Philosophy

At Cloverfield Farm we believe in strong foundations, in horses and riders. Why, you might ask? Because we have lived through the consequences of riding without one. We realized long ago, that a good foundation for any horse or rider has far less to do with the ability to execute a particular movement, and more to do with the quality with which that movement is done. That quality comes from being able to ride a horse so that it carries itself straight, bends correctly, and is both relaxed and responsive. That is was good foundation on a horse looks like, and that is what a rider with a solid foundation should be able to accomplish. Only once that foundation is in place can the rest of “higher level” riding and training take place. That is the philosophy that shapes our riding, training, and teaching on a daily basis.

Young Horse Development

For us, starting young horses is very much a “proof is in the pudding” kind of deal. You can have as many great theories about starting young horses as you want, and many people do, but when you watch them actually work with a young horse, or when you have to ride the horses they produce, the reality often falls flat of your expectations. So instead of tell you, watch our head-trainer Victoria Lustig start a young horse from the ground-up in this mini-series of videos. These are not intended to be “how to” videos, but rather glimpses into our methods and practices.