Our Courses

Courses for injured personnel run for a two week period and for veterans one week. As well as the short term courses there are opportunities for guests to stay on work placements for longer periods of between 2 to 6 months. Our courses include the following activities...

Horsemanship

Horsemanship is the training, riding, and management of horses. Working with horses is a precise skill, an art form that involves subtle communication between human and horse. A skilful horseman should know his animal well, both inside and out. The HBUK team are able to teach how to read the animal's body language, to understand when the horse is fearful, angry, or confused, and be able to rectify improper behaviour humanely using initial ground work training. (Picture: Initial ground training in manoeuvring a horse)

Riding

Riding After achieving basic horsemanship training, riding becomes a natural progression. HBUK's American Quarter Horses,are well trained, calm in nature and ridden not only for pleasure but most importantly for practical working purposes . All activities are achievable by using the mobility of the animals to carry out functional tasks within the local area. (Picture: Trail ride along Dee side way.)

Dry Stone Walling

Dry Stone Walling A dry-stone wall, also known as a drystane dyke in Scotland, is a wall that is constructed from stones without any mortar. As with other dry stone structures, the wall is held up by the unique interlocking of the stones. Such walls are commonly seen in the area used in building construction and field boundaries. From repairing modern structures to ancient restoration projects, dry-stone waller's are always in constant demand for their knowledge and skills. (Pictured: Iain Ballantyne Forestry and Land Services, working on HBUK's sanded training area.)

Ghillie

Ghillie Ghillie or gillie is a Scotish term that refers to a person who acts as an attendant on a fishing, fly fishing, hunting, or deer stalking expedition, primarily in the Highlands or on a river such as the River Dee. In origin it referred especially to someone who attended to his guests within the sporting estate. (Pictured: River Dee ghillies teaching a course fly casting techniques before heading to the loch.)

Gamekeeper

A gamekeeper or gamie is a person who manages an area of countryside to make sure there is enough game for shooting, or fish for angling, and who actively manages the estate wildlife and game. Typically, a gamekeepers tasks are to prevent poaching, manage grouse moorland and deer stocks and to rear and release game birds such as pheasants and partridge. Also to control vermin and predators such as foxes. (Pictured: A course becoming acquainted before shooting package.)

Bushcraft

Bushcraft is a long-term extension of survival skills. Bushcraft is about surviving and thriving in the natural environment, and the acquisition of ancient skills and knowledge to do so. Bushcraft skills include; firecraft, tracking, hunting, fishing, shelter building, the use of tools such as knives and axes, foraging, hand-carving wood, container construction from natural materials, rope and twine-making, and many others. These are the kinds of skills well known to our resident Bushcraft expert Lawrence Clark (www.bushcraftventures.co.uk), who is the only former Ray Mears instructor in Scotland and has 11yrs of experience within the field. (Picture: May 2011 Course.)

Falconry

Falconry is the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor. In modern falconry the Red-tailed Hawk and the Harris hawk are often used. The practice of hunting a trained falconry bird is also called "hawking" or "gamehawking". Stewart and Kirsten Miller from Raptor World give an in-depth insight, demonstration and hands on experience, of working with such majestic and efficient hunters. (Picture: Stewart demonstrating bird retrieval.)

Nature Conservation

Nature Conservation Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Working alongside Glen Tanar Ranger Conservation Centre, HBUK has direct involvement with key projects within the Cairngorms National Park. All of which are conducted on horseback when vehicular access is restricted. Such tasks include maintaining, remote cameras for surveys on wildcats and other endangered indigenous species, management of fire ponds, beater points, HLS's, track ways, fencing and general wildlife observations. (Picture: Conducting access survey.)

HorseBack UK is supported by

Help For Heroes Battle Back Poppy Scotland Royal Marines Association BLESMA ABF - The Soldiers' Charity

Emma Hutchison - emma@horseback.org.uk - Mobile: 0780 557 0636
Jock Hutchison - jock@horseback.org.uk - Mobile: 07968 312 745

Ferrar, Dinnet, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5LD
Telephone: 013398 80487
©2012 HorseBack UK - Registered Charity Number: SC040765

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