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What Happens During a Horse Boot Camp?

What Happens During a Horse Boot Camp?

by Kirstie Caister | Boot Camp

If you’re thinking about sending your horse to us for a boot camp, you’ve probably already Googled this question and got a wall of generic answers. “Structured routine.” “Professional environment.” “Tailored training...

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What My Lovely Clients Say

Tiffany Faiers

“Superstar pony has come so far with all the help and support of Kirstie!”

Katie Austin

“You’ve done such an incredible job with him. Can’t thank you enough and so looking forward to our journey together 😊 thank you xxx”

Sarah Halpin

“Boni looks super- thank you. She is so beautiful what an amazing girl she is growing up to be. She loves her holidays at yours😊”

Suzanne Bond

“I really enjoyed it and Kirstie was incredible”

Jo Iremonger

“Thank you once again for your help with Barney. He’s just a dude.”

Becky Brock

“I first used the services of Kirstie about 6 years ago when I took on a 4 year old rescue pony with no personal experience of bringing on a youngster. Last year I took on a second rescue pony and didn’t hesitate to use Kirstie for a second time. Kirstie has produced them both beautifully using a very gentle and kind approach and they have turned out perfect for my two children. I never worry when they have been to boot camp at Kirstie’s, and to be honest, I think they love the pampered life they get there better than home. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”

Baylia Stud

“Llanmorlais Valient Lady 💃 I’ve been keeping this one a secret 🤫

I purchased this mare a couple months ago to back and get ready for a novice season under saddle. She proved very difficult and struggled with trusting people. She would get tense and then explode.

We’ve been taking baby steps, getting her comfortable with each step of the process. Today was the first time we have walked off the lead rein and she was perfect!

Although it’s taken a lot of time and patience, it’s been absolutely worth it. A massive thank you to Kirstie Harris Caister Equestrian for all your continued help getting us this far. Onwards and upwards for this little mare.”

Jo Green

“Our amazing pony! And with your patience and commitment to him, you have just developed him into this dude. I can’t wait for you both to show the county what you can do !!!! You both deserve success. I’m just so thankful for all you do with him. He is such a lovely dude.”

Tanya Castello

“Kirstie has been more than an instructor to me. From taking me from a nervous wreck to competing BD to finding me my next horse Kirstie has been my champion from the side lines for the last 9 years. Her broad expertise in showing, dressage, jumping and riding youngsters means that there is a rarely a problem that she hasn’t been able to find a solution to. I value her wisdom and generosity as well as always knowing I have someone to discuss my competing successes and failures with. I couldn’t recommend Kirstie enough.”

Katie and James

“Really well thank you! James said he messaged you but long story short she’s 10x better and everywhere he’s wanted her to go, she’s gone with minimal fuss 🎉. Thank you!!!!”

Baylia Stud

“Jack posing for the camera this evening, working his socks off in this cold weather. Getting ready for his first Novice dressage test in two weeks’ time. 🕺

It just goes to show what an older stallion can do, 18 this year and loving his ridden life! And lots of pony parties!

Thank you so much to my instructor Kirstie Harris Caister Equestrian, for all the help and guidance along the way. 🥰”

Sally Mathews

“Kirstie has been training us for many years now – starting with my son when he was very young, through to my daughter and me! She has helped to keep riding fun for the kids on our very spicy little pony – from supporting them through periods of insecurity to challenging them as their riding developed.

We bought our youngster from her as a 2-year-old. We knew he’d had a wonderful start. She has guided us through his first steps under saddle, to piloting him into the ribbons at his first dressage competitions. It’s really important to me, as a chiropractor, to have a kind and sympathetic coach for the horses as well as the children.

She is never in a rush and has allowed our pony to develop slowly and steadily with the goal of producing a safe friend for many years to come.

I would 100% recommend her!”

Steph Birt

“All I can say about Kirstie and my experience with her is AMAZING things. I have known Kirstie for a number of years, firstly using her for lessons for myself, then more recently teaching my daughter to ride and also to help back and school our youngster.

Kirstie has done a fantastic job with Cromwell since he was backed. She has worked with him weekly at our livery yard, supported us with advice and he has had a couple of short stays at Kirstie’s own facility, from which he has benefited immensely. We couldn’t have asked for a better start for our young boy.

Watching Kirstie ride him and bring out the best in him fills me with joy. Her gentle and understanding approach has really benefited him. As an instructor Kirstie knows how to make you feel important at ease and increase your confidence whilst having fun at the same time.

She is calm, kind, and knows how to teach at a level for every individual to feel comfortable. Kirstie also celebrates your successes, which I love, because it shows she is invested in what she does emotionally too. I can’t thank Kirstie enough for all the help and advice she has given my daughter and I over the years.”

Gracie Herbert

I’ve trained with Kirstie for over six years now where she helped me to regain my confidence and get me back out competing.

I was lucky enough to loan one of Kirstie’s ponies, a beautiful 4-year-old new forest called Tillie who between the two of them, brought back my love for riding again and got my confidence back. On Christmas Day 2018 I got the very best Xmas present of calling her my own! A day I will never forget!

I continued to keep Tillie on livery with Kirstie and had so many amazing new experiences and adventures, from beach rides to clinics she also introduced me to the showing world. She taught me to ride in a double bridle, turn out for the show ring, to ride in the go-around and how to do an individual show. Kirstie taught me every week and was always there at every competition to warm us up and support us through everything. With her help, Tillie and I qualified for the NPS dressage championship, our first stay-away show. With her help, we also went to equifest, cross-country schooling, fun rides and many many more.

Kirstie knew I always wanted to be a groom, so taught me how to turn out horses to a high standard and how to bring on and back youngsters.

Kirstie also helped me to find my next horse, travelling miles to make sure it was right. Although she had her quirks, Kirstie taught me how to deal with them and encouraged me through, being there every step of the way and making me a better rider.

Without Kirstie, I wouldn’t have been able to experience all these key moments. I cannot thank her enough.

Jo Maynard

“I have been lucky enough to have had Kirstie as our trainer for the past 6 years.

During that time she has developed an amazing bond with my boy and gets the absolute best out of him. She strives to establish a personalised training plan to target specific weaknesses and areas of development. She has turned my front wheel drive wonky donkey into a balanced steed who can now effectively use his back end to produce some stunning work.

I am also very grateful for the rehabilitation boot camp she did with him after he was hit by a car and understandably developed an intense fear of approaching vehicles. She used her skills and abilities to work with him to regain the trust, allowing us to return to hacking and continue to enjoy what we love.

Highly Recommend.”

The Howland Family

“As a family, we feel incredibly grateful to Kirstie for her knowledge, calm manner and patience, not just with our daughter and horses but also with us who were ‘non horsey’ parents.

While teaching, Kirstie instinctively knows when gentle encouragement is needed or when stronger ‘you can do this’ reassurance is in order. The confidence and self belief she brings out in daughter is immeasurable.

We will forever be thankful to Kirstie for her time & perseverance, as well for helping us produce & back our pony Charley, helping re-hab our horse Beatrix from Kissing spine & SI injury, the many riding lessons, boot camps and the extras like pole clinics and horsey pampering sessions.

In short, everyone needs a Kirstie in their tack box.”

Charlotte Scott

“I met Kirstie 10+ years ago when I was lucky enough to have one of her family horses on loan. Norman was started by Kirstie who gave him the most wonderful education and turned him into the superstar that he still is today. Knowing that he was the horse for me, Kirstie and her family allowed me to buy him, and we also liveried with Kirstie for 7+ years.
I always loved my dressage but after watching Kirstie’s success in the show ring and the enjoyment it brought to not only her but everyone else around her, we discussed giving it a go! As someone that had never shown to any level before Kirstie taught me everything, how to turn out the horse to the highest of standards, plaiting, quarter markings etc. She also taught me how to turn out for different types of horses depending on the class.
We had regular lessons where she taught me ring craft, individual shows and how to complete a trot up. Soon after it was time to enter our first showing class where Norm only went and won it! Kirstie was with me every step of the way, helped me to turn him out and warmed him up. Kirstie continued to support me and always invited Norm and I to go to any show she was attending.
We got talking about HOYS where she suggested I try out for The Search for a Star HOYS qualifier, she thought we were ready, so we gave it a go! With her Teaching, Help and support Norman qualified on our first attempt and went on to gain a 5th Place HOYS.  None of this would have been possible without Kirstie’s Guidance, teaching and support. We were without transport, and she took us to Birmingham in her lorry and stayed with us all the whole time. Our success was because of her and I will forever be grateful for all that she did and continues to do.”

Katie Harris

“I first met Kirstie nearly two years’ ago when looking for a professional set of eyes to come and view a young horse with me. Kirstie was recommended to me given her knowledge and experience of breeding and producing horses, particularly connemaras. As we had never met, Kirstie took the time to speak to me at length about my riding history and what I was looking for (a mother and daughter share capable of competing at riding club level). Kirstie’s knowledge and experience was obvious, but what stood out to me the most was her warmth and the fact she genuinely cared. Following her advice, I bought the horse we viewed (a just backed three year old IDxconnie), but as I had been out of the saddle for a few years Kirstie agreed to provide ongoing support through lessons etc to help me bring him on. The horse turned out to be everything Kirstie said it would be and more, illustrating early on her incredible judgment and ability to read horses. Since meeting a number of others who work with Kirstie (physio’s/vets/saddle fitters and farriers) it is clear this ability is recognised by all who work with her.

Shortly after getting him, a number of significant personal issues led to me suffering from anxiety and a lack of confidence. Although it was no fault of my horse and despite having over 30 years’ experience owning and riding horses, I became a middle aged, unfit and nervous rider. It got so bad at one point that the thought of even bringing my horse in from the field made me feel physically sick, let alone the idea of sitting on him. Through Kirstie’s knowledge, seemingly infinite amounts of patience, encouragement and warmth, I am now happily schooling, hacking and jumping my horse – things that only six months ago would have seen unimaginable to me. My riding ability and confidence has come on leaps and bounds and the joy of riding has returned to me.

In addition to teaching me, Kirstie also regularly schools my horse and he has been to her yard on boot camp a couple of times. She has also given him his first experience of going out and about – competing in a couple of unaffiliated dressage competitions where he was placed 1st in 3 of his 4 classes. She is an incredible rider who is both sensitive and consistent with her training, and I now have a horse that is a dream to ride very much thanks to her hard work.

Not only is Kirstie an excellent instructor and trainer, she truly is an amazing source of support who goes above and beyond to help. I know that I haven’t been the easiest client – chaotic, huge confidence issues and often late to lessons! However, Kirstie deals with it all with kindness, encouragement and a smile on her face. I genuinely wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Kirstie and I owe her a huge amount of gratitude.”

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Ashford Hill, Hampshire, UK

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