Training

Developing a relationship with a horse is a privilege and should never be taken for granted. First and foremost, we believe that every horse is a partner and not an object that is to be dominated. We are all individuals and unique in our own ways and every relationship with anyone we meet is different. We believe and respect that every horse is an individual and each relationship is different. As with any relationship, mutual trust, respect, and communication are essential. Horses communicate and communicate very effectively. We just simply need to learn how to listen, comprehend, relate, and develop proper healthy relationships. With relationships established, we then need to develop subject matter expertise, as would a teacher with a student, to transfer information so that it is understood and willingly received. During this process, both teacher and student grow and it is often difficult to discern who is actually learning more, the student from the teacher or the teacher from the student.

HorseTenders LLC specializes in Foundation Training. We strongly believe in empowering both horse and owner with confidence and knowledge. When proper foundations are developed and properly retained, horses can be more successfully trained in the various disciplines.

HorseTenders LLC has developed its own distinctive and highly successful methods of nationally and internationally recognized natural horsemanship. Training efforts are focused on fostering mutual cooperation and trust between horse and owner. Just like us, each horse learns differently based on past experiences and personality. These traits need to be recognized and acknowledged. We strongly support the horse’s right not to have metal in its mouth, spurs used to stab its sides, or shoes to artificially balance him. HorseTenders Horsemanship uses the natural ability of the horse’s learning style to facilitate training and it is that horse’s unique abilities to learn that is used in our training. We develop Mettle without Metal.™

HorseTenders training is NOT a series of “cookie cutter”, one size fits all, sequences of actions as is too often the case with many other programs. In fact, it is this reality that encouraged Kris & Nik Kokal to develop their unique and acclaimed training methods. It has been well over a decade since they had the courage to abandon traditional punitive approaches and learn in partnership with the horse, to great success.

The HorseTenders approach begins with an evaluation of each individual horse. The HorseTenders evaluation captures the essence of each individual horse’s current personality, mentality, and demeanor. Once these traits have been determined, these insights are combined with the owner’s goals to develop a customized training approach. Individualized lessons are then formulated to teach the horse based on its unique way of learning providing for real and sustainable changes. This then becomes the beginning of a special journey providing a win-win solution of communication and real learning between horse and owner resulting in lasting bonds of mutual trust and respect.

Please contact us for any additional details, pricing information, or to schedule an appointment.