Equine Behaviour

Many domesticated horses perform behaviours that we see as 'problem' behaviours, and they can develop at any stage in life. They are often a result of the horse having difficulty with an aspect of his or her life and only become apparent when it has escalated so that is a concern, either for their welfare or the safety for those around them

Using a positive, empathetic and practical process to achieve sustainable results I can help you to understand and effectively modify your horse's own particular behavioural problem. I find that the most important thing I can do is listen; to both you and your horse. Looking at all aspects of your horse and his or her life, management and environment I draw up a plan and support you through the process of modifying and reshaping the behaviour, helping your horse to become happier in the process. Some issues may be fairly simple and quick to resolve, others may time more time and patience, but the important thing is to take it all at your horse's pace.

I use the LIMA (least invasive, minimally aversive) protocol, which is the recognised strategy of the IAABC. I use my knowledge of equine ethology, behaviour, energy and physiology to work with you both, as a unique partnership, to help you to achieve a relationship of understanding, softness and harmony.

Some examples of behavioural issues

Anxiety and Fear

Separation anxiety
Napping
Spooking
Fear of horse lorry/trailer
Fear of stable/shelter
Fear of other horses
Fear of people
Fear of vehicles
Fear of objects (e.g. tack)

Stereotypies

Cribbing
Weaving
Box-walking
Fence-walking
Head-nodding
Pawing
Door-kicking
Self-mutilation

Management, handling & riding

Difficulty leading
Barging
Refusal to stand
Refusal to go forward
Rearing / bucking
Refusal to tie-up
Stabling issues
Difficulty picking up feet
Difficulty being groomed

Other

Aggression: towards humans, horses, other animals or around food
Depression/shut-down state
Hyper-vigilant/anxious state
Feed aversion/over-stimulation
Loading/travelling issues

Before the consultation

Once you have booked a consultation I will email you a comprehensive History Form to complete. When you have completed it I will ask you to send it back to me via email or WhatsApp at least 48 hours before your consultation, along with a 20% deposit payment. I will then have time to review it before the consultation visit or video call.

If I am doing the consultation remotely via a video call, prior to the appointment I will ask you to send me any video footage you can of the environment, the stabling and anything that I or you think may be relevant. If you have film of the behavioural problem itself that would obviously be useful, but it's important not to provoke the behaviour for the purposes of videoing it.

Consultation visit/video call

The next step is for me to come and meet you and your horse at your yard to carry out a full assessment, looking at all aspects of your horse's history and current life, management, environment and work. It will depend on the behavioural problem, but I will likely leave you with some initial training to put in place immediately, and after the consultation I will email you a Behaviour Modification Plan (BMP) which will cover a suggested timespan and will work comfortably within your and horse's parameters to give you both the best chance of sustainable and effective results.

If we are carrying out the consultation remotely, a video call is essential. Both the on-site consultation and the video consultation will take up to two hours.

Follow-up

I will be available for support via phone or email whilst you work with your horse and the BMP. I will ask you to send me videos, if possible, of progress to assess before we develop to the next stage of the BMP.

Depending on the behavioural issue, another visit may be needed, or wanted, and we can look at putting together a package so that the pricing is manageable for this.

Harmony and intuition, the feelings that come from the heart as well as the head, are very important to incorporate when working with horses; they naturally choose a harmonious, co-operative and synchronous way of living. Tuning in to this whilst working with them can make the results of positive behaviour modification even more effective and sustainable.

Prices

On-site consultation, including Behaviour Modification Plan: £120

Remote consultation, including Behaviour Modification Plan: £100

Written report (post-consultation): £50

A package of initial consultation and follow-up training and visits is available.

I am also currently offering a discount to those owners who are happy for me to use their horse's case as part of my IAABC accreditation submission.

Depending on location a travel expense may be necessary and will be quote in full before the appointment.