Hannah

Maxo is a very special horse to me. He came such a long way and it was so nice to see him progressing and learning to feel comfortable around people again. It really made the early mornings worth it! (And I’m really not a morning person). It wasn’t always smooth sailing, some days Maxo didn’t feel like cooperating but that was part of the joy of working with him. This really showed that he, like all the horses, are not forced to train, but do it out of their own free will. It was such a new and different way of training horses and establishing a connection with them. I really miss seeing Maxo waiting for me each morning for our daily training sessions, and him pacing (in)patiently while I got the round pen ready. He really is such a character and I miss him loads. 

Over my time there I got to learn a bit about all of the horses, and in such a natural habitat, their unique personalities really shone! From cheeky Falco who would always find a way under the fence if you weren’t paying attention to sweet Ponchi who could never put a hoof wrong, all the horses had little quirks that made them a joy to be around.

Prior to coming to time and space, I was an avid horse rider and competed in show jumping. I read a bit about the programme and force free training before I came to Spain, I thought it would be interesting to build a stronger connection with horses on the ground rather than in the saddle. 

It really opened my mind to force free training and changed my mind about riding. 

I look back on my time on the campo very fondly and even writing this now is making me very nostalgic! 

Thanks so much to Clare, Chico, Stella, little Nora and the other volunteers for making my stay so enjoyable and unforgettable! I hope to return to my Spanish home someday, where I have learned so much – about horses, the carefree Spanish way of life, and a little bit about myself as well