1. Home visit and initial consultation

2. Weekly progress reports through e-mail and website posting

3. Certificate of graduation upon conclusion of training period and report card with post-training follow-up guidelines written for each individual horse

4. Free telephone consultation throughout and after training period

5. Discounted riding lessons

Training for your horse:

Common problems we see and can work on with your horse are:

-horse aggression towards humans and other horses

-lack of respect for humans

-undesirable behaviors under saddle (rearing, balking, bucking, bolting, spooking, refusing to stop/move forward)

-Inability to pay attention to rider/handler

-Fear issues

-Horse not able to be bathed, have feet picked up, load into trailer, be tied or cross-tied

-Lack of effective communication between horse and rider

Starting a horse/pony under saddle: The very best investment you can make into your young horse is to give it the gift of patient, professional, non-violent training. People who allow us to work with their weanlings, yearlings, and two-year-olds are amazed when it comes time for them to start their horse under saddle. Advanced ground training can be done with horses of almost any age, so that almost all of the difficult training has been done before you mount for the first time.

Depending on the breed of horse, we will not start any horse under saddle until it is at least two years old. Medical research has proven that very young horses are not physically or emotionally prepared to have a rider on their back. Starting a horse too young will cause developmental damage to the bones and joints of the horse. Having established a minimum limit for saddle training, we will say that there is no maximum. Provided the horse has physically matured, the age is unimportant. A ten-year-old can be started under saddle just as easily as a three-year-old.    

• Assessment/Consultation at your facility: $50.00/hour
• Training at Winn Farms: $600/month with a thirty-day minimum (includes board)
• Intensive seven-day training at Winn Farms: $225/week
• Horse and Rider Training at your facility: $50/hour
• Two-day Hocking Hills Training session with horse: $200
• Two-day Hocking Hills Training horse and rider: $250
• Training at your facility: Please call for rates.

***Fuel Surcharge may apply depending on distance    

Q: What do you do in thirty days?

A: During training, each horse is turned out as much as possible and stalled overnight. Horses are worked five to six days per week for up to two hours per day. We are committed to being as honest as possible with you about how much and when we will be working your horses. During training, you are welcome to come see your horse as much as you would like and we try to work with the owners four times during the month. Depending on your horses skill level and previous training upon entering our program, he will be ridden in arenas, worked in the round pen, and also ridden on quiet roads and on trails. We believe that any horse, regardless of her future career or owner’s aspirations, should be safe and reliable in a variety of situations.

Q: What disciplines do you train in?

A: Bob specializes in starting horses, working through fear and behavioral issues, and trail and western training. Kristen is a classically trained dressage and event rider who teaches horses to be ridden in many disciplines, including hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage, and pleasure.

Q: Do you use physical punishment in your training?

A: Our training methods are non-violent. We use ropes and a ‘wand’ to direct the horse and to control his speed and direction, but we believe that human violence is the cause of many problems in horses. We use natural horsemanship methods in our training and our influences include Clinton Anderson, Julie Goodnight, John Lyons, Stacey Westfall, Dennis Reis, and others who emphasize communication, trust, and calm assertive leadership in their relationships with horses.

Q: Are lessons included in training?

A: We schedule four, _ hour meetings with clients whose horses are in training. During these visits, we try to teach the owner some of our methods so that what we have taught the horse will be carried on once the horse goes home. Mounted, one-hour lessons are billed separately and the charge is $40.00 per hour.

Q: How many horses do you train at one time?

A: At this time, we have the space for five horses per month. We try to give maximum attention to each horse in training, so we do not ever take on more horses than we have time for.

Q: Can you come to my house/home facility for training?

A: Because of gas prices and our busy schedule, full-time training is not available at your barn at this time. We are available to travel to your barn up to two times per week for training sessions as a cost of $50 per trip.

Q: What if my horse gets sick or injured while in training at your facility?

A: We provide high-quality care for all horses in our training program. If there is any medical problem including lameness or illness, we will contact you as well as the veterinarian of your choice immediately. The physical healthy of your horse is our number one priority. However, we take no responsibility for any injury or illness that is incurred while your horse is in our care. We strongly suggest that all clients carry medical/life insurance on their horse at all times, and especially while the horse is in training.

Q: What happens if you get hurt while working with my horse?

A: You are not liable for any injury caused to the trainers while working with your horse. If your horse has killed or seriously injured someone in the past, you must disclose this so that we can take appropriate precautions.

Q: How long does it take to break a horse? Do I have to pay extra for that?

A: The cost is the same regardless of the type of training we are doing. However, it may take ninety days or more to safely start a horse under saddle and we make no guarantees that your horse will be 100% safe for you to ride once we have started it under saddle. We have a high success rate, but there is the occasional horse that we feel will not make a safe mount for a beginner rider. We will be completely honest with you if we feel that your horse is not the right match for you.

Q: Do you have any horses for sale?

A: We almost always have horses for sale, so please inquire at the time you are interested.

Q: Does my horse need to be current on vaccinations and coggins before entering your program?

A: Yes. Your horse should have an overall health check before entering training, to be sure that he is sound, that his teeth are in good condition, and that he has all shots. Current coggins dated no more than one year is required.

Q: I don’t have access to a horse trailer. Can you pick my horse up and drop her off after training?

A: We do have hauling available. Please call or e-mail us for rates.

Q: Do you do lessons?

A: We teach lessons in all disciplines, but we specialize in riders with fear and trauma issues, adult riders, and young riders with their own horses. We do not teach riders under 8 years of age because we do not feel that they have developed the strength to safely ride in a lesson environment.