HANCOCK
HORSEMANSHIP
HORSE TRAINER SPECIALISING IN:
Clinics
Horse Starting
Advancing Education
Personalised Training Lessons
Theatrical Equine Entertainment
Horses
have always
been a part
of my life
Horses have always been a part of Donals life; learning to ride was out of necessity, the way work got done on the remote cattle station that he called home. But it was his hunger to learn more about the true capability of the horse and the opportunity to work with some of the best horse men and women in the world that has made Donal the horseman he is today.
Double Dan Horsemanship offered Donal the opportunity of a lifetime, taking him on as an apprentice and allowing him the chance to travel and work in America. It was this time that led Donal to specialising in liberty and theatrical equine performance.
Donal endeavoured to spend time working with experts in a variety of disciplines and specialities such as liberty, reining, camp drafting, cutting and dressage; this has helped him to develop a well-rounded idea of horsemanship. Upon returning to Australia, Donal founded Hancock Horsemanship; amongst colt starting and restarting and excelling the education of horses, Donal has been involved in multiple equine entertainment shows, TV appearances, and music videos as well as competing in several colt start and liberty competitions.
In 2024, Donal achieved his 15-year ambition by competing in the renowned 'Road to the Horse World Championship' in Kentucky, USA,
where he earned Reserve Champion honors and won the Jack
Brainard Horsemanship Award for his outstanding demonstration of
Horsemanship.
Over the past ten years, Donal has continued to further his own knowledge and experiences and has prided himself on becoming the best that he can be, for himself, his clients, and the horses he trains.
ACHIEVEMENTS & COMPETITION HISTORY
2017 – TEQ Trainers Challenge: Champion
2019 – NZ Equitana “Way of the Horse” Team Australia – win & Reserve champion overall
2021 – First ever Liberty Competition in Australia at Cowgirls Gathering: Champion
2023 – Man from Snowy River Colt Start: competitor
2024 - Road To The Horse World Championships in the USA: Reserve Champion & winner of the Jack Brainard Horsemanship Award
Clinics
Explore our upcoming clinic's
A clinic setting accelerates learning by combining hands-on experience with observation. Riders get direct, hands-on experience with their own horses, applying new techniques in real time with guidance. The shared environment also encourages questions, discussion, and exposure to a wider range of situations, building both understanding and confidence. We can travel internationally & Australia-wide, head over to our contact page if you'd like to bring a Hancock Horsemanship clinic to your part of the world!
Horsemanship Clinic
Take your Horsemanship journey to the next level with this 1 day - all levels - small group Clinic
Clinic CALENDAR
Intermediate Liberty
Services
From Clinics & performances to personalised, one on one training, discover how you can work with Hancock Horsemanship.
horse
Starting
Building relationships is foundational, not optional.
Horse starting has evolved into a discipline in its own right, requiring a high level of skill, timing, and feel. While horses can be restarted, they are only ever given one true first start. Horses are forgiving, but they do not forget - making it our responsibility to give each horse a foundation built on clarity and confidence, not one they must learn to overcome.
This same philosophy underpins everything we offer. From clinics and performances to personalised one-on-one training, discover how you can work with Hancock Horsemanship to further your horsemanship education and build a stronger partnership with your horse.
What Our clients
& peers Say
Hear from clients about their success stories and experiences with us.
Donal is an exceptional horseman, he trained under Double Dan Horsemanship for 5 years in Australia & the states. We are proud to call him a friend & would highly recommend his horsemanship skills.
Dan James
I have been associated with HH for over a decade now and have witnessed him start and train dozens of horses.
I have recommended him to many horse owners over the years and have always received great feedback. Donal is very conscientious and approaches each horse with a kindness and an understanding that every horse owner should appreciate. His honesty and integrity will serve him well in an industry where these traits are a must.
Sean O'Hanlon
Donal has been a foundational influence in my career.
After being introduced to Liberty at a Hancock Horsemanship clinic, I continued training under his guidance. His drive to keep learning and pushing boundaries inspired me to turn my passion into a profession. A standout moment was winning my first colt starting competition at the Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman event, with Donal by my side as my pen wrangler. I’m so thankful for his continued support and belief in my journey.
Taylor Escriva
I can't thank Hancock Horsemanship enough for running these Clinics.
They are always supportive & heaps of fun with like minded people. I have been attending these clinics for years. I try to attend as many HH clinics as I can, to help me & my horses further our journey together. Highly recommend!
Nicole Bruce
My 4 year old Ash filly arrived home from her training with Donal Hancock.
During her 8 weeks of training she was given an excellent foundation on the ground as well as under saddle. Donal kept me up to date with everything he was doing, to say I was impressed is an understatement, my filly was introduced to Liberty & exposed to numerous situations. She arrived home looking amazing & was very relaxed. It was a privilege to send my filly to Donal & I will definitely send her back in the future to further her education.
Michelle Walsh
A Five-star weekend that I thoroughly enjoyed ⭐️
I recently attended a home Clinic weekend and had such a wonderful experience. Donal and Taylor created such a supportive and inclusive environment that made everyone feel welcome and encouraged.
The grounds were fantastic and set up beautifully, the show was not only brilliant to watch but also incredibly inspiring, showing what is possible and where this journey can lead.
The food was great, all the participants were lovely, and there was such a positive, relaxed atmosphere the whole time. It was truly special to spend a fun and relaxing weekend working with my pony and learning so much along the way.
Overall, it was a five-star weekend that I thoroughly enjoyed. ⭐️
Deb Mc
Colt Start Clinic - Day Five
What an amazing 5 days, we learnt so much & exceeded what we were trying to acheive. Donal said at the beginning that the clinic was 6 weeks training put into 5 days, so you can imagine how intense it was. In total Milo had 9 rides in 3 days, massive head start for his future. I have now got so many more tools in my kit for the future! Thank you Donal Hancock for being our Colt Start Guru!
Natasha Webber
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