The MBH Programs
Behavioural Rehabilitation
Dealing with a horse that displays dangerous or challenging behaviour can be incredibly stressful.
When your horse bites, kicks, strikes, rears, pulls back when tied, refuses hoof care, becomes difficult to lead or behaves aggressively towards people or other horses, even simple everyday tasks can start to feel overwhelming.
For many owners, the situation becomes about much more than the behaviour itself.
Confidence begins to disappear, trust starts to break down and activities that should feel routine can become a source of stress and anxiety. In some cases, owners begin to avoid certain situations altogether because they no longer feel safe or confident handling their horse.
Perhaps you've already tried different training methods, watched countless videos, asked for advice or spent months trying to solve the problem on your own, only to find yourself facing the same challenges again and again.
Behavioural rehabilitation is designed to help owners who feel stuck, frustrated or unsure how to move forward. If you're feeling overwhelmed, discouraged or simply don't know what else to try, you're exactly the kind of owner this service was created for.
Together, we'll take a closer look at your horse, your situation and the struggles you're dealing with to better understand what's happening and create a practical plan that helps both you and your horse move forward with greater confidence and clarity.
Training Process
Every horse, owner and situation is different, which is why behavioural rehabilitation always begins with a thorough assessment of the horse, their environment and the specific challenges involved.
Rather than focusing solely on the behaviour itself, we work to understand what may be contributing to it and why it continues to occur. Depending on the situation, this may involve looking at handling routines, communication, management, previous experiences, physical limitations or other factors that may be influencing the horse's behaviour.
Once the underlying causes have been identified, a training plan is developed to improve safety, rebuild trust and create lasting change.
Training is then tailored to the individual horse and focused on addressing the specific challenges involved, while helping the horse develop safer, more appropriate responses to situations they may currently find difficult or overwhelming.
Throughout the process, I work closely with you to improve your understanding of the behaviour, develop practical handling skills and give you the tools needed to continue making progress long after the training is complete.
Because lasting change rarely happens by working with the horse alone, your involvement is an essential part of the rehabilitation process.
True rehabilitation isn't just about stopping the behaviour. It's about helping you feel safe, confident and in control again.
At the same time, you'll develop the knowledge, understanding and practical skills needed to support your horse independently, continue making progress with confidence and help prevent the same challenges from returning in the future.
Training Duration
The duration of behavioural rehabilitation varies significantly depending on the horse, the severity of the behaviour and the goals of the owner.
Some situations can be improved within a relatively short period of time, while others require a longer-term approach and ongoing support.
Factors such as the horse's history, previous training experiences and the length of time the behaviour has been present can all influence the rehabilitation process.
For this reason, there is no fixed timeline. Every horse and situation is assessed individually, and recommendations are made based on the specific challenges involved.
Training Options
Depending on your location, the challenges involved and the level of support required, training may take place at your facility or through a customised training arrangement.
Some situations can be effectively addressed through individual training sessions, while others may benefit from a more intensive approach that allows for more consistent work with the horse over a longer period of time.
Before any training begins, we'll discuss your situation in detail and determine the most suitable option based on your horse, your goals and the challenges you're currently facing.
The focus is never on achieving results as quickly as possible, but on providing both you and your horse with the support needed to create meaningful, lasting improvement.
Moments From Training
MBH Philosophy in Action
Explore a collection of photographs capturing the moments of learning,
connection and progress that make each horse's rehabilitation journey unique.
Transformation Stories
What Horse Owners Are Saying
Personal experiences from horse owners who discovered a different way of understanding their horses, themselves and the relationship they share.
Sabina AdamljeOwner of two mares, Stella and Lady
Trust, Not Force
I have two mares: Stella, a five-year-old Haflinger, and Lady, a fifteen-year-old Quarter Horse mare.
I wasn't able to ride Stella because she would kick and was extremely stubborn. Every trainer we asked to help start her under saddle tried to use force, and some even hit her. She didn't respond well to that approach, and afterwards she would take it out on me by trying to bite or kick me.
Lady, on the other hand, was very withdrawn and easily frightened.
I started searching online, hoping to find someone who worked with horses in a kind and respectful way. That's when I found Nastja.
The changes came quickly.
Today, both of my mares are calm, willing, and have a completely different relationship with me. I can now ride them both without a bridle or a saddle, and they remain relaxed and responsive.
The biggest lesson I learned is that building a good relationship with your horse comes first. Horses deserve our respect, and lasting trust can never be built through force.
Željana Drožđan MateljanOwner of a nine-year-old stallion Chip
Finding The Right Teacher
A little over a year ago, my daughter told me she wanted to start taking riding lessons, so I decided to enroll her at Horse Resort Stariha. On their website, I saw that the team consisted of two lovely young women — Ana and Nastja.
We met Ana right away, and she became my daughter's riding instructor. As for Nastja, I learned that she was in Belgium at the time, furthering her education with a horse trainer and expanding her knowledge of horse training.
I watched videos of Nastja working with her horse, Vizir, and remember thinking, “If I ever own a horse, this is exactly how I want to work with him.” Of course, back then I imagined owning a calm, well-trained horse, and I pictured Nastja teaching us liberty work, dressage exercises, and other advanced skills.
Life, however, had different plans.
Instead of buying a quiet, experienced horse, I became the owner of a nine-year-old stallion who had spent most of his life neglected in a stall. In other words, the perfect horse for someone who had only been around horses for about a year...
Although Chip wasn't aggressive, I was afraid to even take him out of his stall and tie him up, let alone do anything more with him. He simply hadn't learned much during his life, so we asked Nastja for help.
Like every complete beginner, I assumed Nastja would simply “fix” my horse, and then I'd have a calm horse ready for me to ride.
It didn't take long for me to realise that things weren't going to work the way I had imagined.
I quickly understood that it wasn't just Chip who needed training — I needed to go to school right alongside him.
Chip learned the basics very quickly with Nastja, and I gradually overcame my own fear. More importantly, I built a relationship with him that gave me the confidence to start training him myself.
Chip still isn't being ridden, but I truly believe that day will come in the near future — and when it does, it will be an incredibly special moment.
No one would ever recommend a horse like Chip to a beginner. But with the right guidance, a horse like him can teach a beginner far more than a calm, perfectly trained horse ever could — because you simply don't have the option of standing still. You have to learn, grow, and become better.
All you need is the right teacher.
We were fortunate enough to find ours.
Have Questions?
If you're struggling with a horse whose behaviour is affecting your confidence, safety or enjoyment on the ground or under saddle, I'd love to hear more about your situation.
Fill out the contact form below and tell me a little about your horse, the challenges you're facing and what you've already tried.
Together, we'll determine the best next step and work towards rebuilding trust, improving safety and helping both you and your horse move forward with greater confidence.
