top of page
testimonials
Rosca Horsemanship
I first met Ross when I realised I was way out of my depth with a very traumatised and damaged youngster. I knew of Ross and his work, he seemed to be on the right 'wavelength', and most importantly I had never heard or read anything I deemed negative about the way he worked.
I'm quite particular about how my ponies are handled/treated, so it was quite a leap of faith to initially let a stranger be involved. So many trainers hide under a natural horsemanship style banner, whilst in practice their methods are as unethical, and often abusive, as some of the trainers they claim to differ from. I was all prepared to send Ross packing if he so much as showed any signs of chasing her in circles or flooding/forcing of handling in an enclosed space!
I really needn't have worried, Ross is absolutely the real deal, he is calm, kind, personable and above all ethical in his treatment of the horses he works with, and absolutely will not compromise them. I'm sure some will not be able to see the subtleties and think progress is way too slow, but every step is carefully introduced at the pace the horse sets, and consolidated before moving on.
He probably made more progress in one session than I had in almost 6 months and over the next two months started to build that bridge of communication, until 8 months after arrival I was finally able to make contact with her for the first time since her arrival day! What a special moment when she consented and accepted that contact.
From there we slowly continued to build our relationship and, with Ross's support, over the next few years Cara blossomed from a very scared little lady into an increasingly personable pony. Sadly fate took over and we lost her earlier this year but her legacy, and everything she, and Ross, taught me will live on.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Ross and his unique brand of horsemanship to everyone and I look forward to continuing to work with Ross in the future.
Hannah Fleetwood, Nottinghamshire
I had Ross out to help me with my mare who I’ve not been able to catch for 2 years.
She’s a highly sensitive mare and I’ve ended up avoiding the issue and letting her follow another horse in as she would just get really anxious and gallop round.I was very pleased how calm Ross was and my horse didn’t come out of walk the whole time he was training her. He practised approaching her and then catching her. Ross talked me through what to do to achieve this myself, he focused on building my confidence as well as my horses. After Ross left we left my mare out and I was able to catch her by myself after about 10/15mins. This is a massive achievement for me!
I now have the tools to practice the techniques on my own. I would definitely recommend
Faye Bedford, Lancashire
In November 2016 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust bought 3 wild Konik ponies straight from the fens of Cambridgeshire to use as lawnmowers on some of their wetland nature reserves.
These horses were born into a wild, unhandled herd that have to be tranquillised with a dart gun to be caught. Whilst generally a quiet, placid breed, these horses had virtually no human contact before arriving in Derbyshire and certainly no rapport or intention of 'normal' interaction with people
Despite my best efforts both the mares remained aloof and unpredictable to handle. Whilst their main role is to help DWT manage nature reserves through their grazing, for their safety and well-being and for those of us that have to handle and move them it is important we could catch or move them safely. Ross came to meet them and within minutes had gained their interest and trust.
Within 2 sessions he was able to headcollar and lead the older mare. Her default position of quietly taking herself off to the edge of the group to avoid interaction was soon overcome by a gentle confidence and the kind, respectful relationship she realised she could have with people. The younger mare was more resistant, her nervousness manifesting itself as aggression and flash mood changes but Ross's calm and quiet manner never altered, he gently showed her the boundaries whilst being quick to pick up on the positive signs. A few months on and we have loving, relaxed horses that lead easily, self-load, stand quietly for the farrier and actively seek people out for love and affection.
Watching Ross work has always been so interesting and inspirational, I (and the horses!) have enjoyed and learnt something new every session and his positive and can-do loving attitude has made learning such fun that we all look forward to the next time!
If you want to communicate, connect and have a true partnership with your horse then Ross can help you.
Kate Lemon, Derbyshire
Ross has been helping us as a family with Abby for the past few years, and the difference he's made has been incredible.
He first worked with her on lifting her feet for trimming, and thanks to his patient, calm approach, she has come on so much. More recently, he's been helping us get Abby comfortable being tied up for bathing, which had become quite a challenge. Since we've recently moved yards, Ross has also been supporting us as Abby settles into her new stable, field, and routines around being tied up.
Abby is a naturally anxious horse, and we can be anxious too, so having someone as calm, understanding, and knowledgeable as Ross has been invaluable. He takes the time to really study Abby, understand what she's communicating, and tailor his approach to her individual needs. Just as importantly, he educates us throughout every session, explaining the "why" behind what he's doing and giving us the confidence, knowledge, and support to continue the work between visits.
Ross also comes to do bodywork with Abby, and even these sessions are approached with incredible patience. He uses the time not only to carry out the treatment but also to help Abby become comfortable and relaxed with the process, always working at her pace and never rushing her.
Every session leaves us feeling more positive, and it's wonderful to see Abby becoming more relaxed, confident, and trusting. We can't thank Ross enough for his ongoing support and dedication.
We would highly recommend Rosca Horsemanship to anyone looking for kind, patient, knowledgeable, and effective horsemanship
Jessica Mcbain, Lincolnshire
bottom of page