About Us
Training with US
Any training issue can be overcome with good communication, correct work and attention to the little things
Who We ARe
Soon after we met we began to see similarities in how we were working and training horses and humans. Hanna’s desire to see every horse become as playful and adventurous as they can fit brilliantly with Matt’s focus on how important the detail of each movement is to your horse. We started to see great results as we taught and worked horses together.
We opened our first training barn in Hertfordshire where we experimented blending our two methods. Now we work with around 300 horses and riders a year. They train with us on-on-one, take part in clinics and some come to stay in with us in our barn.
When you come to train, you work with both of us, often at the same time. It’s the same for your horse. Our aim is to ensure you are working on what you and your horse at the time we see you.
Students may be with us to learn new things or take part in a fun adventure, it could be exploring a different way to work with your horse. For some it is to overcome a particular training issue and for others we can be a last chance to find a solution to a serious problem.
At any one time our barn can have horses from a range of disciplines with a range of goals, from Grand Prix competitors to babies learning to hack, 5* Athletes to Liberty dancers. All horses need the same foundation to be able to enjoy the challenges that life can present them.
Where a horse is experiencing behavioural issues, our whole horse approach, looks to first examine whether or not pain is the cause. Often pain is the root cause of a behavioural change, but guarding behaviours mask it and so it remains undiagnosed. We work first to soften the horse and help it to feel comfortable communicating with us so that we can then explore pain markers with our highly experienced partners. We work with world class veterinary and farriery experts, all have experience at top level competition and performance. Our team includes 12 veterinary experts, farriers and barefoot farriers, chiropractic, veterinary physiotherapy, nutritionists, 3 saddlers, cranial osteopathathy, kinesiology and massage therapists.
Always our training programmes start with the horse and end with the human. The dance is between two partners and our focus is to help that partnership become as harmonious and communicative as we can.
KELBERG HOUSE
No matter the goal our space is created to hold both the horse and the rider in moments of vulnerability and growth so that you can take the time needed to move forwards in a supported way. Whilst putting the fun in to training both for you and your horse!
Our base in Bicester, Oxfordshire is easily accessible and boasts a lovely 80 × 40 carpet fibre arena, a full set of show jumps, a canter / hacking track, hot horse shower and solarium and a 15 horse indoor barn for our equine guests. For the humans, we have 3 self-catered apartments and a movement studio for body work and rider focused training.
We run a range of clinics, events, one-to-one coaching and bespoke training programmes.
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“The marriage of the horse training with the rider focused programmes is really special and unlike anything I have ever experienced before.”
Our Philosophy
Our ultimate goal with any horse is that they are connected, able to communicate and able to have fun no matter where they are or what they are doing.
We are passionate about blending worlds and finding meeting points where different techniques and methods complement each other to create a more holistic approach to horse and rider training.
For us balance is a critical word. Balance between the horse and rider, balance in the horse’s body, balance in the training plan and most importantly, balance between natural horsemanship and the classical disciplines.
It is possible to compete and have a great relationship with your horse. To ride classically but employ horse psychology and reach your goals with your horse, not just on them. This blending of good physical and classical training with horse psychology is the best way to work with your horse. It builds a stronger horse physically and mentally, as well as, developing a richer relationship where you both are working together.
There is no one size fits all method. Horses have different personalities and needs, depending on their innate characteristics and what they have learnt throughout their lives. It’s the same with people. We take an approach to training that has the goal in mind, but the pathway to get there will be unique to you and your horse.
Our backgrounds in natural horsemanship, competitive riding and bodywork for people allows us to look at both sides of the story, what is happening for your horse, and what is happening for you. Often people come to train with us and have forgotten that the person is 50% of the story.
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“I have always wanted to compete and I have always wanted to have a relationship with my horse, I haven’t found another space, where the two worlds come together so nicely!”
Founders
Hanna Walton
Hanna Walton is a horse development specialist and event rider based in Hertfordshire
Her philosophy centres around the blending of the natural horsemanship worlds with the classical disciplines.
When she was young, she was always given the tricky horses to work with and found natural horsemanship at a young age, working with Monty Roberts and then training with Pat and Linda Parelli. She has worked as a 2* Parelli Professional, a horse development specialist for Carman Zulouf in Switzerland and starting and training horses with Tik Maynard and Sinead Halpin.
Alongside, this Hanna is an eventer, training with some of the top professionals in the world including Ros Canter and Sarah Bullimore. She works frequently with Tik Maynard who shares her passion for celebrating the middle ground between two worlds.
After her time in Switzerland, she began to develop her own way of working, with a focus on blending eventing with her experience working with some of the world’s best horseman.
Matt Feerick
Trained as a movement actor and director. Matt has worked across the world creating and touring theatre that has reached over 1.5 million people. He lectures a number of universities in the UK, France and Canada – teaching body awareness and acting.
He combines this experience with his work with horses, working with clients to explore how their body impacts their horse and how you can communicate with horses through physicality.
With a specific interest in pre-starting, liberty and dressage. Matt has worked with Monty Roberts, gentling wild mustangs, and developing pre-start techniques. With Frederic Pignon and David Lichman in training liberty, and works with Ian Cast and Magali Delgado in dressage.
Whether you are looking to solve a problem or take the next step in your journey - these guys are the complete package!