2026 Evening Behaviour Series, Hillsborough Village Centre
Over the course of six weeks we will explore:
Why horses behave as they do
How horses actually learn
The signs of stress that most people miss
Prevent escalation before it becomes conflict
How to reduce anxiety in training
Creating calm, confident horses through understanding
Improve welfare through better training decisions
When we understand behaviour properly, we reduce conflict, improve welfare and strengthen trust.
These relaxed evening sessions are perfect for thoughtful owners and proactive coaches .
Opportunity for discussion, to ask questions, and to meet with like minded people in the warm and dry!!
Join us at Hillsborough Village Centre, Royal Hillsborough, Co. Down.
Monday 23rd February Understanding ‘Normal’ Horse Behaviour
Monday 2nd March Motivation
Monday 9th March Reading the Horse
Monday 16th March Understanding and Applying Learning Theory
Monday 23rd March Sources of Stress and Stress Reduction
Monday 30th March Training Approaches that your Horse would Choose: Rewards, why they matter and Practical Applications
Please note, this is a live course requiring attendance in person. Webinar options coming soon, watch this space!
Cost £10 per person per session, or if you book all six at once get six for the price of five (£50, instead of £60).
Limited spaces available, preference will be given to those that wish to book all six, however attendance at selected classes also possible.
2026 Workshop Series at Dukes Livery Stables and Cross Country, Portadown.
I’m delighted to announce that once more in 2026 we will be running a series of workshops sponsored by Equine-X.
Venue kindly sponsored by Equine-X, as part of their ‘Keeping it Real’ ethos, for horse wellbeing and performance.
- About Equine-X
- A registered feed company and BETA Trade member based in Northern Ireland.
- Home of CONNEXION®, a premium nutraceutical for tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage, and other equine connective tissues.
Premium Horse Supplement – Equine-X Connexion | Science-Driven Formula | equine-x
Attendance at each workshop is £40 per person, if you wish to bring your horse there is an additional charge of £40. Horse places are limited to 4 with an overall place limit of 8 people on the workshop. Stabling will be available on the day but you must provide your own feed/ hay.
Getting Started with the Clicker
Sunday 22nd March 10am to 4pm
Practical workshop with opportunity to bring own horse. £40 per person, plus £40 extra if bringing horse.
Ever wondered what clicker training is, or how it might be useful for you and your horse? Come along to this workshop if you’d like to learn more. Helen has been training horses with a clicker since 1999 and teaching this way of training since she launched her behaviour business in 2003.
Learn how to safely and calmly make more effective use of rewards in training, whether groundwork or ridden. We will look at how you establish safe boundaries and politeness around treats, along side the use of a marker signal. Learn how to assess your horse and plan training sessions to best suit their needs.
Target Training
Sunday 12th April 10am to 4pm
Discover the variety of ways in which target training can be used to create behaviours, from basic groundwork skills to veterinary care to trailer loading. Help your strong insensitive horse become light and responsive, help your reactive worried horse become calm and engaged. Practical workshop with opportunity to bring own horse, (£80 per horse place or £40 as spectator).
Liberty Work
Sunday 21st June 10am to 4pm
Ever liked the idea of being able to work with your horse loose in a safe space? Wondered how people motivate horses to stay with them, move around them, but still keep it fun and enjoyable for the horse? Learn how to train liberty work in a positive way, focusing on calmness, engagement and enjoyment for you and your equine partner.
Practical workshop with opportunity to bring own horse.
Work in-hand
Sunday 26th July 10am to 4pm
Whether it is part of rehabilitation after an injury, fittening work or just a way of enjoying non-ridden time with your horse, the principles of in-hand work are a valuable tool. Learn how the basic steps and cues can be trained through positive reinforcement, creating an engaged, willing equine partner. Practical workshop with opportunity to bring own horse.
Confidence Building
TBC
Obstacle and object training is a great way to develop confidence in horses of any age. It is essential however that novel objects are introduced in a way that creates a positive experience for the horse. Learn how to break items down, build relationship and trust and create a horse that copes better in future with new situations and challenges.
Practical workshop with opportunity to bring own horse.
Spence Horse Sense 