The Legacy of Maestro (1994-2025)
Maestro, the horse who shaped Straightness Training, has passed away at age 31. His body said it was time to rest and let go. Until the very last day, he was in good spirits, and our 24-year journey together was filled with discoveries, growth, and joy.
Of course, we all know that when it comes to horses, death is part of life because of their short life spans compared to ours. Nevertheless, it always has a huge impact when it's time to say goodbye to a dear friend who has been part of our daily life for so long.
However, it’s the greatest gift in life to develop such a strong bond, to share a deep friendship, to learn from that horse, and to grow together.
Valued tor-mentor
Maestro was born in 1994, and the moment we met in 2001, he became my valued tor-mentor. Especially the first 2 years, he was mentoring me by tormenting me.
When I wanted to ride him, he was rearing, running and resisting my guidance.
But he was a gift in disguise and turned out to be a real master: true to his name, Maestro.
As challenging as he could be, he led me to a treasure full of gold and wisdom. Without him, I would have never discovered and developed Straightness Training.
He truly was an invaluable master, showing the royal road to balance and harmony, which is 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.
A lot of us think that if our horse doesn't listen or resists, we must be with the wrong horse.
Or that 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:
- We can use the interaction to find what needs to be found, and work harder on ourselves than on our horse
- Or we can avoid that search and growth by blaming the horse.
With Maestro, I chose the first option.
Our personal 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 just doing a bunch of activities for one hour, but that it's about understanding natural asymmetry and restoring balance in body and mind.
We met in 2001 and struggled for 2 years.
2003 was a turning point because Maestro helped me discover the dimensions of natural asymmetry and the principles of Straightness Training.
Between 2004 and 2008, we developed the foundation of Straightness Training and have been deepening it ever since.
From 2008 on, Maestro could perform the levade, which is the ultimate symbol of balance in Straightness Training.
Maestro became the voice for many horses and their natural asymmetry.
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"!
Maestro as soul mate
On a personal level, Maestro was really a soul mate and a true friend in the shape of a horse.
He knew me and, in his own way, took care of me. For example, when I was too busy or worked too hard, he always found a way to catch my attention and slow me down.
It also worked the other way around. A few days after a car accident, or later when he needed surgery because he swallowed a blackberry thorn — or simply whenever he needed it — he would come to me. Then he would stand quietly next to me, I'd place my hands on him, and he'd begin to “tank up”, like a car at a gas station, refilling himself with healing energy.
In 2017, when he was 23, we moved from the Netherlands to Portugal and I hoped he could enjoy at least four seasons there with me.... but it became 8 wonderful years. I can still hear his neigh inside, the one he made every morning when he saw me coming.
A Big Win
While some riders may believe that every horse is a “tiny tragedy” waiting to happen because of their relatively short life span, I choose to see our horses (and also our dogs) as wonderful miracles we are privileged to share life with, no matter for how long.
Yes, they may leave us too soon, and they always leave us with and loads of lessons learned.
That's why Maestro's passing isn't a “loss”. I see it as one big WIN to have had such a special horse around for so many years. He had so much to give and to teach while he was here, and the wisdom he shared will live on forever in our heart and in Straightness Training.
May the precious moments and memories of Maestro continue to comfort us all.
The Legacy of Maestro
Maestro and I walked our mastery path together, and along the way I began sharing his lessons and wisdom with thousands of STudents around the world.
Together, we witnessed the unfolding of his life’s purpose through the development of Straightness Training.
In 2014, Maestro's lessons and teachings became the foundation of The Straightness Training Academy.
Through the ST Academy, Straightness Training grew into more than a practice: it became a philosophy, a way of life, and a source for hope, help and harmony for horses and riders all over the world — no matter their discipline, age, size, breed, or country.
In April 2025, Maestro turned 31, and we collected 31 lessons, and we will keep sharing these lessons in our free masterclass to honor what Maestro taught us.
Maestro showed us the way to balance a horse, and his legacy will live on forever through Straightness Training.
Maestro can rest in peace. All is well. He lived the beST life, living on in our hearts and memories, and now he's on to universing. 💫
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