About Us
Tyson Miller has been training horses for over 10 years and is based in Waimauku, Auckland, NZ. He starts colts on-site and travels the wider Auckland region for lessons and problem-solving.
Tyson runs successful Horsemanship clinics nationwide, sharing his experience and methods with riders and horse owners throughout the country. He is also a returning Clinician at Equifest—New Zealand's premier equine expo—where he demonstrates his approach to colt-starting and horsemanship.
Tyson's training is rooted in the Vaquero Bridlehorse tradition, which strongly influences his philosophy and techniques. His extensive background includes a four year apprenticeship in horse training, working horses in film, stunts, cattle work, and roping, making him a highly skilled and versatile trainer. This range of experience has helped Tyson develop a practical and respectful approach to horses.
From Tyson
I grew up riding horses and working in the Dairy and Beef industry which sparked my initial interest in working with stock and horses. From there, I developed a passion for horsemanship and met Ben Longwell from True West Horsemanship. After attending several of Ben's clinics I decided to fully dive into horsemanship and learn as much as possible. I discovered the way I want to work with horses, a way based on understanding, communication, and trust. The four years of mentorship and training I completed in Vaquero-style horsemanship was hugely valuable and gave me the rare opportunity to work with hundreds of horses with a variety of backgrounds and challenges. I attribute a lot of my skillset and knowledge to this training.
In 2019, I founded Tyson Miller Horsemanship where I start colts on-site, bring on outside horses for training/problem-solving, teach lessons, and run clinics nationwide. My passion is helping riders and horses of all backgrounds build solid foundations, regardless of discipline. I believe in prioritising safety, clear communication, and mutual respect between horse and rider. My business is founded on my core goal which is to provide an environment that helps build confidence and trust for my clients.
Education and Training
My focus across all areas of my job is to give horses a strong foundation where they can form a communicative, trust-based relationship with their riders. A horse's introductory education should be clear-cut, well-established and based on response over reaction. I aim to send every horse home with a solid foundation of trust, confidence and a clear path ahead to their next stage of schooling.
My horsemanship pedagogy has been strongly influenced by the work of Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, Martin Black, and True West Horsemanship. Their emphasis on timing, feel, and understanding the horse’s perspective has shaped how I approach every horse and every session. My goal is to always work with a horse, taking the time it takes.
Elements of my training stem from Vaquero-style horsemanship through my apprenticeship with True West Horsemanship. My priority at Tyson Miller Horsemanship is to prepare horses for real-world experiences, regardless of discipline.
All riders should have a horse that is versatile and safe. I address the individual needs of the horse, always adjusting my approach to suit their learning style, and the goals of their owner.
