Horse-centered tools and resources to help riders reach their goals
What We Do
Via Nova Training brings the principles of behavioral science and Positive Reinforcement (R+) into traditional equestrian pursuits.
What we offer
Positive Reinforcement
At Via Nova, we’re traditional equestrians ourselves. We know what riders—from beginners to professionals—hope to achieve with their horses. We know what a joy it is, and how frustrating it can feel sometimes even as we do our best for these beautiful, powerful, flighty creatures.
We teach equestrians to apply Positive Reinforcement in a practical way, offering tools, guidance, and learning experiences that support better communication, willing performance, and a confident partnership, whether you’re troubleshooting a specific issue or shaping long-term goals.
Online Training Resources for Every Rider
Our R+ Training Resources include practical guides, common-issue solutions, case studies, and our Priority to Positive® Core Principles to help riders understand behavior, communication, and problem-solving with Positive Reinforcement..
Clinics, Workshops & Classroom
We host, sponsor, and participate in a variety of educational events designed to introduce Positive Reinforcement in ways that support traditional equestrians. From small-group workshops to national symposiums, our focus is on practical skills riders can use in any discipline.
Boarding & Training Environment
Via Nova’s home, Terra Nova Equestrian Training Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers a supportive training environment built around the Priority to Positive® approach. Our horses, riders, and team use it as a place for development, collaboration, and applied learning.
The Via Nova Philosophy
A Better Way to Communicate
At Via Nova Training, we believe that performance and a willing partnership can coexist. Our Priority to Positive ® Core Principles are intended to help bridge the techniques of Positive Reinforcement training with the traditional goals of the equestrian world.
Through education, collaboration, and everyday practice, Via Nova Training is creating a future where every horse is eager to participate and every rider has the tools to bring out their best.
Positive Reinforcement training doesn’t replace everything you already know; it gives you a clearer way to shape behavior, support performance, and develop a stronger connection with your horse.
Our work is rooted in the belief that better welfare comes from better understanding. When we help riders see their horses through the lens of learning and behavior, pressure decreases, communication improves, and progress becomes more systematic. Whether you’re working through a specific challenge or aiming for long-term performance goals, our philosophy provides a path that is both effective and horse-centered.
Priority to Positive Training Staff
Our Team
Behind every great training moment is a great team. At Via Nova, our trainers bring together decades of experience in traditional riding, including strong foundations in dressage and classical schooling, with a deep understanding of behavior and learning. From senior trainers to assistant trainers, each team member contributes their own strengths while sharing a commitment to the Priority to Positive® approach. Meet the people — and the horses — who help bring our philosophy to life every day.
Boarding & Training at Terra Nova Equestrian Center
Our Facilities
Via Nova’s home, Terra Nova Equestrian Center, is both an exceptional boarding facility and an international center for Positive Reinforcement Training for horses and riders. With a total of 40 stalls in two barns, well-designed turn-out facilities, and a variety of indoor and outdoor options for multiple disciplines, we focus on our horses’ natural needs for movement and enrichment.
Via Nova’s home, Terra Nova Equestrian Training Center, is both an exceptional boarding facility and an international center for Positive Reinforcement training for horses and riders. With a total of 30 stalls in two barns, well-designed turn-out facilities, and a variety of indoor and outdoor options for multiple disciplines, we focus on our horses’ natural needs for movement and enrichment.