Foundation First Horsemanship

23/10/2026

👌🏽

There is room for ALL of us to succeed 🙌🏽

This is something I feel very strongly about, especially being part of the horse industry.

Growing up coming from a non horsey family, you learn very quickly just how difficult and, at times, unwelcoming this industry can be. You start from scratch. You make mistakes, you ask questions, you work hard, and you learn some pretty tough lessons along the way, And unfortunately, you also learn that not everyone wants to see you succeed.

But something I’ve never understood is why does someone else’s success have to be seen as a threat to your own? Just because we work in the same industry, offer the same services, or compete in the same disciplines, doesn’t automatically make us enemies!

Someone else’s business doing well doesn’t mean yours is doing poorly.

You can be proud of what you’ve built while still applauding what someone else is building. ❤️

The horse industry can be an incredibly tough place. Behind every business, every horse and every achievement is someone working long hours, making sacrifices, dealing with setbacks and trying to make something of themselves.

We all know how hard this industry can be, so why make it harder for each other?

Recommend another trainer when you can’t take on a horse, Congratulate your competitors, Give credit where it’s due, Help someone who’s just starting out, And most importantly, remember what it felt like when you were the one trying to find your feet.

You don’t have to be friends with everyone, agree with everyone’s methods or run your businesses the same way to show each other respect.

I know firsthand what it’s like to feel like an outsider in an industry you love so much, And if there’s one thing I hope to achieve along the way, it’s to make other people feel a little more welcome than I sometimes felt.

Because at the end of the day, we all started somewhere. Nobody knows everything, nobody is better than everyone else, and there will always be something we can learn from one another.

Success isn’t about being the only one at the top. It’s about being confident enough in what you’ve built that you don’t feel threatened by someone else building something great too.

Let’s make the horse industry a place where people feel encouraged to have a go, not intimidated to even start! 🤎

18/10/2026

Resharing because this is SO incredibly important.

We say it all the time… this is a dangerous sport.

Even with the best connection in the world, things can go wrong in a split second. Ask us how we know. We could pull out a pretty extensive list of the ways we’ve both been hurt over the years.

That’s exactly why our training places such a huge emphasis on safety, awareness and preparation. Thomas is very matter of fact when it comes to this topic. Well.. most topics really 😅 there is no sugar coating it.

Of course, we want our students to have fun with their horses. We want them to enjoy everything this sport has to offer. But more importantly, we want them to understand how to keep themselves and their horses safe while doing it.

Thomas spoke about this a lot during our cattle clinic yesterday, and it’s something we feel incredibly strongly about.

We all want to go fast. We all want to get in amongst the action and experience that feeling of working cattle with our horses. But my god, adding another animal, with its own mind, instincts and reactions, into an already high risk sport can go wrong VERY quickly if you don’t understand what you’re doing.

It’s not just about having a horse that can stop, turn and chase a cow. It’s about understanding positioning, reading situations, anticipating reactions and knowing when to step back rather than push forward. We place a huge emphasis on not letting our horses take over when working cattle.

Good horsemanship isn’t just about what you can get your horse to do. It’s about understanding how to keep both of you safe in the process.

We will always encourage our students to challenge themselves, try new things and have fun. But we want them to build the knowledge, feel and awareness to do it with confidence and responsibility.

Because the goal isn’t just to have a great ride today. It’s to make sure you and your horse can keep enjoying this sport together for years to come.

One of the most important things an instructor can do is not harm their students or the public who admires them

The safety of my students is very important to me. When I give them tools and skills, I work hard to give them what THEY can do safely, and not what I can do.

I am a pretty laid back person in a lot of ways, but basic safety around horses is a topic I’m willing to be annoying over, especially given the wreck and injury stories equestrians love to share (many of which were preventable).

But I find alarming the growing trends and fashions that throw safety to the wayside - seeming to say, if you were as noble as me, if you had the relationship I have with your horse, you don’t need basic safety -

You can lay around on the arena under your horse. You can walk around barefoot beside your loose horse. You can stand on your head and trim. If you really are pure, no horse will hurt you.

Maybe that’s true for those individuals. Horses are very receptive to energy, that’s true. But reflexes, timing, and some athleticism are also very involved..

do I want my students laying on the ground next to their loose horse? Do I want them walking around barefoot in the pasture? No I do not.

In this day of confusing signals from professionals ,  I want to be able to contribute something positive. I don’t want to be the source of anyone  or their horses injury if I can at all help it.

Photo by Nicole Shoup

12/10/2026

Resharing because it’s a good little reminder - we are human too.

Feeling a bit frustrated today and just want to remind everyone that behind every training session is not just a business, but a person with a life, family, and responsibilities too.

We pour our heart and soul into helping you and your horses, and while we do our best to share photos and videos regularly, we don’t always have someone available to capture every moment.

We appreciate your understanding and support. If you’re expecting something different or aren’t happy with how things are run, that’s totally okay—there are plenty of options out there, and we encourage you to find what works best for you.

We’re focused on doing our best every day, but it’s important to remember we’re human, not just trainers on demand.

Thanks for respecting that.

Paul, Danni & Tate ❤️

11/10/2026

Some of the nicest show pads 🤌🏽 and Aussie owned!