Welcome to Herdworks!

Why 'Herdworks'? - simply, because that's what horses have evolved to do it in - herds!

And it's there, if anywhere, that the soul of a horse is found; before we start in with any of the bridles, saddles, fences, stables stuff, right where we'd expect it - in the herd!

Of all horses sold to slaughter over 80% have behavior problems of one sort or another, many of which make them either unfit or unsafe for riding.

And of that number how many have simply been unable to adapt to environments for which they were never designed - physically or emotionally?

It's an odd fact that although no major zoo could get away with keeping a single horse in an acre paddock a horse owner may do so - even if the animal is bored witless, lonely to the point of clinical depression and showing clear stereotypies from environmental stress. Just look around when you're out and about your neighborhood and you'll see single horses, rugged up to the eyebrows (even in the hottest weather), standing about, very often in the same place day after day, looking totally miserable. You can almost imagine that if they could grab a bit of cardboard and a felt pen they'd make a sign saying "for god's sake someone shoot me and get this over!" Yet if we were to go along to the owner and suggest they keep a member of their family (also a social species, just like horses) in solitary confinement no doubt they'd be scandalized!

Quite often these solitary horses are kids ponies, whose job it is to carry our most precious cargo - our children - but if there was a better way to turn them into grumpy, surly, unfit, overweight and generally uncooperative partners it's a little hard to know what it would be. Is it any wonder that they so often have all kinds of problems? Or that it's difficult to find saddles or tack that fits and works?

And it's not just behavior that becomes a problem; horses have been designed over 600,000 years to move almost constantly throughout the day, with just a few rest breaks here and there. So the horse's body design has become more and more efficient at carrying the owner somewhere between 15 and 40km a day or more, depending on their environment. Take away that movement and you have a problem - while they're super efficient at taking a lot of exercise they are highly inefficient at standing around in small paddocks doing nothing; so much so that it makes them positively ill. Bad feet and poor circulation are just the tip of the iceberg, and no vet, no matter how highly trained, is going to come along with any kind of sustainable solution that doesn't involve  a lot more exercise - and the company of  other horses - and if they claim they can they're either ignorant or not telling the truth. This lack of exercise issue also creates major concerns for rider safety. In order to happily, and safely, carry a rider horses have to be fit in both mind and body, and you don't get either of those without a lot of exercise. How many times have you heard people complain about how 'fizzy' their horses are? Or how many bits they have in their tack room in an attempt to control a mount that's just bursting with the need to move! Give them the exercise and all of a sudden that horse that felt like it was going to explode becomes quiet, tractable, balanced and cooperative! Now there's no need for harsh bits or martingales, and a bitless bridle is totally sufficient; no more coming back from rides feeling like your arms have been pulled out of their sockets!

So this is what Herdworks is all about - getting the best out of our horses by treating them - like horses, pure, and remarkably simple! Rocket science it's not; and we won't be trying to sell you training methods or gimmicks, or claiming to be 'whisperers' or to have some kind of esoteric mumbo-jumbo that no-one else can teach!

What we do offer: first and foremost, practical info on how to get the best out of small areas, how to put together small (and large) social groups that work, and how to prevent or find ways around the problems of keeping a large, space hungry, species in an world where pressure on 'finding room' can be a constant battle. Next: guided tours to our natural herds, including stallions, mares and their youngsters. Plus, and with the local owner in mind, somewhere to keep your horse where they'll be managed as part of a social group on large paddocks set amongst gently rolling hills. Second to last: young sport horses for sale, the progeny of our herds, from great NZ bloodlines, that have been raised in natural groups for intelligence, social integration, good manners and an open cooperative attitude. And lastly: stud service to any of our stallions currently standing at stud; sires that pass on their great temperaments, athleticism and endurance to their progeny.

And as a last word we'd like to say a big thank-you for stopping by; Of all the websites in all the countries in all the world you surfed into ours - and it's been great talking to you! The site is developing steadily, although we do all our own work, so it takes time to grow! Please have a browse over the buttons at the right hand side of this text box, or click on any of the links above for more info - and if you'd like to come back and see what articles have been added to members area you'll be more than welcome.

You can also check out our older site at www.equine-behavior.com - where you'll find the bulk of the 17 years of research that lead to the herdworks concept. You'll also find our popular e-book there, and if you feel like showing support and buying a copy that would be great too!

Warm regards, Andy and the herd.