I Was Scared of Horses, Until Iberians Changed Everything

If you had told me years ago that I would one day be working closely with horses, especially powerful, athletic Iberians, I probably would have laughed and taken a very large step backwards.

The truth is, I was scared of horses.

Not just a little unsure, but genuinely wary of them. Their size, their power, their unpredictability, it all felt overwhelming to me. So the fact that I now spend my time around some of the most beautiful horses in the world is something I still stop and think about. It has been a real journey, and one that has taught me a huge amount about trust, patience, respect, and the incredible nature of Iberian horses.

One of the most fascinating things I’ve observed is the difference between meeting these horses in Spain and seeing them once they arrive in England.

In Spain, they are often calm, gentle, and beautifully behaved. You can see straight away why people fall in love with them. They carry themselves with grace and presence, but they also have a kindness about them that is hard to put into words.

Then they arrive in England... and it can be a completely different story.

After a long and difficult journey, even the sweetest horse can come off the lorry feeling stressed, unsettled, reactive, and overwhelmed. Suddenly, that calm and elegant horse can feel more like a wild, wired, fire-breathing dragon. It is a huge transition for them. New environment, new routine, new people, new smells, new weather, and all after the physical and mental strain of travelling.

This is the stage where experience matters most, and I have to say, Nicole is always incredibly impressive during this period. These horses need calm, brave, knowledgeable handling. They need someone who understands what they are going through and who can care for them without adding pressure. It is not the time for ego or guesswork. It is the time for patience, feel, and quiet confidence.

Usually, it takes around two weeks for the horses to begin settling down and softening. Some take a bit longer, of course, because every horse is an individual. That is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, no two horses are ever exactly the same. They each arrive with their own personality, their own experiences, and their own way of processing change.

From that point on, everything becomes about trust.

You begin to build their confidence in you, and just as importantly, you begin to build your confidence in them. It is a two-way relationship. You cannot fake it. Horses know when you are unsure, and they know when you are genuine.

Quili, our resident Iberian, is the perfect example of that for me. I have complete trust in him now, and he trusts me in return. That kind of relationship is not built overnight. It comes from consistency, time, and learning to understand each other properly. For someone who once feared horses, that bond means a lot. It is proof that fear can be replaced by respect, and respect can grow into something really special.

After around three to four weeks, most of the horses start to return to their old selves. That is when the enjoyable part really begins. Their personalities come through, their softness returns, and you start to see the horse they truly are beneath the stress of travel and change.

That is also when the girls begin preparing them for their future owners. They work on all the foundations that matter, hacking, travelling, schooling, competitions, and everything else needed to give each horse the best possible start. The aim is always the same: to make sure that when a horse leaves Strathburys, they are ready to be enjoyed from day one. Not only that, but their new owner can also have the confidence of knowing the horse is healthy, sound, and has been given a solid, thoughtful foundation.

Of course, horses can still test you from time to time.

One thing I have noticed is that many horses from Spain and Portugal are taught with a firmer hand than we would typically use in England. Over here, we tend to favour a softer approach, and rightly so, but some horses need clarity before they fully understand softness. Every now and then, a horse will test the boundaries, and when that happens, we may need to be firmer for a moment before softening again. It is not about harshness. It is about communication, consistency, and earning respect. Once that respect is established, the horse learns that they can be both well-mannered and well-loved. In my experience, that balance is one of the biggest differences between how many horses are handled in Spain and Portugal compared with England.

And when that balance is right, the results are incredible.

What stands out to me most is that every horse who leaves Strathburys leaves as a beautiful soul for their new owner. That is not luck. That is a testament to the work the whole team puts in. The care, the routine, the patience, the handling, the groundwork, the hours that nobody sees, it all matters.

I am always sad to see them go.

That probably tells you everything you need to know. By the time they leave, they are no longer just horses passing through. You know them. You understand their quirks, their likes and dislikes, their character. You’ve seen them at their most unsettled, and you’ve had the privilege of watching them relax, trust again, and show their true selves.

Iberians are famous for having some of the best temperaments of any breed, and from what I’ve seen, they absolutely deserve that reputation. Even after a long, hard journey, once they have had time, care, and understanding, they show you just how generous and kind they really are. Honestly, I would hate to think what some other breeds might be like after that journey!

For me, one of the best feelings in the world is seeing the moment a horse finally starts to trust you. You can feel the change. The worry softens. The tension lifts. The relationship begins. To get to meet these beautiful Iberians and learn their graceful, intelligent, and often cheeky personalities is a real privilege.

For someone who was once scared of horses, that feels quite remarkable.

And I would not change it for the world.