Horse Training, Breaking In, Young Horses Under Saddle, Jump Schooling, Fitness work, Chester Farm

Training Services Available & Rates

We are available to take horses and ponies all year round for schooling, training and breaking in purposes. Our knowledge and experience ranges from breeding foals through to top level competition and working with all breeds from Thoroughbreds, Stationbreds to Warmbloods, which enables us to confidently work with youngsters and unbroken horses through to more specific training or re-schooling with older, experienced horses.... whether they are for dressage, jumping, eventing, trekking, hunting, racing or simply pleasure riding!

We only take on a small number of horses for training at a time which allows us to offer a very personalised service for horses and owners and ensures we have plenty of time to work with each individual as they require on a day to day basis.

Long-reining out around the farm and river

Young Horses - Breaking In and Mileage For Early Ridden
Our specialty is starting young horses under saddle and then given them further mileage and progression with the ridden basics, providing them with a sound start to their ridden careers.
Our training combines both traditional and horsemanship methods crafted to suit each individual horse to create a calm, non-aggressive learning environment and acheive positive results.
Sending your young horse to us for breaking in means your horse will learn to:
- Accept all appropriate gear (saddle, bridle, boots, covers etc)
- Lunge and long-rein
- Stand calmly for mounting and dismounting
- Be ridden walk, trot, canter, turn and stop
- Be hosed all over
- Be ridden alone and in company
- Hack out around the farm, river, road and bush trails
- Stand for the farrier and be shod for the first time (as applicable)
- Work over poles on the ground

From starting with groundwork in the round yard to gradually progressing to riding in the arena, around the farm, across the fords and rivers, up and down the hills and in the bush - on their own and in company - these young horses gain huge inner confidence, strength and mileage that sets them up very well for their future riding careers.

Learning the aids in the round yard

Hacking out on the bush trails

Weanling / Yearling / Young Horse Handling
If you have a weanling, yearling or 2 year old that is not ready to be started under saddle but could benefit from some handling and life experience, we can give them some early education including leading, tieing up, being stabled, wearing a cover, having their feet trimmed, trotting out in-hand etc, which will help make them easier for you to manage at home and prepare them well for breaking in later down the track.

Bringing Horses Back Into Work
Whether you have a young horse that has been started under saddle and then turned out for awhile, a horse that has been rested following an injury, a racehorse that has been spelling, or perhaps a new horse purchased that is currently out of work, we can bring these horses back into work for you and then assist you with your first few rides again.

Jump Schooling
We are very experienced with teaching horses to jump and giving them the right start to build up their confidence, balance and jumping technique. We can also help experienced horses of any level improve their jumping. Jump schooling can incorporate free-jumping, showjumping, cross-country, hunter spar schooling and natural obstacles such as logs, water and ditches.

Professional Jump training develops technique & confidence

Basic Dressage / flatwork schooling for a soft, supple horse

Fitness Work
Our large sand based arena alongside surrounding farmland, hills and bush rides are perfect for fitness training. Ideal for getting the likes of your hunters, eventers, racing or trekking horses fit at anytime of year when you are too busy.

Other Services - Re-Schooling, Marketing & Competition
We can also help with re-schooling problems (eg loss of confidence jumping, not going forward, general young horse problems etc), plus help prepare and market your horse for sale including quality photographs and video footage and advertisements, and compete your horse on your behalf (as applicable).

Hill work and farm rides for fitness and variety

Exploring the river under saddle for the first time

General Information & Rates
We only take a small number of horses in for training at a time which means we can give each horse the time and attention they need, so bookings for training generally need to be made in advance. Depending on your requirements, most horses stay with us for between 2 to 8 weeks (we recommend 6 to 8 weeks for breaking-in to allow maximum time spent under saddle before going home). Horses are worked 5 days per week, rain or shine!

All horses are treated as individuals and as if they were one of our own, including paddocked individually and stabled. We believe horses thrive on regular routine and can provide them with a very peaceful and safe learning environment.

Owners are kept updated regularly throughout their horses' stay with us via email and phone, including progress photos. Owners are encouraged to come and ride their horses with us before taking them home, however for those who live further afield, we provide DVD footage of your horse so you can see them in action.

Schooling Rates:
Standard Rate: NZ$320+GST per week for training and agistment. Provide your own feed (unless otherwise discussed).
Discounted Rate: provided for all breaking-in, young horse handling and for general schooling horses staying for long term training 1 month or more, please enquire for more details.

Training Contract:
Click here to download our current Chester Farm Horse Training Contract (PDF File, 21kb)
(Please Note: This file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. Click to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Chester Farm's All Weather Sand Arena
Turnout Paddocks	Round Yard