Training and education programmes are geared both to the individual characteristics of each horse and the specific nature of the Hot-Blood Lusitano and the Warm-Blood x Lusitano. From birth we are instinctively assessing each horse¹s character and potential and building relationships based on developing trust and confidence.

Activities are varied and fun, ensuring that our horses are gentle and confident but never lose their spirit. Reassurance by voice and touch are given to help overcome any fears, insecurities and to build trust in the handler.

All the horses usually come onto the yard each day and get used to all the activity; the sights and sounds of strangers, pets and farm animals, hosepipes, plastic, tractors, hay bales etc.

As foals and as they grow older, all our horses become confident with every aspect of grooming, clipping, bathing, farrier's work, veterinary practice, tack, rugs, loading and travelling etc.

We walk them on the roads to acclimatise them to the outside world; they go to an indoor school, the beach and the forest. We also build an assault course for them to go around. Indeed, one of the greatest pleasures is seeing our horses go around the course without even a lead rope on because they enjoy it so much.

For example, when we put a saddle on a horse for the first time, we would expect them to accept it as naturally as if they had always one on. If they didn't, we would feel as if we had failed and the timing or preparation or both was insufficient. The same principal applies to every aspect of our training and education of our horses.

We don't tie up a horse to groom them or put on tack or rugs as we expect them to be composed. The aim is to enable them to be comfortable and trusting with anything that is happening to them and around them whether in a field or in the yard. Indeed, we can go into a herd of horses in the field and just feed one of them without any difficulties. When out in the fields, our horses come to us when we call them.

In respect of our colts and stallions, we have managed to produce ones that are well behaved with good manners, don't bite and don't run up and down fields when near to mares. They are used to having mares around in all situations such as the horse-box, stable, paddock, horse walker and hacking out.

We don't want to rush the development of any horse; we give them the time we feel they need to reach their full genetic potential in respect of height, strength and psychological development.

For this reason, we start training the stallions at around 4 and mares at 4½ with gentle low levels of lunging, in-hand work and exercise on the horse walker and only when we feel they are strong enough will we back them and start their schooling but again always gently. We believe this helps the horse to mature, to be strong and supple ­ a happy, willing animal relishing each day's activities.

We believe this investment in extra time for our horses will increase their working life and result in less health related problems, especially in the feet and legs.