The pull towards horses
I have been interested in horses for as long as I can remember.
Not in a professional way at the beginning – no pony in the backyard, no early competition career – just riding lessons, curiosity, and a growing need to understand how horses actually work.
That interest never really went away.
Over time, I read, watched, listened, asked questions, and rode a lot of very different horses.
And gradually, experience began to take shape.
Trends versus principles
Over the last 40 years I have been active in many different branches of equestrian sport, training and breeding.
Around 25 years ago, hoof care became a second professional pillar
I have seen many methods come and go.
Some were great. Some methods worked for a while. Others didn’t work at all.
What became clear is this:
There are principles that matter – regardless of trends or opinions.
Sound biomechanics.
Thoughtful training progression.
Correct riding technique.
And above all: respect for the horse as a living being with individual needs and limitations.
These principles don’t change.
But how well we understand them – and how we apply them – makes all the difference.
Where most people get stuck
Most horse owners are willing to do the work.
They take lessons, follow advice, and try to do the right thing.
But they are rarely taught how to understand what is actually happening.
So they end up:
- trying different approaches
- following different opinions
- and still not getting consistent results.
Not because they don’t care.
But because they lack a clear way to evaluate what they are doing.
Old knowledge in a modern context
Much of the knowledge we need to understand horses is not new.
A lot of it is actually old, even from centuries ago.
But horses today live in a different environment, and that changes how we need to apply that knowledge.
If you feel like something isn’t quite right with the advice you get – chances are you are right.
The goal is not quick fixes, but clear thinking, careful observation, and consistent work over time.
Our task is to understand both the old knowledge and the modern context — and to make decisions that support the horse’s welfare today.
How I work
My focus is not just to give advice, but to help you understand your horse well enough to make better decisions yourself.
That means learning to recognize:
- what is working
- what isn’t
- and what needs to change.
In riding.
In hoof care.
And in how the whole horse is managed over time.
My aim today
Today I live and work at Raaken Farm in Norway.
Here I combine riding instruction, hoof care, teaching and guidance (online and in person).
Increasingly, I also work with riders internationally through writing, video education, and online consultations.
Across all of this, the goal is the same:
To help riders and horse owners to think clearly and make thoughtful decisions, and to support horses to stay sound and willing over time.
Training and qualifications
RIDING, TRAINING, BREEDING & HORSE MANAGEMENT:
- Over 40 years of experience as a riding teacher, working with riders and horses of all levels, breeds and disciplines, both individually and in riding schools
- Certified riding instructor (Commandant-A, Netherlands)
- Certified dressage judge (Netherlands)
- Dressage and jumping training in Germany
- Preparing stallions for the KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) stallion grading shows
- Experience in running breeding operations, breeding and stallion management
- Extensive experience in rehabilitating horses with physical and mental challenges
- 40+ years of visiting seminars and clinics in riding, training, horse management, horsemanship etc.
- Work experience in stud farms, racing stables and riding schools.
- Breeding, riding, training and competing in dressage competitions, both with my own horses and for other people.
HOOF CARE:
- Certified Strasser Hoof Care Specialist — a two-year qualification with a strong focus on hoof anatomy and holistic horse management
- Basic farriery education in the Netherlands
- Over 25 years of experience in barefoot hoof care
- Seminars with Brian Hampson and Melody De Laat who were working with Professor Christopher Pollitt (University of Queensland), one of the world’s leading equine hoof scientists
- Seminars with Professor Robert Bowker, Michigan State University, Equine Sciences
- Former board member of the Norwegian Hoof Trimmer Association
- Former chair of the Professional Board (Faglig Råd) of the Norwegian Hoof Trimmer Association
- Co-author of the chapter on hooves and hoof care of the book ‘Sikker og god hestepraksis’ (the official horse keeping handbook of Mattilsynet, the Norwegian horse welfare authority)
- Practicing in Norway since 2006.
Ready to work together?
If you want to understand your horse better – and make more confident decisions – you are welcome to work with me.
You can find more information here: