CT Coaching - Connection Training

Coaching from Hannah and Rachel and CT Coaches

Hannah can be found predominantly online in the CT Club, where she continues to make and share training videos for the (already bursting!) Home Study Courses, as well as offering support, advice and updates for CT Club Members.

In real life, she is based in North Yorkshire, England, and offers local lessons and regular teaching days at Hope Pastures Rescue Centre. She also teaches clinics and seminars around Europe.

Rachel can also be found online in the CT Club, supporting members and sharing new material.

She splits her time between North Yorkshire, where her horses live together with Hannah’s herd, and Cortijo de Segura in Spain, which is a training center she co-founded with CT Coach Claire Waldron. Cortijo de Segura offers CT training courses in the sunshine with rescued horses.

You can also follow Hannah and Rachel through the Connection Training Facebook Page, Youtube Channel and Instagram!

CT Coaches

Our Coaches are highly experienced, knowledgeable horse trainers, certified in coaching Connection Training techniques. You can find them all in the Connection Training Club where they offer online Coaching, find Events with CT Coaches in the Calendar or follow the links in their bio’s for in-person teaching.

Inspiring women to enjoy their horses through compassionate training! CT Coach based in North Carolina.

CT Coach and founder of Cortijo de Segura, working with rescued horses in Spain.

Location: Granada, Spain
Lessons: I offer courses and lessons based at my home: Positive Horse Training Spain - Granada Province
Clinics: I travel internationally for private lessons and to give clinics
Online: I offer online video coaching (Contact me for a FREE 30-minute consultation to see how we can work together)

Contact

Website: www.positivehorsetrainingspain.com
Email: clairewaldron@msn.com

Claire Waldron and Pegaso - Cortijo de Segura 2018 - Meadhbh Ni Dhuinn - Ni Dhuinn Imagery

Valiente hoof trimming 2 - Claire Waldron - Cortijo de Segura - Connection Training - Meadhbh Dunne - Ni Dhuinn Imagery

Claire Waldron and Selena pole square - Cortijo de Segura - Connection Training - Meadhbh Dunne - Ni Dhuinn Imagery

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Hi, I’m Claire Waldron and I am proud to be Connection Training’s first Certified Coach. I joined CT when it was launched in 2014 as an Elite Student. I live in Spain and needed help with my traumatised mare, Segura. I wasn’t sure that I could get the help I needed online, but I was desperate and there was no help available locally.

I am so glad I took the chance! I had monthly coaching calls with Hannah, Rachel or Shawna. I restarted Segura following the Foundation Course, and bit by bit, she began to calm down and respond to me. Within the year I was back to riding her again and we developed a once-in a lifetime relationship.

This gave me a new path in life. I began working in Customer Support for CT and set my eyes on becoming a CT Coach. I already had an HND in Equine Management and had studied Equine Behaviour online. I had also worked at Leahurst Equine Veterinary Hospital (Liverpool University) where I had taught horse-handling to vet students, so I knew I loved teaching.

I spoke at the CT Conference, 2016, where I was also awarded my Coaching Certificate. I began coaching online and also taught live in the Azores. I love both equally. It’s great to be with students and be able to actually work with the horses directly in live teaching. Online teaching is wonderful too. It is so effective to watch a video of their work with a student, as we see so much we can work on. Students make wonderful progress and I am living proof how effective it is, for handling, riding and the relationship.

Also in 2016, Rachel Bedingfield and I decided to form a business together to create Positive Horse Training Spain at my home in Spain. We have up to 10 rescued horses and students stay at our lovely villa for week-long horse-centered learning holidays which Rachel and I co-teach. Also, you can come for a shorter stay and work with me for 3 days in small groups. In addition I offer individual bespoke coaching depending on how long you want to stay.

CT Coach and Academic Art of Riding Instructor based in Sweden.

Location: Sundsvall, Sweden
Lessons: I travel all over Sweden and internationally to give clinics and lectures. For those nearby there is possibilities for freelance lessons and study groups. Parts of the year I also welcome students to come to my home as week-students with their own horse or to work with my horses and take part of my everyday training.
Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
Languages Spoken: English, Swedish, Scandinavian Languages

Contact

Website: www.angelicahesselius.com
Skype: annidala
Email: angelicahesselius@me.com

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Horses and horse training are my greatest passions. In both my own training and in my teaching I focus on balance. Balance through both connection with the horses mind and connection with the horses body. I love how gymnastics and a greater body awareness can improve our relationships with our horses and ourselves. I’m also a longtime teacher and trainer of the Academic Art of Riding- a way of gymnasticising your horse according to the classical principles of dressage guided by modern biomechanics.

So, even though a search for balance has guided most of my horse life I was, however, looking for more. More connection, more relaxation. I want horses that love training and to be around their humans. I want to give my horses more choices and more control to be able to be really active participants in their own education. This is something I have found in Connection Training, and a more process-focused way of teaching.

My greatest teachers on my journey are, however, my lovely horses. Each and every one with their own special needs. I believe education should be accessible to everyone and to every-horse, no matter the breed. This, and a welcoming open atmosphere, is something we found in the Connection Training Club and also something I try to mediate in my teaching every day: Think, grow. Learn, know.

CT Coach and groundwork, riding and obstacles specialist based in Red Deer Alberta, Canada

CT Coach and horse agility specialist based in Wales, UK

Location: Llandrindod Wells, Wales, UK
Lessons and Clinics: I teach regular monthly Horse Agility clinics, and am available for clinics (Horse Agility or CT) and freelance lessons. I teach mainly in mid Wales and the surrounding counties (Herefordshire, Shropshire, South and West Wales), but I can also travel further afield.
Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews

Contact

Website:
www.positive-equitation.co.uk

Email: positive-equitation@outlook.com

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I have loved horses all my life, and although I grew up in a city I was lucky enough to spend my weekends and school holidays at a local riding school. I learned a lot about the practical side of riding and caring for horses, and built good relationships with a lot of the ponies, but always had a feeling that there could (and should) be more to the relationship than just riding and hard work. It wasn’t until years later when Honey, my first horse, was on box rest that I discovered the fun of clicker training to give us things to do and think about while she was recovering from an injury. It was clicker training (and later Connection Training) that showed me that the missing part of the puzzle had been that the horses weren’t enjoying the relationship as much as the people were, and once the horses were given the opportunity to both understand and truly enjoy what we were doing, it became much more fun for all of us.

I enjoy teaching all aspects of horsemanship, and I consider that my job as a coach is to make horsemanship fun – as fun for the horse as it is for the handler. I have had first-hand experience of when things go wrong, when both handlers and horses can lose confidence in each other. I have helped many partnerships rebuild their relationship, using the principles and process of positive reinforcement to overcome fears and doubt, and to create a bond that is strong, deep, and secure.

My speciality is obstacle training and Horse Agility; I am a Horse Agility Accredited Trainer and have been European Horse Agility Champion (liberty or on lead) four times with my little rescue pony, Pip, and my donkey Molly, who was also Reserve World Champion donkey in 2017 – we are proudly taking positive reinforcement right to the top of international competition! I teach regular monthly Horse Agility clinics, and love using obstacle training to help both horses and humans overcome their fears and worries, gain confidence in each other and learn new ways to communicate, using empathy, emotional awareness, and of course positive reinforcement.

Positive Equitation: Making Horsemanship Fun

CT Coach passionate about the horse-human journey together based in Queensland, Australia

CT Coach specialising in problem-solving and behaviour based in The Netherlands

CT Coach specialising focused on a happy horse-human relationship and healthy management

Location: Zvolen, Slovak Republic
Lessons and Clinics: I teach lessons and clinics at your horse's place or you can come to me and have lessons with my 7 equids - 5 horses, 1 pony, 1 donkey
I teach lessons and clinics in Slovakia and surrounding countries. I'm happy to travel further on request.
Online: I offer online Coaching Calls, Video Reviews and Slovak language membership site.
Languages: I teach in Slovak or English

Contact

Website: www.venya.sk

Phone/Whatsapp: 00421911911980

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I started my R+ journey 11 years ago, but having no information nor money, I was left to experiment with my horses on my own. I have been a horse owner for 18 years and have kept a bunch of them at home for 13 years, so I had enough material and time to experiment with :D. However, it was very painful as I created some overaroused horses. However, I wasn’t ready to give up on my way of having harmonious partnership in which we all are happy and continued to search for answers.

Fortunately enough, I discovered Hannah 7 years ago, fell in love with her attitude and soon invited her to teach at our place. It was the first ever clicker horse demonstration in Slovak and also Czech republic. Since then, I’ve been building a community in our country around R+ and inviting the best teachers like Hannah, Rachel, Shawna Karrasch, Rachael Draaisma and, nowadays, colleagues such as CT Coaches Angelica Hesselius and Suzy Deurinck.

In my training I love experimenting with all kind of techniques and creating happier horses. I am bit obsessed with their emotional state and I love to observe every small change in their attitude or expression and search for a way how to change it into better state of mind.

Honestly, the emotional state of the horse is, for me, much more important than teaching behaviors. My focus is always on the relationship part, which is sometimes tricky to keep in balance with training when using food rewards.

In my coaching, I focus on you and your horse as partners, where both have some needs. Taking into account your personality and your horse’s emotional state, my aim is to find a training plan which fits to both of you.

CT Coach passionate about healthy movement and groundwork based in Moss, Norway

Location: Moss, Norway
I love to give presentations and demonstrations
I teach freelance lessons and clinics
Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
Languages: I teach in German, Norwegian or English
I teach mostly in South-Eastern Norway, but I love to travel anywhere in the world!

Contact

Phone: +47 41372232

Skype name: Gesine.ewert

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For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by the movement of horses. I can watch them in the pasture roaming, playing and running for hours without getting bored. As I got older and more engaged in the equestrian world, I realized how many horses lose their ease, flexibility and joy of movement after being put into training – or “work”.

Since then my goal has always been to find a way of training horses that wouldn’t take anything away from their worriless days as youngsters in the field, but to add something positive to their everyday life so they could grow into strong, healthy bodies and personalities. In my opinion, Connection Training gives us all the tools to achieve this goal, and that’s why I am over the moon to be able to pass on and gain new experiences and knowledge with such a great partner at my side.

I have always been a big fan of ground-work for the simple reason that I can see the horse in his or her entirety and enjoy the movement. And with the help of some great trainers, I found ground-work to be the most useful tool for me to help a horse recover his balance, strength and joy in movement.

Over the years, and especially with the help of Connection Training, I learned about the importance of a happy and relaxed state of mind to make progress in physical rehabilitation and vice versa, that stressed, anxious horses turned into calm, reliable rides after their physical issues were addressed. I try to look at every problem in a holistic way; so, even when I work with a physical issue, I try to make training as mentally stimulating as possible and look for potential improvement in management, nutrition, enrichment etc.

My dream for the future of horses and humans is that humans start to see their horses with different eyes – not looking for what the horse can do for them but what they can enjoy together based on a mutually beneficial connection. I believe, many of the Connection Trainers are already there and I am gratefully looking forward to working and growing together with you on our equine journey!

CT Coach based at a rescue centre in Ireland, specialising in helping leisure and rescue horses.

Location: Carbury, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Lessons and Clinics: I teach throughout Ireland and can travel to the UK. I offer private coaching as well as courses, clinics and demonstrations for groups.
Online: I offer online coaching (GMT)
Working Students: Our rescue farm offers horse care and training placements
Languages: I teach in English (South African)

Contact

Website: https://www.meganhinesequine.com/

Skype: Megan Hines, username megan.twine

Email: meganhinesequine@gmail.com

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I am passionate about building a trusting human-equine relationship, avoiding unnecessary stress and fear in training, and empowering animals to choose to participate in their own care. I started my Positive Reinforcement journey almost 20 years ago, training dogs, and I am currently assistant manager on a private equine rescue. My focus is rehabilitating abused and/or neglected rescues through LIMA (least invasive, minimally aversive) principles, utilising counter conditioning, systematic desensitisation, and of course positive reinforcement.

I was taught by SANEF instructors for 10 years in South Africa, where I had the opportunity to experience different equestrian disciplines including vaulting, gymkhana, dressage, jumping and cross country. Upon moving to Ireland, I began to volunteer with equine rescues. I then began science-based study of equine emotions, behaviour and training, and discovered Connection Training.

Connection Training has broadened my skills and helped shape me into the positive person I am today.

I continue to further my understanding of equine behaviour and training, learning from world recognised equine/mixed species positive reinforcement trainers and equine behaviourists, recently completing the Resolving Fear in Horses course from the IAABC.

My pony Redser is an Irish Cob who came into the rescue traumatised, reactive and dangerous. I started working with him in early 2016 as one of my Equine Case Studies and I adopted him about a year later. He has come on in leaps and bounds and is now a fun, friendly, and outgoing pony. When he is ready he will be started under saddle using CT techniques, a process I am greatly looking forward to!

Working students:

Our rescue farm offers the opportunity to visit us for 6+ weeks as a working student where you get to help with everyday care and training of the animals. Get to grips with basic training mechanics, learn to recognise equine behaviour, and help train husbandry behaviours like voluntary hoof lifts, deworming etc. This is a great way to start out with an animal that suits your experience level and will support you in your learning process. Contact me for details.

What Our CT Club Members Say

"I was lucky enough to be in Spain for both Hannah’s course and Angelica’s two day Academic Art of Riding course which followed on from it. Both courses were fabulous. It was without any doubt at all the best horse (i.e. human!) training course I’ve ever been on, and partly this was because of the extended time we had to participate in and watch the training evolve over multiple sessions with the same horses and handlers. Hannah is an inspirational teacher, she keeps it lighthearted and doesn’t over-complicate her teaching with too much information for either the horse or the handler. She’s very good at helping everyone to feel successful, however the session unfolds."

Jan WilkinsonUK

Hi Hannah, Val and I would like to thank you so much for a wonderful day yesterday. Such a privilege to work with you and of course the horses and ponies at Hope Pastures, but especially you. We learned such a lot and it was such a nice atmosphere, as I said to Val it was the best clinic I have been to (and I have done a few). I am sure we will meet again as I love your work so much.

Amanda GrahamUK

"Connection Training is great – it’s like having your instructor with you 24/7!"

Rachael WherryUK

Certified CT Coaches

A little personal coaching can make a big difference in the journey with your horse. Getting experienced feedback, advice and guidance can really help you to overcome ‘stuck’ points and progress more easily and smoothly with your horse.

Finding the right local instructor for you can be tricky, but thanks to the internet, you can now access top quality coaches who understand how you want to work with your horse. Online coaching is simple to do (we promise!) and is a really great way to get feedback on your training and one-to-one discussion and advice with a knowledgeable coach. In fact, we find that students make the best progress with online coaching because the process of reviewing and discussing your training gives you deep awareness and insights into your training to take with you to the next session.

All of our certified Coaches have undergone at least year of training with us, both online and in person, and have all worked with a wide range of horses themselves as well as taught both in person and online through their extensive case studies and work in the field. They were selected because of their experience, knowledge and supportive, friendly personalities and we can recommend Coaching with them whole-heartedly.

Each Coach has specific experience and specialities. Please review their bio’s to find the best one for you and your horse.
You can book Coaching with them, both online and in person, by contacting them directly through their contact information below.