Our Workshops
Where Horses Teach, and People Grow
At Standfast, we believe that learning with horses is about more than just riding — it’s about building trust, growing confidence, and reconnecting with yourself and the natural world.
Our workshops are hands-on, supportive, and rooted in real connection. Whether you're brushing up on your horsemanship, taking your first ride, or slowing down for some personal healing, there's a place for you here — no pressure, no judgment, just honest learning alongside good horses and good people.
Each workshop is guided by experienced horsepeople and designed to be practical, grounded, and respectful — to both horse and human.
Come as you are. Leave with more than you came for.
Meet Your Guide – Aroha Grant
Kaitautoko. Horsewoman. Māmā.
Founder of Standfast Stables and lead facilitator of our workshops, Aroha brings over two decades of experience working with horses, land, and people. With deep roots in whānau and whenua, her teaching style blends natural horsemanship, wairua-led guidance, and practical know-how — always with patience, respect, and aroha.
Aroha has a passion for creating safe spaces where others can reconnect — with themselves, with horses, and with the wild quiet within. Whether you're here to build skills or find stillness, you'll be welcomed as whānau.
Workshop Options and Pricing
We offer both individual sessions and group experiences, based on your needs:
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Build Confidence. Learn Respect. Connect with Horses.
This one-day workshop is the perfect introduction to safe, kind horsemanship where every step is about building trust between you and the horse. Whether you're new to horses or wanting to strengthen your foundation, you'll learn how to read their language, move with calm confidence, and handle them with care.
No shouting. No forcing. Just quiet, connected learning.
What You’ll Learn:
Reading horse body language and energy
Understand what your horse is telling you — before they even move.Approaching, catching, haltering, and leading
Learn to catch a horse calmly and guide them with respect and intention.Grooming and care essentials
Hands-on experience with grooming tools, horse health, and connection through care.Safe zones, boundaries, and communication
Understand how to keep yourself (and your horse) safe by working within natural cues.Connecting through feel and timing
Learn how to match your energy to your horse's and why it matters.Introduction to tack and gear
Get familiar with saddles, bridles, and equipment; how to fit and use them safely.
Workshop Info:
Location: Standfast Stables, 7391 State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki
Time: 9:30am – 3:00pm
Cost: $120 per person, $50 for fence sitters
Who it's for: Adults and teens (13+), beginners or returning riders
Includes: Use of horse or bring your own, all gear, and light refreshments
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Learn to Speak the Language of the Horse
This workshop is an extended version of our 1-Day Basic Horsemanship Workshop, designed to give you more time, deeper practice, and a stronger foundation in natural horsemanship.
Step into the world of horses and discover more than just riding — discover relationship, respect, and rhythm. Over two hands-on days, you’ll learn how to connect, communicate, and handle horses safely and confidently through real-world, practical skills.
Whether you're just starting out or rebuilding your confidence, this workshop offers a safe, supportive environment to learn, grow, and ride forward.
What You'll Learn:
Horse behaviour & body language
Understand how horses think, move, and communicate with their environment — and with you.Safe handling & groundwork
Learn how to lead, halt, back up, and move with your horse using clear, confident energy.Building trust & feel
Become a consistent, reliable partner on the ground and begin to develop intuitive timing.Basic riding skills(optional, depending on confidence)
Mounted work includes balanced seat, soft hands, and confidence in motion.Introduction to tack and horse care
Learn about grooming tools, basic saddle fit, and gear essentials for everyday use.
Workshop Info:
Location: Standfast Stables, 7391 State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki
Time: 9:30am – 3:00pm
Cost: $220 per person, $80 fence sitters
Who it's for: Adults and teens (13+), beginners or returning riders
Includes: Use of horse or bring your own, all gear, and morning tea and lunch
$80 for fence sitters
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Come Back to Yourself With Horses Beside You
Sometimes the world moves too fast, and our bodies carry more than they were meant to. This one-day healing workshop is a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect with the land, with yourself, and with the quiet presence of horses.
Through gentle, guided experiences alongside our horses, we’ll explore how to notice what’s going on inside, regulate our nervous systems, and find steady ground again, not through words, but through presence.
No horse experience needed. Just come as you are.
What You’ll Experience:
Grounding into the present
Settle into a calm space where you can breathe, feel, and let go.Horse-led connection
Be with horses in a way that’s natural, respectful, and healing no pressure to ride, just to be. Observe how your body responds as you step into shared space.Body scan and awareness practice
After connecting with the horse, we guide you through a full-body check-in noticing shifts in breath, tension, and energy, and gently naming what’s changed.Nervous system tools
Learn simple strategies to recognise when you’re in fight, flight, or freeze — and ways to return to calm.Gentle interaction
Grooming, breathing, and standing with the herd, connection through quiet presence and consent.Reflective space
Time to journal, share if you wish, and simply be in a space that honours rest and reconnection.
Who It’s For:
Anyone feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected
Those seeking calm, clarity, or a reset
Adults (18+) — no horse experience required
Professionals, parents, caregivers, or those carrying a lot for others
Workshop Info:
Location: Standfast Stables, 7391 State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Cost:$120 per person, $50 fence sitter
Includes: Gentle facilitation, horse time, journal prompts, refreshments and lunch
Group size: Small, safe and supportive — spaces limited, minimum of 6
