Mark Jones Training Stables in Macclesfield, Victoria | Horse trainer

Mark Jones Training Stables

Locality: Macclesfield, Victoria

Phone: +61 448 001 547

Address: 420 Tschampions Road 3782 Macclesfield, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.markjonestrainingstables.com.au

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• Sport & recreation
• Pet service
• Horse trainer

25.01.2022 Who can relate to this??

25.01.2022 Thanks to the ladies that braved the cold foggy morning to come to Saturday mornings mini clinic. We saw improvement in all riders and hope you enjoyed the morning. These mini clinics are a good opportunity to work on getting the basics correct, and having a small group allows for each rider to get maximum attention

25.01.2022 The new look everyone please mask up from today, masks must be worn when at MJTS

25.01.2022 We pay tribute today https://omny.fm//hot/mark-jones-remembers-his-brother-dean

25.01.2022 Problem with riding your horse through water? Go back to your groundwork to introduce your horse to water obstacles ~ Mark

24.01.2022 Trail riding can be a lot of fun but it can also be disaster if your horse hasnt had a good foundation. I see a lot of people out trail riding, putting their horse on autopilot with big loose reins and sitting relaxed in the saddle, having a good chat with their friend. This is what I mean by autopilot - riding down the road/trail with minimum concentration on your horse. Horses see and hear things a lot quicker than we do... they can see something to spook at, and have th...e quickest reaction time known! So dont just wander down the road/trail without paying close attention to your horse - you dont want the ride to end up a wreck. Dont be afraid to ride out, but stay focused on your horse. If hes not listening to your aids, take the time to bend him, ride your transitions around a tree, step over some logs, sidepass over them, back him around the tree, make him listen and stay supple soft to hand & leg cues. Enjoy your ride ~ Mark See more

23.01.2022 Mid-week motivation #horseriders #horsetraining #midweekmotivation #markjonestrainingstables

23.01.2022 Is the coffee ready yet?

22.01.2022 After what feels like ages, on Saturday we had the 1st mini clinic since restrictions were lifted. Great to see some new faces and seeing you all working on new skills Looking forward to the coming weeks and more clinics

21.01.2022 One of the key components to being a good horse person is flexibility. Im not talking about this in a physical sense (although that does help) Im talking about flexibility in your approach to riding & training your horse - being able to read your horse and adapt your plan, be flexible in your own mind as to what you can change to suit the situation. Horses have good days & bad, not unlike us, and Im sure most of you have had a day where what you had planned didnt work out... the way you wanted. So instead of pushing on, and having things go from bad to worse, we need to be flexible and look for a solution. It may be a case of revisiting ground work and getting the horse thinking & listening to what we want, and maybe not even riding that day. If youre competing, it may be time to forget about the score, and simply get something basic correct and quit on that note. Getting a positive outcome out of a negative situation should be what you are always aiming for, and it may mean you end up doing the complete opposite of what you planned. Dont stress about it, horses are living breathing creatures, not programmed machines, and their training is an ongoing part of life ~ Mark.

20.01.2022 Riding without stirrups Many of you wouldve had a lesson and heard the dreaded words take your feet out of the stirrups. For some this is easy and others it causes concern. But it is an important part of improving your riding and there are many benefits for riding without stirrups. Without stirrups we have to concentrate on our seat and leg position, and most importantly, balance. Aside from the benefits to your position, practising without stirrups also benefits you when ...things go wrong and you lose one or both stirrups. I recommend every rider needs to know how to lose their stirrups (by deliberately taking their feet out) and how to find then again, without bending down and using their hands. This can be started at a halt, then progress onto a walk, trot and canter. Use a round yard if you are concerned about keeping control of your horse. Gradually increase the amount of time without stirrups, and learn how to ride up and down transitions and when you find yourself tiring, regain your stirrups by feeling with your feet, not with your hands. You may never be in the situation that your lose your stirrups, but if you do, it is better to be prepared to solve the problem quickly than not. And while youre doing this, you are working on improving your riding ~ Mark

20.01.2022 Thought for the day Horses have an extremely strong memory, and can remember the slightest incidences that we may not have even noticed. Their memory of situations and events effects their behaviour in the present, but does not allow them to plan what they will do in the future. Their behaviour is influenced by past memories, and its what we do in the present that will change their behaviour. ... For example, while we had a good day at a particular venue, our horse may have come away with a totally different experience it could be as simple as something gave him a scare, and we grabbed hold of the reins to stop him, something so minor we may not even remember but when we next visit this place, he remembers not being able to escape from whatever scared him, and his behaviour may be more extreme than the last time as he perceives (or remembers) there is a danger. So next time your horse exhibits unwanted behaviour, remember, in his mind, he has a reason. ~ Mark

20.01.2022 We had a great day yesterday with our 1st clinic after lockdown at Bunyip State Park. Thanks to all that attended, we worked through a variety of problems that riders experience out on the trails, and saw all riders have good results. We hope you all had a good ride, it was great to be back out with our valued clients ~ Mark

20.01.2022 Thoughts for the day... Having a young horse can be a daunting task but can also be extremely rewarding. When coming from an older, experienced horse, there are times with your young one that you may feel overwhelmed, frustrated and doubting whether this is the right decision. Most people go through this stage. The older, experienced horse allows you to have days where you can just get on and ride, without considering the preparation. They allow & forgive you when you make mi...stakes. The young horse requires you to be on the ball at all times and to think through what you are going to do. With the young horse, the plans for the future can vary, the time line to get out & about can be much longer than expected BUT the reward in the long term is having a horse that you know everything about and the satisfaction that the results you have are due your perseverance and dedication. It is easy to dwell on the accomplishments you had with the older, experienced horse, and get disheartened with the young one. For some the joy of riding is about just getting on and doing it, for others it is the journey, the feeling of being involved every step of the way. Both scenarios are fine not everyone has the time or the patience to train a young horse and that is perfectly acceptable. However if you have decided to go down the path of training a young horse, patience needs to be your greatest strength. Dont be discouraged because it is taking longer to achieve your goal, be ENCOURAGED with all you are learning and keep reflecting on where this journey started, and no matter how small the steps, take pride in the fact that you have made these steps happen. Just remember the older experienced horse you had so much fun with, was once a young horse too ~ Mark

20.01.2022 1st August means happy birthday to our horses!

19.01.2022 Now lockdown has ended, it's great to see so many clients again. Janet has been doing a great job with her mare Lexi and came in today for a refresher on some of her groundwork. It's always nice to have a ride and see the good work that's been done continuing a horse's education after I've had them in for training

19.01.2022 Jump on board and support a new local business, give the page a like and enter to win a beautiful new breastplate

18.01.2022 Thanks to everyone who attended the Wandin horsemanship clinic on Saturday. It was great seeing some familiar faces and also quite a few new ones We hope you all enjoyed the day and came away learning some new skills. We will be running more groundwork and ridden clinics at Wandin once the course re-opens after winter

18.01.2022 See you on the other side

17.01.2022 Lets talk about rugs and what brand of rug you feel your horse best safe in? One of my pet HATES is leaving a facility or someones property or simply Agistment is seeing a belly strap left not secured or attended to, ive seen many serious injurys where horses run around and play or with paddock mate and the Buckle is perfect catch for wire internal/ boundary fences. Ive seen wire wrap around horses hocks and legs with fatal outcomes... So my advice is if see a strap dangli...ng do it up dont neglect it as in some cases be a dreaded outcome for the horse! What style or make of rug do you feel your horse is safe in??? My preference is good old lined canvas (Thoughts)

17.01.2022 As we get ready to shut the door on 2020, we would like to wish everyone a happy, safe & successful 2021. It's been a roller-coaster of a year and I'm sure we all hope that 2021 is an improvement. HAPPY NEW YEAR

16.01.2022 Finally, we have a date that we can resume clinics. The Trail Riding clinics have been rescheduled and lists of riders that have paid deposits are on the event listings. Let us know if you still want to attend, so we can accept new bookings where possible. Thanks for your patience. Further clinics will be listed in the coming days. As of the Nov 9th, lessons will be back open to everyone residing further than 25kms.

15.01.2022 Its been a very different year so far, but we are pleased to advise that from tomorrow we are able to have lessons at home again and will start to reschedule clinic dates. Thanks to everyone that has continued to support MJTS over the past months ~ Mark

15.01.2022 Anzac Day, 25th April Lest we forget

15.01.2022 Todays update on what you can and cannot do in regards to your horse/s during current stage 3 restrictions

15.01.2022 Saturday's confidence clinic saw the group working on basic control issues to better enable the riders to enjoy their horses in a safe manner, whether it be out trail riding or out competing. These clinics are suitable for any horse & rider combination, and with a small group, it allows each rider to receive individual attention as well as everyone working together in a group. Thanks to all that attended, we hope you came away with a better understanding of how to take control of your horse ~Mark

15.01.2022 It feels like ages and we miss seeing you all at clinics! So we have all that we will know next week when we can start to reschedule clinics again.. stay tuned

14.01.2022 Saturday lessons days are always a great way to get your horse more trained and improve your riding skill set. If you have a disrespectful horse at the moment or have just got back into the saddle after a while, we'll help you get back on track ~ Mark

12.01.2022 https://youtu.be/WHTr8K72GtI

12.01.2022 Thursday training tip In this day and age, many riders are time poor and only have a short amount of time to ride. Horses being creatures of habit, get accustomed to coming out, saddling up, ridden then put away. Many of them are unfamiliar with being ridden multiple times in one day, or being left saddled & tied up in between these rides. However, when you go to an event or show, and have multiple classes during the course of the day, you require your horse to stand patient...ly and happily be ridden after a break. During these tie up periods, we want our horse to relax and stand patiently, not fidget, or get anxious. We want them to preserve their energy for the next event/class. In order for the horse to do this, you need to train this at home to begin with, then transfer this training to each outing. This means breaking your riding day up into stages, and varying the length of time being tied up, either saddled or unsaddled. They need to learn to stand tied by themselves, and with other horses, and to accept other horses leaving. Acclimatising them to going back out to work after a break, effectively picking up where they left off, is important for the competition horse, also the trail horse, working stock horse etc, and in order for this to happen, you need to spend the time training these skills. Picture is of a young horse being started under saddle, patiently standing and waiting until the next ride ~ Mark

11.01.2022 Thanks for the feedback Anthony looking forward to seeing Obie make it onto the track in the future

11.01.2022 Lest we forget

11.01.2022 Spent this morning working with a couple of young horses prior to them coming in for starting under saddle. These two Australian Stock horses are a great example of well raised horses, that have had good basic handling (lead, tie, rug, farrier etc). This makes starting them under saddle easier for them to understand, as they have already have a foundation for me to build on ~ Mark

10.01.2022 Finally, we are able to advise of the start of a semi normal return to business!! As of Mon 26th October private lessons will be available at MJTS on the condition that you reside within 25kms. For those unable to travel due to distance, Mark is available to come to you for private lessons.... We have openings available for horses to come in for training, so if your horse is feeling a little fresh due to spring fever and needs a refresher, or you have a young one to be started under saddle, or any other issues you have with your horse, get in touch and we can get you back on track. For all bookings, lessons or training, send us a message and we look forward to hearing from you. With the trail riding clinics we have listed, we are assuming that finally we can proceed with them in early November, but we will confirm as soon as the govt confirms this will be possible - we will update details the minute we know. All riders that have paid a deposit are still eligible to attend these clinics, so fingers crossed we get the go ahead. Further clinics will be added to our schedule once we have confirmation that they are allowed. Thank you to all our clients for their support and patience during what has so far been a very difficult year for us all. Looking forward to seeing you all soon ~ the team at MJTS

09.01.2022 Thanks for the feedback Janet. Lexi is a lovely young horse and was a pleasure to work with. The good work you had already done made my job a lot easier and I look forward to seeing her progress

08.01.2022 Mark and his family would like to thank everyone for all their support on the sudden and tragic passing of his big brother Dean. Your thoughts and well wishes are much appreciated at this very difficult time.

07.01.2022 Back to Bunyip State Park for another trail riding clinic today with a great group of riders, and a variety of different horses. It was a mix of riding along the trails and through the bush, which gave everyone an opportunity to work through their problem areas and test out their horses on various terrains. We would like to thank everyone that attended, hope you all enjoyed the ride and came away learning some new skills We will be holding more trail riding clinics in the new year - keep an eye on our event listings ~ Mark

07.01.2022 We had another great day riding at Bunyip State Park for our Trail Riding Clinic yesterday. The weather was perfect! Thanks to everyone that attended, you all did a super job of stepping outside your comfort level and developing a partnership with your horse. The ride covered a mix of time on the tracks and some challenging sections of steep hills through the bush, with numerous obstacles to overcome - these steep sections highlighted the need for correctly fitting saddles, b...ut also gave the opportunity to teach riders how to overcome & problem solve ways to negotiate the terrain. We hold these clinics regularly and keep the groups small to ensure everyone receives individual attention, and so green horses are not overwhelmed with too many horses. Well done ladies, you all did great

06.01.2022 We had a great day at Saturdays desensitising groundwork clinic. A variety of horses, from all disciplines and ages, that all showed improvement & acceptance of the many different challenges presented to them over the day. Many thanks to everyone who attended, we hope you enjoyed the day and saw the improvement in your horses ~ Mark

06.01.2022 Final clinic for a much interrupted 2020! Beautiful weather and a super group of riders enjoyed Saturday's confidence clinic. We would like to thank all riders for attending, again we saw a variety of different problems and worked on methods to resolve these. We hope you enjoyed the day Looking forward to next year's clinics and fingers crossed we can all enjoy a more 'normal' 2021 ~ Mark

06.01.2022 Mark and Paul share their memories of Dean https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=738175

05.01.2022 We love receiving your feedback "I thought you might like some feedback on lessons Ive had to date. Appreciate Marks broad knowledge, experience and honesty in what he thinks of my horses...he not only looks at the big picture but also the finer details, giving practical solutions based on horse n rider limitations, goals and budget. He gives advice on ways to keep horse sound and comfortable.... Is patient, listens carefully and doesnt make assumptions. Thanks again Mark " ~ Julie See more

04.01.2022 From all of us at Mark Jones Training Stables, we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas We are taking a break from 23rd Dec until 9th Jan and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. Happy riding over the holidays

04.01.2022 Further updates to be made available, but confirmation that if you are in stage 4 you can continue to travel to care for your horse, providing you are adhering to all protocols

04.01.2022 Saddle Fit Most riders take the time to ensure their saddle fits their horse, often spending good money to have it professionally fitted. What I do see is that many riders ignore one aspect of the saddle fit does it fit me?... This is just as important as fitting your horse. Do you slide back & forward in the saddle? Do you press up against the cantle, or do your knees overhang the front? Do you get off your horse with a sore back? Do you tilt forward or back? Do you struggle to find your balance in the saddle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may find that your saddle is not the right fit for you. So next time, you have a saddle fitter out, also get on your horse and ask them does this saddle fit me? ~ Mark

03.01.2022 When the horse you have is not the horse for you. It is one of the most difficult aspects of horse ownership, when the horse you have isnt the right fit for you. It can be an emotional roller coaster when you love the horse but the relationship either on the ground or in the saddle, or both, is not a good one. Let me just say, there is no shame in deciding that its best for you to part ways. This decision takes honesty & courage on your behalf, and can be even harder when p...eople place you on a emotional guilt trip for quitting. Horses, like us, have different personalities, and sometimes we dont get along with each other. Some horses are better suited to a professional rider, a different discipline or even just a completely different lifestyle. Sure, you can try by way of training, lessons and clinics to make it work, but if this seems to be a never ending amount of time & energy, at the expense of your enjoyment, it may be time to make the tough decision. Riding a horse is a mutual relationship and should be a pleasant, enjoyable & safe experience for both you & the horse. If this is not the case, move on.. find the horse that suits you. Remind yourself that riding is your hobby, your passion and your enjoyment, with the right horse you will tick all these boxes ~ Mark

03.01.2022 If were not riding them...Were not helping them #racehorses #breakers #racingvictoria #Thoroughbreds #markjonestrainingstables

02.01.2022 Thanks Bruce & Heather for your feedback. Maverick is a lovely young horse that arrived pretty much unhandled and during his stay here, his confidence in people has grown and he has shown that he has the temperament and trainability to become a very nice riding horse in the future. After hes had some time out in the paddock to grow, I look forward to seeing him return to further his education.

01.01.2022 I use groundwork to build a solid foundation with all horses. I recommend that everyone I teach learns how to introduce their horse to new situations on the ground. I find most people can successfully deal with any resistance much better on the ground than in the saddle. The photos below show a young horse at a recent clinic demonstrating his response to being asked to walk through an obstacle and some of the steps taken to get him to successfully negotiate the obstacle. If t...his horse had a rider on him there is a good chance that the rider would be unsuccessful dealing with this situation. This is not a bad horse, he is simply a young horse unfamiliar with what he is being asked to do. By using groundwork to build his confidence and familiarise him with the obstacle, we will have a much easier task when we ride him over it. This is why our groundwork clinics are so popular we teach you the correct methods to train your horse, show you how to deal with each horses reactions and successfully build trust & confidence ~ Mark