The Horse Who Started It All
Every method has a story
For Straightness Training, that story begins with a horse named Maestro.
Maestro was not an easy horse.
In fact, many people considered him difficult, stubborn, and even impossible to train.
But instead of becoming a problem horse, he became something much more important.
Maestro became the horse who inspired the development of Straightness Training.
Maestro was born in 1994.
And he entered my life in 2001 when he was seven years old.
Before that, he was destined to become a carriage horse.
ut that plan failed and he was redirected to become a riding horse.
But also riding him was far from easy, as he was running, rearing and resisiting.
Many people told me the same thing:
This horse was impossible.
But that was meant to be...
From “Impossible” to “I’m Possible”
Yes, working with Maestro was challenging, and for the first two years we struggled a lot.
And Maestro became what I later called my “tor-mentor”:
a horse who teaches by challenging you.
Through him I began to discover something fundamental about horses...
The Discovery
As challenging as he could be, he led me to invaluable wisdom.
What Maestro showed me was this:
Horses are naturally asymmetrical.
When this natural asymmetry is ignored in training, many problems appear.
Understanding this insight became the key that changed everything.
Without Maestro, I would have never discovered natural asymmetry and developed Straightness Training.
Maestro turned out to be the best guide ever.
Maestro truly was an invaluable master, showing the royal road to balance and harmony.
The same path that kings and grandmasters once followed centuries ago.
This horse-as-tor-mentor concept goes against what many riders believe about having, riding, and training a horse.
Most of us think that if our horse doesn't listen or resists, we must be with the wrong horse.
We believe life with our horse should be full of wonderful moments because we give our horse everything: the best food, water, shelter, blankets, time, energy and attention. So we expect our horse to respect us and be nice... not to show up as an opponent or antagonist.
But because we have lessons to learn, we will be triggered in important ways by our horse.
In those moments, we have a choice:
With Maestro, I chose the first option.
Our Path to Mastery
Maestro was an example of what's possible when you listen to your horse and take their opinion seriously.
Through him, I discovered that riding and training is not doing a bunch of activities for one hour, but that it's about understanding natural asymmetry and restoring balance in body and mind.
The Ultimate Balance
We met in 2001 and struggled for 2 years.
In 2003 we discovered the principles behind natural asymmetry.
Between 2004 and 2008 we developed the foundation of Straightness Training.
Eventually he was even able to perform the levade, a symbol of ultimate balance in Straightness Training, where the horse is carrying 100% of the weight on the hind legs.
His life has been a testament that no horse is impossible, and that every horse is simply waiting for a possibility partner to make it happen. He inspired thousands of riders across the world to become their horse's possibility partner and go with their horse from impossible to "I'm Possible"!
A Soul Mate
On a personal level, Maestro was much more than a teacher.
He was a soul mate.
A friend in the shape of a horse.
For many years we walked our path together, learning from each other every day.
Then, Maestro passed away after a long and remarkable life.
But his legacy lives on.
Maestro did much more than help develop a training method.
He became the voice for many horses and their natural asymmetry.
His journey showed riders all over the world that no horse is truly impossible.
Every horse is simply waiting for someone who is willing to understand them.
Thanks to Maestro, Straightness Training grew into a global movement that now helps riders in more than 65 countries develop balance and harmony with their horses.
Unlock the Talented Horse Within
Through the Straightness Training Academy, thousands of riders around the world continue to learn the lessons Maestro helped reveal.
In that way, his wisdom continues to guide riders as they help their horse move from being a ‘problem horse’ toward balance, harmony, and the expression of their true talent.
And for that, we are forever grateful.
You, too, can bring out your horse's true talent!
From a 'problem' horse
When your horse is out of balance, your face all kinds of challenges, such as running, rearing and resisting.
To a 'normal' horse
When your horse is back on track, you can do all the normal things together,like a ride in the forest.
To a 'talented' horse
When nothing is holding you back anymore, then what once was used against you, will start working for you.
I've put together this FREE eBook so you can find out how you can overcome your horse's natural asymmetry with Straightness Training (ST).
Receive the three 'Straightness Training Secrets' so you, too, can make the impossible possible for you and your horse!