Training

The term “natural horsemanship” describes the training methods used at Chestnut Farms. While it is a commonly used term in the horse industry today, there is no industry wide definition of what “natural horsemanship” means.
At Chestnut Farms “natural horsemanship” means that all of the horses are educated in a humane and compassionate way.  Harsh or abusive techniques will not be used. Problems will not be solved with gadgets or props. We offer no “quick fix”.  The training is fair, but firm. Our biggest commitment is to educate a horse, so that they can live a useful and purposeful life with their owner.  

One of the most common reasons people inquire about training is that they have an issue with their horse that they are unable to solve. Some of the areas typically addressed include:

• Reinforcing manners
• Teaching or improving softness and responsiveness
• Solving gaiting problems
• Preparing horses for the trail
• Addressing specific behavioral issues or concerns

A common question, often asked is “How long will it take to……” (you fill in the blank). There is no set time for training a horse.  Many factors impact the time needed to train a horse, including the horse’s history, its ability to comprehend what is being taught, its willingness to learn, as well as the owner’s goals and expectations.

Following a discussion and evaluation of your horse, every attempt will be made to give a fair assessment of the time needed to achieve your training objectives. A plan will be outlined, including a time and cost estimate.

Every owner should expect to help their horse’s training in a couple of ways.

• You should expect to be honest and forthright about the problems you are having with your horse. This includes any behaviors that you have noticed that are considered dangerous or scary. Also, you must disclose any events that may have occurred that have affected your horse’s behaviors.
• You should be willing to openly discuss what it is you do not like about your horse … right now. This certainly doesn’t mean you do not like your horse! It merely means there is something you want to improve… so you can better enjoy your time together.
• You should expect to change some of your habits. Putting a horse in training is a two way street. Your horse will be learning to change its habits, and you will need to learn to communicate in the language they are learning.

Keep in mind that by doing these simple things you will ultimately make the most of your training dollar.
 

All horses that enter training at Chestnut Farms will be required to arrive in good health. Vaccinations and veterinarian services are mandatory prior to your horse arriving.  A specific list of requirements will be provided upon request.