Why I Don't Promise Timelines in Horse Training

You may have noticed that I don't advertise 30-day training on my website. It's such a common format for training, so why don't I default to it?

The short answer is that 30 days is rarely enough time for meaningful, lasting changes, especially if the goal is a calmer, more confident, and more reliable horse rather than a quick surface-level result. Especially when it comes to starting horses, 30 days is not enough to responsibly lay a foundation.

In many cases, especially with greener horses, the first few weeks of training are spent:

• Helping the horse settle into a new routine with a new person

• The horse begins to learn the trainer, and vice versa

• Understanding their physical and emotional baseline

• Rebuilding clarity around cues and expectations

• Figuring out what the horse knows and discovering any gaps in their education

• Identifying where tension, confusion, or past experiences are influencing behavior

That work is incredibly important and acts as the foundation for the training. In my experience, real momentum often builds around weeks three or four. When I regularly offered 30-day programs, I would start to see significant progress right as the program was ending. The horse was finally settled, understanding the expectations, and ready to build, the time was almost up. I wasn’t seeing the long-term results I knew were possible.

For horses that are being introduced to ridden work, it takes more than 30 days to set a foundation in groundwork, introduce tack, build up physical fitness, and allow the horse to be relaxed, calm, and comfortable from the first time I sit on their backs.

Why I prefer 6-8 week programs (and sometimes longer)

For most horses, especially those starting under saddle, rebuilding confidence, or learning new expectations, a 6- or 8-week program allows training to progress without unnecessary pressure. It provides time for learning, appropriate rest, and repetition so that skills stick and owners aren't left with an anxious, overwhelmed horse at the end of training.

That being said, shorter programs absolutely have their place. Thirty days can be fantastic for a specific goal, tune-up, or targeted issue, depending on the prior training foundation of the horse.

Not defaulting to 30-day training gives me the flexibility to assess each horse based on their individual needs and adjust intensity, progression, and expectations without worrying about getting quick enough results for a 30-day timeframe.

Training for results that last

I don't structure training around arbitrary timelines. I structure it around what consistently produces calm, capable horses that understand their work and continue progressing once they leave training. My goal is to create horses that are easy to work with, curious about their environments, and have solid training foundations. A longer program doesn't mean I'm doing less with more time. Because I take my time with the foundation, more progress can happen later on.