Starting & Breaking
Young Horse Starting & Foundation Training
Giving young horses the confidence and foundations for a successful ridden future.
Whether your young horse is destined for hacking, dressage, showjumping, eventing, showing or life as a versatile all-rounder, the foundations established at the beginning of their ridden education can influence everything that follows.
Guy works with young horses of all types, from native breeds and cobs to Thoroughbreds, warmbloods and sport horses, with the same goal: to develop a horse that is confident, relaxed, responsive and able to cope with new situations.
With over 20 years’ experience starting and training horses in the UK and internationally, Guy has developed and continues to refine the GRH Training Programme around three key areas:
Confidence
Confidence and relaxation are an integral part of the GRH programme.
We want horses to be comfortable with what they are being asked to do and increasingly confident in different environments and situations.
Young horses need to learn how to process pressure, movement, unfamiliar objects and changes in their surroundings without immediately becoming worried or reactive.
Time is taken to help each horse understand what is being asked, find relaxation and become more confident before progressing to the next stage.
Body Control
Good ridden work starts with a horse understanding how to move and control their own body.
Through groundwork and ridden exercises, we develop the horse’s understanding of forward movement, direction, transitions, lateral flexion, balance and the basic aids.
The aim is to develop a horse that responds softly and willingly, giving their owner a foundation that can then be developed towards their chosen discipline.
Purpose
We believe horses learn best when their training has a purpose.
Rather than everything taking place within the arena, we use poles, cones, obstacles and the wider environment around the yard to make exercises relevant and practical.
This helps young horses learn to think through different situations, become more adaptable and remain connected to their rider when their environment changes.
The Starting Programme
Our Starting Programme generally runs for 6–8 weeks, although every horse is treated as an individual and will progress at their own pace.
The minimum six-week programme is designed for confident, well-handled young horses that are ready to begin their ridden education.
Horses that are particularly inexperienced, sensitive, spooky or reactive may require additional time. We would rather give a horse the time they need to understand and become confident than rush through stages simply to meet a timeframe.
Foundation Groundwork
These aren’t simply boxes to tick. The programme is adapted to the individual horse, with confidence, relaxation and understanding taking priority over how quickly we progress through the exercises.
A Foundation to Build On
The aim of the Starting Programme isn’t to produce a finished horse in six or eight weeks.
It is to give your young horse a solid, positive foundation to their ridden education that you can continue to develop at home or take forward into your chosen discipline.
Owner involvement is an important part of the process. We provide weekly private video updates and, wherever possible, encourage owners to visit during the programme and work with Guy before their horse returns home.
Training Fee
£385 per week
Includes training Monday to Friday, hay and bedding.
Previously Started Horses
If your horse has already been professionally started but the process has been unsuccessful or difficulties have developed, please contact us before booking.
These horses will usually require an initial assessment and may need a different programme or timeframe from a straightforward young-horse start.
Transport Into Training
We are also insured to transport horses coming to Guy Robertson Horsemanship for training.
Robertson Horse Transport can provide collection directly from your yard.
Please ask for a transport quote when making your training enquiry.
Talk to Us About Your Horse
If you’re considering sending your young horse to Guy for starting, please get in touch for an informal conversation about your horse and what you’d like to achieve.
Call or WhatsApp: 07876 033028
Email: [email protected]
Giving young horses the confidence and foundations for a successful ridden future.
Whether your young horse is destined for hacking, dressage, showjumping, eventing, showing or life as a versatile all-rounder, the foundations established at the beginning of their ridden education can influence everything that follows.
Guy works with young horses of all types, from native breeds and cobs to Thoroughbreds, warmbloods and sport horses, with the same goal: to develop a horse that is confident, relaxed, responsive and able to cope with new situations.
With over 20 years’ experience starting and training horses in the UK and internationally, Guy has developed and continues to refine the GRH Training Programme around three key areas:
Confidence
Confidence and relaxation are an integral part of the GRH programme.
We want horses to be comfortable with what they are being asked to do and increasingly confident in different environments and situations.
Young horses need to learn how to process pressure, movement, unfamiliar objects and changes in their surroundings without immediately becoming worried or reactive.
Time is taken to help each horse understand what is being asked, find relaxation and become more confident before progressing to the next stage.
Body Control
Good ridden work starts with a horse understanding how to move and control their own body.
Through groundwork and ridden exercises, we develop the horse’s understanding of forward movement, direction, transitions, lateral flexion, balance and the basic aids.
The aim is to develop a horse that responds softly and willingly, giving their owner a foundation that can then be developed towards their chosen discipline.
Purpose
We believe horses learn best when their training has a purpose.
Rather than everything taking place within the arena, we use poles, cones, obstacles and the wider environment around the yard to make exercises relevant and practical.
This helps young horses learn to think through different situations, become more adaptable and remain connected to their rider when their environment changes.
The Starting Programme
Our Starting Programme generally runs for 6–8 weeks, although every horse is treated as an individual and will progress at their own pace.
The minimum six-week programme is designed for confident, well-handled young horses that are ready to begin their ridden education.
Horses that are particularly inexperienced, sensitive, spooky or reactive may require additional time. We would rather give a horse the time they need to understand and become confident than rush through stages simply to meet a timeframe.
Foundation Groundwork
- Feet handling
- Leading and personal space
- Standing and parking
- Confidence with touch, movement and equipment
- Developing relaxation around pressure and unfamiliar situations
- Lunging and driving
- Lateral flexion and head lowering
- Backing
- Preparation for the saddle
- Preparation for the bridle
- Preparation for the rider
- Developing confident forward movement
- Understanding the basic aids
- Walk, trot and canter
- Steering and direction
- Transitions
- Circles and changes of direction
- Poles, obstacles and practical exercises
- Riding independently from other horses
- Riding outside the arena
- Building confidence in different environments
These aren’t simply boxes to tick. The programme is adapted to the individual horse, with confidence, relaxation and understanding taking priority over how quickly we progress through the exercises.
A Foundation to Build On
The aim of the Starting Programme isn’t to produce a finished horse in six or eight weeks.
It is to give your young horse a solid, positive foundation to their ridden education that you can continue to develop at home or take forward into your chosen discipline.
Owner involvement is an important part of the process. We provide weekly private video updates and, wherever possible, encourage owners to visit during the programme and work with Guy before their horse returns home.
Training Fee
£385 per week
Includes training Monday to Friday, hay and bedding.
Previously Started Horses
If your horse has already been professionally started but the process has been unsuccessful or difficulties have developed, please contact us before booking.
These horses will usually require an initial assessment and may need a different programme or timeframe from a straightforward young-horse start.
Transport Into Training
We are also insured to transport horses coming to Guy Robertson Horsemanship for training.
Robertson Horse Transport can provide collection directly from your yard.
Please ask for a transport quote when making your training enquiry.
Talk to Us About Your Horse
If you’re considering sending your young horse to Guy for starting, please get in touch for an informal conversation about your horse and what you’d like to achieve.
Call or WhatsApp: 07876 033028
Email: [email protected]
Choose your training Start Date
Contact us for our next training dates.
Contact us for our next training dates.
Your Horse’s Stay at GRH
We believe the owner should be part of the training process.
Visiting & Learning
Where possible, we encourage you to visit your horse during their stay. Pre-arranged private sessions with Guy are included within the training fee, giving you the opportunity to see your horse’s progress, understand the work being done and learn how to continue it yourself.
We understand that regular visits aren’t always possible, particularly for horses travelling to us from further afield. In this case, we’ll keep you updated with your horse’s progress through messages, videos and telephone updates.
Handover
The handover is an important part of every GRH training programme.
Before your horse goes home, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside Guy with your horse. This allows you to become familiar with what has been established during their stay, ask questions and practise the skills you’ll need to continue their training confidently at home.
Ongoing Support
Your horse leaving the yard doesn’t have to be the end of your training with us.
Follow-up lessons are available to previous training clients, allowing Guy to support you as your horse progresses, revisit any areas of the training when needed and help you continue developing your partnership.
Our aim is not simply to send home a better-prepared horse, but to send you both home with greater confidence, understanding and a clear way forward.
We believe the owner should be part of the training process.
Visiting & Learning
Where possible, we encourage you to visit your horse during their stay. Pre-arranged private sessions with Guy are included within the training fee, giving you the opportunity to see your horse’s progress, understand the work being done and learn how to continue it yourself.
We understand that regular visits aren’t always possible, particularly for horses travelling to us from further afield. In this case, we’ll keep you updated with your horse’s progress through messages, videos and telephone updates.
Handover
The handover is an important part of every GRH training programme.
Before your horse goes home, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside Guy with your horse. This allows you to become familiar with what has been established during their stay, ask questions and practise the skills you’ll need to continue their training confidently at home.
Ongoing Support
Your horse leaving the yard doesn’t have to be the end of your training with us.
Follow-up lessons are available to previous training clients, allowing Guy to support you as your horse progresses, revisit any areas of the training when needed and help you continue developing your partnership.
Our aim is not simply to send home a better-prepared horse, but to send you both home with greater confidence, understanding and a clear way forward.
Training Dates 2026
Monday 2nd November 2026
Training Dates 2027
Monday 4th January 2027 - 2 Spaces
Monday 1st March 2027 - 2 Spaces
Tuesday 5th April 2027 - 2 Spaces
Monday 7th June 2027 - 4 Spaces
Monday 5th July 2027 - 4 Spaces
Monday 6th September 2027 - 4 Spaces
Monday 1st November 2027 - 2 Spaces
