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Young horse training

Your young horse, guided by one of Italy’s leading experts in equine development.

Entrusting your young horse to Alterreno means initiating a formative path where confidence grows through consistency, boundaries become guidance and each lesson shapes both mind and body with purpose.
€2,980 excluding VAT

The art of growing together, step by step

From the first glance, a journey of connection and awareness

Supporting a young horse means practicing deep listening, presence and respect.
At Alterreno, each stage, from imprinting to riding, is designed to cultivate trust, balance and lasting cooperation.

The most pivotal of times
Training starts

This is the stage where curiosity and respect deepen, laying the foundation for a long-term, peaceful partnership.

After weaning, around 10 months of age, the young horse begins a more structured path that strengthens communication and nurtures trust through natural, consistent and thoughtful experiences.

At this stage, the horse:
Learns to follow the “feel” through halter and lead rope while remaining confident, calm and self-assured
Responds to light pressure with awareness and ease
Gets used to clipping, bathing and injections without stress
Navigates small natural obstacles, games, water crossings and narrow spaces
Loads and unloads from the trailer with calm and confidence
The first saddle isn’t imposed, it’s offered.
Riding with trust

Saddling begins as a fluid, attentive process that honours the horse’s pace and perception. Each phase is approached with steadiness and clarity, fostering comfort, confidence and a sense of mutual cooperation.

The stages of a conscious connection:
Acceptance of the human: the horse builds a foundation of trust from the ground
Acceptance of the saddle: the horse gets used to pad and girth calmly, both at rest and in motion
Acceptance of the rider: the horse is ready. The rider mounts as a quiet passenger
In the saddle: the trainer or experienced rider provides initial guidance from the ground during early transitions, then the rider gradually takes control
Introduction of the bit: the horse starts in a halter. The bit is introduced only in a later phase
Riding isn’t domination, it’s harmony.
A bond is born

The moment the horse accepts the rider on its back marks a powerful, transformative step. Every gesture, every response, begins to form a shared language. At this stage, the focus lies in building connection, performance naturally follows. And from there, we begin to fly together.

In this phase, the horse:
Learns smooth transitions between gaits, turning each movement into a natural and harmonious flow
Understands and calmly responds to energetic cues, body posture and the rider’s legs and hands, creating a silent and deep dialogue
Follows subtle guidance while maintaining balance, relaxation and emotional security
Builds reactivity and trust in the handler’s body language, opening to authentic, calm communication

Complete education:
technical skills meet emotional balance.

The Alterreno Foundation Training is a 12-month intensive programme designed to consolidate the key competencies that shape a responsive, centred and athletically balanced horse.

Training at Alterreno

Alterreno work at its core

Centred horses.
Conscious humans.

A year-long journey that transforms the horse into an attentive and capable partner.

Relaxation

Focus on inner calm and mental availability while ridden.

Groundwork

Introduce gait changes and liberty obstacles.

Response

The horse learns to collaborate with autonomy.

Flatwork

Flatwork with foundational movements and lateral work from ground and saddle.

Adaptation

Gradual exposure to new settings to move with confidence.

Jumping

Early jumping exercises and development in more structured contexts.

Relationship is built day by day

Here, horses aren’t “corrected”:
they’re understood.

At Alterreno, we believe every horse deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and deep understanding. We work daily with a limited number of horses to ensure an individualised journey where technique and wellbeing are never separate. A private, nature-immersed setting where the horse’s wellbeing is at the centre and every interaction becomes a step toward harmony.

01

Be part of a living vision, rooted in listening

Joining the Alterreno Club means stepping into a rare place, where horses, people and nature grow together every day through presence, connection and mutual trust.

02

A journey shaped by experience

Each horse is guided by an experienced professional in relational horsemanship, leading every phase with respect and intuition, supporting their growth step by step.

03

A lifestyle in tune with who you are becoming

This isn’t just training: it’s a way of life. In harmony with natural rhythms, your horse and the person you are becoming. One day at a time, at the right pace for you both.

"This is a unique place, built entirely for the physical and mental well-being of horses and the needs of riders of all disciplines. Love, passion, connection and natural horsemanship are certainly the characteristics that distinguish this equestrian centre from all the others. In addition, of course, to the state-of-the-art facility, which is hard to find, especially in Italy, with its exceptional indoor arena, large grass fields, enormous paddocks, a riding track, an all-weather outdoor arena and a stable with an attached paddock. "

Giulia Mancini

Young horse training

The first years shape the next twenty.
Begin them well.

Tell us about your young horse and where it is today.
We’ll shape the path that sets it up for life.

Let’s talk about your young horse