We approach our horses as partners first and foremost, knowing that while we are aspiring to train them, they are also teaching us to be better riders, horsemen, and more effective communicators. We must first understand horses as they fundamentally are prey animals; and then we must seek to understand them on a more personalized basis: how they think and learn and what motivates them as individuals. Good training should not only build strength, understanding, and skill in the horse, but it should encourage the personality of each individual horse to flourish.
We strive to establish a profound bond with our horses based on trust, compassion, and mutual respect.
Our program emphasizes the physical and mental well being of the horse, with a proactive and careful attention to detail and planning in all aspect of the horse’s care and fitness.
It is our firm belief that winning in the competition arena comes from a strong daily program that is deeply rooted in the fundamental principles of horsemanship: building a strong, happy, educated, and well-rounded athlete, who is primed to perform to a meticulously high standard on any given day.
We have made a conscious effort to keep our program small enough to have the flexibility to design each horse’s weekly routine to meet their individual needs. An upper level event or dressage horse has a long list of skills to master, and it is important that time is provided for the horses to relax, whether it be on a hack through the woods, a light day spent stretching, or a day off to graze and wander in the pasture.
During their daily workouts, we find that we have easily focused and willing athletes when they come to expect and have confidence that they will never be asked to do something they are unprepared for or incapable of doing; that every one of their efforts to meet a new challenge will be met with praise; and that every bit of pressure applied will result in a release. We spend significant time building physical strength and technical understanding in our horses so that they are able to advance through the levels with a solid foundation.
As partners to our horses, it is a priority for us to remain fit and healthy ourselves, so that we can be the best, most effective teammates possible. In addition to physical fitness, we find that it is important to be mindful of our personal goals when working with horses, so that we are able to enjoy the daily process of training, and while being committed to competitiveness on the national and international stage, not allowing that to shift our focus from the well being of our horses and our relationships with them.
As athletes and competitors in an already risky sport, we are dedicated to sportsmanship and ethical participation and believe passionately in a commitment to the welfare of the horse.
In our efforts to constantly broaden our knowledge and skill base, we firmly believe in regularly seeking out instruction and mentorship from experienced and talented horseman in multiple specialized disciplines, and endeavor to spend ample time observing and learning from the many masters of sport that are available to us through lessons, clinics, competitions, videos and published works.
To learn more about the services offered by East West Training Stables, please click on any of the links below.