At Simon Fielder Horsemanship, we’re dedicated to supporting your horse’s development through professional, on-property training that’s customised to suit your goals. We offer a range of services designed to meet the unique needs of both horse and handler.

 

Initial Introduction - $180* up to 2 hours

This first session takes the time to get to know your horse - their personality, movement, sensitivities, and how they respond to handling. It’s also a chance for us to discuss your goals and any concerns you might have, so we can shape a training approach that’s realistic, respectful, and effective.

 

Over the next 1.5-2 hours, we’ll:

 

• Observe how your horse interacts in their environment and with people

• Gently handle and engage with your horse to assess responses, tension, and areas of confidence or concern

• Begin light groundwork to establish communication and feel

• If relevant, assess riding suitability or current challenges under saddle

• Identify behavioural patterns that may be impacting training, safety, or confidence

• Discuss observations together and outline possible next steps

 

There’s no pressure to achieve anything specific in this first session - the focus is on building trust, gaining insight, and establishing a safe, positive starting point for both you and your horse. It’s also a chance for you to get a feel for my training approach and to discuss a plan that aligns with your horse’s needs and your personal goals.

 

Once the Initial Introduction has been held, all future sessions can be conducted from the following options:

 

Single session - $160/hr*

Training sessions can be purchased as a one-off, for those that like to have more choice and flexibility regarding their lesson times. Available session times will be dependent on pre-existing bookings and as such can sometimes be difficult to secure.

 

• 1 x 1 hr lesson

• Good for learning a few tips and ideas that will help progress you and your horse towards your end goals

 

PACKAGES

Commit to consistent training and save with our multi-session packages:

 

5-Session Package – $600*

• 5 x 1 hr sessions

• Upfront payment required

• Overall saving of $200 off the Single Session cost

• Dedicated/regular booking time

• Great for refining skills or progressing through short-term training goals

 

10-Session Package – $1,100*

• 10 x 1 hr sessions

• Upfront payment required

• Dedicated/regular booking time

• Overall saving of $500 off the Single Session cost

• Best value for long-term development, young horses, or behavioural training

 

Package Details

• Attendance Commitment applies to all sessions

• Each session is 1 hour 

• Sessions held at your property

• To be conducted with the same owner and the same horse

 

PREPARATION

To make the most of your session, please have your horse caught and haltered only.  Please have relevant tack (such as halters, saddles, or groundwork gear – all equipment must be fit for purpose with items such as helmets compliant with safety standards) on hand at the scheduled start time. This helps ensure we can use the full hour effectively.

 

Simon makes every effort to arrive on time for each session. However, due to the unpredictable nature of working with horses, there may be occasional delays. He is committed to ensuring each horse finishes in a calm and regulated state, even if that means spending a little extra time when needed.

 

TRAVEL EXPENSES

Travel expenses will apply. Please make sure you read the following information:

 

• Travel expenses will be calculated on distance travelled (km) from home base to the client’s property

• Charged at a rate of $1/km as a single, one-way fee, inclusive of the return trip (eg. if your horse is 27 km away from my home-base, then the travel fee will be $27)

• Travel fees are additional to the session fee, and will be charged separately

• The fee goes toward the cost of fuel and downtime spent driving 

• Where possible, bookings will be made in close proximity to other clients.  Where this is possible, the travel fee will be shared.  This is however variable and may change booking to booking depending on the schedule of other clients.  You will be quoted the worst-case scenario.

 

ATTENDANCE COMMITMENT

Unlike the cancellation policy, which applies when a session is called off in advance, our Attendance Policy applies when Simon has arrived on-site to deliver your session - even if the horse is later found to be unfit for work.

We understand that horses may occasionally be unfit for work due to lameness or other issues, and we aim to offer flexible, fair solutions in these cases. It’s not always easy to know when your horse is lame until just before (or even during) a session. We genuinely appreciate that these situations arise and do our best to work with you in a fair and equitable manner.

 

When a session is booked, time is allocated exclusively for you and your horse. If Simon arrives and the horse is unfit for work, we’re happy to shift the session focus to alternative engagement (which may or may not include the horse) in areas such as:

 

• groundwork or connection exercises

• assessing and developing groundwork skills

• exercises to improve timing and feel both on the ground and in the saddle

• tack checks or gear discussions

• support and education for you

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This ensures you continue receiving value and forward momentum in your training journey, even when full work with your horse isn’t possible.

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Where no work is able to be achieved, a 50% fee will apply. This helps cover fuel costs, travel time, and the impact on scheduling for other clients.

 

CANCELLATIONS

We understand plans can change, and emergencies happen. The more notice you’re able to provide if you need to cancel or reschedule, the better - we truly appreciate your consideration in helping us manage time and bookings effectively.

 

Cancellations that are given with less than 48 hrs notice will be charged a cancellation fee of 50% of the session fee.

 

WEATHER POLICY

From time to time, weather conditions may make it unsafe or unsuitable to proceed with a session. In these situations, the session will be rescheduled, with a new time agreed between us.

 

These decisions are always made with the safety and wellbeing of both horse and rider in mind, and your understanding and flexibility is genuinely appreciated.

 

 

Thank you for your understanding, support, and respect for these policies - it is genuinely appreciated and allows this work to continue in a sustainable way.