Ground Work & Handling Solutions
Tired of the Battle? Let’s Build Trust Again with your horse
For horses that are hard to handle and need a kind approach.
Handling issues can turn everyday interactions with your horse into stressful, overwhelming experiences. Whether it’s head-shyness, trouble with leading or loading onto a trailer, refusing to stand for the farrier, or girthing up problems, it can feel like a constant struggle. Why does it seem like everyone else can do it just fine?
You’re looking for solutions that work with your horse, not against them.
This service is designed for owners who want to improve their horse’s handling, build trust, and eliminate fear-based or resistant behaviour without resorting to harsh tactics.
You love your horse, but you need solutions that work. With so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know which approach is best.
This is where I come in. 👋
My Solution: Kind, Effective Training
I understand how frustrating it can be when your horse doesn’t respond to traditional ground work. My approach is rooted in compassion and ethical, proven methods to help your horse feel safe and confident.
I don’t believe in forcing cooperation—my focus is on building trust, so your horse learns to work with you, not out of fear, but with confidence.
With personalised, step-by-step guidance, we’ll tackle the specific issues you’re facing, from head-shyness and farrier refusal to tack handling problems. The goal? A calmer, more cooperative horse and a more enjoyable partnership.
What’s Included In This Package?
Comprehensive Assessment and Tailored Training
- On-site Behavioural Assessment: A thorough two-hour, in-person assessment to observe your horse’s behaviour in their natural environment. We’ll uncover the root causes of their behaviour and identify triggers, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges you’re facing.
- Custom Training Plan: Following the assessment, I’ll create a personalised training plan that suits your horse’s specific needs. You’ll receive step-by-step instructions and practical strategies to build trust and cooperation during handling.
- Hands-On 1:1 Coaching: During our sessions, I’ll work directly with you and your horse, demonstrating techniques that help ease resistance and anxiety, providing you with the confidence to apply the training daily.
- Ongoing Support: Lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. Over 12 weeks, we’ll work through a tailored plan to improve your horse’s responsiveness and cooperation. These sessions will help build trust between you and your horse, ensuring that over time, they become more relaxed, confident, and easier to handle.
- Veterinary Collaboration: I will provide a detailed report to your vet, if necessary, to ensure a holistic approach to your horse’s well-being and address any medical concerns that may be contributing to behavioural issues.
3 Steps to Success
1️⃣ Assess and Understand: We’ll start by identifying the underlying reasons behind your horse’s behaviour. Whether it’s fear, stress, or discomfort, understanding the cause is key to lasting change.
2️⃣ Meet Their Needs and Guide Learning: Together, we’ll create an environment that meets your horse’s physical and emotional needs. With the right balance of trust-building exercises and training, we’ll gently guide your horse towards positive behaviours and improved cooperation.
3️⃣ Review and Adjust for Lasting Results: Every horse is unique, so we’ll continuously review progress and make adjustments as needed. I’m here to provide ongoing, tailored support to ensure that both you and your horse thrive long term.
Is This the Right Fit for You?
This Package is Perfect For You If…
- Your horse struggles with everyday handling, such as leading, tacking up, hoof handling, grooming, or trailer loading.
- You’re dealing with fear-based behaviours like head-shyness, girth-shyness, inability to lunge or long line, biting, rearing, kicking, barging, or resisting the farrier.
- You want to resolve these issues with kind, ethical methods that focus on building trust, not force, to achieve harmony.
- You’re ready to enjoy calmer, stress-free interactions with your horse and build a stronger bond through cooperation.
Let’s find trust in our ground work! 👇
Recommended By Vets
“Performing nerve blocks during a lameness assessment on horses with behavioural issues can be a dangerous undertaking leading to injury of the veterinarian or the horse, or both. In most of these cases where needle placement cannot be performed utilisation of advanced imaging techniques such as gamma scintigraphy or bone scans are then required, and in horses with mild chronic lamenesses the sensitivity of such diagnostics is usually reduced. Thus, blocking is best but fighting with a 500kg horse is always going to end with one winner.”
“Barbara’s ability to reduce the behavioural issues of these cases and improve the horse’s acceptance of needle placement for nerve blocks has made the blocking process possible and safer in some of these cases. Her patience and effort has allowed us to do more thorough diagnostics and definitively identify sources of lameness in horses that would otherwise have been impossible to deal with. This again highlights the value of multi disciplinary cooperation within the veterinary community and respecting the skills and areas of expertise of our fellow professionals.”
Simon Hennessy MVB MSc Cert AVP(ESO)(ESST) MRCVS DipECVS EBVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Surgery at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital
If you want to Claim on Insurance
As a fully qualified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB) accredited by APBC, many insurance policies will cover my fees. Check your pet insurance policy to see if you can claim back some or all of the costs.
(Ireland does not have as comprehensive cover for Equines as the UK; however, this is slowly changing.)
Ready to Start?
How it works: Simple & Stress-Free
Get in Touch: Reach out and share a bit about your horse’s handling challenges. We’ll determine if this service is the right fit and schedule our first session.
Assessment and Plan: I’ll conduct a thorough in-home assessment to identify the root causes of your horse’s issues and create a custom training plan to suit both your needs.
Ongoing Support: Together, we’ll work through hands-on training and follow-up sessions to ensure lasting success and a stronger connection between you and your horse.
Ready to make handling easier and build a trusting partnership with your horse?
Contact Me Directly