"Natural" Livery

The horsemanship community here is based on our wish to provide the most natural environment and care for all animals, where horse's natural physical and emotional needs can be met.

Our horses are:

• kept as a herd. We don't have stables, although they have access to shelter if they choose and ad lib hay in a free access barn throughout winter.
• given access to a wide variety of naturally growing herbage and live as close to naturally as they can out in all weathers sheltering under hedges and trees if they want as they would in the "wild". We reseed the pastures as necessary with wild herbs and flowers to give alternative grazing to rich monoculture rye.
• not shod. As far as physically possible, we provide a variety of terrain so that their hooves can stand on dry, wet, hard or soft, stony or smooth ground and their feet are regularly inspected and trimmed to support maximum well-being. They are ridden and worked and are sound on all surfaces.
• treated with respect and the responsibility is given to the human to find ways to create willing partnership with these animals.
• not routinely treated with chemicals but worming and other health issues are managed with the welfare of the individual horse in mind. We use homoeopathic remedies and nosodes as a primary approach.

Because we operate as a community everyone is included as far as possible. We hold livery meetings once a month to handle administration, discuss concerns, explore new ideas and celebrate successes.

During winter we gather together once a week for a communal barn cleaning exercise!

We find the spirit of what we are doing here generally leads to happy horses and happy people. Contact us if you would like to join in.

Horsemanship "Lessons"

We have a small herd of horses here who are a delight to be with. Our primary focus is to create willing and co-operative partnership with our equine companions, so we do not teach people how to ride and not everyone who comes here will sit on a horse. This opportunity is more about developing a relationship with a horse that inspires trust and companionship (that is our responsibility). Our respect, appreciation and willingness to let go of control, agendas and ego are the keys and horses are great teachers.

Individual sessions can be arranged or we will organise group gatherings. Either of these are perfect for anyone wanting to learn (or relearn) how to be with horses, overcome their fear or simply looking for a new and enlivening experience. We teach natural and classical riding both with focus on partnership with the horse.

If you would like to learn more please contact us.

And of course, we any horsemanship page on this website would be incomplete without a link to natural HORSEMANSHIP magazine