Horses
Advocating for Your Horse When Working With Service Providers
When you practise reward-based (R+) horsemanship, your training methods, your expectations, and the way you want your horse handled can
December 10, 2025
Whether your horse is young, retired, rehabilitated, or just misunderstood – behaviour support can make a real difference.
Whether you’re facing issues on the ground, under saddle, or in day-to-day handling, you’re not alone – and you don’t have to “push through it.”
At Gentled Animals, we specialise in horse behaviour support that is ethical, practical, and tailored to the individual. No dominance. No quick fixes. Just kind, evidence-based approaches that focus on consent, communication, and calm.
1. Schedule the Initial Consultation
Once you reach out, we’ll arrange a time that suits you and your horse best.
2. Consultation
The first session takes place in your animal’s home environment – where they feel most secure. During this visit, we discuss your concerns, review your horse’s history, and observe their natural behaviour.
3. Behaviour Modification Plan
Following the session, you’ll receive a personalised Behaviour Modification Plan – a practical, compassionate guide designed specifically for your animal.
4. Implementation Period
You’ll implement the plan over an agreed period.
5. Check-In Support
We’ll stay connected through WhatsApp for progress updates, questions, and encouragement as you work through the plan.
6. Follow-Up Consultation (if needed)
Together, we’ll decide if a follow-up session is needed to review progress and refine the plan.
Initial Consultation — R800
Travel is free within 15km of Durbanville. Beyond that, the standard AA rate applies.
Follow-Up Consultations — R550
Paige Grala is a Cape Town-based animal behaviourist and the founder of Gentled Animals. With over 14 years of hands-on experience with horses of all breeds- including sensitive Thoroughbred ex-racehorses, she specialises in ethical, force-free behaviour support.
Her approach blends science with compassion, helping horses and their humans build trust, confidence, and clearer communication.
A behaviour consultation includes a detailed assessment of your animal’s behaviour, history, emotional needs, and environment. You’ll receive a personalised plan with practical steps to support lasting change.
Consultation durations vary from 45-60 minutes depending on the complexity of the case.
Some behaviour issues are resolved with one session, while others benefit from ongoing support. We’ll recommend next steps based on your animal’s specific needs during the initial consultation
All work is based on science-backed, force-free, reinforcement-based methods rooted in modern animal behaviour principles.
A veterinary check can be helpful to rule out medical causes of behaviour, but it is not always required.
Payment options (e.g., EFT, card, cash) and details will be provided when booking your session.
Yes – we offer discounted rates for animals adopted from shelters or rescue organisations. Supporting newly adopted pets during their transition is important, and we’re committed to making behaviour support more accessible for them.
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