Note: The trainers listed are not necessarily endorsed by Sylvia Scott or the Virginia Natural Horsemanship Training Center LLC, but are here to serve as a general resource for locating a natural horsemanship trainer near you. Contact the trainer directly and ask for references as needed to determine if one of these trainers is right for you.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Glen Oak, New South Wales, Australia

Fran Griffen - www.hunternaturalhorsemanship.com

Fran Griffen has been involved in the equestrian industry for the past 25 years. She has worked in the thoroughbred industry and has been a very successful competitor in the sport of eventing as a junior and young rider. She opened Hunter Natural Horsemanship Centre and began developing a simple and effective program for her students. She now studies with Ken Faulkner and Phillip Nye, two of Australia's most experienced and talented natural horsemen, whilst incorporating knowledge from her EFA training and work as an accredited dressage judge. Fran continues to upgrade her own skills and is particularly interested in the application of natural horsemanship for performance horses, confidence building for riders and safe trail riding.

Contact Information:

Fran Griffen

Hunter Natural Horsemanship Centre

3 Storks Road

Glen Oak, New South Wales 2320

Australia

Phone: 02-4988-6031

Email: frangriffen@bigpond.com

Moonbi, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

Melanie Fleming -  www.melfleming.com.au

4 Star Parelli Instructor. 4 Star Young Horse Trainer. 4 Star Foundation Trainer. Highest Parelli Aggregate Star Rating and the only Instructor endorsed to teach Fluidity in Australia.

Contact Information:

Melanie Fleming

Moonbi Horsemanship Centre

Moonbi, Tamworth, New South Wales

Australia

Phone: +61 (0)2 67605519

Email: mel@melfleming.com.au

QUEENSLAND

Esk, Queensland, Australia

Ken Faulkner -  www.australiannaturalhorsemanship.com

Ken Faulkner conducts courses and starts horses sharing his insights, knowledge and experience throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and more recently Japan. Ken’s knowledge and information will help people and horses to build a level of communication that will enable you to move forward together as a partnership, understand the intricacies of finesse riding and high level liberty. Australian Natural Horsemanship Study Centre teaches young horse starting and solutions for problem horses, including better communication and understanding for you and your horse.

Contact Information:

Ken Faulkner

Australian Natural Horsemanship Study Centre

P.O. Box 99

Esk, Queensland, Australia 4312

Phone Within Australia: 0427 732 394

Phone Outside Australia: +61 427 732 394

Email: info@australiannaturalhorsemanship.com

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Kathy Stewart -  www.australiannaturalhorsemanship.com

Kathy Stewart is an instructor with Ken Faulkner and Australia Natural Horsemanship and, with Ken, founded the Australian Natural Horsemanship Study Centre where students from throughout Australia and overseas come to study Natural Horsemanship. Kathy Stewart has been involved with horses for over thirty years and has spent the past seven years studying and teaching natural horsemanship. As well as teaching, Kathy has been starting horses for the public for the past seven years in Australia and more recently Japan. Kathy continues to study natural horsemanship techniques with Ken Faulkner as well as following her interests in reining and show jumping.

Contact Information:

Kathy Stewart

Australian Natural Horsemanship Study Centre

P.O. Box 99

Esk, Queensland, Australia 4312

Phone Within Australia: 0427 732 394

Phone Outside Australia: +61 427 732 394

Email: info@australiannaturalhorsemanship.com

Logan Village, Queensland, Australia

Ken Anderson - www.kelukiparkhorseplay.com

Are you laying awake at night worrying about having to float your horse, saddle and ride him etc., or how he will behave on the next ride? Then with my years of experience and the simple cost-effective 7-Step Safety System developed by Frank Bell, I can help you resolve these issues. Safety and fun are an important aspect of riding. We will get you started on a wonderful journey, all you have to know is what your goal is for you and your horse and we will assist you to take control and help your horse understand through positive communication.

Contact Information:

Ken Anderson

Keluki Park Horse Play

223 Lavelle Drive

Logan Village, Queensland 4207

Australia

Phone: 0419 724 980

Email: ken@kelukiparkhorseplay.com

Dilkera Station, Nebo, Queensland, Australia

David Stuart - www.davidstuart.com.au

David's strengths are the beginnings and the development of a foundation on a horse. A solid foundation is about the preparation and building blocks for the future; it's about getting a good start in life to then go on and build a future. With horses it is about getting a horse to where they are self confident and understanding of the task at hand. The better the preparation and foundation, the better the outcome. Laying a foundation for performance is the best preparation for success for both horse and rider.

Contact Information:

David Stuart

UNITED KINGDOM:

Manor Farm Minton, Church Stretton,
Shropshire, SY6 6PS

United Kingdom

Phone: 44 (0) 1694781647

Cell Phone: 44 (0) 7961829900

Email: infouk@davidstuart.com.au

AUSTRALIA:

Dilkera Station, Nebo 4742,

Queensland, Australia

Email: info@davidstuart.com.au

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

P.O. Box 71225

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Phone: 00971 5 0656 34

Email: info@davidstuart.com.au

Oakey, Queensland, Australia

Willem Koekemoer - www.soulhorse.com.au

Horses are my passion and it is my goal to show you how to use a horse's natural and instinctive language to enhance your interhorse communication. I'll help you create trust, leadership and respect through groundwork and play. I'll show you how to be an assertive leader for your horse using a gentle approach. I want your horse experience to be enjoyable and SAFE for both of you.

Contact Information:

Willem Koekemoer

Soul Horse

Oakey, Queensland, Australia

Phone: 0403353875

Email: soulhorse@optusnet.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Blanchetown, South Australia, Australia

Steve and Irena Halfpenny -  www.silversand.com.au

Silversand Natural Horsemanship is situated near the Riverland township of Blanchetown which is 40 minutes drive from the Barossa Valley and 2 hours drive north of Adelaide in South Australia. We hold live-in courses in April and October to cater both for basic and more advanced groups. We endeavour to keep these groups to a small number to ensure maximum attention for each individual. We like to see the centre as a place where people can grow mentally and emotionally as well as master the physical skills required to be a Natural Horseman.

Contact Information:

Steve and Irena Halfpenny

Silversand Natural Horsemanship

P.O. Box 16

Blanchetown, South Australia 5357
Australia

Phone: (08) 85405096

Fax: (08) 85405169

Email Steve: steve@silversand.com.au

Email Irena: irena@silversand.com.au

TASMANIA

Acton Park, Tasmania, Australia

Damon Wills - www.damonwills.com

Damon Wills is well known for his horse handling abilities. He has developed a sensitive and intelligent approach to communicating and working with horses. As part of his Communication Through Heart & Soul, he conducts demonstrations, seminars, clinics, and workshops throughout Australia and the United States, as well as a range of equine services and products. Whether starting young horses, solving behaviour problems or teaching performance techniques, Damon Wills produces outstanding results for both the horse and the handler. His approach involves understanding the way the horse thinks and learning from the horse, so as to respond more effectively. Damon's methods of horsemanship have opened up a whole new world in horse-human relationships.

Contact Information:

205 Acton Drive

Acton Park, 7170, Tasmania, Australia

Phone: (61) 3 62487315

Email: damon@damonwills.com

Golden Valley, Tasmania, Australia

Cynthia Cooper - www.naturalhorsenews.com

Cynthia Cooper is dedicated to helping people understand the physical, mental and emotional well being of the whole horse through instructing Natural Horsemanship and Natural horse care. Cynthia offers a live-in situation to local, interstate and overseas students who are committed and enthusiastic about learning natural horsemanship and horse care.

Contact Information:

Cynthia Cooper

Natural Horse World

46 Wattle Lea Lane

Golden Valley, Tasmania, Australia 7304

Phone: 0363 695177

Wattle Hill, Tasmania, Australia

Ian Leighton - www.ianleightonhorsemanship.com

Gentle Methods Horses Understand - When looking for a few words that describe Ian's style of horsemanship, we chose the above. This could easily be changed to "Gentle Methods People Understand." Ian's ability to create understanding between horses and their owners has been successful in helping hundreds of horses overcome their people problems and vice versa. Ian combines what he has learned from both traditional and "natural" horsemen over 30 years with what he has learned from thousands of horses to create a system that all horses and riders will benefit from. His style of training is easy to understand with a focus on the comfort and safety of both the horse and rider. Most behavioural problems are caused by confusion or a lack of understanding between horse and rider. If a horse finds relief from pressure, by a reaction, it will repeat the reaction whenever it encounters the same pressure. If the horse is punished for responding incorrectly, it will panic. Humans call this bad behaviour. Horses learn from the relief of pressure, not the pressure itself. Our aids, body language and gadgets are pressure to a horse. Use them with empathy. Ian Leighton calls this Commonsense Horsemanship. This is a combination of groundwork and ridden exercises that promote respect, softness and calmness in your horse without taking away its energy or willingness to perform. Commonsense Horsemanship has been succesfully used to help horses for dressage, western, showing, eventing, stockwork and pleasure. Ian works with people at all levels of horsemanship, from experienced competitors to nervous beginners. In addition to clinics, Ian also offers home visits. For details contact us.

Contact Information:

Ian Leighton

Ian Leighton Horsemanship

Wattle Hill, Tasmania 7172

Australia

Phone: 0432297901

Email: ian@ianleightonhorsemanship.com

VICTORIA

Coldstream, Victoria, Australia

Wrangler Jayne - www.wranglerjayne.com

Wrangler Jayne is dedicated to helping you improve your abilities to communicate with your horse and care for him or her in a natural way. She gives you solid solutions to real issues, creative energy to expand your skills, a fresh approach to learning and techniques that work so you achieve fantastic results with your horse.

Contact Information:

Wrangler Jayne

Horsemanship With Heart

P.O. Box 233

Coldstream, Victoria 3770

Australia

Phone: +61 3 9739 1078

Email: jayne@wranglerjayne.com.au

Drysdale, Victoria, Australia

David & Sandi Simons - www.davidsimons.com.au

Accredited John Lyons trainer. Horses are our greatest teachers and friends and we have been privileged to own Gambler, David's Quarterhorse gelding; Bandit (also known as Beau), David's paint horse who is a most entertaining creature! Sandi's Warmblood gelding Galitea and our most recent acquisition, our paint stallion Cash, who has a fantastic temperament. Have a look around our web site and we hope you come back often for regularly updated training tips.

Contact Information:

David & Sandi Simons

Costalot Park

185 Murradoc Road

Drysdale, Victoria, Australia 3222

P.O. Box 172

Drysdale, Victoria, Australia 3222

Phone: 03 5253 1504

Mobile: 0419 343 406

Email David: david@davidsimons.com.au

Email Sandi: sandi@davidsimons.com.au

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Tamara Coakley & Bianca Boorer - www.tashanorpark.com

Here at Tashanor Park we believe in balanced horsemanship, the kind that treats the horse with the same respect and love that we would like them to show us. We have chosen to use the term ‘balanced’ not as a label, but to convey the fact that there is good to be discovered in many fields as far as horsemanship, whether they come under the heading ‘NATURAL,’ ‘NORMAL,’ ‘TRADITIONAL’ or ‘CLASSICAL.’ Our education course, the “B.A.L.A.N.C.E APPROACH, has put together some of the best training methods and techniques in achieving a quality relationship between you and your horse. We strive to help and support each horse and human individually, taking into account their own personal needs and abilities. We welcome all enquiries and are happy to have spectators at all our workshops and clinics free of charge!
Contact Information:

Tamara Coakley & Bianca Boorer

Tashanor Park B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D Horsemanship Centre

419 Baynton Rd Kyneton

Melbourne, Victoria 3444

Australia

Phone:  03) 54221483 or Mobile 0410042663

Email:  tamara@tashanorpark.com

Near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Ross Coventry - www.foundationhorseman.com.au

At Foundation Horseman we believe in utilising gentle natural methods in training horse and rider.  All the work we do with the horse is aimed at building a relationship that is based on respect between the horse and rider, we gain this respect by utilising gentle methods to establish control thus gaining the horse's trust.

Contact Information:

Ross Coventry

Foundation Horseman

429 State Forest Road, Ross Creek 3351

Near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Phone: (03) 53420673

Mobile: 0437741881

Email: rc@foundationhorseman.com.au

Pakenham, Victoria, Australia

Ross Jacobs - www.goodhorsemanship.com.au

It is Ross’ ability to understand life from the horse’s point of view that has made him popular among horse owners who are looking for a willing partnership with their horses.

Contact Information:

Ross Jacobs

P.O. Box 611

Pakenham, Victoria 3810, Australia

Phone (from Australia): 03 5629 2045

Phone (from Overseas): +61 3 5629 2045

Email: rossajacobs@yahoo.com

Tanjil South, Victoria, Victoria, Australia

Jenny Pearce - www.bookswithspirit.com

Spirit of Horse is based on the unique and life changing book, "Bobby's Diaries - Straight from the Horse's Mouth to You," that shows you how to communicate with your horse in an extraordinary way. In these clinics, Jenny shows you how you can use the natural connectedness between all horses and humans to bring an awesome dimension to your time with your horse. Reach your dreams with Spirit of Horse, whether you dream of riding Grand Prix, being a reining champion, bareback and bridleless in the ocean, being the best teacher possible or simply enjoying your horse safely on Sunday afternoons out on the trail.

Contact Information:

Jenny Pearce

Spirit of Horse

65 Willowgrove Road

Tanjil South, Victoria 3825

Australia

Phone: 03 5160 1481

Email: jenny@bookswithspirit.com

Whittlesea, Victoria, Australia

Carlos Tabernaberri - www.whisperingacres.com.au

Looking to establish or build a great relationship with your horse? At Whispering Acres we start and train horses the gentle way, establishing cooperation through clear communication, understanding and trust. In addition, we provide riding instruction and conduct regular clinics that focus on safety for both horse and rider and help you to develop this foundation with your own horse. We also emphasise teaching practical physical, emotional and mental techniques for dealing with issues like loss of confidence, spooking, bolting or picking up feet – issues that may prevent you from having the best relationship with your horse. We want your experiences of riding and handling your horse to be enjoyable for both of you. We believe there are no problems in either the horse or rider, just a lack of communication, understanding and trust. That's why we use this gentling method, whether introducing a horse to the saddle for the first time or correcting an existing behavioural problem. It ensures improved performance and versatility, regardless of your preferred discipline. Therefore our motto: 'Help Ever, Hurt Never'.

Contact Information:

Carlos Tabernaberri

Whispering Acres Horse Starting and Training

P.O. Box 97

Whittlesea, Victoria 3757, Australia

Mobile phone: 0414 380 396

Outside Australia: +61 414 380 396

Email: whisperingacres@iprimus.com.au

WEST AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA

Serpentine, West Australia, Australia

Jayne Lavender - www.jaynelavender.com

Jayne Lavender's aim is to teach you how to understand your horse and achieve results beyond your wildest expectations, with love and compassion, rather than fear and force, and to give you and your horse the self confidence and freedom that comes from a shared knowledge of each other.

Contact Information:

Jayne Lavender

Serpentine, West Australia (& Wheathampstead, U.K.)

Phone: 01582 833246

Email: jayne@jaynelavender.com

Mobile & Text: +44 77629 25999

Australia: +61 414 221 302 (text messages only)

GENERAL AUSTRALIA

Australia

Steve Brady - www.stevebradyhorsemanship.com

Steve Brady is one of Australia's most respected and requested horsemanship clinicians. Steve conducts clinics in all states for riders in all disciplines and sports. After 25 years in the horse educating business, starting over 3,000 horses under saddle, also working with problem horses and educating advanced horses for clients, Steve became aware that it is people who need educating and has now gone full time into the people educating business. Steve likes to work with people who like to advance their horses by educating and improving themselves. Steve's chronological step by step ridden building block program develops submission to the rein and leg aids and gives you a softness and suppleness in your horse that all riders desire. Steve uses easy exercises that any rider can learn. These exercises will give the recreational rider complete control of their horse and make it easier for the competitive rider to further their training and start to teach any manoeuvre or movement required for their sport. Steve stresses the importance of consistency, the timing of the release of pressure and how recognising the littlest try is vital to training.

Contact Information:

Steve Brady

Phone: (02) 6550 2229

Fax: (02) 6550 2205

Mobile: 0412 292 182

Email: enquiries@stevebradyhorsemanship.com