Coaching for Horses and Owners
"I also work as a coach for horses and their owners. I utilize positive reinforcement and enable success by structuring exercises so that the horse and owner cannot help but succeed. I specialize in groundwork and desensitization (exposure training). My area of specific expertise—and what I am most frequently sought out for—is trailer loading training (re-training horses to load easily onto a trailer)."
Client Testimonial
Here is what clients have said about me:
"A calm, horse- and human-centric approach where both the horse and owner receive frequent and generous praise for their success. The loading training progressed with clear instruction and zero stress. Highly recommended!" – Lotta Lehtinen
"Thank you for the excellent coaching; we quickly managed to calm both the mare and the owner down 
. The guidance was easy to understand and common-sense, with no need to learn any complicated tricks. Best of all is that the horse is happy and comfortable—there’s no trace of the horse who would mentally check out and become severely distressed during loading!" - Petra Tamminen
"Maarit helped us today with trailer loading our pony mare 
The pony would load when sent, but had developed a fear of the back ramp being put up, causing her to back out immediately whenever the ramp was touched, or sometimes even when we thought about touching it. We created a safe situation for the pony to exit through the front ramp, which rapidly eliminated the need for her to back out 
Thank you so much for the help, Maarit! I strongly believe that by reinforcing these lessons, we can alleviate the pony’s trailer anxiety and get back to the show grounds 
." - Nina Hyvärinen
"I got a phone consultation appointment very quickly. Maarit listened and 'fished' all the important information about the rider-horse pair, which she then used to start breaking down the possible problem. I received several tips right from the start, and now it's about trying them one by one and filming the results 
! My, Kalle's, and Maarit's journey continues from a stress-sensitive to a calm Finnish boy 
." - Kirsi Moilanen
"Maarit has visited us twice to help with a loading problem. My young horse had developed a habit of backing out of the trailer or freezing on the loading ramp. Already after the first training session—after receiving great advice and practicing on my own—loading became a much more pleasant experience for the horse. After the second coaching session, the horse walked onto the trailer willingly when sent, both at our home stable and when leaving from showjumping practice! Thank you, Maarit! We are continuing to practice, but now I feel truly confident because I have the tools to solve problems." - Karita Pynttäri
"Maarit helped my horse and me with loading challenges. Her approach is gentle towards both the human and the horse. For me, the use of positive reinforcement in horse training is especially important—a skill that is still not in all trainers' toolboxes. I warmly recommend Maarit if you need help solving problems or want additional ideas for working with your horse." - Pirita Syrjäntö
"Maarit synchronized both me and my horse so effectively that after just three trailer-loading coaching sessions, my horse calmly walked into the trailer with only a lead rope around her neck 
. It was wonderful to receive personalized advice and praise during the coaching about how well my beloved horse and I were working together—it gave me a great feeling of acceptance. Aino and Maija thank you! " - Maija Kivistö
"Horse loading coaching is fun when you have Horse Coach Maarit helping! One day, my young mare simply refused to leave the competition venue to go home, so it was time for some trailer loading training. I didn't want to resort to training methods where the horse is made uncomfortable outside the trailer (e.g., lunging in a small circle, which easily raises stress levels). I wanted my horse to feel good both outside and inside the trailer. I personally have a bad 'loading trauma,' so I started looking for a suitable coach who could take my own anxiety into account. I had been following some of Horse Coach Maarit Holma's writings and videos; I liked her positive attitude, so I chose my namesake to be our coach. We had our first training session one Friday evening, and it was great! It was wonderful to train the horse while maintaining a constant feeling of relaxation and calmness. When the horse didn't have to stress, neither did I, and the results were excellent. A couple of days later, I continued the training independently. I loaded a relaxed and contented horse into the trailer by myself, just by sending her!" - Maarit Linnekoski
"I can warmly recommend her. Any preconceptions I had dropped away within the first few seconds, as Maarit was able to stop my panic attack upon arrival and got me to focus on the present moment for the entire time (which is difficult due to my severe ADHD). She sparked new hope for my entire life and a renewed passion for horses 
. We also found the root cause of the horse's trauma, which we immediately started treating. I no longer feel like I’m left alone to fend for myself. She is a truly heartfelt, effective, positive, and genuine person whom I can definitely recommend, whether the issues are personal or related to your horse. 
Thank you so much, Maarit! " -Rea Lehti
Service Area & Contact
I coach in the Southern and Central Finland region and virtually across all of Finland. You can also book a phone consultation with me, where you can describe your challenge and hear proposed solutions for what you and your horse can try next.
Would you like coaching from me? Call or text 044-299 2119 or email