Instinctive Horse Training

Melanie is an enthusiastic, gifted trainer and teacher. She is creative with her ideas and always looking for ways to improve the horse’s emotional well being. She is very good at helping horses to confidently adapt to the world around them. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

My horse is currently with Melanie for traffic training and after just a week I have been able to ride him out on the road with no other horse to chaperone him and he didn't bat an eyelid , I was amazed and very happy, he has another week with Melanie and I am looking forward to learning more. Melanie is a great teacher and explains things and she has patience to let her horses and their owners absorb information , highly recommended More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Thank you Melanie for the wonderful phone call. Very helpfull and was wonderful to have a fresh perspective on some issues with our RSPCA rescue pony. I would urge anyone who feels they are at a loss having tried most, things to get in contact with Melanie. THANK YOU so much. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I recently bought a horse from Melanie . I visited her yard a number of times before picking him up . I witnessed the work Melanie does with horses throughout the time I spent at the yard . She also taught me a lot about how to handle certain situations and I witnessed that her way of training really works and is amazing ! I also spent time with her staff . I was very impressed by what I witnessed and would highly recommend her to anyone , in fact I have already done so on a number of occasions .
Both Melanie and her staff are very professional, knowledgeable, honest and committed to the work they do with horses, as well as being very friendly and welcoming . Whoever decides to send their horse to Melanie or attends any events she has on or even contacts her to discuss any issues they have will not be disappointed! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Melanie very kindly came to Lincoln College to speak to my Animal Care students. What an amazing lady that has worked hard to introduce the science of animal learning theory to horse industry and prove horses can be trained through positive reinforcement. She has achieved results no whips and spurs would ever achieve!! Truly inspirational and she has motivated me more to stand by my beliefs in positive reinforcement for horses. If you love your horse you need to meet Mel and she will be able to teach you how to get better results out of your horse based on scientific theory that works. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Well where to start........ I have had the most amazing day today with my boy Chester. He is a six year old cob suffering with separation anxiety. I am a novice and before meeting with melanie have tried lots of things to over come this from getting someone else to ride him out for me because I was unable, to using pressure and release. All to no avail. In fact he was becoming worse. I rang melanie who instantly reassured me and put me at ease after a long discussion on the phone we made a plan for her to come out to see Chester and I. This decision has been met with some criticism along the way I might add. As it's difficult for people to see another way other than the old way. However I had a session with melanie yesterday. Her words and wisdom empowered me, opened my mind and her training taught me a new way of seeing and doing things. Today I have had a truly awesome day of success yes SUCCEES !!!!!. Today I truly believe I have a long future with my boy filled with happiness. Connected as one like I thought was never gonna be possible. From little acorns grow big oak trees. If I can become a smidgen of a horse trainer that Melanie Watson is I will become a very happy lady. Can't wait to meet up again. Thank you so much. ���� More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I just wanted to say thank you very much for coming and giving our Animal Management course group a talk last Wednesday.

I very much so enjoyed listening to your experiences within the horse industry and hearing of your fantastic rescue/ training pathway. Your progression to where you are now is inspiring.

It was also great being able to go away and research so many different areas of behavioural thought and people of interest.

If anybody is thinking of asking Melanie to give a lecture / seminar do not hesitate. It is a fantastic experience. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I brought my horse to Melanie after doing work experience a few times before and really liked what she had done. Her and Sophy did amazing work with mac and before we went there he would rear, buck and bolt off while going out in traffic with no breaks at all after a short period of two weeks and spending all my spare time down there Mac now hacks out great in company and alone. Can't thank Mel and her team enough!� More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I recently did a week’s work experience at Instinctive Horse Training and had a lovely time. It was a wonderful experience seeing horses as active, willing participants in their training. Even when given the option to leave and not do something, they choose to stay.

Melanie and the rest of the team were all kind, helpful, and incredibly patient with me while I fumbled about learning the ropes. I learned a lot and picked up lots of things to try out with my own horse. I’d definitely come back again! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I have had the great opportunity to have melanin Watson work on my 3 geldings, 1 came to her terrified of his own skin, suffering from panic attacks and other behaviour problems after spending some time with melanin he is a 1000% better he's more calmer and just an all round amazing boy and the techniques we have learned help us to this day, the 2nd and 3rd boy came from breaking and they are true gentlemen and I couldn't wish for anything more! !!
If you are having trouble with your horses I would recommend Mrs Watson the work she performs and teaches is pure perfection, an amazing lady to call my friend, 30 years and still going strong!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I have had the pleasure of knowing Melanie for approximately 4 years + as a friend and wonderful trainer. We were introduced by a good friend of mine who sent her very troubled little ex race horse mare to her as she felt her training methods would suit the emotional needs of said mare! Melanie was so patient with my friend's mare taking time to include my friend ( Client ) in helping shape and train new positive behaviours and ensuring she had the tools available to continue the training journey alone.

When i finally met Melanie, after having received many hours of advise from her, just because she genuinely wanted to help me in my quest to help the horses I was working with at the time, I was ineroxably drawn to her passion and drive to help better the emotional needs for the horses and humans alike. So much so that as a result of that meeting, where I was able to watch her work over several days she has inspired me to carry over her methods with the horses I work with and strive for a better understanding of their and our emotional needs for a happy and fulfilling life.

I continue to feel disheartened when I see negativity when referring to clicker training and positive reinforcement, which i believe stems from a place of misunderstanding!! At what point did We become so impatient?! Do we really realise that some horses and humans emotional trauma is so deep seated, that it may take some time to restore their faith in humanity?! There are so many wonderful trainers out there I'm sure of that, but there are also some undesirable trainers out there appealing to the public with quick fix methods whom perhaps don't take the time to truly understand the emotional needs of the horse!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Melanie Watson from the bottom of my heart. The horses thank you as do the many other animals you've helped and will continue to help! We are all very much looking forward to seeing you again in August to continue our quest to improve the lives of our majestic equine friends. Please continue with your amazing work and your passion to help the animals and a huge congratulations on your 32nd year in business. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Rang melanie for some advice about our new pony and it was fab. Not rushed, gave me lots of advice and information. Would highly recommend her. Thanks melanie ���xxx

Reviewed on Facebook

I spent the day at Melanie's yesterday, learning about clicker training. Amazing experience, despite the cold and the wet, I feel that I learned such a lot. Thank you so much for your patience, fabulous horses and incredible ability to explain a complex subject, in a real user friendly way. I am going home to start again from the beginning and see what we can achieve! :-) More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Absolutely amazing, mind is blown right now and chimps is a changed horse in such a short time! Thank you so much for everything you have done today!

Reviewed on Facebook

R+ training Sunny
To all you out there that might doubt changing how you train your horse!
I read the recent post about Prince and I 100% agree and vouch that positive reinforcement does NOT encourage mugging and nipping. Sunny had a month back with me where virtually every bit of food bar grass came from my hand during training/play/R+. He's more engaged, alert, friendly yes but never rude, pushy or nippy as he understood the rules. Once I'd trained MYSELF to be consistent he trusted me that if he sought the reward it came. As he arrived at his new home yesterday, I applied all we'd practiced and he was the calmest and most relaxed in a new yard I'd ever seen. It was great R+ for me! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

sent my baby to mels in 2012 for manner training, she is 8 now and without the start mel gave her i dont think id had the pony i have today she is the most polite, respectful horse you could ask for xxx

Reviewed on Facebook

My boy for various injury reasons has ended up at Melanie's three times in past 3 years for bringing back into work. She's the only person I trust with my boy and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her and do to anyone that may need her help. Thank you Melanie for everything you've done for me and Shadow. My boy will be going to Melanie for holiday work too whilst I'm away x More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Dear Melanie,
I don't know if you will remember us and I have been meaning to contact you for a long time now. Around March 2011 I contacted you for some cyber support with our young horse. He was mine and my partners' first horse and we had to break him.
One of your support was with our concern every time the farrier came. I had been advised to lunge him first but he was in a field with no facilities and you said that no horse should have to be lunged prior to the farrier arriving.
Anyway whether you remember or not I have always wanted to drop you a big thank you as although you were not physically there you were always at the end of the email.
We have traveled a long way since those days. Today we have relocated, we have a couple of stables and paddocks and our horse Uno (who is now 5) has a new friend called Stan who is 10. Uno has put us through some real challenges as he is a typical alpha male big strong horse but we have won those challenges and today we enjoy him exactly how we want and when we want without the pressure of having to do this or that before we can enjoy him.
He likes to be ridden skillfully as it helps him understand what is expected of him and we have started to introduce the relaxed mode. So he knows the difference between work and focus and relax and leisure.
Him and Stan are great friends. Stan is an ex race horse who understands kick to move forwards and pull to stop. So we are having fun with him introducing him to all sorts that Uno was doing before we even got on his back, like going over trotting poles.
Once again a big thank you for your support back then. We always ensure we have someone involved in our lives with the horses that we trust and can rely on for help and you were that first person.
Hope your business and everything is still going strong.
Anabella Svidran
Somerset
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Reviewed on Facebook

After much soul searching to try every possible avenue available I came across Melanie whilst searching the Web. Gave her a call to discuss the options to make my Daughters Pony safer than he was, nothing was too much trouble! Melanie is everybody's Horsey friend that will give you true insight to Behavioural Problems & also Rider fears. She can match up to make a more positive & calm outcome for Both Horse & Rider - some years have passed but Melanie is always there if you need advice & a bloody good Laugh. Keep it Up Melanie. You are such a Inspiration for everybody & your Staff are Great too. Marianna & Amy Wiiliams More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Melanie was my last hope when I bought my ex racehorse who was miss sold to us. After being told a load of lies by the seller we bought him believing he'd never raced or had any training. He was my second horse and quite frankly I'd bitten off more than I could chew with him. He threw everyone off and broke several bones, he was a devil to lead out or bring in from the field, hacking on the road was a far distant dream that I truly believed I would never do with this horse. I was at my wits end but felt I had to give him one last chance. Melanie helped Frank as he seemed to have lots of trust issues, after just 2 and a half weeks, I'd been to visit frank at the weekend and we'd hacked out safely and confidently out in traffic. I couldn't believe it, he was calm and easy on the ground and he didn't go against everything I asked for once. 3 years now I've owned him and we've not looked back. We've been to shows & competed in Ex racehorse classes where others around him have been kicking off and he's not batted an eyelid, we've been to fun rides around Somerford park and even my 12 year old has ridden him and felt safe trotting & cantering him around.

If you're considering using Melanie, all I can say is do it. She quite frankly saved my boy from being passed to the next home and most likely he would have ended up with a bad ending due to his problems and people misunderstanding his behaviour More...

Reviewed on Facebook

When I met Melanie I was clueless about horses just very eager to do everything now, this second :) Melanie took time for me and my Romeo and not always told me what I wanted to hear but I guess it was for the best for both of us! I do know I can be quiet pain in the neck with all the questions, but you always took time for me to answer them all ☺️ thank you for being my first ever person to guide me in my horse world and put me onto right path myself and Romeo my special child :) More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Where do I start - I can honestly say my horse wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Mel. She helped me when I first got Sky as he had serious issues which she worked him through calmly. Last year she became my emergency service and travelled on a Good Friday to get him to the vets after a nasty potentially life threatening accident - Mel was the only one who could load him. I can't recommend her enough - I'm so glad I picked up the 'phone that day when I was close to giving up on who is now a wonderful horse x More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Have my horse on livery at Melanie's yard. Meanie is an outstanding horse woman and trainer who literally works miracles with troubled horses teaching them to trust their environment through their own choice using positive support. Highly recommend her.

Reviewed on Google Maps

What a fantastic day I've had working with Melanie! Melanie's approach working with horses is truly amazing and has certainly opened my eyes. I'm looking forward to putting what I have learnt into practice with helping my horse feel happier about life. Thank you Melanie for your help :-) More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Top quality training, expert support and a warm welcome always.

Reviewed on Google Maps

Today I had the luxury of spending a full day with Melanie Watson (of Instinctive Horse Training, Skidby, East Yorkshire) observing her work with a variety of horses. What a fab day we had! It has shown me an new and completely refreshing way of working with horses, some of which were angry and had "issues" which didn't involve any force or coercion on Melanie's part at all. Everything was done peacefully and quietly, giving the horses some "time out" when they needed it.

The day finished with a visit to a horse who had flipped out at the weekend after a show and wouldn't load without people around literally forcing it into the trailer. It was deemed to be angry and dangerous. I and his owners watched from the side whilst Melanie worked with him at first in his stable and then in the open finishing with the trailer. At no point was the lead rope taught between Melanie and the horse but he chose in a relatively short space of time to join her on the trailer. After he had walked on and off a few times with Melanie we turned him loose in the paddock where the trailer was and as we stood a distance away I watched him walk on and off the trailer several times hoovering up.

Melanie used a clicker training technique with him and then afterwards spend a considerable amount of time training myself and his owners how to replicate what she did - leaving his owners with a new confidence and way forward with him. All in all very impressive and one of the best and most effective trainers I have observed! Thank you Melanie for a great day! As an added bonus I had the best nights sleep in months last night!! xx Sharon Malone More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sheet steel galvanised feed bins available in various sizes quality study and guaranteed to last Horse Feed Bins that are pre-made and delivered to you welded together to ensure they are 100% Damp-proof and Vermin-proof. Secure handles, hinges and inside metal chain for a quality finish that will last. Covering the UK and abroad. More...

Reviewed on Yelp