Training
I can provide practical help and advice for all your horse's training and behaviour needs including...
- Any sort of training from groundwork to ridden work
- Catching and handling
- Grooming, clipping, shoeing, trimming
- Loading and travelling
- Ridden problems, bucking, bolting, napping, refusing to jump etc.
- Separation problems
- Aggression
- Anxious and stressed behaviours
- Spooking, fears and phobias
- Repetitive behaviours - weaving, box walking, wind sucking etc.
Sessions will involve practical work with your horse, but also include relevant theory with handouts given where necessary. All initial sessions will include a discussion about your horse's history and current routine. The needs of you and your horse will be carefully considered and, in addition to training, it might be necessary to include: a change in routine, change in diet, environmental enrichment, drug or alternative therapies, physical exercises.
If you are concerned about a behaviour problem, I try to understand the motivation for the behaviour and carefully explain why and how the problem developed and is maintained. Where retraining is necessary, a plan will be thoughtfully designed focusing on the cause of the problem and never simply the problem itself.
A detailed written training plan, or report on a behaviour problem, can be provided.
Where it is felt appropriate, further support from your veterinary surgeon, farrier, physiotherapist, chiropractor etc, may be involved. As a qualified 'equine sports massage therapist' I am happy to carry our a physical assessment where useful, and provide further support.
You may wish to book an hour / two hour session as a one off, or have regular sessions for continued support.
Clicker training
I am proud and excited to offer clicker training lessons to horse owners. Having spent the last 14 years clicker training my dogs, it seemed an obvious training tool for my horses. After finishing my masters degree in animal behaviour counselling, I have attended clinics with Dr Helen Spence and Shawna Karrasch, both inspirational equine clicker trainers. Although not yet a popular training method for horses, clicker training has had exceptional results with international riders.
Clicker training is a positive reward based training method, generally using food. It is highly effective at teaching a horse anything from basic handling to advanced ridden work.
In addition to teaching new behaviours, benefits include:
Creates a calm confident horse.
Creates a positive emotion in training, i.e. it is fun and rewarding.
Builds a strong trusting relationship between horse and owner.
Reduces stress, fear and anxiety allowing more positive associations to be learned.
Teach your horse anything using clicker training from: standing still and relaxed, to loving loading, to advanced dressage movements under saddle.
Clicker training is a positive reward based training method, generally using food. It is highly effective at teaching a horse anything from basic handling to advanced ridden work.
In addition to teaching new behaviours, benefits include:
Creates a calm confident horse.
Creates a positive emotion in training, i.e. it is fun and rewarding.
Builds a strong trusting relationship between horse and owner.
Reduces stress, fear and anxiety allowing more positive associations to be learned.
Teach your horse anything using clicker training from: standing still and relaxed, to loving loading, to advanced dressage movements under saddle.
