Recognising Good School Horses 2026

Recognising good school horses is not obvious at first glance – but with the right criteria you can quickly tell whether a riding stable truly invests in its horses. Heinshof in the Lüneburg Heath trains all school horses in-house and cares for them to the highest standards.

5 hallmarks of truly good school horses

1. Calm, balanced temperament – responds clearly to aids without overreacting, even with inexperienced riders.
2. Regular osteopathy – at Heinshof every 6 weeks. Only pain-free horses show correct behaviour in lessons.
3. Correctly fitted saddle – Heinshof uses exclusively custom-made CWD saddles, regularly adjusted.
4. Year-round pasture access – horses with sufficient freedom of movement are more balanced and healthier.
5. Targeted training by head trainer Linda Naeve-Haht.

Questions to ask before your riding lesson

• How often are the school horses examined by a vet and osteopath?
• Who trained the horses – and using which method?
• What saddles are used, and when were they last fitted?
• Do the horses have daily pasture access?

School horses at Heinshof – training and welfare

All school horses are trained personally by Linda Naeve-Haht in dressage, show jumping and trail riding. Each horse is trained for a specific level of rider:

• Year-round pasture access on the estate’s own paddocks
• Osteopathy every 6 weeks
• Regular farriery by a qualified farrier
• Custom-made CWD saddles – individually fitted

Frequently asked questions about school horses

Which breeds make the best school horses? Calm warmblood breeds with balanced temperaments work well – individual training matters more than breed.

How many hours may a school horse work per day? A maximum of 2–3 lesson hours per day with adequate rest.

Can I buy a school horse? Heinshof offers sport horses from its own breeding programme for sale – info@heinshof.com.