Natalie is a breeder and rider based in Surrey, England, with a particular interest in the training and development of young horses.

Her interest in Equitation Science began while returning to riding after a break and taking lessons on a riding simulator. She was struck by the clearly defined and predictable set of cues being taught to the rider and began to question why the process of teaching the horse those responses often seemed far less systematic. Around the same time, a chance meeting with an Equitation Science practitioner in South Africa introduced her to the work of Dr Andrew McLean and provided a scientific framework for many of the questions she had begun to ask about horse training.

As a breeder, Natalie has raised horses from birth through their early education, backing and ridden training, and is particularly interested in applying the principles of Equitation Science to the progressive education of young horses. This includes establishing a clear understanding of pressure and release from an early stage and developing consistent responses that can be progressively refined as the horse’s training advances.

Natalie also has a strong interest in biomechanics, both of the horse and rider, and has undertaken further education in this area. Her wider study has encompassed equine behaviour, rehabilitation, nutrition and health, as well as the influence of hoof balance on the ridden horse. This breadth of study has reinforced her interest in considering training within the context of the whole horse rather than in isolation.

Her approach to training is grounded in the application of learning theory, ethology and biomechanics, with an emphasis on clear, consistent signals, self-carriage and systematic progression. She is particularly interested in how these principles can be applied from a horse’s earliest education through to ridden work and performance.