Whether you want to take your existing skills to new heights, start your youngster, rehabilitate your older horse, keep your senior going, or you're just starting out—the Mastery Program can help.

It's designed for everyday riders, but also instructors and professionals are welcome.

And there's a reason we're successful in the horse training world: 

Our STrategies work across an enormous range of breeds, with riders across 65+ countries, and from a variety of disciplines, at virtually every stage of their journey.

And that's why we made sure the Mastery Program can help you, too, regardless your background.

★★★★★

"In the 17 years of being a horse owner, I have always felt comfortable in my day to day interaction and training…… Straightness Training has opened my world to so many new thoughts and facts.... The WHY of absolutely everything which forms the basis of our training. I could carry on chatting forever, but the absolute cherry on the top is when your horse begins to enjoy the training … and give you his input … and when you begin to recognise this…….. an amazing feeling!"

Jenni

Every horse is asymmetrical by nature, and overlooking this fact can lead to a whole range of physical and behavioral issues - regardless of the horse's breed or equestrian discipline.

Ignoring the natural asymmetry can lower your horse's quality of life and shorten their lifespan.

Only a flexible, supple, strong and balanced horse will help you reach your goals and enjoy the process. 

So it's crucial and essential to focus on symmetrical development in your horse's body and limbs.

And that's what you're going to learn with the Mastery Program.

It's super practical, fun, and ideal if you live remote or don't have direct access to an expert or instructor.

★★★★★

"My young gelding had no balance and couldn't bend. In an arena if we trotted or cantered we would get faster and faster - like a motorbike - and fall in on the corners. It was awful. He would brace against attempts to slow or bend him under saddle. His anxiety saddened me, and so I resigned myself to only riding him out on quiet trail rides. By accident I found ST. Now, when I change from one seat bone to the other, I feel his whole body change bend! The in-hand exercises have brought us closer together and opened up a whole new way of interacting. Sometimes we just walk out together, but when we accomplish something new in our lab, it is so fulfilling for us both. Our partnership develops daily, and it is cool what he can do now!"

Linda, Australia

1. You'll receive an email with a link, userid and password to the Marijke's complete life work. 

2. Welcome to the community! From now on you're a valid member of our enthusiastic group of STudents.

3. Grab a cup of your favorite drink and start with your first lesson.

4. Just follow the STeps and in 8 weeks you'll feel like a next-level horse trainer, in 365 days, you'll be one.

★★★★★

"The Mastery Program came into my life at the perfect moment - when I was 5 months pregnant. I couldn't ride, but I could walk next to my horse. it kept us both fit. And if you can't walk anymore next to your horse, you can do liberty.So I would say if you are pregnant and don´t know what to do, or think about selling your horse or paying someone else to ride. DON´T. Do ST, and your horse will love you. This program has changed me more than my horses. It is not about making my horse better - making him/her to piaffe or tempo change - it is becoming a better version of yourself. It is more than a way to teach a horse. I love it. When I look at my horses, they are more at ease, relaxed and motivated." 

Anu, Estonia

It's fully customizable to whatever works best for you.

Just commit as much or as little time as you’re able to do STudy and train your horse.

The goal is that you keep showing up for you and your horse — whether that means dedicating 10 minutes a day or one hour.

Remember: You don't have to get it perfect, you just have to get it going. So its progress over perfection, and slow progress is better than no progress.

Yes, you get access to all content at once.

Each lesson is thoughtfully selected and released in a logical sequence, guiding you STep-by-STep through the entire program.

This way, you can focus on each aspect of your training without feeling rushed.

• Watch anytime, anywhere — on your computer, tablet, or mobile device.
• Review the materials at your own pace
• Revisit any lesson as often as you like.

There’s no rush, and you can never be ‘behind’.

It’s all about going at a pace that suits you and your horse!

Yes, Straightness Training is for horse lovers of all levels: 

• whether you're a novice rider, starting from scratch,
• or an ambitious leisure rider, but not a dressage person,
• or a professional horse trainer,
• or riding instructor...

Marijke's complete life's work will help you fast-track your growth, achieve extraordinary results with ordinary horses, and save you years of trial and error and unnecessary suffering!

There's no experience required.

We've got your back with the 'Horse Training 101' module to help you train a horse like a pro and to avoid that you're unconsciously hinder your horse's progress.

Here's what Chiara from Italy has to say about it:

"The Mastery Program has given me the opportunity to train my horse from the very beginning: I had no experience in horse training, but following strictly this program we reached some really nice results yet. It is not always easy, but for sure it is worth it! Before I had a wild mare, now I have a horse that is open-minded, has much more physical and mental balance and has a good connection with me. I couldn't recommend something better!"

Yes, ST is beneficial to all kinds of horses - even of your breed is not listed on this page.

Why?

Because every horse is asymmetrical by nature - in body and limbs - so we need to rebalance our horses so that they can carry us in a healthy way - no matter what breed.

This program was specifically built to help people with horse's like... 

• Warmbloods: Hanoverian, Trakehner, Selle Français, KWPN, ISH, etc.
• Coldbloods: Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons, Norikers, Haflingers, Norwegians etc.
• Hot bloods: Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Akhal-Teke, Spanish Barbs, Anglo-Arabians etc.
• Ponies: Connamaras, Welsh Cobs, Gypsy Cobs, Hackneys, Shetlanders, POAs, etc. 
• Barock horses: Lusitanos, Friesians, PREs, Frederiksborgers, Lippizanians, etc.
• Gaited horses: Icelandics, Paso Finos, Campolinas, Peruvian Pasos, Tennessee Walkers, etc.
• Natural Horsemanship horses: Parelli, Monty Roberts, clicker, liberty, and related approaches 
• Western Horsemanship horses: cow horses, ranch horses, reining, cutting, trail, pleasure etc.
• Sports horses: dressage, eventing, jumping, endurance, race, polo, vaulting, Working Equitation, etc.
• Classical Dressage horses: Baroque/Renaissance, German/ French/Italian school, Doma Vaquera, etc.
• Other discplines: Driving, Side Saddle, Mounted Archery, and other styles.

There is a reason we're successful in the horse training world: our STrategies work across an enormous range of breeds, with riders across 65+ countries and from a variety of disciplines at virtually every stage of their journey.

Because one of the key principles is: 

ST is for the horse, the horse is not for ST!

So we don't use the horse, but we use ST for the horse.

If you do something with a horse, then this program is for you.

You see, only a flexible, supple, strong and balanced horse will help you reach your goals and enjoy the process. 

So it's crucial and essential to focus on symmetrical development in your horse's body and limbs.

Your horse will be very grateful to have you as his Straightness Trainer!

Because ignoring the natural asymmetry can lower your horse's quality of life and shorten its lifespan.

Every 'flavor' is on board in the Mastery Scholars Program—from newbie to ambitious leisure rider, from professional horse trainers to instructors, and riders from all kinds of equestrian disciplines such as dressage, classical riding, natural horsemanship, trail riding, western, show jumping, eventing, and trick training.

ST is really a wonderful ‘add-on’ method because it helps to rebalance your horse, no matter what breed or discipline.

With ST you can create the best possible physique for your horse, so he can do the job the best he can, so you can perform at your best in your own discipline!

★★★★★

"This is an AMAZING program. I have studied many different dressage and natural horsemanship programs - nothing helps the horses and riders to the degree that this program does. This program brings everything together. I am a lifelong student of dressage, I have read many books and been looking for the secrets of the Masters. When I had the good fortune of coming across this program, I did not hesitate to sign up. I could see that this was what I had been looking for all these years. Dressage seems to have become such a struggle for many, and this program put everything into place for me. I no longer feel the need to look for the secrets and answers to the same degree as before, I understand what and where most of the struggle and problems are arising from. Natural Asymmetry. I now have the basic tools to fix this!"

Kirsty, USA

Have you consulted the vet, dentist, farrier, and different instructors, but it’s still difficult to ride or train your horse?

Then try Straightness Training!

Many people discover ST after trying everything else, only to realize it’s exactly what their horse needed. It gave their horse a second chance—turning what felt like the end into a fresh, empowering beginning!

Here's what Kim from the US has to say about it:

"The thoroughness of the videos in the Mastery Program is incredible, the theory and explanations of exercises answered many questions I had. As a student and instructor of Natural Horsemanship; although I loved the philosophy, I had started to see soundness issues. Straightness Training not only helped me understand the importance of balance but I realized what I was studying would help the soundness issues.

My Haflinger and I compete in Horse Agility, and for the first 3 months, I had to give her bute for to be able to finish the monthly competition. Started using the ST methods in February and by April I was no longer giving her pain meds. We finished the year 1st in the world! Thanks Marijke, for this amazing program!"

And this is what Ela from Poland has to say about the program:

" The Mastery Program makes a huge difference for me and my so-called 'problem' thoroughbred mare. It has opened my eyes to training horses - both from having better connection and communication with my horse and also from the biomechanics point of view. Following the program content me and my mare have been changing from the very beginning, and our relationship has been getting much much deeper and closer. Not mentioning the impact on her body condition! ST also helped us during recovery after a surgery of my mare. The results of the rehab surprised even our vet :)"

Absolutely!

In ST, we always start bitless, just to spare the mouth and preserve the sensitivity of the mouth.

You see, in the beginning, most horses are more or less stiff in the body, because of the natural asymmetry.

Therefore, a bit is only introduced later on in the horse's education - but ONLY if the horse is supple, and ONLY if a rider would like to use a bit.

So a bit isn't mandatory and if you wish to carry on bitless that is totally fine!

No problem at all!

We have students from all over the world, and some of them work in fancy indoor riding arenas while others practice in the pasture...

And both end up with great results!

If you want, you can mark a specific area in your field with cones or movable poles and designate it as your training area.

No problem, we have Scholars in from all over the world—from all 6 continents.

But the good thing is, that Marijke is not a native speaker herself.

Therefore, she uses only simple words and short sentences in the lessons so the program is easy to follow.

And people laugh about our 'Dunglish' expressions (Dutch + English), and we always enjoy the Sweglish, Danglish, and Genglish way of writing from our Swedish, Danish and German students.

We can understand each other perfectly and feel the message and good intentions no matter what.

We are not limited by perfection!

So if you speak a little Franglais, Spanglish, Russlish, or another exotic English variant, you're very welcome to join the club!