Track livery, Therapy & Training.
Stable & Stay: Holiday With Your Horse,
West Dorset.
On our doorstep: Fabulous hacking in the beautiful Dorset Hills.
We are very lucky to have miles of off-road hacking just across the road.
Starting with the wide and well surfaced Millenium Route public path, which follows the meandering River Frome, and leads on to a large network of vast open fields and quiet tracks. Perfect for fitness training, or just unwinding.
What we do
At Faunbank Stables, the horses needs and welfare are always paramount, and we always aim for contented animals.
Putting Horses First
The mental as well as physical wellbeing of our animals is extremely important to us. So we always try to group horses with friends, so they can enjoy companionship and carry out natural behaviours like grooming and playing. To minimalise risk of injury, horses are matched up to suitable companions. Our American barn style stables are open plan, so the horses still feel like they are in a herd, as nature intended, not isolated. By meeting horses' needs in this way, it is much easier to achieve a happy, cooperative mount. Our horses have turnout all year round, 24 hrs in the summer, and all day in the winter, as we believe plenty of movement is essential for health and well-being.
Track Livery
We switched to a track system in 2021, and have found this has many benefits for the horses. Their fitness has improved through increased movement, and it is now easier to manage ponies who are prone to weight gain. The horses have more variety and a more natural environment where they can explore, and choose high open ground, or sheltered lower wooded and hedged areas. We have 6 track options, so we can match up suitable groups. Our horses alway have ad lib forage. Four tracks have a moderate amount of grass, the other two being more suited to horses who need restricted diets.
Therapy & Training
We use a combination of traditional and natural horsemanship methods always using positive reinforcement. Combining equine massage, bodywork and herbal therapy, we take a holistic approach and cater to each horse's or pony's individual needs. We take in horses with all manner of problems or training difficulties, anxiety, aggression and fear issues. Youngsters, for pre-backing groundwork, backing and bringing on. And horses that just need bringing back into work, fittening or require retraining for a new career. No project is too big or too small.
Stable & Stay
Holiday with your horse in the beautiful Dorset hills, just 10 miles from the stunning Jurassic coastline. We have miles of off-road hacking with lots of big green fields and quiet tracks. Horse friendly beaches are just a short drive away.
We offer free use of our 20 x 60m outdoor arena with a lovely springy all-weather surface and show jumps. Coaching with a BHS accredited professional coach and equine therapy sessions (Merisha massage, myofascial release and zoopharmacognosy, herbal self-selection) are available if prebooked.
Coaching
You can bring your horse to us, or I can visit within a 20 mile radius. BHS accerdited professional coach, Anna Alderson is available for coaching. I also have a Diploma in Equine Psychology with distinction. I always aim for softness, a true outline with self carriage, and harmony between horse & rider. I encourage minimalising and lightening of aids and producing a willing and cooperative partnership. Problems are broken down into small steps, and positive reinforcement is used to achieve training goals. I have over 30 years experience of working with horses, training and competing.
Arena Hire
Our outdoor 20 x 60m arena has a recently upgraded lovely soft springy surface, of natural fibre and silica sand with excellent drainage. So even when the beautiful water meadows across the road are flooded, there are no puddles or soggy patches. We have a set of show jumps and plenty of poles included in the cost of hire. Solar lights are also installed. Enjoy the stunning views of Notton valley and the River Frome whilst riding.
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