Solid Foundation Equestrian

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Solid Foundation Equestrian Horse training with a balance of Natural Horsemanship and English Riding with an emphasis on building trust and connection leading to a strong partnership.

I’m an experienced horsewoman having over 25 years in the equestrian field, with the majority of this time spent starting, training and competing horses for all English disciplines. I have a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from a variety of equestrian professionals as well as a background in vet nursing, farming and animal husbandry enabling me to develop a holistic approach to producing horses. I am qualified in equine studies/sport horse, coaching and agriculture, as well as being a National Show Hunter judge. I believe building trust and connection are the foundation blocks to a successful partnership. I offer the following services:

• Handling foals, halter and lead training and preparing them for farriers and vets.

• Float training

• Pre starting

• Starting (putting under saddle)

• Bringing horses back into work

• Schooling

• Giving life experience (farm experience can be included)

• Providing competition experience (showing, show hunter, show jumping, dressage)

• Coaching/lessons

Three more youngsters under saddle! 🥹💕👏🏻Shiloh, George and Archie all had their first sits with a saddle on today, and I...
16/10/2026

Three more youngsters under saddle! 🥹💕👏🏻

Shiloh, George and Archie all had their first sits with a saddle on today, and I’m so pleased with how they’re coming along! 😍

We managed to get most of them done between the showers, although poor Archie drew the short straw and got the wet weather experience! 😂🌧️

And he wasn’t the only one! Poor Luca and Button also got caught out on their hack, leaving us all a little soggy! 😂

We also have another new face to introduce!

Meet Remi! 🥰💕 He had his first sit today too, keeping things nice and simple with just a halter and lead rope.

And apparently we have a bit of a theme happening here at SFE… 👀😂

Archie and Remi are remarkably similar, and with Bonnie also sporting a beautiful blaze and socks, we now have THREE Clydie crosses on the property!

Four lovely young horses, each learning in their own way, and another exciting little milestone.

There’s something pretty special about watching these babies begin to understand that having someone up there is really no big deal. 🥹💖

So pleased with how this little bunch is coming along! 🥰

Can we just take a moment to appreciate a really good pair of breeches?! 😂😍I bought a pair of VALA breeches from Rangior...
15/10/2026

Can we just take a moment to appreciate a really good pair of breeches?! 😂😍

I bought a pair of VALA breeches from Rangiora Equestrian Supplies a while ago, and I have to say, they are hands down the most comfortable breeches I have EVER worn!

They’re honestly like wearing a second skin! 😍

And while I’m at it, I thought I’d give a little shout-out to the lovely team at Rangiora Equestrian Supplies. 🥰

They’re my go-to equestrian shop, with a great range of products and genuinely fantastic customer service. The team are always so lovely and helpful, and it’s great seeing them supporting our local shows too. 💕

It’s always nice to support a local business that looks after its customers so well.

And no, this isn’t sponsored or gifted in any way… I just really love my new breeches! 😂💖

A little overdue update on the lovely Willow! 💕Willow has been here at SFE for around five weeks now, and she’s been a r...
14/10/2026

A little overdue update on the lovely Willow! 💕

Willow has been here at SFE for around five weeks now, and she’s been a really interesting little mare to work with. 🥰

She arrived with a few challenges, particularly around being quite spooky and a little nappy in the arena.

As always, before diving into the training side of things, I wanted to make sure we weren’t overlooking anything physical. So we started with bodywork and checking her saddle, which turned out not to be fitting particularly well.

With those things addressed, I’ve been working on helping Willow understand how to carry herself in a way that better supports her body, rather than simply asking her to keep going in a way she might have been finding difficult.

And goodness, what a difference I’m starting to see! 🥹💖

She’s beginning to find some lovely softness in her work, becoming more comfortable in the arena and starting to put together some really nice moments.

There’s still plenty for her to learn, but it’s been so rewarding watching her start to understand what I’m asking and find a more relaxed, willing way of going.

Sometimes the answer isn’t about asking a horse to try harder. It’s about looking at what might be making the question difficult in the first place, and finding a better way to help them understand.

I’m really enjoying watching this lovely girl come along! 💕

13/10/2026

A little Luca appreciation post! 💖

This lovely boy has been getting out and about, hacking along the roads and up the farm track, and goodness, he is taking everything in his stride! 😍👏🏻

Nosey bulls, traffic (thankfully everyone has been slowing down!), dogs, sheep, lambs, calves, tractors and motorbikes… Luca isn’t particularly bothered by any of it! 😂

He’s incredibly sure-footed, brave and curious about the world around him, and he genuinely LOVES getting out and exploring. 💖

What I find particularly interesting about Luca is that while he’s so confident with everything going on around him, people are a different story.

He’s still learning to trust, and that takes a little time. But once he feels comfortable with you, he really does try his absolute heart out. 🥹

And despite being so green under saddle, he gives me such a lovely feeling of safety when I’m out riding him. He’s brave, sensible about his surroundings and seems to genuinely enjoy whatever adventure we head off on together. 💕

He’s only just about to turn four, so there’s still plenty of growing, strengthening and learning ahead of him. He deserves the time to mature and develop without being pushed too hard, too soon.

But goodness, this boy has so much to offer the right person! 🥰

Someone who appreciates his sensitivity, is willing to earn his trust and can give him the time he needs to become the horse he’s capable of being.

There’s a lot to love about Luca. 💖

Love getting updates like this! 🥰From anxious rides to confidently heading out alone and enjoying rides in bigger groups...
12/10/2026

Love getting updates like this! 🥰

From anxious rides to confidently heading out alone and enjoying rides in bigger groups, these two have been making some wonderful progress!

It’s so lovely to hear that the tools we worked on are continuing to help them build confidence and enjoy their adventures together after Ralph’s stay here at SFE.

And the best part? Hearing that she’s enjoying riding her pony again! ❤

So happy for these two! 😍

10/10/2026

Bonnie and Chappy are coming along in leaps and bounds! 🥹💕

What a week for these two! First trots under saddle, first rides in the arena and now their first hacks up the road! 😍👏🏻

Once those foundations have been laid and the horses begin to understand what’s being asked of them, it’s amazing how easily the next layers can start coming together. 🥰

Both Bonnie and Chappy needed a little more time to think their way through the early stages, and that’s absolutely okay. There’s no rush to get to the next step when we’re still building the foundations for it.

But now that things are starting to make sense, they’re really finding their feet! 💕

And of course, no first hack would be complete without the ever-reliable Juno on babysitting duties! 😂💖

Having Michelle and Juno alongside us plays such an important part in helping these babies build their confidence as they venture out into the big wide world. Having that reassuring presence beside them makes such a difference. 🥰

It’s not about how quickly we get there, but making sure those foundations are solid enough to build on.

And goodness, these two are making me smile! 🥹💕

09/10/2026

Guess who’s back, back again… 🎶

Kiwi’s back! Tell a friend! 😂💜

After a few months away following his castration surgery, Kiwi has returned to continue his education… and apparently he’s feeling rather GOOD about life! 💁🏼‍♀️😂

He thoroughly enjoyed his first hack back… and admittedly, so did I! 🤭

I absolutely love producing this little character. He’s got such a fun personality, and there’s something rather enjoyable about making a pony kid-proof when it gives me the perfect excuse to bring out my own inner child.

Because apparently that involves trotting up the road with no hands, having a wee dance and generally enjoying myself perhaps a little too much. 💃🏼😂

All in the name of education, of course! 💁🏼‍♀️🤣

Welcome back, Kiwi! 💜

P.S. I may have had just as much fun making this reel as I did riding him… 🤫🤭😂

07/10/2026

Three new faces at SFE 🥰💕

Meet Shiloh, a rather cute little bush pony, Archie the Clydie X, and George the Warmblood X.

All three are here for starting and have been working through a similar stage over the last few days — groundwork, finding relaxation and learning about presenting to be mounted.

And despite working through similar things… they are three VERY different personalities. 😂

Shiloh is quite wary, but tries so hard to get everything right — perhaps a little too hard sometimes. 🥹 With him, a lot of the conversation has been about slowing everything down and helping him realise he doesn’t have to try quite so hard.

Archie is possibly at the opposite end of the spectrum. 😂 He needed a little convincing that engaging his brain and learning new things could actually be more entertaining than repeatedly trying to lick my hands. Apparently I am both teacher and salt lick. 💁🏼‍♀️😂

And then there’s George.

Getting to know him has felt a little more personal than I expected. 🥹 His sire is Holiday v/d N Ranch — the same sire as my dear Holly, who sadly went over the rainbow last year 💔 — and his dam is by Senor Pete, who was also the sire of my beloved Tess, my very successful Show Hunter mare.

So somehow this horse standing in front of me has a connection to two incredibly special mares from very different chapters of my life. 💕

And perhaps even more special is that I can already see a little bit of Holly in him. He has that same spark about him that she had. Holly sadly never made it to being under saddle, so getting the opportunity to be the person who introduces George to this part of his life feels pretty special. 🥹

He’s an interesting horse too — once he connects with you, he becomes incredibly focused on the job at hand. We worked through presenting to the mounting block, leaning over him and all the usual steps, and eventually George was basically looking at me like…

“Are you getting on or what?” 💁🏼‍♀️😂

So I did. 👏🏻

Same general lesson. Three completely different horses. Three completely different conversations.

And that is probably one of my favourite things about starting them. 💕

Let’s play another round of… tell me it’s school holidays without telling me it’s school holidays 💁🏼‍♀️🤭😂Apparently plai...
06/10/2026

Let’s play another round of… tell me it’s school holidays without telling me it’s school holidays 💁🏼‍♀️🤭😂

Apparently plain old jump poles were no longer acceptable, so the SFE course has had a bit of a makeover. 💅🏻😂

We started off reasonably sensibly with some fresh stripes…

…and then things escalated. 🌸🐾🤣

Honestly though, I’m here for it. 😍👏🏻

Nothing around here is safe when there are children on school holidays and paint within reach. 👀😂

Two more babies officially under saddle 🥹💕Chappy and Bonnie have both had their first sits under saddle! They are two ve...
06/10/2026

Two more babies officially under saddle 🥹💕

Chappy and Bonnie have both had their first sits under saddle! They are two very different types, but they’ve had one thing in common — they’ve both needed a little more time to think their way through the process.

And that’s never a bad thing.

Just like we all have different ways of learning… so do horses. 💕 Some fly through certain parts, while others need a little more time to understand what’s being asked and find confidence in the answer.

Chappy has a few opinions about being asked to walk away from his friend 😂 so I’m working through that and helping him realise that leaving his buddy really isn’t the end of the world.

Bonnie is just the loveliest mare who tries so hard to please. 🥹 She’s still figuring out what all these new questions mean, but she genuinely wants to find the right answer.

Neither of them needs to have it all figured out yet.

For now, I’m just looking for them to be a little softer, a little more confident and a little more understanding than they were yesterday.

And today, they both were. 💕🥰

Address

306 Mound Road, Broomfield
Amberley
7482

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+64273634442

Website

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