Academy of Horses is more than a learning platform—it’s a living philosophy, a movement, and a home for those seeking to extend or transform their knowledge about their relationship with horses. At its heart lies the legacy of Art of Natural Dressage (AND), a pioneering approach cofounded by Bianca Kersten in 2007 that has redefined what it means to truly connect with a horse.
Born from the conviction that horses are not tools to be shaped but sentient beings to be met, AND is a training philosophy grounded in non-violence, relationship, and mutual evolution. It challenges conventional methods and goes beyond “natural horsemanship,” rejecting pressure-and-release techniques as mere replicas of domination, repackaged. Instead, it introduces a completely new paradigm: reward-based, body-aware, emotionally intelligent interaction.
Where traditional methods seek submission, AND seeks co-creation. Where others impose, we invite. Where many view training as a linear progression, we see it as an ongoing dialogue—a dance of learning, curiosity, and consent.
The Foundation by AND
At the core of Art of Natural Dressage lies the understanding that the horse is a mirror. It reflects back the clarity, confusion, patience, or force within us. This philosophy teaches humans to lead from the inside out—starting with self-awareness, emotional regulation, and embodied presence. The goal isn’t performance, but connection. Not obedience, but participation.
We draw from the body language of the horse, not to manipulate, but to speak fluently with them. We develop balance and biomechanics through play, liberty, and softness—and only then, when readiness and joy align, do we move into more refined movements such as collection or exercises.
Movement with Purpose
Academy of Horses integrates the biomechanics of classical dressage principles with a focus on interacting through joy, clarity, reward, and mutual understanding, beyond training.
We draw on the wisdom of classical dressage as a framework to help horses develop a strong, balanced body and a calm, focused mind. To be lead by the physical and psychological wellbeing of the horse. When paired with positive reinforcement and awareness of the way of interacting, it becomes a way that supports both physical soundness and mental well-being. The Academy is not a system, It’s a mindset and a toolkit.
But just as important as the physical development is the relationship we build along the way. Training becomes a shared language. A process of teamwork, where both horse and human stay engaged, curious, and connected. Our approach supports a healthy body, a healthy mind, and a healthy partnership—so that both horse and human can grow with confidence, clarity, and joy.
We also invite riders and trainers to break free from what they’ve been taught to accept as “normal.” Much of what’s long been considered standard in horsemanship doesn’t hold up under the light of real observation or ethical scrutiny. At the Academy, we create space to unlearn—to put aside assumptions, methods, and traditions that no longer serve the horse, and to see with a fresh, honest, and truly present perspective.
It’s not about idealism. It’s about becoming skilled in noticing what’s actually there—not what we expect to see. It’s about meeting the horse as an individual, not as a role or a goal.
What Academy of Horses Offers
The Academy continues and expands this vision. It offers an evolving, evidence-informed, deeply ethical knowledge base for riders, trainers, and caretakers who want to work with their horses, not against them. You’ll find:
Practical tools rooted in neuroscience, learning theory, biomechanics, and compassionate leadership.
A pathway that respects each horse’s individuality, history, and nervous system.
Guidance on groundwork, liberty, biomechanics, and dressage that never resorts to force, fear, or submission.
Support for both humans and horses as they heal, grow, and build trust in themselves and each other.
This isn’t about “fixing” behavior. It’s about asking better questions. What does my horse need to feel safe, curious, and motivated? What can I change in myself to become a partner worth following?
Our Vision
We dream of a world where pressure is not the first language we use with horses. Where horses are not ranked by obedience, but honored for their individuality. Where people become more human by spending time with horses—not more mechanical.
Through the Academy of Horses, you are not learning a technique. You are learning a way of being. One that is rooted in presence, built on mutual trust, and guided by the invisible thread that connects two souls—the human and the horse.
Welcome to a revolution of softness, clarity, and truth.