How investing in our own health can also help our horses.
As equestrians, it is not uncommon for us to regularly book our beloved horses in for regular physiotherapy sessions to ensure that they are in peak condition. Our own health and fitness, however, usually gets shunted to the bottom of the priority list. I know that I for one, even though I suffer with chronic…
A good life for humans AND animals
This week is International Stress Awareness Week. An annual event run by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA), the theme in 2020 is ‘Managing Stress and Mental Health Issues in the Age of Covid-19’, so perhaps it is a pertinent time to explore the link between stress and global pandemics. I’m not just referring to…
What does grief feel like?
Bear with me for this post, not only is it a long one but I am branching out from my favourite topics of equine emotions and horse-human interactions to discussing the affective states felt by, and associated with, the canine-human bond. This is about to get a little personal but if this resonates with anyone…
Problem behaviour? What a pain!
I listened to a fascinating Facebook Live talk last night by Professor Daniel Mills from University of Lincoln, run by Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) discussing his research¹ on the link between pain and behaviour in dogs. Shockingly it was found that approximately 80% of behavioural issues in dogs are due to pain. It got me…
Let’s ask ‘why?’
Let’s talk about why we should always be asking ‘WHY?’ Every behaviour has a reason, a story, a justification. Every behaviour can be a way of communicating something and, very often, can be a cry for help. We should not see behaviour as a problem, but more as a message. We, as the caretakers of…
Positive Reinforcement for Humans
Equestrians aren’t always renowned as the friendliest bunch and there seems to be a worrying trend in parts of the equine training world. Many of those who staunchly promote the use of positive reinforcement methods for horses seem to be very often incapable of using this approach towards other humans. It can reach the stage…
Living with pain
I am a human who lives in chronic pain due to a rare neuro-spinal condition. I often struggle to articulate that or to get those around me, including doctors, to even try to understand how I’m feeling. I might not outwardly look all that ‘lame’ but inwardly my nerves and joints are on fire, constantly.…
Has Covid-19 built compassion?
So lockdown in England is continuing for now, or it isn’t – it isn’t quite clear! What we do know is that, rightly or wrongly, we now have slightly fewer restrictions imposed on our daily exercise. Now, without wanting to get into a political debate about Boris’s decision making, this whole situation has made me…
Welfare Assessment
Welfare assessment has historically been viewed as negative and as something only enforcement agencies engage with. However, welfare assessment CAN be a positive activity. It can be something that each and every one of us engages with on a regular basis, for the benefit of learning and of always trying to improve the lives of…
Having a soft heart
Another gem of a quote from the talent that is Charlie Mackesy. I remember always being told that I was too soft with my horses, too soft with animals in general, and that I needed to ‘show them who is boss’ or they would ‘take the mickey’. Firstly, acting that way is not conducive to…
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Affective Equine 