Lead a Horse to Water: Recent Episodes
Trudi Dempsey
Lost in the sea of horse training? Step aboard for evidence based equine training and behaviour content. Listen to professionals and enthusiasts from the world of horse training and behaviour as well as associated areas of the equine world. Trudi Dempsey is an English equine trainer and behaviour consultant, specialising in positive reinforcement.
In this episode I was again joined by the fabulous Heather McManamy of Equus Integratus.
Our focus was on bridleless riding but the skills we discuss go so much deeper than riding.
Heather shares some great resources on her website https://equusintegratus.com/ on Facebook and Instagram
Articles and videos can be found here
https://equusintegratus.com/resources/videosarticles/
In this episode I had the great pleasure of talking to Annabel Holmes, The Equine Ecologist a mum, ecologist and passionate horsewoman based in the Cotswolds. Growing up on a nature reserve in Suffolk,Annabel later went on to study Ecology, starting her career splitting her time between a feed company, and later in agricultural botany during the holidays.After university, while working in ecological consultancy and conservation, she turned her studies back to horses, to study equine behaviour and nutrition. Soon after having her baby (now a wild toddler), she combined her expertise and creativity to help horse owners manage their properties more sustainably. Drawing from ecological habitat management, permaculture and horse keeping methods growing in popularity, she now offers consultancy services fromdesign to long term land management plans for all types of yards. Horses are a key part of the British countryside, and theirpositive effects on the land are undermined by management techniques that don’talways benefit horses either. Taking steps towards a more sustainable management style can have impressive effects on horses, benefiting health, training and development. For owners, this can result in more time to do what you want, and long term cost savings.For more information, follow Equine Ecologist, Annabel Holmeson social media, or visit www.EquineEcologist.co.ukFor her upcoming events and courses:https://www.equineecologist.co.uk/servicesAnnabel mentioned Soilscapes soil typefinder during the podcast: https://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/
In this episode I am thrilled to talk wild and feral horses with the wonderful Samantha (Sam) Couper PhD. We delve into Sam's back story right up to her present day training with her own horses and her work as a behaviour consultant.
Sam is Board Chair of the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation, a group dedicated to compiling citizen observations of the Onaqui wild horses in Utah, USA, in the pursuit of research and public education. With the foundation, Sam teaches a course on wild horses at the University of Utah three times a year.Sam ended a career in Materials Science to pursueeducation about wild horse behaviour and to become a full time behaviour consultant.
Where to find Samantha Couper PhD:
https://equineabcs.com
https://onaquicatalogue.org
https://www.youtube.com/@onaquiwildhorsesutahusa3122
https://www.facebook.com/equineabcs
https://www.instagram.com/equineabcs
https://www.tiktok.com/@equineabcs
In this episode I chat to Polly Smeath about rope halters and controlling horses when leading. Polly has an extensive background in the world ofhorses, a passion that has woven throughout her life since childhood. Born intoa family with a history of racehorses, Polly's earliest memories include avivid encounter with a tall, dark brown horse at the age of two. Her journey asa "pony mad youngster" began at the age of nine, marked by amemorable fall from a skewbald pony named Star Trek, who had been rescued withsevere laminitis. Undeterred by challenges, Polly persevered through earlyriding school experiences, determined to regain her confidence and with timespent at Anne Cory's yard, where she was exposed to her gentle lunging methodsand innovative ideas about fitness regimes Polly flourished and after shefollowed the working pupil route at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre and thenreceived a bursary from the Leonardo DaVinci foundation that took her to Denmark for training, an experience thatinfluenced her deeply despite witnessing some unsettling practices. Upon returning, Polly, now a mother, started forming her ownopinions on horse care. Throughout her career, she has gravitated towardsrehabilitating horses in need, focusing on understanding and connecting withthem. Today, she primarily works in hoof care, specialising in helping horsesexpress themselves and be heard, embodying a philosophy of awareness,lightness, and softness in her approach.Find Polly via the UK clicker training group on Facebook or get in touch with me and I can put you in touch.
Sooz Foster joins me again and this time we're talking self control. We consider horses and dogs, whether they can have self-control and how we can build build patterns to help.
You can find Sooz these days at https://soozdogtraining.co.uk/ or come and join me training at her new club https://www.dreamsdogclub.co.uk/
Or catch us both presenting at Understand Horses Live in July https://www.understandhorses.com/understand-horses-live
I was thrilled to be able to talk to Dr Eduardo J Fernandez on the podcast. Not only is he an amazing applied behaviour researcher but he is great at putting some of the more technical definitions into easy to understand terminology.Our discussion centres around training as enrichment but there were also some rabbit holes and side stories that we delved into.Eduardo J. Fernandez is a SeniorLecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare in the School of Animal andVeterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). He received hisPh.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from IndianaUniversity, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. Hereceived his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas,where he founded the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals(ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research appliedto the welfare and training of zoo, aquarium, and companion animals. His past positionsinclude a Visiting Professorship in the Psychology Department at SeattlePacific University, a Visiting Professorship in the School of Behavior Analysisat the Florida Institute of Technology, an Affiliate Assistant Professorship inthe Psychology Department at the University of Washington, a ResearchFellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and a National Science FoundationPostdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and the Woodland Park Zoo, hestarted the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conductedwelfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout the zoo.He currently runs the Operant Welfare Lab (OWL), which is dedicated to the useof learning principles to improve the lives of animals. OWL is also part of thebroader Animal Behaviour, Welfare, and Anthrozoology Lab (ABWAL; abwal.com). Manyof Eduardo’s past publications, research projects, and presentations can befound on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo-Fernandez-27Some of the studies/reviews that we mention can be found below and are open access. You can contact Dr Fernandez at: eduardo.fernandez@adelaide.edu.auFernandez, E. J. (2022). Training as enrichment: A criticalreview. Animal Welfare, 31(1), 1-12.Fernandez, E. J., & Martin, A. L. (2021). Animaltraining, environmental enrichment, and animal welfare: A history of behavioranalysis in zoos. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2(4), 531-543.Fernandez, E. J. (2020). Training petting zoo sheep to actlike petting zoo sheep: An empirical evaluation of response-independentschedules and shaping with negative reinforcement. Animals, 10(7), 1122.
In this episode I had a fabulous chat with Heather. We had aimed to look at what draws people to more 'glamorous' 'from different world' trainers but it turned into a wonderful introspective (well certainly for me, I hope Heather enjoyed it too).We ask how to be credible. What are our insecuritiesHow to collaborate and build connections. If you are a trainer, a coach, a consultant, a business woman, a horse lover...this one is for you.Heather helps horses and people learn to be comfortable with healthcare procedures using positive reinforcementtraining. She also help horses and riders with getting startedunder saddle, as well as ways to help develop confidencewith riding. In her own words she's a failed traditional horsewoman. She understands traditional skills and methodologies, and how and why they work, but after thirty years working with horses she did not have the kind of success she has now with positive reinforcement training. She have had Fibromyalgia for nearly 40 years. This has given her deep insight into how chronic pain and fatigue affects all aspects of life, for people and animals. It's because of this that she's been drawn to study neuroscience, behavior, biomechanics, and so forth.Her life experiences with neurodivergence (because, she says, she has a weird brain) and chronic illness have given her some really strong opinions on the one-size-fits-all approach in American culture, and in the equestrian industry in general, particularly with respect to learning.Heather is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/equusintegratusand her website:https://equusintegratus.com
In this final (for now) episode on cues I look at transferring cues which is great if you want to tidy up your complex cues or change your original cue for something more appropriate.
Please share these short episodes and let me know if you've tried any of my suggestions for improving your cues!
What to choose as a cue?Physical, verbal, tactile? What is clear, easy to use, easy to replicate?
Rebeccah Baylis is one of my fave students, we talk in this episode about a session that felt quite sticky at the start but ended well. Do you know when it might be acceptable to push on a little further? Should we always stop at the first sign of resistance? It's definitely a training conundrum. Find Becky and our shared events in 2024 at https://littlegreenstables.com/
Discrimination
Knowing what to do to get reinforced- the best friend of stimulus control (part 3) and discriminative stimulus (part 2).
How can you help your horse know what a cue means?
Please enjoy and share, Trudi
Stimulus Control
In this third short on my continuing theme of cues I'm looking at how 'clean' our cues are. Stimulus control is an essential part of developing cues, it helps us create a clear language that reduces the chances of frustration.
I share the 4 criteria of stimulus control and what we need to consider right from the get go in terms of cues.
What to do when? Does your horse know? Do you think you know what your cues are? Does your horse agree?
This short episode builds on the previous and looks at the idea of a discriminative stimulus- do you know what your SD is and does your horse agree?
I've done cues before but have we ever 'done' cues...this is the first part of a deep dive into cues. Send me questions and thoughts to trudi@equine.training and share this episode with your friends.
More soon, Trudi
What to do when things go wrong with targets and how to train a follow target, great questions sent in by a listener.
Failure is scary, so much that we might allow failure to stop us doing what we enjoy (horse training). Be brave, embrace the fear!
Reducing anxiety by playing with the temporal gap (aka what I call temporal tinkering) needs shaping the same as every behaviour. In this summer short I answer a question or two posed by one of my current course students. If you have any questions drop me a message or email trudi@equine.training
Can labels be useful in horse training? Labels are used everywhere in life and often to the detriment of the label wearer. Take a listen to this short episode and drop me a message if you have ideas for future episodes.
In this, my second Summer Short episode, I consider how we can know if something is awesome or BS and does it matter as long as you and your horse are happy and healthy? Might be a bit controversial but I opened my mouth and out came me!
Ideas for other Summer Shorts can be emailed trudi@equine.training
In this, my first Summer Short episode, I look at the human side of the training equation. Training can take it's toll on both sides of the learning partnership and I often address this for our horse/dog but this time it's all about the human.
How can you reduce your own stress and lack of motivation.
Ideas for other Summer Shorts can be emailed trudi@equine.training
In this episode I chat to Karen Luke about her most recent study linking horse welfare and behaviour with rider safety and satisfaction. Karen is a lifelong horse enthusiast and horse ownerwho is currently completing a PhD where she is investigating the relationshipbetween horse welfare, rider safety and rider satisfaction.She has expertise in ridden horse behaviour andtraining and has authored several published papers on these topics. Karenregularly presents at conferences and workshops on the topics of ridden horsewelfare, horse training and rider safety. She is also interested in whatmotivates equestrians and helping riders develop practices that maximise theirenjoyment of riding while at the same time making riding fun for their horse.Karen's study- here is the link to "New insights into ridden horse behaviour, horse welfare and horse-related safety": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159121003269Karen's website with links to all her studies https://justequestriansolutions.com/Karen's Twitter
Do you have shaping issues? It's an intense element of our training with horses, part art and part technique.Do you reward the slightest try and feel that your behaviours are getting nowhere? Perhaps you get frustrated and cross with yourself.Enjoy this episode and please share it with your friends.Find my courses via trudidempsey.carrd.coand my website www.equine.training
Sooz Foster and I whizz through our thoughts in a taster episode on shaping. Check out our courses at understandhorses.com and find me at www.equine.training and Sooz at soozequine.co.uk
In this episode I talk about the awesome Understand Horses Live and my less stress workshop in the summer as well as answering questions on wearing your 'brave pants' and why horses may continue to 'mug' you. I close with a quick look at reward prediction error. You can find all my courses, my website, Ko-fi and social media accounts via trudidempsey.carrd.co For those wanting to read about reward prediction error this is a great place to start https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826767/
In this episode I chat to Gabriel Carreira Lencioni about his love of horses and his recent projects looking at pain assessment in horses. Gabriel recently graduated as a Veterinarian from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where he took part in research groups on animal behaviour and welfare and developed a project on automated pain assessment in horses (you can read about it here https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258672 ) . Gabriel is an IAABC Certified Horse Behaviour Consultant and Certified Fear Free Elite Professional (Dogs/cats and horses). You can find his scientific dissemination project on Instagram about Horse and Dog behaviour @gabriel.lenc ioni.bea
We discussed this review that Gabriel was also part of and released this year https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361417985_Going_Deeper_than_Tracking_a_Survey_of_Computer-Vision_Based_Recognition_of_Animal_Pain_and_Affective_States
My IAABC course https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/equine-discomfort-ethogram/
Understand Horses courses https://courses.understandhorses.com/
In this episode I was joined by the wonderful Cheryl Kolus. From Colorado, USA, Cheryl is a veterinarian who specialised in behaviour, working with shelter animals (primarily cats) and with pet owners to help them better understand their dogs and cats and manage or resolve unwanted behaviors in their pets. She and her colleagues even published research on cat clicker training. Although no longer in clinical practice, Cheryl remains passionate about animal behaviour and welfare and is always looking for learning opportunities in those fields. She is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, served on the board of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and the International Society for Equitation Science. Cheryl has been riding horses since she was about 12 years old, mostly doing once-a-week lessons with periods of a few years here and there where she was lucky enough to ride more often and compete on others’ horses. Although most of her clicker training experience has been with cats and dogs, including teaching puppy and cat training classes, she actually first learned of clicker training through reading Alexandra Kurland’s book on clicker training horses about 20 years ago and has presented locally on equine clicker training. Last year, Cheryl finally purchased her first horse, an off-track thoroughbred mare, Cheerio, and she is enjoying clicker training Cheerio and her baby, who is now a yearling.
Here is the clicker training research article that Cheryl was part of https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/10/73/htm
Here is a link to Cheryl's YouTube channel, it has some cat training tutorials (and she's hoping to eventually add some cooperative care videos with her mare, Cheerio):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtY2iVhf64P7MeWfC2S8ZvA/videos
And CLICK's YouTube channel - most of these videos show shelter cats clicker training but mainly they are to promote the adoption of the cat, so sometimes they just show the cat's personalities through petting and playing.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4lMSdccsod13dnSaQXVsBg/videos
Sooz joins me for a natter about our recent live workshops. We hit some big topics Including the ethics of novice clicker trainers! Of course we return to our favourite topic, reinforcement routines, and much more.
You can find Sooz Foster CHBC AAB for dog training at https://www.tarkadogtraining.co.uk and for horses at https://www.soozequine.co.uk
Join me at ko-fi.com/leadahorsetowater for Trudi's Training, a private group where I share my training and lots more.
Welcome to Season 3! A new season of interviews, deep dives into training and behaviour and some giggles when Sooz joins me!
In this short episode I consider the greats that went before me and wonder why women often look to men for coaching.
If you would like to support the podcast I have created a Ko-fi account where you can come and join me as I look at my students and personal training strategies. Weekly training information will be added with voice over or annotated description. All for a £10 a month membership. Come and join me https://ko-fi.com/leadahorsetowater
Science continues to inform us about the nature of horses and old accepted ideas of herd leader (alpha stallion and mare) have been reconsidered. This is not a scientific stroll but a practical chatty episode about horses exhibiting behaviours that might be considered as 'leadership' qualities or dominance along with the assumption that there is a 'pecking order' in horse herds. Thanks to Jo and her enquiring mind for the great question. Equitation Science position statement on misuse of leadership and dominance in training
In this episode I talk about the last day with my lovely Moralejo (Moo). If this subject could be difficult for you PLEASE don't listen. If this episode helps anyone then Moo and I will have given one last service to horses and their carers.
Love to you all, take care of yourselves.
For help with end of life decisions this is a good starting point https://www.equine-endoflife.co.uk/end-of-life-options/planned-euthanasia/
This episode is a meander through the concept of being kind to each other. In the world of horses there can often be conflict and it has lead me, in the past, to be less kind to the human in the horse-human partnership. I try to do better and we could probably all do better and with this in mind I ramble through some wonderful responses to a recent social media question I posed about how to be kind. I mention the wonderful Andrea Harrison in the podcast and especially her gratitude project for which I am truly, well, grateful! Links to my upcoming course at Understand Horses and a live in person weekend workshop in June in Taunton can be found below:
https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/Train-with-Trudi-custom-coaching https://www.tickettailor.com/events/trudidempseyequineevents/652682 https://heartequineacademycourses.com/courses/73/about
A relaxed natter with the lovely Kate Blackmore about her new venture- Equischolars!
Kate Blackmore is Head of Welfare at the Conquest Centre, equine behaviour consultant with Equilogical and founder of Equischolars – stewards of the horse.
Kate started volunteering at Conquest in 2012, became a groom, RDA GI, yard manager, deputy manager before going onto study for her behavioural consultancy qualification with the NAC. She then set up my own consultancy business, Equilogical, and joined forces with Becky Baylis from Little Green Stables to bring out the Equilogical podcast and create a Patreon site which follows training journeys (warts and all!). This led her onto develop a new curriculum called EquiScholars, an activity based modular course on equine behaviour, pulling from not only her own experience of working with kids but harnessing all the golden nuggets from the team at Conquest.
Based in Taunton, Somerset, Kate is passionate about opening up the playing field for the future equestrian generations and show that there is more than one way to work and be with horses.
In this episode I'm joined by my wonderful colleague Dr Hannah Donovan a veterinary surgeon and a certificated clinical animal behaviourist (CCAB) for equines, dogs and cats. Hannah talks to me about her journey to becoming a vet and behaviourist and how horse owners, vets and behaviourists are coming together to share modern understanding of horse behaviour. Hannah and I share some tips for horse guardians about how they can better prepare for vet visits and procedures and when you need to seek the help of a behaviourist with your horse.
Dr Hannah Donovan graduated with a 2.1 Bachelor of Science Honours degree (BSc (Hons)) in Animal Science from the University of Leeds, UK, in 2006. She then went on to study for her veterinary degree, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and qualified as a vet in 2011. During her time at the University of Edinburgh, Hannah also obtained a Masters of Veterinary Science in Canine Behaviour Research (MVetSci). She then worked as a mixed vet in Lincolnshire and during this time, completed a Master of Science in Clinical Animal Behaviour (MSc) at the University of Lincoln, UK, she graduated with distinction in 2013. Since then, Hannah has worked in small animal practices in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, she has also travelled and volunteered around the world in clinics and shelters, and spent some time working in a large RSPCA hospital and shelter in Sydney, Australia.
Hannah has worked as a veterinary surgeon since 2011 and has been seeing behaviour referrals simultaneously since 2013. Hannah has enjoyed providing continued education for vets and vet staff around the world about animal behaviour and how to improve handling and understanding during veterinary visits, rehabilitation of rescued animals or teaching young animals and preventing behaviour issues. Hannah’s aim has always been to improve animals’ quality of life and welfare by continually learning herself and teaching owners, trainers, veterinary and shelter staff.
Hannah now sees veterinary-referred behavioural cases all over the world, thanks to the development in virtual consultations in the last 18 months. Hannah is an RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour, an ASAB (the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) for Dogs, Cats and Equines, an ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and registered Veterinary Behaviourist, a Full Member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), a Director and Certificated Member of the FAB Clinicians (Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians) and a Committee Member of the BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association).
Check them Hannah here https://donovanvetbehaviour.com
FABClinicians Q & A Sessions available to vet staff for free. https://fabclinicians.org/veterinary-q-and-a-sessions/
A Horse Case for The Horse Trust on January 26th 2022. https://horsetrust.org.uk/training-courses/continued-professional-development/
Life from the animal’s perspective for Animal Therapies on February 2nd 2022. https://whova.com/embedded/event/assnc_202202/?utc_source=ems
Equine Fears and Phobias Webinar for FABC and The Horse Trust. March 30th 2022 https://fabclinicians.org/public-calendar/
The final short Christmas bonus episode discussing how to develop good cue discrimination in complex liberty movements. This was in response to a call out for questions following the previous episode on Stimulus Control. In this episode we discuss Anne's fabulous question. Our new Train Clean interactive online workshop (back chaining) at the end of January is available to purchase from Trudi Dempsey Equine Trainer and Behaviour Consultant's Facebook events. Wishing every listener the very best for 2022!!
In this second of our short Christmas bonus episodes discussing how to create a behaviour of sending your horse to a distant place. This was in response to a call out for questions following the previous episode on Stimulus Control. In this episode we discuss Lisa's wonderful question. Our new Train Clean interactive online workshop (back chaining) at the end of January is available to purchase from Trudi Dempsey Equine Trainer and Behaviour Consultant's Facebook events. Wishing every listener the very best for 2022!!
A super short Christmas bonus episode discussing how to develop a solid stand and wait for your horse. This was in response to a call out for questions following the previous episode on Stimulus Control. In this episode we discuss Drea's great question. Our new Train Clean interactive online workshop (back chaining) at the end of January is available to purchase from Trudi Dempsey Equine Trainer and Behaviour Consultant's Facebook events. Wishing every listener the very best for 2022!!
Another wander through some of the crucial theories surrounding clicker training. Errorless learning sounds too good to be true- what it is all about? Stimulus control was the topic of our last weekend Train Clean deep dive and as usual there were some interesting results. Friend and colleague Sooz Foster joins me again as we take these topics down some interesting rabbit holes. High fiving cats and why extinction bursts in your horse are thankfully less dangerous, or are they? Shout out to Sooz who since our last recording has gained her IAABC certification and ABTC accreditation, check her out at her new website www.soozequine.co.uk My Improve your R+ and Trudi's R+ Coaching courses will be open again for new year intake at understandhorses.com and Sooz and I will be hosting another Train Clean Workshop in January, follow us both on FB to avoid missing out. In May 2022 we will be returning to Nine Acres in Norfolk to host our live practical clicker training workshop- limited spaces will be available soon.
Sooz Foster and I recorded this episode amidst our live in person training weekend at Nine Acres equestrian in Norfolk.
We dive into the detail on reinforcement routines (loops, procedures, practices...) in a light-hearted episode!
Train Clean Stimulus Control Event https://www.facebook.com/events/168407405378673
In this episode I speak to colleague and friend Maisie Wake. We discuss trick training, the ethics and methods. What are tricks and should we train them?
Maisie is an Equine Massage Therapist and a behaviour consultant for both equines and chickens. She is a supporting member of IAABC, and a member of the Equine Behaviour and Training Association. She is also currently in training to be an animal physio, as it is important to her that she can offer help both behaviourally and physically. Maisie loves working with a variety of species, and started her career with work experience at two wildlife aid centres, exotic birds at Exmoor zoo, falconry training, and then many years at The Donkey Sanctuary.
You can find Maisie on both Facebook and Instagram @mwaketherapy.
https://mwaketherapy.wixsite.com/equilibrium
Dear listener, Season 2 is upon us! Episode 1 of the new season (episode 16 as we go) is ready for you.
Larri is not only a good friend but an amazing horse person. We recorded this episode earlier in the summer when I visited my old boy Moralejo (Moo) who is on retirement livery at Larri's amazing track livery Horse Haven - Holistic Livery and Ethical Training.
You can find Larri on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HorseHavenWales and Instagram and her website is https://www.horse-haven.co.uk/
Not just a livery provider (rehab, retirement and training) but a hoof geek, a behaviour geek and an Emmett practitioner. Larri is your all round horse person and has a wealth of knowledge- go check her out...AFTER you've listened to the podcast!
A question that came up on one of my recent R+ training course Q and A sessions was just too good not to answer publicly. Thanks for such a great question Sara...what do you do when your horse appears not to hear the click?
In this final episode of the season I consider this scenario and offer some solutions. What do you do when your learner doesn't react to the bridge in the way you expected?
I'll be back at the end of summer with a new season and some great guests and topics. Get in touch if you would like a question answered or have any suggestions for episodes.
In this episode I talk to friend and colleague Lauren Fraser, in the main, about CAT and having compassion for horse guardians that are transitioning from traditional methods. A couple of LaHtW rabbit holes and the off tangent. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Lauren is an experienced horsewoman, who has worked professionally with horses since 2006. Prior to her current specialization, Lauren taught riding and horsemanship, and trained horses. Lauren holds an Equine Science Certificate (with Distinction) from the University of Guelph, and obtained her Masters of Science degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour (with Merit) through the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Her dissertation research looked at the behavioural effects on horses of a controversial training practice: ‘laying down’ a horse in an effort to effect behaviour change. Lauren is a Certified Horse Behaviour Consultant (CHBC) with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is a member of the IAABC application review committee, and she was hors division chair for the organization for almost a decade. Lauren is also a practitioner member of the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES), and a Fear Free® Certified Professional. In addition to working one-on-one with horse owners to address behaviour problems, Lauren presents educational events and lectures on horse behaviour to a diverse audience - monthly workshops for horse owners, online courses for veterinarians and other equine professionals, guest lectures for university equine science programs. Lauren has also worked as a freelance journalist, writing articles and press releases about horse behaviour and training for various publications and scientific conferences. Lauren owns three horses: True, an Arabian gelding, Calcite, a half Arabian gelding, and Viveza, an Andalusian mare. While she grew up riding English, she currently rides Western. She particularly enjoys starting horses under saddle and teaching life skill behaviours as well as teaching cooperative care behaviours. A vocal proponent of shaping behaviour using positive reinforcement with all species, Lauren especially enjoys working with horse trainers and owners who may be transitioning from traditional or natural horsemanship backgrounds. Lauren lives in beautiful Squamish, BC, Canada and can be found online at www.equinebehaviourist.ca and at www.understandhorses.com where her new course on CAT will be launching very soon.
Lately there has been a growth in the UK of trainers and groups labelling themselves as LIMA. What is LIMA and what is its impact on my work as a trainer and behaviour consultant? From the IAABC (iaabc.org) “LIMA” is an acronym for the phrase “least intrusive, minimally aversive.” LIMA describes a trainer or behavior consultant who uses the least intrusive, minimally aversive strategy out of a set of humane and effective tactics likely to succeed in achieving a training or behavior change objective. LIMA adherence also requires consultants to be adequately educated and skilled in order to ensure that the least intrusive and aversive procedure is used.'' Adopting LIMA is about having the equine learner at the heart of your decision making about training protocols/behaviour modification programmes. But is it a rich table of ingredients that we can pick and choose from according to our own personal ethics? Can we be pure R+ trainers? When does R- creep in even if we didn't plan on it? My thoughts as I scratch the surface on this and more in this 13th episode, lucky for some!
Starting out with positive reinforcement training? This episode delves into the pointers and pitfalls that are common when starting out. In this episode I'm joined again by Clare Young of Kindly Equine. Clare is studying the NAC behaviour qualification and I'm really pleased to announce she has been accepted on the MSc at Edinburgh university to study clinical animal behaviour.
Find the podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leadahorsetowaterpodcast find Trudi at www.equine.training and her online courses at understandhorses.com
https://www.facebook.com/kindlyequine
https://www.instagram.com/kindlyequine/
In this episode I natter to Clare Young of Kindly Equine (see below for links to FB and Insta) about getting started with positive reinforcement. It's a great chat and we did go on a little longer than planned but I've left it whole as I think it works well. Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it, there will be further digs into the world of the new trainer in future episodes.
Clare is currently studying Equine behaviour with the Natural Animal Centre and is hoping to be accepted on a Masters course to study Clinical Animal Behaviour. I first met Clare when she began training equines with R+ and I travelled to meet her in Hampshire. Since then, I have come to know her as the QUEEN of learning environments- she is meticulous at setting up her learners for success and strives to create comfortable and fun learning opportunities.
https://www.facebook.com/kindlyequine
https://www.instagram.com/kindlyequine/
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat, Bradshaw and Ellis
Equine Empowerment: A Guide To Positive Reinforcement Training, Jessica Gonzalez
Connection Training: The Heart and Science of Positive Horse Training, Hannah Weston and Rachel Bedingfield
Your horse appears a little 'out of sorts'. Advice from your trainer to push them through it doesn't sit well. Is your horse trying to tell you something? In this episode I talk about the signs of a horse in discomfort or pain and how to trust yourself in recognising those signs. Catch up with me at www.equine.training and find my new interactive course at understandhorses.com The equine pain face information here Sue Dyson's ridden pain information here
In this episode Sooz Foster (check out previous episodes for her bio) and I dig down into patterns and how they can help us help our horses. Adapted from Leslie McDevitt's pattern games for dogs, these simple devices can ease anxiety for you and your horse especially for horses that struggle to leave home because of separation based anxiety.
Apologies for some sound issues from Sooz at the start and interruptions from my dogs- real life problems!
You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com, sign up for news of my upcoming interactive online course- six weeks of lectures and feedback on your training!
Find people mentioned in this episode:
Sooz Foster at https://www.facebook.com/sfequine
Leslie McDevitt at http://www.controlunleashed.net/
Touchy about targets? No, really I'm not! I just love good, careful and clean teaching of handheld target behaviours (and all other behaviours of course). Targets are often used to lure forward movement- again I have no issue with this WHEN DONE WELL. Listen while I ramble through my thoughts on the subject and gather your own thoughts too. Who is targeting for? When should handheld target training be part of your plans? More to come in future episodes: how to train handheld targets, targets as lures, undoing the damage when targets go wrong, cues to help when targeting, mats (and other objects) as a target... Send me your training tips for targeting, share your target pics and video on the Lead a Horse to Water FB page!! My piece on targets written for the IAABC Journal https://fall2020.iaabcjournal.org/target-training-for-horses-hit-or-miss/
Find me at equine.training on Facebook and Instagram
Thank you all for the amazing support and for listening in. Please reinforce me as you see fit by sharing this episode and by getting in touch with any questions, suggestions or just to say you've listened! You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com Email me (contact via my website) or message me - I WILL get back to you. Fire your suggestions at me for future podcast themes, guests and questions you'd like answering or just let me know how your training and behaviour change is going. In this episode (7) I was joined by Dr Dorothy Heffernan to talk about improving behaviour issues and welfare through changed management and enrichment. This is a topic close to both Dorothy and my hearts but it is an immense subject so do check out the links below to Dorothy's Facebook page, Horse's Under Our Skin, and to the resources she recommended. Dorothy can be contacted through her Facebook page. Dorothy is a psychologist based in Scotland who applies her knowledge of learning, cognition and neuroscience to help horse guardians improve their horses’ lives through a changed approach to management, training and environment. She uses a force-free approach to training and enjoys making science fun and relatable. Since 2013, she has written a blog about horse behaviour, Horses Under Our Skin, helping people understand why their horses act the way they do. She is an endorsed trainer of the World Bitless Association and helps horse owners transition to bitless riding using positive reinforcement techniques. In addition, she works with horse, pony and donkey owners using an evidence-based approach to resolving behaviour issues from handling, riding, transporting and husbandry problems. She has been a chartered member of the British Psychological Society for nearly 20 years. In the podcast Dorothy recommended Rachael Draaisma's book Language Signs Calming Signals Horses and The Equicentral System Contact Dorothy via https://www.facebook.com/HorsesUnderOurSkin
In this episode I speak to Andrea Harrison about positive training and adopting a growth mindset. It's a good one! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it. Andrea is an educator who is passionate about all species, including horses, dogs and humans! She has taken her positive message to the media many times, including appearances on TV shows, print radio, podcasts and more. Andrea has worked with a wide variety of people as an educator for decades. The science of brain research fascinates her. Helping students of all ages be successful, reduce anxiety and stress and manage their time by using her training in counselling, personality typing, and experiences matters to her. Her competitive addictions are now dressage and scent work, though agility and eventing will always have a special place in her heart. Andrea and her animals have earned many ribbons and titles together. Her super star dog Sally was the canine lead in the feature film “Saving Dinah". Andrea attained B level Pony Club before aging out and then completed her Level one coaching certification. A passionate life learner one of her favourite parts of teaching (and coaching) is the learning it allows her to do. You can find out more about Andrea and what she is up to at www.andreaharrison.ca and you can find her on Facebook and check out the Heart Equine Academy and look for her Planning and Organization for Dog and Horse Trainers and Animal Sports People on Facebook too. The Brene Brown short animated video is here The power of empathy I'd highly recommend checking it out, at less than 3 minutes it is a great place to start resetting your growth mindset.
You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com
Give me a clue! Is that a cue?
In this episode Sooz Foster and I dig deep into the topic of cues. What is a cue? When do we introduce a cue? What does a suitable cue look like? Is the environment a cue? And lots more!
It's rather a long episode as we begin to unravel our thoughts on cues and it might need a couple of listens.
I mention in the podcast Understand Horses which is a new online equine education platform. You can find my current course here Understand Horses
Sooz Foster is a BHS stage 4 senior coach and stable manager she is also a ride with your mind accredited level 1 coach and certified Franklin ball coach and is currently studying behaviour with the Natural Animal Centre. She lives and works in North Devon in the South west of England. Find Sooz on Facebook at SF Equine
Thank you all for the amazing support and for listening in. Please reinforce me as you see fit by sharing this episode and by getting in touch. You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com. Email me or message me on Anchor or via the podcast FB page - I will to get back to you. Fire your suggestions at me for future podcast themes, guests and questions you'd like answering or just let me know how your training and behaviour change is going.
In this episode (episode 4, I'm on a roll) I answer a listener's question about how to introduce movement behaviour using reward based training. It's a typical scenario where we have trained a good stand calmly behaviour only to find when we want to introduce movement (walk on) our horse is stuck. I talk through some different training protocols to help if you find yourself in the same situation.
Thank you all for the amazing support and for listening in. Please reinforce me as you see fit by sharing this episode and by getting in touch with any questions, suggestions or just to say you've listened!
You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com Email me (contact via my website) or message me - I will get back to you. Fire your suggestions at me for future podcast themes, guests and questions you'd like answering or just let me know how your training and behaviour change is going.
In this episode of the podcast I'm in conversation with Jenny Eicher from Equine Centred.
Jenny has been involved with horses her whole life. She has a BSc in psychology doing her dissertation on foals understanding of human given cues.
After graduating from university, Jenny went on to train as a Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Equine Therapist. She also studied Applied Equine Behaviour to instructor level in groundwork and qualified as an Equine Behaviourist having completed the Natural Animal Centre Equine Behaviour Qualification.
A lifetime around horses and a passion for learning have lead Jenny to study natural horsemanship and most recently positive reinforcement and clicker training.
In addition to her business Equine Centred through which she teaches and promotes standards of equine management and training in line with LIMA, Jenny has worked in the field of Equine Therapy and Counselling for 10 years as Programme Director for IFEEL who provide qualifications for Equine Facilitated Human Development and Psychotraumatology, for the Dare to Live Trust Charity as an Equine facilitator working with military veterans and she also runs a human counselling private practice, Integrated Psychotherapeutic Solutions.
Jenny combines all this with caring for her two horses and a busy family life with her young son.
To sign up for the FREE Positive Equine Conference which takes place between 17th and 30th October visit the website and make sure to sign up before October 17th 2020.
I personally look forward to speaking to you at the conference on Sunday 25th October at 7.00pm GMT
LIMA and humane hierarchy as mentioned by Jenny.
You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com
In this episode Sooz Foster and I discuss her crossover from traditional to positive reinforcement trainer and the joy that horses bring us even without the opportunity of riding. We talk about the importance of considering pain and physical issues before putting a training plan in place and Sooz shares her horse, Teddy's, journey. A BHS stage 4 senior coach and stable manager, Sooz is also a ride with your mind accredited level 1 coach and certified Franklin ball coach and is currently studying behaviour with the Natural Animal Centre. She lives and works in North Devon in the South west of England. Find Sooz on Facebook at SF Equine https://www.facebook.com/sfequine/ Check out her video of Teddy and the mounting block that we talked about in this episode https://www.facebook.com/sfequine/videos/604146673601610/ Apologies for some slight sound problems from Sooz's connection.
You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com
Trudi Dempsey introducing myself (with some trepidation) to my potential six guests (OK if it's less than six I promise not to cry). Who am I, where did I come from and where am I going (someone tell me please)? Answering two of my most asked questions regarding positive reinforcement training. I'm a certified horse behaviour consultant with the IAABC offering consultations in the South West of England and evidence based training in person and online. Fire your suggestions at me for future podcast themes, guests and questions you'd like answering or just let me know how your training and behaviour change is going. You can get in touch via my website https://www.equine.training/equine-training-podcast/ on Facebook or Instagram and you can find my online courses at understandhorses.com
Mentions in the podcast: Writtle Uni BSc (Hons) Equine Behavioural Science and Natural Animal Centre