About Us
Rowan Stanford has owned horses/ponies and ridden for over thirty-five years, whilst receiving most of her training the BHS way, always sought another answer. In 2006, Rowan opened her own livery yard in Lydlinch, Dorset, and immediately saw the possibilities of running a livery yard with a difference - one that does not tolerate any violence or even raised voices to any horse. Together with a friend Rachel Norris they set up Equusense, which is now based at Westfields Farm, Mappowder in Dorset. Together using Rachel’s knowledge and their training from the Natural Horsemanship centre they worked with many equines with problems as well as normal training such as backing and loading.
Rowan and Mark as well as concentrating on preserving the Spanish Mustang breed, are owned by Tara, a part bred Arab Mare, who was put into foal to a Lipizzaner Stallion and last July gave birth to a beautiful colt named Andante Vezir, a New forest pony, Poppy, who was weaned early and is now keeping Andante company after weaning in the Nursery paddock.
Octavia is their Lipizzaner Mare who is still being trained in many life skills as well as basic classical training.
Of course there are Teton Brave and Prairie Breeze who are the foundation stock for their European Breeding Programme. They will be joined by two more SM Mares from the USA later this year.
Rowan is also a qualified Crystal Therapist and Usui Reiki and Siechem Reiki Master and registered with the I.N.H.A. Rowan has specialised in the use of these therapies in horses/ponies. It proves invaluable, in calming a distressed horse or pony, and can also be used to aid healing of ailments and injury. When used in conjunction with the training methods that Rachel and Rowan use, it can be extremely effective when handling a particularly difficult or remedial horse.
Mark by trade an Architectural Technician, describes himself as Rowan’s assistant but he himself is a healer and can communicate with the horses through thought. He has a gift that can at times be a problem in that animals are attracted to him. This can prove a little tiresome for him in a humorous way. Teton Brave is his future Stallion and they bonded within a few hours of Brave’s arrival.
Together Rowan and Mark work with the animals in a way that allays all the fears and problems that the equines may have.
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