You’re not here to “fix” your horse. You’re here to understand the process.
If you are like most of the owners I work with, you aren’t looking for a “guru” or a quick fix. You are thoughtful, perhaps a bit critical of the status quo, and deeply committed to doing right by your horse.
You’ve likely noticed that while things are “okay,” there’s a subtle friction – a lack of coherence between the ethics you hold and the results you see. Maybe it’s in the way your horse offers their hoof, or the slight tension you feel during a training session.
You don’t want a submissive horse; you want a cooperative partner.
I’m here to help you move from “getting it done” to “doing it together.”
Meet Janneke Koekhoven, Cooperative Hoof Care Specialist
I’m Janneke, and I help thoughtful, reflective horse owners navigate the nuances of Positive Reinforcement (R+) and cooperative care.
My path to this work wasn’t a straight line. Like many of you, I grew up in the traditional world of riding camps and equine management. But my greatest teacher was a handsome, curious, and intelligent black horse named Deejay.
Deejay didn’t care for traditional methods and escalating aversives. His resistance however wasn’t “stubborn” – it was valuable feedback. He pushed me to look deeper, leading me away from the arena lights and toward a path of autonomy, choice, and science-based training. Even though I had to say goodbye to him just before his 16th birthday, his influence shapes every lesson I teach and every relationship I build.
A genuine bond is equal, safe, and leaves room for both sides to choose freely. Every behaviour your horse shows is not just a result; it’s valuable feedback.
What I value most
Emotional well-being
Before a horse can learn mentally or find physical balance, it needs to feel safe and understood. Sometimes you can keep working on behaviour while the emotions catch up step by step, but sometimes you need to hit pause and go back a bit. In those moments, we don’t focus on the exercise itself; we work on trust, calmness and willingness, both yours and your horse’s.
Emotions can’t be trained directly, but they’re always there. That’s why they’re part of every plan. Together, we look at your horse’s calming signals, explore their stress thresholds and build trust carefully over time. This makes it possible to handle the tricky moments too, for both of you.
Mental well-being
It’s amazing to see how horses solve puzzles and really join in with their training. That’s why I prefer to work at liberty, giving space for autonomy, curiosity and teamwork.
A horse that learns to anticipate is completely different from a horse that just learns to tolerate. We don’t just want your horse to do something.. we want your horse to actually want to do it.
To get to that mental balance, the basics have to be right: access to forage, fresh water, a stable herd, freedom to move and safe shelter. Only then it’s fair to expect the horse to learn, play and grow.
Physical well-being
My groundwork and riding lessons might look a little different than what you’re used to. No fixed steps or perfect picture: safety, health and enjoyment come first. Whether your horse needs to lose weight, work on posture and balance, or just do some ‘senior gym’ to stay supple and strong, I’m happy to help you both move forward.
It is important that your horse has the green light from a vet or bodyworker. We don’t have to know every tiny detail, but we do need to be clear on what’s physically possible and what’s not. Good hoof care, dental checks and suitable feed are all part of that too.
Foundations
Desensitisation
Husbandry and medical care
Exercise
Transportation
Concepts