.

Learning how to listen to your horses’s body language and the effects our body language has is essential to a successful relationship. Often the cause of a problem is simply a misunderstanding or maybe not being able to recognise the subtle gestures your horse is making. We pride ourselves in having extensive knowledge of the language of the horse. Once your horse knows you can understand, your relationship can transform.

Specialist Training for Remedial Horses

It can be very confusing, frustrating and heart wrenching when your horse starts behaving in an undesirable way. We feel that the key to restoring a working relationship is having an insight into the underlying issue. Using trial and error through experimentation we allow the horse to communicate to us what their specific concerns are.
Often once we have understood this, relationships can flourish.

Starting

The day a horse is "started" is one of the most important and influential days of a its life. It means so much to us here at Learning To Listen to get it right from the start and give you both the best possible chance of a successful partnership.

I learnt about horses from two trainers whilst training in the USA. We use a very gentle approach to backing a horse and with the correct use of communication, care and understanding, this can take as little as 45 minutes.

Our aim is to build up your horse's trust using their own language - listen to their every response and act accordingly.

The process is not rushed in anyway; the horse totally determines the pace at which we progress. As a guide, this can take between 4 and 6 weeks. You are encouraged to join us everyday or as often as you can so that you can learn some techniques and tools to keep you safe when you return home. We offer much more than just establishing walk, trot and canter, we bombproof youngsters, prepare them for their first farrier (if required) and continue trailer loading. Within the first few weeks we like to hack out, as we feel this takes the horses concentration away from the rider and lets them have a look at things they will start to encounter out and about.

Competition

We have worked with many different disciplines and levels of competition horses from Eventers to Endurance, Showing to Western Riding. These horses may have lost confidence or just needed a little fine tuning.

Untouched Horses

If you really want to learn about how horses, live, communicate and survive the untouched are the best teachers. Even a domesticated horse will still keep it’s natural instincts, and our knowledge of this helps in their training. Quite often untouched horses are the easiest to work with and the results come surprisingly quickly.

• I guess all I can say is that I wish I had brought Dylan here earlier. However small or big the problem that you have with your horse, just do yourselves a favour and go to Learning To Listen. You will not be disappointed. Holly, Cumbria
• Thanks for your work with the ponies last week, it's really given me a focus and I'm motivated to go out and play with them much more now I feel more confident about what I need to do. I love coming to Hill Top Farm! I always leave with the feeling that my ponies are great! Justine, Sawley, North Yorkshire
• Sabi travelled like an old pro. It was lovely to take him down to the field and back with no biting and barging. Thank you for everything Sue, Doncaster
• Just wanted to say thank you so much for coming over and helping us to load Peco on Monday. We have loaded a couple of times each day now and she is getting on fine. It’s so great to have the freedom of the box now. Once again thanks. One very happy customer and horse (Peco). Helen, West Yorkshire