Foundations for Ridden Work and Starting

Foundations for Ridden Work

Preparing horses and riders for a calm, confident start

This work focuses on preparing horses and riders for ridden work through calm, structured groundwork and early ridden preparation, rather than rushing into backing or pushing through resistance.

Sessions may involve:

• groundwork to establish clarity and understanding

• preparation for mounting and early ridden work

• supporting riders during the early stages of riding

• addressing gaps or issues following a previous start

The emphasis is always on safety, understanding and readiness — for both horse and rider. Not every session will involve riding, and decisions are guided by what is appropriate on the day.

Where ridden work is involved, riders need to be sufficiently confident, capable and physically able to support the horse calmly and consistently. If a rider does not feel ready or safe to get on, or if I feel the situation would place unnecessary pressure on either horse or rider, groundwork and preparation will remain the focus.

In some cases, the most appropriate option may be for the horse to be sent to a professional starter for the initial ridden work, before returning home for ongoing coaching and development. I’m always happy to discuss this openly and honestly in the horse’s best interests.

This approach suits owners who want to build confidence and understanding from the start, rather than undoing problems later.