Training at Maefield Farm

Hope Saldaña has been training Maefield Farm horses since 2020. She brings over 20 years of equestrian experience into her training philosophy. From halter breaking the foals to competing at nationally recognized shows, Hope emphasizes respect, consistency, and trust throughout the training process of every horse. All of the horses go through extensive groundwork training before riding begins - for both started and un-started horses.

“If I cannot gain and maintain respect and trust from my horses on the ground, I have no business sitting on their backs.” - Hope

Hope Saldaña

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The horses go through what we like to call a “SMART start”:

S - Stand:

The horse is taught to stand patiently in whatever situation presented to them (cross tie, post tie, trailer tie, ground tie, mounting, in-hand, etc.). This requires the horse to learn selfcontrol and self-regulation rather than relying on continual input from their handler.

M - Move:

Once the horse has an understanding of how to stand patiently, we can now teach them specific cues to move their body and move their feet. From head to tail, each part of the horse’s body should move respectfully away from pressure. Here we can build the foundational work of lateral movements, in-hand training, rider aids, etc.

A - Attitude:

At this point in the training, it is inevitable we run into attitude problems. Once you get their feet moving, the horse’s antics and personality quirks start showing up. If they were not obvious before, they are now! Especially in the young horses, it is critical to address a poor attitude or work ethic quickly and consistently. This step establishes boundaries and respect between both horse and trainer.

R - Reactions:

Horses are prey animals and will always rely on their instinct of flight for selfpreservation. In this step, we focus on training the horse’s reaction to stimuli. Teaching the horse HOW to respond to scary situations is a much more effective tool than teaching them to block them out - they will reach their stimuli threshold eventually. We do not want “bomb proof” or “dead head” horses. We want confident, trusting partners.

T - Trust:

Now the beauty of connection and partnership can be realized! Mutual respect and trust can only be developed if you have taken your time in the previous steps. A horse that trusts the trainer is a horse ready for work and a trainer that trusts the horse is ready to become the coach. As their coach, we are responsible for determining the best training course based on what we know about their individual needs.

“To be successful, a trainer needs to have a clear, foundational training framework. However, the training style, techniques, and timeline must be adjustable to fit the individual needs of each horse. Without a framework, you lose a baseline for comparison. Without flexibility, you lose the ability to appreciate and tap into the horse’s natural talents and abilities. You need both to be successful.” - Hope

Hope specializes in starting young horses, but also has the skill to bring them up through 3rd Level Dressage , 3’ Hunter/Jumper, or Preliminary Eventing - depending on where the horse excels. She is passionate about using Dressage fundamentals to enhance the horse’s athleticism in every equine sport and to promote longevity of the horse throughout their athletic career and into their retirement. Additionally, she is devoted to learning and participates in regular lessons and clinics to continue her professional development as a sport horse trainer.

“The day I stop learning is the day I stop being a horse trainer.” - Hope