Colt Starting

"A young horse is a blank page - and these four days are about writing the first chapter together. This clinic isn’t about steps or systems. It’s about discovering who your horse is, what they need, and how to become the leader they trust to guide them into their future." - Scott

This is the workshop is a great one for:

• Starting fresh - colts, horses that are new to you or horses going through career changes.

• Restarting or rebuilding - older horses that need some help with anxiety or trust issues.

• Seeking a different approach - riders tired of pressure/chase‑based or obedience‑based starting methods.

• Relationship‑centered learners - people who want to understand their horse deeply - their strengths and struggles - and build a life-long partnership

Over four days, you and your horse step into a positive, supportive space where learning unfolds at the pace of trust.

We begin on the ground, observing who your horse is and how they think. From there, we build clarity, leadership, and connection through simple, meaningful exercises.

As your horse begins to follow your ideas with softness and confidence, the work naturally progresses toward first saddling and first rides. We don't force hard-set goals, but work in the moments your horse is genuinely ready for.

Each day advances on the previous, blending discussion, hands‑on practice, individual coaching, and time for your horse to process. The result is a partnership that feels honest, authentic, and full of possibility.

What you'll focus on:

• Understanding who your horse is. Every horse has unique needs, history, and ways of thinking.  We recognize that and work with your horse as an individual.

• Providing leadership in the way a horse naturally understands: clear, calm, consistent and in their language.

• Shaping thoughts rather than forcing movements.  It's vital that your horse gains understandings, answers to their questions, and .

• Discovering and replacing anxieties with balance and confidence.  Balanced, anxiety‑free horses move with softness because motion is the product of mental clarity and absence of tension.

• Fear is replaced with confidence through exercises that make sense to the horse, through your leadership.

Why this approach always works:

• Every horse is an individual with unique needs, history, and ways of thinking.  We recognize that.

• Leadership is offered in the way a horse naturally understands: clear, calm, consistent and in their language.

• We shape thoughts rather than force movements, creating understandings and acceptance.

• Balanced, anxiety‑free horses move with softness because motion is the product of mental clarity and absence of tension.

• Fear is replaced with confidence through exercises that make sense to the horse, through your leadership.

• Groundwork and riding are the same conversation; only your physical position changes. Our unique groundwork translates precisely to the saddle.

• We honour the horse’s emotions and ensure their time with us is full of pride and security.

• The goal is a lifetime partnership built on trust, not a checklist of commands.

More about Scott Phillips and Amazing Horse Country.

Questions and Answers about our clinics and facility.