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Horsemanship in the Hills – The tale of one ‘Marksman’

18/12/2024

As a child I thought horsemanship was something that only happened in arenas by fellas in cowboy hats trying to ‘fix’ problem horses.
Today, I can find horsemanship even where there are no horses! It’s a way of life. A way of being, of thinking, of feeling, of acting. It helps me be the best version of myself and it certainly helps me interact better with people, never mind horses.
So, give me a chance to work with a horse and people in a ‘wilderness arena’ and I’m all over it.
It’s early June 2024. We’ve just arrived with our herd onto Knoydart – one of our favourite places on earth – and we are chatting with friends in the pub. Turns out there’s a new guy in town, Marksman of Dyke…fitting on so many levels 😉

A 2-year-old Highland gelding, gifted to the community as the next generation of ‘garron’ (stalking pony) for Knoydart Foundation. A couple of young guys the ‘stalkers’ are tasked with training him but one or two problems have arisen. The farrier can’t get near him - he won’t catch without food -and he recently trampled a woman. Ooft. They sign him up to Wilder Ways Boot Camp. Little do the stalkers know, Boot Camp is for them, not for the horse.
Marksman is a highly intelligent and independent young man. And mighty handsome. He has evolved over millions of years to perfect his highly tuned senses resulting in an awareness you and I can only dream of. His nervous system is hard-wired for self-preservation – fight, flight or fawn. Oh, and he is not a native English speaker, has a top speed of 30mph and weighs nearly half a ton.
By comparison, the guys (Woody & Lewis) weigh in at under 80kgs, have a top speed of 8mph and do not speak horse. They do not have eyes on the side of their head and their hearing is shot, literally! Hardly a fair fight.
We have just 10 hours of time together over the course of 1 month and no arena. Their objective = to create a well-mannered pony, who catches on demand, is maneuverable in-hand and broken to the stalking saddle. No pressure then!

The first 3 sessions we tackle ‘the catch’. The field is 10 acres and contains 2 other ponies. As soon as we enter the field, he’s off prancing, tail in the air. The guys are desperate to reach for the feedbag – stand firm I command. Over these 3 days, we play that childhood game of ‘you’re getting warmer’. Running around the field is colder. When he approaches the gate, he is getting warmer and when he heads to the guys – he’s smoking hot. The first day, with no halter, we just ask him to stand with us. Day 2 the game begins again and takes even longer, Marksman is testing the resolve of the menfolk – he is getting to know them. Day 3, Marksman wins the game, he gets smoking hot quickly. It’s a win-win. We put the halter on. Walk him out the gate, love on him, then instantly return him to the field and release him. Everyone looks confused. The boys, “WTF, we had him”. Marksman “Well that was easy”. Less is often more, particularly in the early days. I recommend the boys spend some time in the field just chilling out whenever they can. Take a beer and take in the view. Let Marksman come and go as he pleases and just love on him if it pleases him. The value of just ‘being’ with your horse should never be underestimated.

Next, we get to work on manoeuvrability. Marksman is all over the guys, like literally on top of them. Someone missed the collision avoidance lesson at foal school. Again, it’s really the guys who need the insight. You can only be run over if you allow it. Time to work on some personal space techniques and body posture. Like I said, Marksman is highly intelligent, he clocks on immediately. And the guys do pretty good too - they pick up the ‘rope feel’ and ‘using a stick as an arm-extension’ really quickly.
Like learning any language, the foundation blocks take the longest to grasp and can sometimes be the more boring or frustrating bits. No one wants to study word order and grammar; we just want to start conversing. Like learning any language, of course you can skip ahead with your phrase book and get by. But if you truly want to have understanding for every eventuality, you need to spend time on the foundations.

That being said, on Knoydart we were limited by time, so we did have to keep a march on with our learning. Thankfully both horse and boys were quick learners and their general approach to life really helped.
The guys are practical fellas. Happiest in the wild outdoors and naturally observant creatures. They are well coordinated, confident, hardy and with little fear, and they were eager to make a success of this. With very little prior horsemanship knowledge, they also did not have a catalogue of ‘bad habits’ to break.
Marksman is curious. Still young and un-jaded by life, he was a great big sponge, ready for it. He is also naturally confident and although a little extroverted, he was keen to seek the 4th ‘F’ first and obtain friendship before fight, flight or fawn. So given his natural confidence, curiosity and friendliness, the 4th ‘C’ worked a charm.

In horsemanship ‘consistency’, ‘clarity’ and ‘confidence’ are considered key to success. We agree. We just believe ‘creativity’ can be the clincher to a fun, connected and engaging partnership for all.
The wilds were our arena and luckily this was the natural habitat for this horse and these men. Once we established a soft forward and back up and were able to isolate and move the haunches and shoulders independently (i.e. the basic word order and grammar), we were ready to start forming some pretty cool sentences.

Pressure creates purpose and we were able to use our environment as the perfect canvass. Trees make great bending cones or stop markers. Fallen logs become jumps. Low branches teach us to duck. Rivers give us boundaries for ‘send away’ or ‘call towards’. We used banks, tied up boats, boardwalks, rocks, tents, sand, seaweed, sea! The list was endless, and this guy took the world on like a hungry caterpillar.
This was not going to be a garron you had to bribe up the hill with sandwiches and wade through water to drag him behind you. This guy could go ahead, go sideways, climb up the bank to leave room for you on a narrow track, climb down to get below you to make it easier to load the stag on his back. This guy was useful, and he was having fun exploring the world with his trainers. And I saw a softness grow in those men. They liked spending time with Marksman. The pony-training was no longer a chore, instead, hanging out with this guy was a privilege.

By the penultimate day when we put the deer saddle on him – it really was a non-event. It’s a heavy pack for a starter, with jangling buckles, long straps and even a crupper. A strong smell of oil and even a faint whiff of blood. Marksman never flinched. He wore it with pride.
The final day we put it altogether, the boys lead the way and Nikki and I watched on like proud parents at a graduation ceremony. Marksman caught like a dream, stood confidently to be saddled and then wandered off into the wilds swagging it out over the terrain. He was amazing. So much so, we even started leaning across the saddle and introducing some weight to his back. This horse excited me.

But my greatest pleasure that day was not the overall progress, but the beauty of watching horse and man figure out each obstacle in the moment; each thinking through what ‘words’ would best convey their intention to each other. Whilst nothing was actually ‘verbalised’ the communication was quite evident and the results most beautiful.
Marksman headed to the hills the very next day to begin the stalking season. Initially he carried only his saddle as he built up the mental and physical fitness needed for full days on the hill. The guys tell me that by the end of the season he started carrying light loads.
We look forward to catching up with Marksman and the lads during our time on Knoydart in June 2025; to witness their progress, to give them a few new hints and tips to help iron out any teething problems, and to set them up for a successful first full season. This garron will make his mark on the hills as well as on a few hearts, of that I am sure.

- Cara

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Tabby's Volunteering Experience @ Wilder Ways - Summer 2024

24/10/2024

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'I was a volunteer at Wilder Ways for three unforgettable weeks, and the experience was nothing short of life-changing. I’ve been riding horses for most of my life, but during my time at the farm, I felt as though I truly learned how to ride and care for a horse properly for the first time. The level of detail, care, and love they pour into the herd is something extraordinary, and it was an honour to be part of it.'

'Each day brought new and exciting challenges. One day, I’d be swimming with the horses or galloping along the beach, and the next, I’d be scratching pigs behind the ears or tending to vegetables in the garden. From lessons on horsemanship to the thrill of shooting arrows from a cantering horse, dullness and boredom simply didn’t exist at Wilder Ways.'

'The sense of community was just as special. I’ve made lifelong friends in the other volunteers, and we all came away from the experience with stories to share and memories to treasure. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who will listen—Wilder Ways is an adventure like no other!'

- Tabby, Summer 2024

You can read all about our volunteer placements and how you can become a volunteer with us here.

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Horsemanship - for MY love of play

3/10/2024

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In this era of buzz words, viral trends and fleeting fads, is horsemanship just another?

Since I began my horse obsession 35 years ago, there is no doubt I hear the word horsemanship more often today. So, what really is horsemanship and what’s the point? Well, this is my story.
I personally love the concept of horsemanship being the ‘art’ of working with horses. Of course there is science behind the evolution, physiology and psychology of the horse and there are many top-quality horsemanship programs and academies available to learn the ‘way of the horse’, but I don’t think horsemanship can be simply formulaic?

Too many times the answer is ‘it depends’ and feel is not something that can simply be acquired on a course or from a book. Sure, you can learn ‘it’ but mastery takes something less tangible. Equally, I do not believe horsemanship is magic – though it sometimes appears so. It takes special attention to detail, creativity and commitment and whilst anyone can achieve anything they set their mind to do, I feel innate nature plays a big role, which I will come back to in a later blog about women in horsemanship.

Why we practice horsemanship and what it achieves for us is really our choice, perhaps a deeper connection, more sophisticated communication, improved gymnastic performance, elaborate tricks, or simply and beautifully a calm, resilient and engaged horse, the opportunities are quite endless.

One thing I am certain of, horsemanship is not a new phenomenon. It would be arrogant to think that horsemanship didn’t have a part in the very domestication of horses 6,000 years ago. This is not to mention the many civilizations since, who claim to be the godfather of horsemanship. Whoever was the first, today it is great to see so many more people consciously challenging how they work with horses and trying to improve. As we say at home, “do your best until you know better, then do better”.

Whatever method we follow and whatever our end goals, as I get older, ‘play’ has an increasingly important role for me.

I began riding at the age of 5 and it was all play. Hobby horses, real horses, barbie horses, gymkhana games and playing out ’black stallion’ on any family visit to the beach. Horse play was my obsession. Every weekend and holidays spent on the local yard, I was immersed in horsemanship, the good, the bad and the ugly. But I don’t recall hearing the word horsemanship until Monty Roberts entered my radar at about 14 years old. Then I became fascinated by the apparent ‘magic’ of horsemanship as I soaked up whatever I could find wide-eyed and in wonder. By 17, I was hungrily documenting every whisker twitch and tail swish, though I didn’t entirely understand why. I just knew I wanted so badly to be brilliant with horses and suddenly the play was gone and I took myself very seriously. When I think back to those times I laugh out loud, I thought horsemanship was something that happened in the arena. And then it all ended abruptly. I left for university and only able to ride on holidays, I felt so disconnected I wanted none of it and I turned my back on horses and my curiosity. The pain of grief was real.

Aged 30, I had an epiphany with a kick start almost as abrupt as the earlier ending. I quit my career as a Rural surveyor and went to visit a friend in Canada. Here I ended up taking a 6-year-old unbroken Arab mare to a 3-day Peter Campbell colt starting clinic. Looking back, my ignorant arrogance was mind-bending but this single experience was undoubtedly life changing for me. Peter called me Scotland for the whole clinic. I later discovered that he thought I would quit, so he couldn’t see the point learning my name. On the last day he was first to admit he’d underestimated the Scot as he embraced me with a bear hug and a f*@k me Scotland, you hung in there. I have rarely felt prouder than that moment as I laughed out loud feeling a bit less serious about life and a whole lot ready to play.

However, I will never forget just how painful it was to take that step from unconsciously incompetent to consciously incompetent during that clinic. Sometimes I wish that step had been slightly less public, as I stood in the middle of that dusty arena, in 35 degree heat. The crowd peered down at me as I struggled to comprehend just how many different ways you could hold a rope whilst Peter repeatedly mocked ‘nope’ at my every attempt and the tears began to fall. In hindsight, this was my awakening, the only way remaining from the bottom – upwards!

Being publicly vulnerable can be particularly difficult in today’s society where judgement appears from every corner and if you make a mistake someone is sure to gloat or worse still, post about it. It sometimes feels like everyone is out to get you and willing you to fall flat on your face. I’ll remind you; horses are prey animals and perhaps know a thing or two about this feeling. Vulnerability is not weakness.

When I recount those tears at my first ever clinic, they were both of pain and joy. Pain that I did not know what I thought I knew and joy, for that meant I was ready to learn a whole lot more. The truth is, once you take that painful step from unconsciously incompetent to consciously incompetent you will have no intention of taking it back, and you will come to realise this is a gift. If you always know what you don’t know – you always have an opportunity to find out more.

I came home to Scotland from that clinic in Canada, I ordered a copy of Tom Dorance’s book ‘True Unity’ and I bought my first horse – Ava. At this point I wish to credit Ava as my ongoing mentor in horsemanship. Of course, other great people have helped me along my journey, but like no other, this particular horse has ensured that I truly ‘show up’, that I eat regular doses of humble pie and that I never take myself too seriously. Through a heady mix of frustration, self-doubt, exhilaration and joy (not necessarily in that order) Ava reignited a passion in me which I can now never imagine turning my back on.

Here my horsemanship journey met a fork in the road. One way - Ava becomes my muse and mentor. The other way, Wilder Ways is born and people become my muse and I become their mentor. Both routes result in and from a love of play.

And my own learning journey just keeps picking up pace. For the last few years, much inspiration has come from attending the Horsemanship Showcase, so I can’t tell how excited we are to be at this year’s event (Horsemanship Showcase - The Horsemanship Event of the Year) to share our stories of empowerment through adventures, for the love of play.

If you would like to continue to follow my story, keep an eye on this space as I publish my next two blogs in this wee series I am calling ‘For the love of play’.

Thanks for being part of my story.
Keep adventuring, Cara xxx

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Nikki & Echo's Training Journey

27/7/2024

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This is the story of me (Nikki) training a young horse; my first time doing this from scratch by myself and Echo’s first time doing this at all!

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but not been sure of my ability, excitedly tapping into my inner ‘Indian Brave’ on the one hand, and struggling with a certain amount of fear on the other. This has been a challenge. Horses need us to be calm, consistent and confident – fear or self doubt can be none of these things!

Echo came to us as an 18-month colt, now rising 5. He is, by nature, gentle and curious. This makes him a joy to work with. Though, on the flip side, he is so darn cute you have to be careful not to settle for less than his full potential, just because he looks at you doe-eyed.

He has run with a herd in big open terrain his whole life. I think this has been another important factor in his ‘trainability’. Being around other horses, he has learnt to be a ‘proper’ horse, understanding how they communicate with each other, and has experienced all sorts of enriching environments. In the early years, I simply peppered in short lessons to build confidence and understanding, such as leading, basic manoeuvring instructions, standing tied in the barn, and essential care like vaccinations, farrier and dentist visits. I always say his ‘serious’ training started this year as a 4-year old, but I should not undervalue how important the early days were in just raising a well-rounded, resilient young man, ready to begin his career as a ridden horse.

His ‘higher education’ started with a range of groundwork exercises drawn from our (mine and Cara’s) experience of various natural horsemanship techniques we have studied over the years. These exercises were to create better communication, to teach ‘how to want to learn’ and gymnastic movements to increase his flexibility and strength. I particularly loved a younger trainer called Joe Midgeley www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk whose basic technique just made sense to me, simple yet effective. One of Joe’s key ideas was to use pre-signals, so that before using physical pressure such as aids, the horse can learn to follow the lightest of instructions and develop responsiveness. This is a great trick. More recently Sean Coleman, www.appliedhorsemanship.com, provided invaluable guidance in teaching him how to learn with motivation, which included starting Echo at canter in the arena.

Echo and I spent a lot of time on our relationship, we would go for walks together, exploring the hills around our farm, or just stand together in the field having a scratch. This connection and investment in our relationship budget made his training much quicker and more effective – as he sought spending time together, trusted me and understood that relaxing time together was a reward.

He learnt games, movements and simple lessons such that by the time we came to tack and riding, these were just ‘today’s lesson’ rather than a big deal. The first few times I put the saddle on we just went for walks together up the hill. I first rode him in the arena, just a couple of times to master the reins. The switch from halter to reins was one of the few things that confused him a little, but we worked it out together. Riding outside the arena was really very straightforward – our favourite hill walks from the early days had paid off - and he showed confidence, trust and curiosity.

Because of this, after only three hacks (6 rides in total), we decided to take him with us on our annual migration to the Knoydart in the West Highlands, one of our most beautiful and challenging rides. Within a week he was climbing mountains, swimming in the sea, cantering on an open beach and jumping small ditches. Oh, and did I mention how he got there! He went in a lorry for the first time, a 6-hour drive, followed immediately by a 1hr crossing on a landing craft boat! He took it all in his stride – such a legend.

For me, one of the best parts of Knoydart was seeing him gain in maturity – we like to call it empowerment through adventure – or learning on the job. From shyly stepping in the hooves of the lead horses, he was starting to pick his own way and trust in himself as well as in our partnership. I honestly couldn’t be more proud of him.

After 6 weeks on Knoydart, we came home and he seems different, older, wiser, fitter, stronger, and I would even go as far as to say he looks proud of himself! Of course, one has to always be careful not to overwhelm a young horse, but I also think we don’t need to baby them, especially when they are curious – this we should nurture and empower. This morning, Echo and I had our first play date in 2 weeks and he was a joyous, cheery, playful boy – I hope he never loses this.

I want to thank Echo for being my student and my teacher, I could not have wished for a better first.

- Nikki

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Sean Coleman Clinic at Wilder Ways - Clara Glynn's Blog

27/7/2024

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I signed up for a Sean Coleman clinic at Wilder Ways because my friend was going, I didn’t really have any expectations, it just felt like an interesting thing to do. It turned out to be a brilliant experience.   Wilder Ways, if you’ve never been there, is a magical place. Tucked away in Kintyre, it feels like a world of it’s own. Nikki and Cara were very welcoming, wise and dryly funny. And the food is completely ace, which is an underrated but essential part of a great horsey weekend.

I love to ride, but I work, and I’ve got three children, so I tend to get to the field, saddle up and go, I’ve never had, or made, time for non ridden work. So learning how much you can teach your horse on the ground, and how much that can benefit your relationship with him, was a real eye-opener. In the morning Sean would do a big theory session before we’d head down to the arena. The first day was all ground work, lots of flags, which me and my horse Mac had never used before. The second day we did some ground and some ridden work. It was all good.

Sean has an ability to size up a horse, and communicate with it, that is fascinating to watch. Mac really benefited. At the beginning of the weekend Sean asked us all what we wanted to work on. Mac is what we politely call a reluctant loader (he has also on occasions in this context been called a wee shite). It’s something we really struggle with. Sean trained him, teaching Mac that he had to work when he was away from the trailer, firm but very calm. In about 90 minutes he had my horse - who previously thought trailers were the terrifying work of the devil - popping in to relax. When Mac self loaded, Sean unclipped him and Mac stayed in the trailer for 10 minutes before wandering out. Now Sean had been working Mac hard, and there had been moments where it seemed a bit much, and I had to sit on my hands not to step in and say take it easy. But astonishingly when Mac came out of that trailer, he didn’t walk over to me, or the other horses, he walked over to Sean, as if to say hi boss, what are we doing next? My horse recognised someone who really knew what they were doing and appreciated it as much as I did.

The loading looms large for me, because it was transformational. Since that weekend I have a horse who loads. He quite often takes longer than I’d like, but I can now get him places in a trailer without worrying.

- Clara Glynn

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Wilder Ways in Farming & Country Magazine!

1/7/2024

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Have a detailed look at our feature on pages 54-55 in the the June edition of Farming & Country Magazine here - Farming and Country (colstonmedia.co.uk)

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Hilary's Blog - April 2024

24/4/2024

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I have always dreamed of living in rural Scotland, pottering about looking after horses and going on adventures aboard my trusty steed. So, after leaving school, I decided to do HNC equine studies at college, before starting my degree in equine business management at The University of the Highlands and Islands. Most of my course is online, with short practical blocks of intense equitation training on campus in Thurso. The practical blocks are a lot of fun but hard work! I always come back a lot fitter!

I came to Wilder Ways last April as part of my work experience module for university, after searching high and low for a yard that specialised in horse riding adventures, with an emphasis on equine behaviour and welfare, as well as a care for the environment and sustainability. I was made to feel so welcomed by Nikki, Cara, and Christina, and immediately felt at home on the yard. I loved making friends with all the ponies, as well as getting to know the other farm animals. When Nikki and Cara offered me a job, and a space in the herd for afore mentioned ‘trusty steed’, Rio, it was a no brainer to stay on.

Starting full time in April, I was straight in at the deep end, with the season just beginning. My main responsibilities over the summer involved, daily animal care (feeding, administering medications, checking for injuries, etc), maintaining the yard (mucking out, filling hay nets, tidying, organising, etc), giving the ponies TLC (grooming, massage, clipping etc) helping customers, teaching some lessons (which I have found so rewarding), and of course, tailing rides.

I have loved exploring all the routes with Rio for the first time, especially the beach. It really has been my dream pony adventure summer! I have also had the opportunity to ride the cross-country course on Raven, Puzzle and Rio which has been a definite highlight since there is nothing I love more than galloping about and jumping!

Since the end of the season and arrival of winter, my working hours have been reduced to allow me to concentrate on my degree. A typical winter week for me involves 4 days of study (with plenty of breaks for walks and pony time!). I’m currently in third year and my modules are split between equine related and business related. Although, I always manage to put a horsey spin on my business assignments. The other 3 days (the best 3) are spent at work with the horses. In addition to general animal care, we have been using the quiet time to get on with big jobs such as deep cleaning the tack and organising rugs. It is also a great opportunity to spend one on one time with each of the horses, giving them a thorough check over and lots of love and attention.

My wilder ways journey so far has been brilliant, I have met lots of amazing people and horses, and gained so much valuable knowledge and experience. I cannot wait for spring to come so I can get back outdoors full time with the horses, doing what I love most!

- Hilary

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My Wilder Ways Journey - Christina

9/2/2024

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A question I get asked the most from our guests that stay with us is – ‘So, how long have you been working here for?’, and nearly every time people are so surprised when I tell them that it’s been nearly 3 years! While writing this, I have just completed my 3rd season at Wilder Ways (4th season here we come!) and in that time, I feel like so much has changed. Not just in my life generally, but in terms of my work skills and as a person. A lot of you may know me as the girl who cooks and serves most meals during your stay (my chocolate brownies are now quite renowned!), however there’s a lot that I do behind the scenes which many of you may be surprised to know!

It all started back in April 2021 when we’d just come out of the third and last covid lockdown. I originally started looking for work in early 2020 after helping to care for, and sadly losing, my Dad in 2019. One day I was looking on social media and came across an ad for a local Horse-Riding Holiday business (that being Wilder Ways of course!) who were looking for a cleaner/housekeeper. Even with only little experience of this, I decided to apply. The idea of working, even if not with animals but surrounded by them, sounded like heaven for me. Fast forward a week, and there I was, starting my first day. The best part about this was coming to the realisation that my sister, Sara, had also actually just got the job as Yard Manager too! What a coincidence.

The 2021 season was a blur, it went so fast but with so many memories made! It was now my first winter here and during this time, Nikki and Cara were looking for a bookkeeper. Someone suggested that I have a think about whether that’s something I’d like to get some basic training in and I decided – why not! I officially started bookkeeping here in February 2022 and have been doing it ever since. During the 2021 season, it was also picked up on that I really enjoyed helping Nikki with food prep every now and then and, so, when the 2022 season came along, I started taking some of the cooking responsibilities for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

By the end of the 2022 season we were all in major need of a rest after back to back holidays with our amazing guests, following covid rebooking’s and international travel now being allowed. I’d somehow (haha) managed to acquire two dogs (our Bulgarian rescue Kuro and crazy German Shepherd puppy Maia!) during this season, so for me this was an unforgettable year overall. In the winter of 2022, I started to get really involved and interested in our marketing. I designed and edited the Jan 2023 ‘Straight From The Horses Mouth’ Newsletter as my first marketing project and it was all up from there! Not only that, but I was now also getting into doing our social media posts.

Fast forward to this year’s season, I was now in charge of cleaning, cooking, bookkeeping, social media & marketing! It was again a busy season but so much fun. I decided that something I would really like to do is delve deeper into bookkeeping and get a better understanding of that side of things. So, this winter, I’ve officially enrolled into my AAT Level 2 Bookkeeping course which will be followed by Level 3 and will give me the qualifications I need to apply to be a licensed Bookkeeper. I’m really enjoying it so far!

Reflecting back on the past few years, I started working here pretty much just out of high school aged 19, lacking a lot of self-esteem and confidence. Now, I have so much more confidence not just in engaging with others but also in myself! Wilder Ways (Nikki & Cara!!) has done so much for me – not only in raising my confidence (to the point that people don’t even realise I’m the same person they’ve already met back in 2021 or 2022 – yes this has happened!) but in so many other ways too that a lot of people wouldn’t realise. It allowed me and my sister to build on our relationship and we are now closer than ever, it has given me the realisation that school qualifications are not the end in terms of what career you can have in life (to go from having just National 5 Maths to being in a financial related job of any kind, let alone a Licensed Bookkeeper is something I never thought I’d be capable of!), it has allowed me to make so many beautiful friendships (especially Hilary & Rio!) and has provided me with a really strong sense of family, something I really, truly cherish.

- Christina

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A Very Special Mother & Daughter Trip With Wilder Ways - Cosima

22/1/2024

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I had discovered Wilder Ways a few years back whilst exploring the idea of a riding holiday with my daughter to mark a special occasion. Though a keen rider in younger years, I hadn’t been on a horse for some time and my confidence levels had worn thin, whereas she had turned into the same horse obsessed dare devil I had once been.

When I came across the Wilder Ways website with all the different adventures, pictures of past excursions and the herd and Nikki and Cara at the helm, I knew we had found our tribe and the place. Unfortunately the pandemic delayed things slightly due to fewer rides on offer, albeit Nikki was most accommodating in trying to squeeze us in, but we had our hearts set on Knoydart, so we waited.

Finally, in May 2022, we set off from London to Mallaig via Glasgow, an unforgettable journey in itself and a magical start to our adventure. When we got to Knoydart we first met our co-riders, whom we hit it off with straight away, sharing our thoughts on our expectations and fears, our riding histories etc. Our accommodation proved to be luxurious and comfortable: a generous and welcoming modern cottage with several bedrooms and en-suite facilities, as well as a big open living room/kitchen. All our breakfasts and most evening meals would be served there, just outside our room, looking out over the fields and into the hills. We couldn’t have wished for a nicer setting or more convenient set up. Other meals were also fab, either in a nearby restaurant or the local pub, watching the sun set on our last evening, complete with folk music from a very cool bunch of young musicians and a pool tournament.

From the moment we were joined by our riding hosts Nikki and Cara, we all knew we were in safe hands: Firm, but incredibly warm, passionate and with an irresistible sense of humour, they laid down ground rules, safety and etiquette around the horses. We were introduced to the herd and the horses that we would ride for the duration of our stay. Raven and Roxy became our best friends for the next few days.

Each day offered us a new type of different terrain to conquer, becoming more challenging as we progressed and with it came new things we had to learn. Nikki and Cara taught and kept reminding us how we could help the horses do their job and the importance of good horsemanship, but also the relevance of trusting in ourselves and our horse. Our ride around the peninsula took us through breathtakingly beautiful scenery from lush valleys, across beaches, hills and moors and culminated in a swim in the sea on horseback. We were always given the option to miss a canter if we did not feel like it, but there were also plenty of opportunities to really go for it. I was amazed to discover how agile my sturdy cob proved to be, climbing and traversing uneven ground. We would stop for lunch and untack, allowing the horses and ourselves a well deserved break.

I think the idea of letting go of fear and allowing ourselves to surrender to the experience meant a lot to some of us and it felt great to have the collective experience of the results with such a lovely group of women. In the evenings we shared stories of the day, of life back home, as well as how to soothe sore legs and sunburnt noses and before we knew it, we were a team.

We both came home happy, windswept, feeling strong and a bit more brave and I really hope we get to go back at some point soon. Thank you Wilder Ways!

Cosima Shaw

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Wilder Ways Working Holiday 2023 - Ramona

20/12/2023

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I have been on plenty of holidays with Wilder Ways over the past few years. Although every holiday is different, I always know what to expect when I book. Great company, great food and great adventure!

Back in March I was invited to come and work alongside Cara, Nikki and a few other volunteers to trial their new working holiday packages. This is to help get the herd back into the swing of things after some well-deserved time off throughout the winter. A working holiday is something I had never experienced before, but I knew I could not pass up the opportunity to visit my favourite place once again.

When I arrived, Cara and Nikki showed me the schedule for the week and explained the idea and the goals behind it. I was paired with the beautiful Pearl and Roxy and off I went.
This schedule included everything from horsemanship and massage to archery and hacking. A few of these things I had never done before but that did not matter, I was fully supported and learnt a lot of new skills. We spent all day every day working with our horses, from breakfast until dinner.

My favourite part of this experience was really getting to know the horses that I was working with. Unlike other holidays, I was responsible for them as well as riding them. The horsemanship especially helped us build a bond and I really felt we were learning together. As someone who does not have my own horse this was an amazing thing to experience. The atmosphere created by the whole team was great. I especially enjoyed our evenings making dinner together, dissecting the day and learning about each other.

This type of holiday taught me lots and really showed me what goes on behind the scenes at wilder ways. I met lots of new people and I really felt like I was part of the Wilder Ways family.

I will definitely be booking my next adventure soon!

Ramona McHale

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Horsemanship in the Hills – The tale of one ‘Marksman’

Tabby's Volunteering Experience @ Wilder Ways - Summer 2024

Horsemanship - for MY love of play

Nikki & Echo's Training Journey

Sean Coleman Clinic at Wilder Ways - Clara Glynn's Blog

Wilder Ways in Farming & Country Magazine!

Hilary's Blog - April 2024

My Wilder Ways Journey - Christina

A Very Special Mother & Daughter Trip With Wilder Ways - Cosima

Wilder Ways Working Holiday 2023 - Ramona

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