Stop trying everything. Start understanding your horse.
Real horses. Real riders. Real answers.
If you have tried different trainers or followed different hoof advice – but still feel stuck – the problem is not that you are not trying hard enough.
The challenge is finding out what is working, and what not. And why.
Most horse owners are willing to do the work.
They care, they try, and they want to do the right thing.
But without a clear understanding of what really is happening, the right decisions become more like guesswork – and often the same problems keep coming back.
I help you understand your horse – so you can make better decisions in both riding and hoof care.
Choose where you want to start:
Horse-first Riding
Many riders try really hard but still struggle to see real progress. Not because they don’t work hard enough – but because they don’t know what to look for.
I help you understand what good riding actually looks like and feels like.
You will finally know just what to do – and even better, also HOW to do it.
I’ve put together a short guide with 10 easy adjustments you can make today – whether you ride at home or in lessons.
Small changes that, when done correctly, can make a huge difference for you and your horse.
Start paying attention to what actually makes a difference:
Horse-first Hoof Care
Hoof problems rarely appear out of nowhere – but they are often treated that way, as if they ‘just happen’.
Hooves grow slowly, and it can be hard to tell what really is going on.
I help you understand what your horse’s hooves are telling you, and how hoof care decisions affect his long-term soundness and health.
Hoof photographs are cheap, quick — and essential for keeping track of hoof health. Whether you are working with a professional or evaluating your own horse, this guide shows you exactly how to take good hoof pictures.
Learn to see what your horse’s hooves really are telling you:
You don’t need more random advice or quick fixes
You need to know how to recognize:
- what actually is working
- what is not
- what needs to change – and why.
Work with me
Most people come to me after trying many things without getting the results they want.
Their horse isn’t improving. Problems keep coming back.
And they are not sure anymore about who to trust or what to change.
My work focuses on creating clarity – so you understand what is happening and what to do next.
Whether you need guidance in riding, hoof care, or both, the goal is the same: better decisions and better outcomes for your horse.
I offer riding education and hoof care help both online and – for those based in Norway – in person.
Online support:
- Online riding analysis
- Online hoof health guidance
- Second opinions and decision support (training, buying a horse, etc.)
In Norway:
- Riding lessons
- Training and development (availability depending on current projects)
- Hoof care services (limited availability)
- Hoof care classes (basic, advanced and instruction in hoof trimming)
When things finally start making sense:
Many riding teachers can tell you what to do. Michele, however, explains exactly how you should do it – and also why. She truly makes you a better rider and your horse a better (and happier) horse. Of the several trainers I have had, she is actually the only one that has ridden my horses for me, too. Even if she just rode them for a few minutes in walk, the horses always felt amazingly different afterwards. It really taught me how a correctly ridden horse should feel under you. This is something which has also been extremely helpful for me when riding and training horses for other people. Sylvia Maria Sørensen, Oslo
I have used Michele Stuurman as the hoof care professional for my horses since 2010 and I am very satisfied. Michele is great at explaining what she does, and to answer whatever question you might have. And she does a great job in adapting her hoof trim to the way the horse is used, and the wishes of the horse owner. My horses are always happy when Michele has been here! Monica Værnes, Enebakk, Norway
Meet Michele
I’m Michele Stuurman, based at Raaken Farm in Norway.
I have been working with horses for over forty years. As a rider, trainer, teacher, breeder and hoof care provider. I’ve worked with horses and riders at all levels – from muddy backyard ponies to international sport horses.
What I see again and again is this:
people are willing to do the work, but they are not given the understanding they need to make good decisions.
That’s where I focus.
Not just helping your horse — but helping you understand what your horse needs.
Real horses. Real riders. Real answers – and why they work.
Understanding your horse is where everything starts.