Foal NZ was founded by Leigh Wills in close collaboration with Sally King and is now guided by a Board that provides governance and strategic direction. The organisation brings together a team of skilled foal trainers delivering programmes across New Zealand and internationally.

Since 2003, Foal NZ has conducted more than 40,000 foal training sessions without injury. This depth of experience, applied within commercial breeding environments, provides a robust foundation for consistent, safe, and effective outcomes.

Foal NZ is at the forefront of applying behavioural science to foal education and is contributing to the development of best practice in foal behaviour internationally.

Our approach is grounded in learning theory, the principles of the International Society for Equitation Science, and informed by practitioners such as Monty Roberts. These foundations support a consistent, low-stress approach to handling and education, with a focus on clarity, timing, and the horse’s ability to learn.

Foal NZ Ltd holds the intellectual property underpinning our training systems and educational frameworks. As part of our long-term vision, we are developing a custodianship model that recognises the contribution of the horses themselves. Central to this is an acknowledgment of wairua—the intrinsic essence, connection, and wellbeing of both mare and foal—which sits alongside our scientific approach to learning and welfare.

The Foal NZ Team is a group of experienced trainers working across commercial breeding farms in New Zealand and internationally. Each member brings practical skill, consistency, and a shared commitment to horse welfare, ensuring every foal is educated with clarity, calmness, and respect.