KMS Equestrian, Dartmouth (2026)

14/06/2026

No Horse? No Problem! The Surprising Way We Learn True "Feel" 👥✨

I’ve had a number of people reach out recently asking: "I’d love to come to one of your Long Lining Clinics, but I don’t have a horse to bring / can't transport my horse. Can I still attend?"

The answer is a resounding YES!
In fact, some of the most profound "aha!" moments happen when we leave the horses in the field and work with each other instead.

I regularly run these specific workshops as dynamic group lessons, and here is exactly how they work:
How It Works: The Human "Horse" 🐴
Students pair up in the arena. One person takes on the role of the handler holding the lines, and the other plays the role of the horse, holding the ends of the line by their hips. We practice steering, transitions, and implementing the KMS Method geometry together.

Why It Works (And why it’s so powerful):
Zero Pressure, Zero Guilt: When you’re learning where to put your hands and how to manage the lines, it’s easy to get tangled. In this setup, no one worries about making mistakes or "messing up" their horse. You can mess up as much as you like!

Instant, Honest Feedback: A horse can’t tell you, "When you held the outside line just then, it made my shoulder feel blocked." But your human partner can! You get immediate, verbal feedback on exactly how your hand aids feel from the other end of the line.

Walking in Their Hooves: Playing the "horse" is incredibly eye-opening. You suddenly realize how a slight lag in the handler's timing or a heavy hand affects balance and clarity. It builds immense empathy for what we ask our horses to do.

A Brilliant Atmosphere: These sessions are always filled with laughter. They are relaxed, highly collaborative, and you learn just as much from watching and supporting your peers as you do from me.

Whether you want to master the lines before trying it on your own horse, or you simply want to understand equine biomechanics from a completely unique perspective, this workshop is for you.

I’m currently putting together the dates for my upcoming KMS Long Lining Workshops at Fitzworthy Equestrian Centre & am very happy to include a 'dismounted' workshop as part of the day.

Spaces for these interactive group slots are limited. If you want to grab a place (with or without a horse!), drop me a DM with the word "WORKSHOP" or comment below to get on the priority list! 👇

13/06/2026

Forged in Rehabilitation: The Story Behind the KMS Long Lining Method 🐎✨

Every training system has a starting point. Mine didn't come from a textbook or from simply repeating someone else's syllabus. It evolved in the trenches, working directly with remedial horses - animals that had often broken down mentally or physically and needed a completely fresh start to get back to the stage where they could be safely ridden again.

Through years of listening to those horses, I began fusing the psychological safety of Intelligent Horsemanship style long lining with the gymnastic elevation of Classical long reining.

Over time, this evolved into a highly specialized system that I developed myself. To this day, I don't know of another trainer who does precisely what I do regarding long reining.

Replicating the Saddle from the Ground
The core secret of my method is that we aren't just lunging with two reins or simply following a horse around the arena. We are replicating the ridden aids exactly.

Through precise positioning, body language, and specific line placement, your horse experiences the exact same support & guidance that they will later feel from a rider's leg, and hand.

Because we install this "ridden language" while the horse is completely relaxed, balanced, and free from the weight of a rider:
Green horses transition to the saddle with absolute clarity and zero panic.
Remedial horses rewrite their anxiety, learning that contact and direction mean safety, not strain.
Established horses learn advanced lateral work and collection effortlessly because the mental blueprint is already in place.

A Method Born of Necessity, Refined for Every Horse
Because this system was forged in rehabilitation, it is built entirely on patience, safety, and a deep understanding of equine biomechanics. It is designed to break every single movement down into clear, bite-sized pieces so that neither you nor your horse ever feel overwhelmed.

If you are looking for a method of groundwork that doesn't just "exercise" your horse, but directly transforms your ridden harmony, I would love to share this unique system with you.

🗓️ My Summer diary for South Devon is open, and dates for my Long Lining Clinics at Fitzworthy Equestrian Centre are filling fast.

Whether you are starting a youngster, rehabilitating a partner, or looking to refine an advanced horse, this is a toolkit you truly won't find anywhere else.

Send me a DM or comment below to grab your slot and give your horse the ultimate foundation! 👇

10/06/2026

"Isn’t long reining just walking along behind the horse?" 🤔🧵

Someone recently asked me this question, and it made me smile - because if that’s all you’ve ever seen, it can look that way!

While very basic long lining might involve simply following a horse around the arena, the truth is that true, systematic long lining is one of the most sophisticated, dynamic tools an equestrian can possess. It is so much more than just walking behind them; it is a conversation of ultimate precision.

When done correctly, long lining is the perfect companion to your ridden work. Here is what is actually happening down the lines:
1. Improving Balance & Suppleness
Without the weight of a rider on their back, a horse can truly learn how to find their own center of gravity. By using two lines, we can guide the outside shoulder and influence the inside hind leg, helping the horse develop symmetrical muscle and true lateral suppleness.
2. Confidence Building for Green or Remedial Horses
For young horses or those overcoming past trauma, the lines offer a safe, clear boundary. They learn to voice-cue, accept steering, and understand contact without the added confusion of a rider balancing above them.
3. Creating Lightness to the Aids
Because we have direct contact with the cavesson or bit, combined with our body position and reins acting as our "leg" aids, we can refine the horse's sensitivity. We are looking for responses to a whisper, which transfers beautifully into the saddle later.
4. Teaching Advanced & Lateral Work
This isn't just for walk and trot! My system incorporates classical elements. From the ground, we can safely introduce and refine complex lateral work, and even the high-level collection required for Piaffe and Passage.
5. Educating Small Ponies
Our smaller equine friends deserve an educated foundation too! If a pony is too small for an adult rider to school, long lining allows an experienced trainer to give them a top-tier education, making them safer and more balanced for the children who will ride them.

The Takeaway
When you watch a master long-rein, you aren't watching someone being towed around. You are watching a handler using geometry, biomechanics, and precise timing to sculpt the horse's movement. It is an art form.

Whether you want to help a stiff horse find freedom, get a young horse started correctly, or level up your own "feel" from the ground, my upcoming clinics at Fitzworthy Equestrian Centre are designed to show you exactly how to do it - step by step, with no overwhelm.

Have you ever tried long lining, or did you think it was just walking behind them too? (No judgment here!). Let’s chat in the comments! 👇

09/06/2026

"But my horse isn't a Dressage horse..." 🫣🐴

I hear this phrase so often. People look at the videos I brought back from Portugal of those incredible Lusitano stallions performing piaffe and think, "That looks amazing, but it’s not for my cob/pony/native/ex-racer."

I want to let you in on a secret: The classical principles don't care what breed your horse is.

Classical training was originally designed to make horses stronger, more maneuverable, and sounder so they could enjoy a longer working life. It is the ultimate system of physical therapy for the equine body.

🪵 Got a heavy cob who is on the forehand? Classical lateral work will teach them to lift their chest and lighten their front end.

🌪️ Got an ex-racer who rushes or gets anxious? The Enlightened Equitation seat will give them a stable, reassuring boundary that slows their mind and balances their stride.

🛡️ Got a native who is a bit stiff? Groundwork and systematic long-lining will open up their shoulders without the stress of a rider's weight - perfect for your child's pony!

No matter what shape, size, or breed your horse is, they deserve to move with comfort and lightness. And you deserve to feel secure and confident sitting on them.

I am currently booking my summer diary for South Devon riders who want to try a fresh, supportive approach to training. 1-to-1 sessions tailored entirely to you.

💬 What breed is your horse, and what is the one thing you’d love to improve about their balance? Let me know below! 👇

09/06/2026

Stuck in a Arena Rut? Let’s Change the Narrative. 🌀🐴

Do you ever find yourself driving to the yard, looking at the arena, and feeling a little bit… bored?

You go in, you do your 20-meter circles, you practice your transitions, but it feels like you're just ticking boxes. Maybe you’ve hit a training wall and you’re not sure how to break through it. Or maybe a loss of confidence or security in your saddle is holding you back from truly enjoying your horse.

If you want a change but don’t know where to turn, I want to invite you into a different world.

The Myth: "Classical riding is elitist, expensive, and only for fancy breeds of horse."

The Reality: Classical riding is for everyone, and every single type of horse - from the cob to the ex-racer, the happy hacker to the competitive amateur.

Classical training isn't about grand movements; it’s about comfort, biomechanics, and unlocking lightness. If you are bored of standard flatwork, classical principles give every single transition and circle a fascinating, rewarding purpose.

How I Teach (No Overwhelm Guaranteed):
I don’t believe in complex jargon or making riders feel inadequate. My specialty is breaking down big rider or training problems into simple, bite-sized pieces. We don't fix everything at once. We find the one small lever that changes everything for you and your horse, and we work at your pace.

📍 Based in South Devon, I have a few select slots opening up for 1-to-1 coaching and long-lining sessions (including at venues like Fitzworthy).

If you’re ready to get unstuck, fall back in love with your schooling, and build an unshakeable seat, send me a DM with the word "CHANGE." Let’s have a no-pressure chat about where you’re at! 👇

04/06/2026

The Bridleless Debate: Is It the Tool, or the Hands That Wield It? 🐴💭
You might have seen that the UK held its very first bridleless competition at Merrist Wood on 31st May, featuring both dressage and show jumping. It was a fascinating showcase of trust and coordination, but almost immediately, the equipment debate exploded across social media.

On one side, people are calling for bans on specific bits, nosebands, or training aids. On the other side, riders are fiercely defending them.

When it comes to tack and equipment, I am neither strictly "pro" nor "anti." My view has always been simple: Any tool or piece of equipment is only ever as good as the hands that wield it.

The Truth About "Mild" and "Harsh" Tack
The reality of horsemanship is that even the most seemingly innocuous piece of equipment - a simple snaffle, a bitless bridle, or a plain halter - can become an instrument of discomfort or force in the wrong hands. Conversely, a highly specialized classical tool, when used by a rider with an independent seat and a sensitive, educated hand, can be a tool of absolute whisper-light precision.

Stripping away the bridle can look beautiful, and it certainly proves a high level of harmony and trust. But bridleless or bitless riding isn't automatically "kind" if the horse is still hollow, tense, or bracing through their body to balance a rider who lacks a stable seat.

The Classical Path: Training the Inside, Not Changing the Outside
Rather than focusing purely on what we put on the horse's head (or not), classical training asks us to focus on what we are doing with our own bodies.

Good classical training will always be the ultimate path for equine welfare because it places the horse’s best interests at the very center. It doesn't rely on a specific piece of tack to force a shape. Instead, it encourages us as riders to:
🧘 Develop an independent, balanced seat so we never use the reins for our own stability or to force an 'outline'
🧠 Understand equine biomechanics, teaching the horse how to carry us effortlessly rather than just "submitting" to an aid.
🕊️ Prioritize lightness, where the ultimate goal is always to refine the aids until they are invisible - whether you are using a double bridle, a snaffle, or a neck rope.
At the end of the day, true lightness comes from the seat, the core, and the clarity of the foundation. When those are correct, the equipment becomes secondary.

💬 I would love to open up the floor to you all, as I know this is a topic many feel passionately about!

What are your thoughts on the equipment debate? How do you balance the tools you use with the focus on your own rider education?

Let’s keep the discussion in the comments polite, supportive, and educational! 👇

02/06/2026

HEADS UP!
I have a last minute space available for tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon, due to a cancellation.
DM me if you would like an Enlightened Equitation lesson.

KMS Equestrian

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