Authentic Horsemanship
Respectful horsemanship is at the core of our equestrian philosophy. This is what shapes and defines our riding and horsemanship culture at The Hideout. It is the way in which we communicate, handle and respect our horses, the way we train our horses, and the way we teach our guests about riding, horsemanship and horses.
It includes everything surrounding our horse program from saddles, tack, equipment, pasture management, shoeing, veterinary services, tracking information, barn management, the wranglers we hire and how we train them, and more.
We call it Authentic Horsemanship, our brand of relationship-based natural horsemanship. We communicate with our horses in a non-verbal way, using pressure and release to encourage our horses to respond. That’s how we establish trust and connection through consistent leadership. Authentic Horsemanship is based on respect, low-stress, empathy, open-mindedness, and professionalism. We carry this approach of kindness and encouragement throughout our whole organization — this is the core of our hospitality culture.
Our guests come from different walks of life and bring a rich variety of riding levels and experience, ranging from beginners to intermediate and professional riders. All these people share a passion for riding and horses. Our guests have a wealth of information, ideas, feedback, opinions, and experience to offer, and this exchange is an important part of what shapes our equestrian culture.
We also invest in training for our team by organizing clinics and training opportunities with well-rounded professional clinicians. We are constantly growing and shaping our program because, like most things in life, it is an ever-evolving journey. The more we learn and listen, the more we notice how much we still must learn.
The Goal of Authentic Horsemanship at The Hideout
Our goal is to create a fun, safe, open-minded, and respectful equestrian experience during your stay at The Hideout. Our intention is to foster a respectful and trusting relationship between each horse and rider.
Experiencing Authentic Horsemanship at The Hideout
Authentic Horsemanship is not just something we walk about it, it is something our guests can experience throughout their stay. Our wranglers share tips and feedback during rides, and both of our owners, Marijn and Peter, regularly ride with our guests.
Throughout the guest season, guests are introduced to the principles of Authentic Horsemanship during our Monday morning Riding Orientation, and our wranglers share tips and feedback during the rides. If there is sufficient interest, Marijn offers a half-day horsemanship clinic during the guest week, where she covers the fundamentals of Liberty and groundwork in greater depth. Guests can work with her horses and try it themselves as part of the clinic.
Marijn holds a Level 4 Parelli Certification, participated in Art of the Cowgirl 2020, and has ridden thousands of miles on the range, working cattle, studying horsemanship, and working at Liberty. She started working with horses at a later age, when she first joined The Hideout, and has since studied both the theoretical and practical side of horsemanship.
Playing and Training at Liberty
Playing at Liberty, or Liberty Training, is designed to bring a horse a sense of freedom and safety without using any tack, including halters or ropes. Working with horses this way can increase the horse’s desire to interact and create a deeper bond and dependable performance under saddle. It is a very respectful way to train and handle horses.
At The Hideout, we believe in both Liberty Training and doing a lot of groundwork with our horses.
