About Us
We are a small, family-run equestrian farm in the heart of Aberdeenshire, ~ 20 minutes from both Highland terrain as well as the sandy beaches at Balmedie and Newburgh , with its unique seal colony. Other scenic places to visit comprise a number of local nature reserves, castle and whiskey trails, as well as the Grampian Highlands. Various other historical and beauty spots in Aberdeen-, Perth- and Inverness-shire are also at our doorstep (for bespoke tours, visit this site).
Growing up with horses and learning basic horse(wo)manship in Germany, we set up our home in Aberdeenshire and bought our first three ponies in 1998. Our little herd has grown ever since, and in 2017, when the children prepared to flee the nest, we decided to take the plunge and buy another farm close by, to expand our horsey ambitions and be more self-sufficient.
We currently own 12 horses and ponies, with 2 more foals expected in 2021.
The dream is to breed beautiful, quality Haflinger horses that can be true companions and family members, as well as versatile leisure and sporting partners.
We are also offering consultancy services to address behavioural difficulties, help to find and create the ideal rider-horse match for a long-lasting relationship, and to shape the best match between riding ambitions, horse breed, character, and capabilities. Our service involves in-depth assessments of both horse and rider and their interactions, past experiences, successes, failures and future ambitions, and is based on equestrian as well as human behavioural assessments, psychological and learning theories. We do not judge riders’ capabilities as a sports person, their talents and prospects at equestrian competitions.
Our Philosophy
Our breeding and training philosophy is routed in the understanding of animal behaviour (we both studied behavioural sciences and hold PhDs in Neuroscience). Horses are born with strong behavioural traits, yet also bred to be human companions and for efficient training.
They will predominantly seek to
- Avoid and flee from danger
- Avoid solitude as a herd offers protection and companionship
- Establish hierarchies and ranks within a dynamic group
- Explore and expand their environment to optimise foraging
- Use vocalisation, posture and body language to communicate
- Chose the easiest and least unpleasant option
Like children, horses are never born evil. With few exceptions such as trauma and accidents, negative behaviours are usually routed in mistreatment, misunderstandings and insecurities, or adverse holding conditions.
For effective training, we need to build a strong basis of trust and mutual understanding, which cannot be rushed but optimised with the correct routines. You must be committed to invest time, be patient, and learn how to effectively communicate what you are asking your horse to do. We cannot expect a desirable behaviour to emerge in a situation where our horse is scared, and a key skill for every owner is to learn how to discriminate between genuine fear versus making a fuss to avoid a not-so-desirable situation.
At the same time, you must be consistent and firm. An overly soft approach will be misunderstood and exploited by the horse, as she of course always seeks to dominate, get her own way, and have the easiest path to being rewarded.
When dealing with unwanted behaviour, my approach is to always ask myself: Is my horse scared or messing with me? Have I communicated clearly what I want from her?
The desire to create a true friendship and bond with our horse often leads humans to treat horses like children, and project their own needs onto them. From over-stabling and over-rugging to excessive rewarding with unsuitable treats, and insufficient exercise, humans cause unwanted behaviours such as biting, barging, rolling and cribbing. Yes, we want a close bond and this is indeed achievable, but it must be on the basis of horse behaviour, not human behaviour. We can consciously adjust what we do, but our horses’ behaviour will be driven by the key traits outlined above.
Our breeding Approach
We are thriving to breed and train outstanding Haflinger horses from exceptional bloodlines, on a small scale, so that we can dedicate time and attention to each individual. The traits we are seeking to foster are a gentle and curious temperament, a sporty yet elegant and straight build, with expressive paces and moves. Haflinger are extremely versatile and excel in multiple categories, including showing, dressage, jumping, and eventing. Most importantly, they are the ideal family horse, as their friendly nature makes them approachable, safe around children, dogs and other animals.
Further information on the background and history of the Haflinger horse can be found at: