Rules of the game
Foundation
The most important building blocks that are crucial to your training and communication.
Desensitisation
From plastic bags to separation anxiety: change triggers into predictors of fun.
Husbandry and medical care
Transform dreaded procedures into a cooperative team effort.
Exercise
From lunging to riding and from agility to simply going for a hack.
Transportation
Loading a horse is no joke and involves more training than most would think.
Concepts
Behaviour nerds unite! Elevate your training with these advanced concepts.
With these skill cards, you instantly get clarity on:
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What you and your horse already know
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What you could practise next
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Where you might be headed
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And why you’re training a certain exercise in the first place
So they give you confidence, structure, clarity, inspiration, motivation, and a clear goal to work towards.
Want access to the skill cards and everything else inside the Werkplaats?
Everything is designed to help you actually apply all the theory you’ve read or heard about for years; easily, practically, and with real results. With a goal, a plan, an example, a clear next step and a tangible skill card to earn, you’ll be itching to get back in the arena.
The skill cards are part of the training programmes: they’re extra tools to support both you and me as your coach.
They don’t cost you anything extra; they’re included in your programme. You’re never required to earn them, but honestly, there’s no good reason not to!
NEW! You can now obtain Skill Cards outside of the Train Together program during these exclusive mini-events. Click here.
Each card has a theme, a topic or level, and clear criteria. Want to know more? Keep reading!
How does it work?
Discuss your short and long-term goals with me
Pick a skill card: this will become your first goal
Map out your first steps towards this goal.
Show your results during your lessons or group calls
Get your skill card and pick the next one!
Scared it’s too challenging for you?
To prevent nerves or performance anxiety, I made sure you don’t really need to do anything special to get a card. If I see that your performance is solid enough (for example: you’ve shown it more than once, or three times in a row), then after your lesson you’ll get one or more cards (A6 size) with the details of your achievement, your name, your horse’s name, the date and my’s notes and signature. Of course, I do need to see the performance, so that can be in a live lesson, an online session or a group call.
For most cards, it’s enough to show each criterion separately. But you’ll get a little bonus if you show them all at once. For example, the criteria for “Standing Still” level 1 are:
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Duration: 5 steady seconds
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On-the-spot marching
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Standing beside the neck, looking forward
If you can show 5 seconds of stillness wherever you choose, then show a short march on the spot, and show your horse standing beside the neck with their face forward, you’ll earn the card. But if you can combine them (standing beside the neck, looking forward, marching in place for 5 seconds) you’ll get a gold sticker on your card!
Important: the criteria on the card aren’t where you start. They’re where you’re heading. You just pick up where you and your horse are now, and work your way towards meeting the criteria step by step.
No one size fits all
I always take both you and your horse into account. If one or more criteria don’t fit your situation, they’ll be adapted until they do.
Future updates
Alongside the physical card, soon you’ll also be able to track which skill cards and certificates you’ve earned for each horse online. You can even favourite items so you can find them quickly.
Training is training
Skill cards are for training. They don’t replace treatment, medication, proper nutrition, care or housing.
What do we look for during the assessment?
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Signals from your horse: Relaxed facial expression, soft responses, little to no signs of stress.
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Choice: Your horse has clear options that make sense and are suitable for the situation.
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Skill card criteria: For each criterion, we’ll decide together whether it’s met, judged together, or swapped for an appropriate alternative.
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Behaviour reliability: Ideally, the behaviour should be shown at least three times in a row, consistently and smoothly.
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Trainer skills: Calm breathing, good posture, clear and gentle communication, proper technique and timing.
The cards are fairly sturdy, but not indestructible. If you’d like to keep them safe and show them off, you’ll be able to get special display sleeves from me.
Of course, you can also use whatever you already have lying around – an old box, a nice frame, a pinboard or whiteboard to hang them up, or even a laminator. Go for it!
Levels or parts?
Some skill cards come with three levels. Level 2 is usually more advanced than Level 1, and so on. In these cases, it’s often important to complete the previous level first.
Other skill cards are split into parts, each covering different criteria. The order in which you complete these depends entirely on what your horse needs at that moment.