EquiTune support our community to be their best self with our herd of schoolmasters using techniques such as liberty, bitless &/or tackless riding, biomechanics, horse psychology, driving, long reining, natural horsemanship, breathwork and so much more. Horses mirror their handler and we use this to support you on your journey whether it be to compete, own your own horse, enter the equine industry or just putting your well-being first. “A horse confronts you with you.”

Playing with horses provides benefits that last long after you leave them. Being around horses lowers blood pressure and stress hormones, while the physical activity offers a fresh-air alternative to the gym.

Horses respond to body movements, emotional states and energy supporting self awareness. Our Wellness through Horsemanship programs focus more on somatic experience (body awareness approach to healing) and behaviour change with horses as they act as a bio feedback sentient team member with their natural ability to mirror their handlers. Build a true connection with boundaries and respect with your equine partner and step into the horse person you will be so proud of. Heal yourself and then your world.

Uncover how understanding and learning how horses behave in their world and how to ‘dance’ and speak their language whilst adjusting your own perceptions, ideas and actions to positively impact your overall wellbeing - find your inner peace. We offer a safe and supportive approach to help you on your journey. With our comprehensive success focused programs that are horsemanship focused, you’ll unearth renewed confidence and tools to thrive. Experience the profound wisdom and teachings of our herd of horses.

Discover who you really are and where you want to go; to honour your body and emotions and to cultivate your soul through reconnecting to your true self. Our horses are expert teachers helping us to become an authentic role model for harmonious connections based on respect, not ego. With our horses as your guides in a safe and reflective space, you will be guided with your expert facilitator to explore issues and blocks that keep you stuck.

We are based in Chandler just off New Cleveland Road - full address in confirmation email.

It is so much easier and less confronting to receive feedback from a horse than a human. Be supported to be calm, focused and regulated and be engaged in our equine assisted programs. Everything we do is to support you to be your best version - having a horse partner is the cherry on top.

We are here to support you to thrive and achieve your dreams ethically

• there is no pulling,kicking, whipping making our horses

• we do not use intimidating techniques such as the use of spurs, bits, whips or flags but

• Regulate our own selves as well as using your energy and intention and being aware of how we are felling, connecting, reacting, expressing ourselves and so much more to achieve amazing connection with a horse

• through scientific, psychological, mindfulness, biomechanics, breathwork and somatic techniques that work.

• Learn how to regulate yourself and how you react to your world with the mirror that is a horse without judgement.

• Become the person you want to be with a horse that sees and supports your soul.

• Join a supportive community of like minded souls.

In Tune Horsemanship

It is about connecting with horses at all levels of the mind, body and soul.

Why ethical refined horsemanship

A calm balanced compassionate partner offers their horse stability, safety, security and a relationship built on mutual trust. Horses thrive with training that uses intention, energy, rhythm, focus, direction, patience and correct timing.

Therefore an essential skill to develop when working with horses is the ability to read your horse’s intent and to appropriate with your own intent.

Horses understand energy states and use it in herd communication, so learning how to project and absorb energy unlocks a refinement level within horsemanship.

Horses have evolved to read very subtle signals of intention and energy both within their own species but from other species, their survival and wellbeing was dependant on getting this right. Horses are very fine tuned far more than humans. Watch and notice that subtle intent, energy and body language prefix touch in the herd. Yet touch is often the only level many humans are using when training a horse. The layers of refinement are there within intent and energy. That is the key to the magical connection we seek. The starting point for refined horsemanship is to learn how to achieve a centred balanced energy along- side a quiet mind that is self-aware of intent, before technique is applied.

Aggression has no place in horsemanship. So are you aware of the difference of passive, assertive, aggressive and manipulative behaviour and how this relates to human intent?

Your horse will reflect right back at you your emotions, and life issues.

It is our responsibility to turn up balanced emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Leaving our issues at the gate.

You can’t wear a mask around a horse, they are astute and will know yet once you emotionally regulate with them you will have a friend for life.

Energy is dynamic in all living things. Horses offer you opportunities to learn about energy, its effects on yourself and your equine partner and in life beyond. The magical connection with our horse is found in harmony and peace. This starts with centred balanced energy along-side a quiet mind, body and voice before natural horsemanship technique is applied.

Balance of energy is not just physical it is emotional too.

You can learn how to read, apply, absorb and project energy. It isn’t magic.

With all skills it requires regular, purposeful and planned practice. You perfect what you practice. Learn how to actively practice a calm balanced energy and a peaceful mind. Notice how horsemanship can be transformed but other areas of your life will benefit too.

Why Liberty play

Liberty provides the horse with choice and autonomy.

Horses are incredibly peaceful creatures and will always search for the path of least resistance and, therefore, it is (in most cases) easy to coerce a horse into obedience. However, in these situations the horse will often lack the beautiful expression, motivation, play and power that comes with freedom of choice.

Our approach is largely science-based with a focus on the psychology of the equine and Humans brain and autonomic nervous system, as well as evidence-based herd dynamics.

Understanding the similarities and differences between horse and human minds and emotions has a massive impact on the way we interpret their behaviour and how we then respond to that behaviour. It is crucial to understand why something does or doesn't work and what evidence there is behind it in order to ensure that we choose the most appropriate and ethical approach to training and caring for our horses.

We remove all constraints off the horse to see where we need to improve. We will use treats at the beginning of your journey as you get better with your use of energy, intention and coordination to then play with just you and your horse bringing joy to each other as you dance together.

Liberty Training allows a horse to listen to their instincts and take directions, while at the same time deepening his ability to be in sync with his rider.

Liberty is about choice.

We humans have to learn to communicate with the horse. This we do mainly through body language. In this respect less is more. Instead of desensitising horses, we need to sensitise them to us.

This is why our herd is different. They are not desensitised, we have calm horses because of our and their connections with their human community.

True liberty play requires that a horse be capable of spontaneous behaviour at all times in response to a human’s actions or otherwise. It is only then that the horse can be truly free in their behaviour with the human, as the term, “liberty”, implies.

This is also a prerequisite for any genuine communication between the species, as is the presence of the human as a creature with whom the horse chooses to communicate.

As unique as humans, horses are very much individuals.

If there was one thing I could do all day, it would be to play with a horse at Liberty. When all the ropes and all the tack (including whips and treats) are gone I feel I am getting to the purest form of communication. 

Why bitless or tackless

Traditional riding seems to lean towards teaching people to pull the horse to turn, pull the horse to stop, kick the horse to go, whip if that doesn't work, add spurs, add a more aggressive bit and the list goes on. Horses do not need these aggressive techniques and this is not how true horsemen and women and people ride.

Several of our horses have come from such a place and they now insist that their human friends don't use these techniques as they love their harmonious community, which makes them amazing empathetic yet strict teachers.

We honour the horse and make sure that both equine and human are honoured.

We ride using biomechanics so that the horse and rider learn to carry and balance themselves supporting each other instead of causing imbalances that then need to be fixed.

Biomechanics is the study of the forces that affect movement of the body. It examines how muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments operate together for a horse to walk, passage or perform lateral movements. Different anatomical structures work in synchrony. The bones are the support structure.

Rider biomechanics is the way in which you position your limbs, how stable you are and how you are able to influence your horse is done through the biomechanics of your body.

Every single movement of a rider affects the way in which a horse carries itself and how it moves. To be great at riding it requires the rider to be in the right position for the horse to express themselves. If you were to get two horses of the same breeding and put a top rider on one and an unfit, unstable rider on the other, the picture would be very different.

You see the top rider has something that the unstable rider doesn’t have and that is not only the skill in training a horse but you will see their posture and the way in which they carry themselves on the horse is quite different. In order for a horse to be able to become elastic, round, expressive, relaxed and forward it needs to be able to move without tension and without stress. As a rider, we want to ensure our riding isn’t negatively affecting the way in which the horse moves. You want your riding to bring out the best in your horse.

Teaching riders to be balanced with a seat with purpose and soft hands allows them to build skillsets that will support them no matter where their ridden journey takes them.

Riding a horse through energy, connection and intention and learning to sit in a “weightless” posture, with no restrictions in your body so that you able to synchronize with your horse’s every move. When you are always in harmony with the horse, moving and thinking as one, and only asking for transitions or maneuvers when the horse’s weight, balance and feet are set up ready, there will be no resistance or brace on the reins no need for tack.

Start your next chapter at EquiTune

Choose your starting point

Explore our services & choose a program that is right for you

All our programs include 1 on 1s or group sessions with peers of your similar skill set so that your goals and needs are met. Select from the following to be supported in 2024. We are currently in term 4 of 2024. We work with clients on a weekly basis during our terms on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. We have some exciting opportunities this term as we launch our online show days. Join us for an unforgettable bonding whilst putting your wellness and wellbeing first with one of our herd members who will choose you.

Intro to Horsemanship

Everyone starts here in a group or 1 on 1 (well there will be 3 of us including the horse). Learn how your brain and a horse’s brain work and how we use this to understand them, us and how we move forwards meshing both worlds whilst having empathy for both partners. Learn how to set yourself and a horse up for success. A horse will choose to play with you. At your first session we will meet the horses that have availability on the day/time that works best for your schedule, we will learn safety around horses, will groom the horse, demonstrate a few of the games that we play each time to build connection and trust. We go at your speed. If what we do resonates with you then we will book in for weekly sessions by term (we do not support fortnightly or support reschedules or refunds as we reserve the horse for you exclusively on your day and that spot is yours for the term). We build connection through mindfulness, horsemanship games, breathwork, body language and so much more. Having a bad day? We can sit with you and hold space, do farm chores, show you how to plait up an horse, pamper the horses with a bath and much more to support you and give your mind a break. We work with you on what you need that day. We will NOT force you to do anything but we have rules that have to be followed for your safety. We prioritise connection with our horses.

Choose from a completely private 1 on 1 or join peers with similar skill sets in a group session with your horse, friends, going through our levels certification program, participation in show days (after level 1) and so much more. As you move through the levels specialise in liberty, driven or ridden with your equine partner. We do go out competing and should you work and build the skill sets we will support you on this journey as well as your weekly intensives. ALL new students/participants will need to do our level 1 intro to horsemanship in order to understand and build a connection with our herd on the ground - this usually takes 1 term to complete.

Horsemanship and liberty are exceedingly useful skillsets to learn and at EquiTune it isn’t about what you do with the horse but the connection that you are building and the self improvement that you achieve whilst supporting and being supported by a talented equine.

Ridden Programs (Bitless or tackless)

Experience everything from catching the horse, leading, grooming, tacking up, horsemanship games, calming signals, connection, riding, after care and so much more. This is not just about riding but about how to connect with an extremely powerful animal without force and by using intelligence and asking them to be your partner. We will work towards being able to ride effectively and safely to an extremely high level. Please note that we earn the saddle, stirrups and reins - building our seat before so as to have an independent seat and using tack as aids and not balance support.

Everyone does our intro to riding course so that you understand our basic aids and how to have kind soft hands, a seat that is balanced and legs that are still and supportive. Choose to do this 1 on 1 (3 of us with the horse) or in one of our groups.

These opportunities are highly sought after as our horses are ultra sensitive, soft and work off breathwork - pulling, kicking or making is not something they understand as they love to play with their regulars and the relationships are built on trust, consent and mutual understandings. They often neigh excitedly and gallop up from the back of the paddocks when they spot their regulars - it is so heart warming to see. There is no chasing horses around the paddocks here - we have to ask them to wait as they always want to come in and play because we help you to make it fun for both of you. We build the relationship on the ground and then move to the saddle if and when both are ready and then support the rider with biomechanics, horse psychology, mindfulness and empathy. Our horses love their job and like our facilitators are constantly improving and adding to their skill sets.

Once you have completed our intro to horsemanship course successfully, then we can start exploring our ridden options. We will then move through our ridden levels: intro to riding, prep, prelim, novice, elementary, medium, advanced and more if you build the skillsets.

Our horses specialise in their preferred disciplines so we will match you with a horse that has the same passion as you be it jumping, dressage, working equitation, trail rides, tackless riding and so much more.

Once you have the skill sets we may invite you to compete and perform with us.

GROUps

We run group sessions for you with peers of similar skillsets in order to support, nurture as well as improve skills. This means more time with ‘your’ horse, like minded peers and expert tuition. We run group from 1.5 to 3 hours allowing for growth and immersion into the horse world Win win. We also participate in challenges together as well as plan forest rides out and so much more. We have liberty, ground and ridden groups.

In order to participate in group sessions, you must have completed successfully our intro to horsemanship course. For ridden our intro to ridden course as well.

Then we move through the levels from prep all the way through to advanced in riding, liberty or groundwork. Our horses train at a high level and enjoy bitless dressage, tackless riding or with a neckrope using breathwork, jumping, forest rides, long reining, liberty, tricks and so much more.

We want you to experience the joy of connecting with another sentient being and achieving successful goals together.

Horsemanship is a skill that is transferrable to all aspects of your life, whether you see this as a path for your career, a long term hobby or a chapter in your journey to who you want to be. As the horse reflects you, you get to see who you are and who you want to be.

Sessions include everything from catching the horse, leading through energy (no whips here), grooming, tacking up (if riding), groundwork/liberty (and riding), after care of the horse, feeding the horses, cleaning and putting all tack away, rugging horse and taking back to paddock. Experience everything that revolves around having a horse in your life, setting you and the horse up for success every step of the way as well as working towards your personal goals.