What is Horse Agility?
Horse Agility is an equestrian discipline and internationally competitive sport in which horse and handler, both on foot, navigate a course of obstacles while focusing on clear communication and positive horsemanship.
Similar to dog agility, Horse Agility is a fun, positive way to build trust and improve the partnership between horse and handler. It comprises a variety of obstacles which provide progressive challenges.
It can be enjoyed as a fast, exciting competitive sport, either on or off the lead rein. It can also be a fabulous way to help improve horsemanship in general and is a great alternative to riding.
It is great way to add variety to the training program for ridden horses, or to help young horses develop skills to understand a busy human world and a good way for older horses or those who are unable to be ridden to have fun, and stay physically and mentally fit.
Horse agility is about communication, not control. There are only two hard and fast rules: stay safe and have fun. The aim is to build the foundations well enough that the horse can eventually be turned loose.
Horse Agility began in 2009 as a small local club in the United Kingdom. The club was founded by Vanessa Bee, author of The Horse Agility Handbook and is now a thriving worldwide organisation with regular on line and in-person events. Horse Agility fosters clear, positive communication (not control), improved confidence and healthy emotional interactions between horses and their handlers, no matter what the task involves.
What are the benefits to the horse?
Horse Agility develops versatility, attentiveness, and confidence. It tests your horse’s physical as well as his emotional fitness and tests your ability as a trainer/partner to keep your horse motivated and travelling safely over the course effectively and with style. It helps handlers to learn to understand horse behaviour and recognise what they are feeling. This means that the horses feel that they are being seen, heard and listened to and that their opinions matter.
A horse who excels at agility will enjoy being with his handler and will most likely show improvement in his general ground manners as well as any other equestrian disciplines he takes part in.
What are the benefits to the handler?
Horse Agility develops your horsemanship skills, timing, communication & the ability to read your horse. It helps you to train your horse to think rather than react.
It emphasises personal development, teaches life skills and builds confidence & self esteem, learning to work as a team and individually.
Horse Agility builds a stronger bond, better communication and lots more trust – on the ground and under saddle helping handlers to achieve more in all areas of their horsemanship.
Working from the ground allows the handler to see where the horse is placing his feet, which helps improve the understanding of how and when to apply aids, which is a useful skill to transfer to the saddle.
It can help you to stay fit, especially if you like to work in trot and canter.
Who coaches Horse Agility?
At Valley Farm, Amanda Melton BHSAI is our main coach. She is an Accredited Trainer with the International Horse Agility Club (HAAT). She has always had an interest in liberty training, groundwork, classical dressage and enjoys training with agility as part of a complete rounded education for her horses. Follow @amandx.horses on Instagram
What does it involve?
At Valley Farm we are able to offer private one to one lessons either with your own horse or one of ours. If you are new to agility we will start with basic groundwork and communication skills, followed by games and obstacle challenges. If you have a particular issue you need to work on with your horse, let us know and we will help you to come up with a plan for improvement. We also offer progressive courses in small groups, and fun play days or training days with mini competitions.
Horse Agility Training, Play Days & Events are all done in-hand, on the ground providing the opportunity to learn & practice new skills and explore new challenges together with your horse in a safe and fun way.
Each Agility session includes skills training and obstacle work, and may be followed by a fun course or competition.
Who can do Horse Agility?
The great thing is, anyone can do it. All you need is a headcollar, a lead rope at least 10 feet in length and a willing equine. Any breed of horse, over 2 years old can take part, Donkeys, Mules, Shires to Shetlands are all welcome. We also recommend you wear a hat, gloves and sensible sturdy boots.
Junior Agility combines Natural Horsemanship and Horse Agility together for ages 6-16.
Do I need my own horse?
No, you can bring your own horse if you want to, or you can partner with ours to get the hang of it. If you are considering buying a horse, learning agility first will provide you with some really helpful ground work skills needed in everyday life with a horse. (Visiting horses must come from a disease free yard and be safe to handle within a group of horses)
Can other animals do Agility?
Yes of course. The international Horse Agility Club run monthly online competitions for people to enter with their pets. At Valley Farm, our alpacas, goats and donkey enjoy agility sessions just as much as the horses and ponies. Training or playing with any animal will enhance your communication skills and understanding of how animals learn. Please contact us if you would like to try an alpaca, goat or donkey taster session.
What about Dog Agility?
Dog Agility has a different set of rules from Horse Agility but if it is something you are interested in learning with your dog, please contact Valley Farm Dog Agility Club Nigel Rudd - Tel: 07719434541- vfarmnigel@yahoo.co.uk
How do I get started with Horse Agility?
You could book a taster session or come along to one of or play days. You could join in with our regular Thursday group or pop along to watch. Get inspired by watching some You-Tube videos. Improve your knowledge by purchasing The Horse Agility Handbook, by Vanessa Bee, founder of The International Horse Agility Club. To book register at Valley Farm (ecpro.co.uk) then if you need any further help or wish to discuss your individual requirements you can call us on 01728 746916
Is horse agility always dismounted or can you ride too?
Our agility lessons are taught with a head collar and rope and are un-mounted, but there is such a thing as ridden agility. It is known as Equagility. We do occasionally hold equagility clinics or you can book private lessons to give it a go, either with your own horse or one of ours. As with agility there are different levels of difficulty to suit horses and riders of different abilities. For competition there are generally 5 obstacles. The same course is completed in hand first and then ridden. At the most basic level it is all done in walk and two reins can be used for riding. At the most advanced level, which may include canter, the horse is at liberty for the first part and for the riding the rider should not touch any reins.
Will learning agility help my riding?
Agility helps to build solid foundations for riding, driving, transporting or anything else you might want to do with your horse. Incorporating obstacles into your ridden work is a fun way to test your accuracy and to be able to measure your progress. It is more interesting and mentally stimulating for the horses than flat schooling or jumping, and there are lots of different things to try even at walk so it can be really good for riders who don't want to go too fast, young/unfit horses or for older horses and those recovering from injury.
Learning to ride without relying on the reins helps riders to improve their communication skills and postural awareness. It builds trust between horse and rider and helps riders to develop better balance and clearer aids.
You can book a private lesson to give it a go. We usually recommend Thursdays because that it is the day we put out our agility equipment.
Pay and Play
During the summer months we usually have a course set up permanently for our activity days and pony camps, but when it is not in use, it can be hired by people with their own horses so if you wish to book a time slot just give us a call.
How do I find out more?
Keep an eye on our social media for upcoming events and courses or have a look at the international horse agility club’s website for more information. https://www.thehorseagilityclub.com/the-international-club/what-is-horse-agility/
The Horse Agility Handbook is a comprehensive guide to Horse Agility and includes progressive training on obstacles, sample courses, instructions for building obstacles and more. It starts right at the beginning explaining WHAT makes a horse the animal that he is, WHY he behaves differently from humans, and HOW to get his attention before starting training over agility obstacles. Respecting him for being a horse but keeping safety in mind at all times, the attitude of the handler and how to change the attitude of the horse is discussed, as is being patient and giving the horse TIME to learn.
The Horse Agility DVD A step-by-step introduction to the sport from the author of the best selling Horse Agility Handbook, Vanessa Bee. Filmed on location at Horse Agility HQ in Devon, England and on Clare Island in the West of Ireland, Vanessa will show you, through 90 minutes of demonstrations, tips and advice, how to get really good at this fast and exciting sport. Make sure you watch the teaser trailer on YouTube http://youtu.be/QZzCL7V5LLg?hd=1
Updated July 2026
