Ok then - a "Who are we?" thread as promised. At the risk of sounding really anal please can we try to only post one message each. Then the number of messages will give us an idea of how many people are posting here.

So then, I'm Catherine, aged 29 and have a 12 yr old 15hh quarter horse gelding called Jak and a long-suffering boyfriend who tries to make me think about non-Jak subjects (are there any??). CT/behaviour and barefoot horses tend to be my favourite subjects but I guess most of you have worked that out for yourselves....

We live just north of Horsham (Surrey/Sussex border) and I keep Jak just south of Guildford. Work-wise I do astronomy research for the (Surrey-based) space science department of UCL and lots of extra teaching for the OU so I can afford my many horse courses

I'm more than happy to try to give people a hand if you're starting out on CT or just lend a second pair of eyes but I'm definitely not a professional (but watch this space - starting the Duchy College behaviour course and a equine shiatsu practitioner course at the end of the month so who knows what will change...).

(Will edit this later and put up a photo of Jak which doesn't just show his scarred bottom!)

Catherine x

I'm Nikki. Age 30. Married with 3 children. Live in Milton Keynes, North Bucks but we are looking to relocate to Ireland in the near future.

My neddies are Polly - 10 yr old, 15.3hh black roan,irish cob mare & Sylvaen Zephyr (Zephie to her friends) - 13 yr old, 12.2hh chestnut welsh section B mare. They live out all year on rented land, both rugless and shoeless. Have just started CT with both and I'm committed to learning more about CT and +R.

I'm currently studying anatomy & physiology and hope to qualify as a sports massage therapist next year. I hope eventually to qualify as an equine massage therapist.

Here are my lovely neddies:

Hi Guys

I'm the mad one with the ginger and blonde horse called Golden Crunchie

I'm 25 (eeekkkk, only 5 years till 30!!!!), I've just broken my leg in three places, hence the new login - my other's at work and I've been given at least two months off sick so can't get to it.

Me and Crunch have been a team for a long long time now and I suppose you could say we've been there and done it with most of the usuals. Got into CT just over a year ago after a long discussion on the IH board about the pro's and con's of pressure halters (yep been there and done them too!) and started on a roller coaster journey for both myself and my boy.

Currently studying Couselling and hope to be qualified in three years, also starting the Duchy course in a couple of weeks with Catherine Wouldn't really class myself as an expert at anything horsey - just try to do what feels right.

See you around
Mx

Hi there, I'm Helen and I'm based in Northern Ireland. Anyone in NI interested in clicker training horses please contact me!
I did a psychology degree,graduated from that and worked in a riding school, did some of my BHS exams then became somewhat disillusioned with the system. I was introduced to the clicker 4 years ago and got off to a bit of a shaky start while working in the riding school, my first 'victim' turned out to have a severe sinus infection and since I was trying to teach him to dribble a football you can understand why we weren't too successful! Following this I decided education was the only way to go and began a PhD in equine behaviour/welfare. I'm still doing it! I did a substantial part of the EBQ with Heather Simpson before my funds ran out, then began doing consultations (non charging) last summer. In the spring I started my business 'Harmony Behaviour Insights' doing equine and the occasional canine behaviour consultation. This summer I did a course in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (therapy for humans using horses) and I'm keen to develop this side of things further.
I have a motley crew of horses (live out on rented land 24/7 and barefoot) and and a dog that I love to bits, they have taught me more than any course or teacher ever could.
Finally I am indebted to Ben Hart of Company of Horses who taught me humility in a way no-one else ever has. If I am ever one hundredth the behaviourist and horse person and people person he is I will be very happy indeed.

Hiya, I'm Meera age 28, but very close to 29 (eek!) living in Cambridge with fi(n)ance Mark and horse Jack - 15hh piebald 10yr-old love of my life (he has been with me since he was 7yrs-old). We're all from "Oop North" but are managing to cope with the daily stresses that being "Daah Saaf" brings! I can't believe how flat it is round here - how we miss the hills.

I'm a geneticist working in medical research, currently type-1 diabetes, but soon transferring to a new contract to work on type-2 diabetes and obesity. Actually I'm far more interested in animal population genetics than human disorders, but sadly funding for the former is rather thin on the ground. But still, i'm relatively happy doing what I do, and that counts for alot.

I'm another +ve Reinforcement convert that came via the IHDG route - think it was a particular thread posted around July 2002 that really got me thinking. And that is what I like about +ve Re, the thinking and inventive aspects - looking to reward what is wanted, not focussing just on preventing what is unwanted. I think in general, too many of us focus on the -ve rather than the +ve in all aspects of our lives. I'd never even considered it before last summer!

Currently I'm not doing much CT due to time constraints, but hope that in Oct I'll have much more time to play. Jack will be pleased about that!

M x

My name is Lucy,I am 27yrs old, I live in East Sussex and I am a Sagittarius!! (Ohh I feel like I'm on blind date!) I came to +ve R about 2yrs ago after attending the EBQ with Heather Simpson which I hope to soon finish! I too started to run out funds but as at that time Ross and Heather lived 5 mins away from me I worked part time for them to pay my way.
Previous to that, I had a brief brush with the BHS (apparently slight physical disabilities make you incapable of teaching people to ride) Still I'm not too bitter, I don't think I would have found +ve R otherwise. I am also a qualified Equine Body Worker, before you ask thats just a glorified name for massage therapists, but we also use other techniques eg. Acupressure, etc...
I have 2 very fat'n happy ponies, who are experts at terrifying me to my very soul! I found one half way down a ten foot drop happily munching on nettles the other day! They are also particularly adept at finding the weak spots in my fencing and field shelter, they are extremely helpful little souls! They both liveout 24/7 and went barefoot at the beginning of the year.

Lucy.

Hello. I’m Claire, aged 27, live North Cheshire with my OH Neil. I work as an analysis consultant in a financial institution, and so wish I could get out of the rat race and work with horses instead!

I have 3 horses – a 26 year old Arab mare, Amba, who I’ve had forever, a 7 year old piebald cob, Bush, who really belongs to Neil and a 5 year old Welsh D x TB called Strum (short for Strumpet – seemed like a good idea at the time).

I started clicker training with Amba many years ago, but she’s basically perfect so apart from teaching a few fun behaviours I didn’t do much. I too have gone down the IH route and bought Strum untouched last year with the specific intention of doing everything the IH way. It all went fine in that respect but due to various injuries and illnesses she has had a lot of time off so we kept having to ‘start again’ and she was becoming very stale. So I got the clicker out again and she is so much more enthusiastic, and now I’m now convinced that +R is the way to go!

Nice to meet you all.

Claire x

Hi I'm Donna age 32 no children just lots of animals!recent member to the forum. I live in Verwood near the New Forest and hence foresters are my passion. Started working life as a textile designer many years ago after an Art Degree until I realised you could study animal behaviour and when my husband was relocated to this area(Major in the armed forces and currently in Iraq!) I was able to study at Southampton. I have to date completed the Certificate in Applied Animal Behaviour and just completed the Diploma in Companion animal Behaviour Counselling from the same institution and hope to do the MSc next year. I am an APDT member and student member of the APBC. I specialise in eqine and canine training and behaviour with my company called Pet Connection. I have two rescue cats, a wild rabbit with epilepsy via my godfather since emirgrating to New Zealand, it was please Donna could you....) I have a Doberman that is a real sole mate, a great ambassador for her breed having demonstrated at Crufts four yrs running now, competes in Working Trails and Paws n Music, showing that they do have a brain if you motivate them! I currently have a 2yr old part Forester who I have been demonstrating clicker training since she was 7 months and who I hope will change a lot of people's attitude to their training methods when they watch her work. I have also just kept a colt from my friend who very sadly died and I hope he too will be a little star. I'm always happy to show people how I have taught my filly an exercise and do think the practical knowledge I have learn't over the yrs with the dogs has been useful with the equine work. Currently my little babe self loads, does sendaways, fetch a dumbell, free follows, picks her own feet up on verbal cue, lyes down, a lot of moves you would see in the dog world like finish,twist and lots more and she is only 2! - no I'm not mad! and people say why teach her that and I say why not! in fact my friends say I should enter her in a Working Trail! Anyway I think that givess you a rough idea about me.

I would also like to thank the existence of this forum as another one of the ponies I have mentioned needing a home has now found a home with one of the members on this site and once the colt is weaned, April will be going to a lovely home - a huge thank you again.

Hi Everyone. How Ya all doin?
Well I'm Rachel. I'm 34 and i live in Cheshire.I'm married to a gorgeous guy called Kevin and have 2 great but demanding kids ( 9 & 11)
I own 3 dogs ,2 Donkeys and 1 Horse ( so far ;0) )
Maddisson is a 11yr 15.2 hh Grey Id x Tb Mare and she is my dream horse.
Iv'e been riding most of my life and started out my work life as a stable lad in Newmarket.I went down the IH route but there was always something missing.Decided to give up horses over a year ago as I was totally disillusioned.
Until the day I met Ben Hart from Company of Horses.From that day my life changed.Thanks to him AND EMMA they re awakened my passion for horses and showed me what I had always felt I knew deep ,deep down.
I have no posh qualifications.I am just humbled everyday at the sheer kindness of spirit that horses possess and marvel at what they are constantly teaching me.
Rach.

Well, it looks as though I'm the Grandmother of the Forum as you're all so much younger than me!

I'm Mandy, 38, and live on the Mendips just south of Bristol. I've got an ever expanding menagerie of 5 cats, 4 dogs, Jani a 20 y.o. gelding, Mrs Squidgy a 12 y.o. mare, Munch a ?8 y.o. pony and soon to be another lovely pony once her foal is weaned. My life with horses has completely turned around since moving here two years ago - I had just a field, no stables, and brought them home for a weekend at the end of the summer - they never went back to the livery yard where they were in 24/7 during the winter. Things changed when I went up to Lucinda McAlpine's for a day - could horses really survive outside and actually be ridden without shoes?!! I came home and gradually made the move to natural living. Once I started questioning the traditional way of keeping them it was a short step to thinking about the way they're trained and ridden. Richard Maxwell had been out a couple of years previously to teach Jani leading & loading, and although using a pressure halter helped at the time I soon found he reacted very badly to it - confirming my gut feeling at the time it was no different to using a chiffney. However I'm grateful to the IHDG as without it I wouldn't have found this forum or Pauhla who first got me interested in CT.

I met Donna from this forum yesterday and felt really inspired after seeing some of the things she's achieved with her youngster. I've just had the most wonderful moment out in the field with my two horses - loose in the field teaching them to back up, within a few minutes Jani was backing up to a hand signal lovely and soft, head down and relaxed. He looked so disappointed when the session finished - this is such a turnaround for a horse that has long associated training with being pushed pulled and hit.

Like Catherine I'm about to start a shiatsu practitioner course - spooky! It's not in Exeter is it Catherine?

Hi everyone
I am Helen, 36 years old (I think - my memory isn't as good as it used to be!) I have 2 children, 3 horses, a dog and a cat.
I have my old boy who is on loan to a good friend, he is 30 years young. I have Jessie (in the picture hopefully) who is a 4 year old New Forest, 13.3hh and I have just acquired Dotty who is 24, 13.3hh who has a bit of history but I've only had her 2 weeks!
I live in Holyport, near Windsor/Maidenhead. I work for a land clearance company and am lucky enough to work from home at the moment although will have to go to work like proper person in the next few weeks!
Both Jessie and Dotty are barefoot and live out 24/7. Jessie has no rugs and is as fat as an elephant. I am hoping to start clicker training with her soon but am a bit worried about getting it wrong so have put it off! I too started the IH way but have moved on.
Everyone here is great to read from and I am so glad I have found such like minded people.

A question for Donna:
As I am such a namby pamby, do you think it would be ok for me to visit you one day and see how it's all done? Or anyone else near me for that matter?
Ooops, I think I may have widened the page, sorry!! x Helen

I'm 58 [just] and started riding when I was 35. Never been on a horse before and it was a decision between learning to fly a light aircraft or riding a horse and I thought horses were cheaper!!!

Had my first horse after 6 months who stayed with me for 16 years. Then went mad and had someone's weanling filly whom I eventually did clicker training with. At that time there was no one in the UK that was training for clicker training and I had to get all the info from the USA and Alex's book. I sold said filly at 4 yo as she was not the horse for me and I bought an old 16 1 palamino Russian draft horse. I've also got four shetlands only one of which has been clicker trained and I can't say I've done a very good job on him but big one takes to it like a duck to water.

Hi Helen anytime you want to come down, you and others are most welcome. At the moment the horses are kept in Burley in the New Forest but as of the 11th Oct, after my essay deadline! they are moving closer to home in Verwwod. Just ring me on 01202 822958 and come over and have a go!

I'm Diane

Age 26 rising 27. Work in Genetics also after moving darn sarf from Lankysher to Surrey (via Dartford, lol!). Have an exmoor called Henry, plus an old man called Branston, Henry's companion. Am bitless, rugless, shoeless and very interested in all aspects of equine behaviour and training. Time constraints limit me to what courses I can do, but when I complete my French A level next year (one of those life ambition wotsits) there'll be no stopping me!!! Also obsessed by feet, but not as much as Catherine due to time constraints (some of us have to work you know, he he!).

I’m Jan, aged 40, with Queca (“keeka”), a 21yo 15:1hh Argentine Thoroughbred mare (ex-polo pony who has bred two foals in her time). Q lives with four other horses a short drive from my house (nr Burford, Oxon) at a yard which I currently share with my sister and two friends.

I have a keen interest in most things animal-related, particularly the area of behaviour and learning. After two years of looking into positive training, it’s only very recently that I’ve begun to really understand what looking to my horse as my teacher really means and how a positive and balanced approach to all things in life, not just training sessions, is fundamental to success.

Have also been the barefoot, bitless, rugless route, but have learned (yep, another lesson from my esteemed teacher) that it's not for this horse at this time.

At present, I work as a business & finance manager for a management consultancy firm, but am nearing the end of my initial training to be an essential oils therapist for animals. My other interests are palaeoanthropology and forensic anthropology. I live with my horse-widower, my son, my daughter and two very special dogs.

Hi - just so Mandy knows she's not the oldest of the forum...

I'm 41 and live in Newmarket, Suffolk with 2 lurchers and 6 cats. I used to be a vet - specialised in neonatal foal intensive care, then anaesthesia (all species) and acupuncture but gave up to become a full-time novelist (the version of BOUDICA that's on ITV tonight is not mine, sadly, but mine is doing reasonably well).

I don't own a horse yet, but am riding a rather wonderful 14.2 gelding under new instruction and my riding is improving beyond my wildest expectations (which weren't great - I'm not a good rider). My interest in horses in non-professional terms is largely CT and barefoot, with a side interest in saddle-fitting and osteopathy.

My primary focus in shamanic practise and my absolute interest is in the shamanic healing of both horses and their owners, either single or in pairs. I'm studying now and hope to be able to begin to practise by this time next year.

In between, I climb rocks, dream and write novels. I have an ex-girlfriend who decided she couldn't handle the all-woman relationship life and has just married her ex-boyfriend - and a particularly good therapist.

Web: http://www.mandascott.co.uk

Hi all

Well, I'm an "elder" in the group as well.. nearing the big 5 zero....

I live in North Wilts just near the ridgeway to the east of Swindon (glorious riding country) in an old cottage, with long suffering hubby, a mad but loveable 18 month old flat coated retriever, three cats, two geriatric chickens.. and of course my horse Mara. I own a second horse Sage (who is a three sixteeths horse.. ie 3/4 quarter horse!) who is loan at the moment.

Mara, who is a trakehner, lives in the next village with two geriatric companions who I also look after (Silver, a 28 year old warmblood, and Maud, a 48 year old donkey).. she's currently on "rest" having chipped her proximal pastern bone within the fetlock joint, and had surgery in early august... now out in the field enjoying herself.

Mara was my 7th horse- sent to me from someone with a higher purpose to teach me how little I knew. She has been a challenge and a delight, but has made me rethink everything and have to go through at times painful learning process (both mentally and physically!).. through, or because of her I have met various excellent (and not so excellent!)horsemen and women.. I ended up organising clinics so I could get to meet people I wanted to work with- vis Mark rashid, Deb Bennnett, Alexandra Kurland- and also have been to the USA to learn from Kayce Cover and Harry Whitney (wont mention the less than helpful people!).

I'm also interested in all barefoot matters and training with KC la Pierre..

On the non horsey front I did a degree and PHD (ABD!!!) in animal sciences/neuroeendocrinology and behaviour, and then worked for the government for 15 years or so, dealing with research funding to Universities in a variety of disciplines, before becoming a freelance consultant- helping people get money for research, and more recently setting up new companies.

I've dabbled in all sorts of "personal growth" activities including four years training as an integrated arts psychotherapist (now given up.. )

But everything is about to change as I am now about to relinquish my lucrative consultancy career (well it paid for the house..) to take a year out and train as a garden designer/architect, resume some more artistic things such as stone sculpting, hopefully do a little more shamanic work, oh and ride my horse, hopefully...

cheers
Carol

Hi - Im nudging 50 too so its never too late to find +re! Concer is my stunning 11 year old ex-racehorse who is currently glistening like copper in the autumn sunshine - the photo that I am hopefully posting was taken a while ago now - will take some more in his treeless, bitless and shoeless state! I have completed a number of the IH courses which I found informative and fun and pointed me to positive reinforcement as the next progression. I ride in a Dually halter with a sheepskin noseband which my horse much prefers to the snaffle I used to ride him in. He had 12 stitches in a leg wound 5 weeks ago which I thought was practically life threatening until I say the photos of poor Jak!

I work in the NHS managing the Medical Education department of a busy district general hospital on the south coast. I am applying for an ESOL course starting in January and plan to move to France within the next 3 years. Chris and I have been looking seriously around the Limoges area and will have found and secured the ruin of our dreams before Christmas.....

Janet and Kiera suggested I post on here . I'm Elaine (emw) of the Herefordshire EMW Sanctuary. I'm very open to all forms of thereapies/training techniques and alternate treatments. I currently have 13 horses and ponies in the sanctuary my end ( the latest intake is 'harry Jackson' a 3 month old foal who was destined for meat) and Soibhan (EMW Wales-Talgarth) has 14 various horses and ponies at her Trefecca Sanctuary. We both have many out on loan and we also liase with sanctuaries and groups across the UK in our work.
At the Talgarth Sanctuary we have Caroline Ingram and her students working with the animals. We also have the free services of a Reika master, Chris King.
Janet is starting us, at Herefordshire, using clicker training and we were thrilled to watch Janet working with 'Fred', a real natural. Kiera is having good success with armoatherapy oils too.
emw x


EQUINE MARKET WATCH "We will NOT look away"
www.equinemarketwatch.org.uk
CHARITABLE STATUS PENDING

Glad you found us Elaine!
I'm Jan, wrong side of 50. Married, long suffering husband and three children (adults now in theory) 2 rescue cats, 2 rescue dogs (one diabetic and now blind, one "free spirit") and 1 horse and 3 ponies. Horses out 24/7, barefoot and rugless but have access to shelter. For last 18 months (2 years??) have studied equine behaviour with Heather and Ross Simpson and daughter now studying aromatic oils with Caroline Ingraham. Have learnt so much while studying and realise that I still have much more to learn. Grateful to Heather for the knowledge she has given me and for enabling me to meet my fellow students - you are all bright shinning stars. Will continue to study and be taught by the best teachers in the world (Benson, Sacacen, Raffles and Storm and all the other horses I come in contact with!)
Janx

message deleted, see lower down

Hi, I'm Jules, from Lancashire, umm 33 (how did that happen!) and have 2 arabs pics of how should appear below, Misty (light grey) aged 22 and an absolute star and her Great Nephew, Apache (dark grey) who is now 9.
Both are barefoot, been doing CT for about 18months now and it was really the making of my relationship with Apache. Our ridden work has improved in leaps and bounds since I stopped having lessons and went my own way without gadgets and using positive reinforcement.
Am a lurker and occaisional poster...

I'm Dee Stanford, I'm 28 and live in Cambridgeshire with my dobie x Harley and Chinchilla George (both have done a bit of clicker training!) and my partner Martin (who doesn't respond to clicker training any more, guess the motivation wasn't salient enough!).

I have (and continue to) study with Heather Simpson and have nearly completed EBQ Stage 1. I'm also studying Advanced Animal Behaviour as a corrospondace course. I have attended a few of the CofH courses as well and do as much educating of myself as I can!

I have a Hanovarian x TB mare, Cully, who I have been clicker training for 3 years now. Cully lives with my sister's 2 - Filly a Duch Warmblood Mare and Ted the Exmoor Gelding, who are both used to +R and Clicker Training as well. All are unshod (not strictly Barefoot) and live out 24/7 as long as the field isn't flooded!

I am the founder of Equine Insights (www.equineinsights.net) and run annual symposiums and training courses for like minded people who believe in holistic equine management and training. I also do private consultations for clients who need behavioural or training advice for their horses.

My 'day job' is working with Heroin addicts on probation (Drug Treatment and Testing Order subjects). In the long term my goal is to intergrate my 2 jobs and use Equine Assisted Therapy to rehabilitate people with addictions. (Obviously ensuring that the horses are worked with using +R & have a great deal more support than the humans!!!).

So I'm a pretty busy Gal but love life, not sure my poor old OH will be able to take much more of it though!!

[Shamelessly cribbed from an intro to another list - lazy or wot?! ]

I'm Francis Burton, aged(!) 42, live in the West End of Glasgow -
just a short drive away from the countryside. I've been interested
in horses and their behaviour since the mid-70s. In 1980/81 at
Glasgow Vet School, I studied flehmen and the vomeronasal organ in
the horse and donkey stallion, as something to do in the long summer
vacation. (My first degree was in zoology; I then went on to study
physiology, eventually specializing in cardiac electrophysiology and
arrhythmias.)

My own horse, Lucky, was born at the vet school in 1985 - I was
there at his birth. Lucky was a grey TB gelding, and one of the most
obliging, trusting, gentle-natured horses that I have known. I say
"was" because I had to have him put to sleep last year after he was
diagnosed as having a progressive osteosarcoma (fortunately early
enough to spare him the inevitable decline into pain). He was 17
years old. I have many happy memories of our time together.

I don't have a horse of my own at the moment, as I feel my current
work schedule doesn't allow a proper committment to looking after a
horse (e.g. would have to rely on full livery). However, I still
spend a significant part of my spare time with horses - an hour or
so every day, and several hours at weekends. I do find they keep me
sane!

About seven years ago, I took over the chairmanship of the Equine
Behaviour Forum from Tris Roberts (who coincidentally was also a
member of staff in the Physiology Department here, had a mainframe
username that differed from mine by one digit, and used to ride the
same horse at a local riding school). This provides an incentive to
keep up with all the latest research and the developments in how
study of behaviour is applied to training and husbandry, as well as
giving opportunities to meet with interesting and knowledgeable
people to discuss equine behaviour issues. (If anyone is interested,
the Forum website is at: http://www.gla.ac.uk/External/EBF/ ) My
preference is to move away from anthropomorphism and "pop
psychology", and more towards pure ethology and learning theory -
though it often seems the tide is in the other direction!

Hi
Some familiar names here...and some not so :O)
I'm Dawn, live in Lancashire (Darwen) and have a 24 year old TB called Griff who has been one of the more challenging horses I've owned, and a 2 year old Tri coloured called Finn! Happy hacker, not into competition any more too old and lost nerve! Am 31, married to martin who isn't the slightest bit horsey, have 2 lovely springer spaniels Jodie and Barney and a fat ginger tom cat called tango! Use bits and pieces for training horses, whatever suits the horse and enjoy clicker although Im not that good at it :O)

Hi Dawn,

You don't happen to know Gillian Cooper, do you? She lives very close to Darwen. (Gillian founded the Equine Behaviour Forum with Moyra Williams.)

Francis

Hi Dawn

You don't live too far from me, I live in Shawforth, Rossendale. I've met Gillian a couple of times at some classical riding events held a couple of years ago - I seem to remember someone called Dawn being with her - was it you?

Mx

Hi Francis
I sure do know Gill, shes my best friend! Its her old TB I have Griff :O) Shes wonderful and I love her to pieces - even tho she often tells me off! I've heard so much about you from her, she speaks very highly of you!!

Sorry chuck, just saw your post too! We're usually together if anything horsey going on, so it possibly was me! I sometimes go out with her when she is teaching, and she comes with me when I am training horses - basically to pick each others brains :O)

Hi Dawn,
It's a small world isn't it? Gill has talked about Griff, of course - I thought the name sounded familiar! I think she's a lovely person too, although I go green with envy when I think about how she is able to write so well and fluently, when I struggle for hours on end with my "Chairman's Letter" etc.

I know exactly what you mean Francis, she has me writing for the EB magazine, reviews and the like and I am hopeless - so you're not on your own! Tho that said, I always find the magazine great and of course the chairmans preface too :O) Great to actually speak with you after hearing so much about you! Take care

I am Emma 37 and live in Devon. My love for horses started very young and I have been truly blessed as my passion has become my work and in turn, I have been privileged to be involved with hundreds of horses.

I have been a student of BHS,Natural Horsemanship and Clicker Training.

In 1997 I met my Partner Ben Hart and in 1999 we started up Company of Horses.

I am an amateur writer and put my pennies worth in a couple of magazines brave enough to publish my often out spoken articles  I sometimes write for the equestrian section of my local paper and am honoured to have been writing for the Q&A section of Horse Magazine for some time.

I am a member of the Institute of Animal Care and Education but other than that, I am totally unqualified. In 1995 I started to teach my self about equine behaviour. I studied and worked in America and Australia as well as here. The trainers taught me about their methods this included bird and sealion trainers, the library taught me about the science and the horses taught me about ‘feel’. They were and are my examiners. To me horses are the ONLY experts in their behaviour.

I have also studied human behaviour and psychology as I believe to truly work with, train and help horses you have to be able to work with human behaviour.

I especially love horses that throw the rulebook out of the window. One because you HAVE to think and work outside the box which keeps you learning and two, they remind us that we are not always the more intelligent or talented part of the combination.

A personal project I have is researching autism and I am seeing links (not in the medical condition but) behaviourally between human suffers and some equine behaviour.

I have an appaloosa mare called Morwennas Moon, she is spirited, dominant, wilful, commanding and I love her for it. She has taken my ability negotiate into another dimension. Everything for her has to have a purpose or she will not do it and that makes perfect sense to me  I have backed her bareback in a headcoller using CT

Harry is our Exmoor who is a classic throw the rules away chap. He came as a rescue and was wild, unhandled and untouchable, he had a choking noose round his neck when he was found so we assume his previous experience of humans was damming. We have worked with him with purely positive reinforcement. He is the only unhandled, especially remedial equine we know of that has only been worked with Clicker Training so would love to hear of any others.

Hi, new to this board. Live in West Yorkshire, have two horses. Storm a 13'3" 14 year old cleveland bay x thoroughbred mare & Easy As Pie (Easy or Pie for short) a 16' Irish Sport Horse. Both lovely with Perfect Manners. One husband and my best friend Nell our dog.

deleted

Debbie - I think that's because the table column width
is made as large as the width of the widest image, and
then the text is wrapped to fill that space. One
solution would be to resize the images to make them
a bit smaller. Not sure if Catherine could do this
easily...?

Another workaround is to copy the text you want to
read and paste it into Word or some other text editor
that can rewrap it. Sounds a bit tedious, I know - but
that way you can avoid repetitive strain injury!

(If you're wondering why you can read this message
without scrolling, it's because I added line breaks
manually before column 55 or so.)

Francis

Sorry everyone, I think it's my fault
that the page went big. How about
we have a 'Who Are We 2" ?

Hi Emma, glad to hear Morwenna is doing well. Don't suppose you remember me but you will remember my horse!! Spook who came from the same person who owned Morwenna? (the grey arab that was, well, Spooky!)
I am afraid that he just didn't make it. Don't know why but after hubby had an unscheduled ride in the air ambulane to Derriford we had to call it a day.
He is now a pasture pet and companion horse, a role that he has a lot less trouble with!

Afraid there's nothing I can do about the wrapping.

But would it be possible for those of you who have put big photos up to reduce their size and reload them to your private photos page? Then edit your posts on here to pick up the smaller version of the image. I think that will sort things out

Thanks
Catherine

Hi! I've just discovered this site. 2 horses,3 dogs - 2 Belgian Shepherds 1 minpoodle, 2 cats , 1 tank fish. V.interested in training methods for all animals, and have been influenced by Mark Rashid& as wide reading as I can. Isaw 2 days of his clinic in 2002 and really liked his lack of a mechanistic solution for every problem approach and tranlatablility for mortals. He also said that he had developed over time and he wouldnt do now as he wrote in his 1st books. I liked his 3rd book the best.I haven't used ct cos of my concerns re excessive food orientation and my experiences dog training. Used food a lot with my 1st 2 but the 3rd who was trained mostly with pleasure, cuddles n toys is the most eager.Am about 2 start with her 4 heelwork2music.WLTM up with anyone who wants 2 swap ideas/ training suggestions.Also need ideas for riding instruction (classical dressag/new interest sensitive Western)Glos/Herefordshire borders.

Susie Neville-Parker or Sue Adams

http://www.arrow.u-net.com/

tell Susie I sent you and we 'met' via the 'net ;~}

These two women are inspirational and for want of a better phrase are in touch with the inner horse.

Think I've just got the photos sorted so that the page is no longer too wide. If anyone still has problems then please let me know

Catherine

My real name is Sally, but I go by Pen or Fluffydoe on the horsey forums. This is my horse Penny, or Penelope, or Condor Diamond Star (show name). Playing "chicken" with me!



Other photographs for those who are interested can be found at http://community.webshots.com/user/amazon157

updated, see below

Hi, i'm Liz and i live in Anglesey, North Wales. I heard about this site from Catherine who i met on the Duchy course. I'm currently, sadly, horseless but hopefully that'll change next year. I've worked in many different spheres of the horseworld and travelled around a bit too. My partner Ray and I currently work for our keep on a 15acre holding which is mainly planted up with trees, altho there are 5 dogs and 23 cats to do a bit of clickering with! I'm very interested in learning as much as i can about positive reinforcement and am thankfull that sites such as this have been set up! So for now i'll probably just be one of those lurkers. Thanks..Liz

Hi, I'm Clare. 34 and also live on the island of Angelsey, north Wales. I occasionally lurk and your thread Liz promted me to add my bit. I live with 2 horses, Esme a seven year old IDxTB/Appy and Jazz a 9 year old ID, two cats and my OH (oh dear last as usual!). I came to this site through the IHDG and have been playing with clicker training for about 2 years. Ben came out recently to work with Jazz and Esme and has given me the inspiration to do more than just play with +ve reinforcement.

I work as a farmland ecologist for the Countryside Council for Wales - so if anyone would like advice on environmentally friendly land management issues, fire away.

Both my neds are barefoot - partly thanks to Catherine who helped me first get in touch with Jane Berresford - and I can now bore for Wales on the subject of horses feet (be warned!).

Liz, let me know if you would ever like a horse subject to practise on. Also would you be interested in attending a Company of Horses workshop? I am hoping to organise one on Angelsey sometime in Spring.

Hi Clare.
I dont know if you remember me but I was on the Centred Riding clinic you were on at Adlington recently.I was talking to your partner (Richard ?) about Ct and COH .Sorry I left early so didnt get a chance to say goodbye and didnt go back on second day.
Just wanted to say I thought Jazz was absolutely gorgeous, a real special boy.
Hope your both well.
Rachel

Hurrah, somebody else positively horse minded in Anglesey. Great to know you're out there Clare and if you wish to talk further my email should be attatched. I would definately be interested in a Company of horses workshop in the spring, also any opportunity to talk horse is great. My computer is temporarily on strike but i can check email at a friends house.

Hi Rachel,

of course I remember you - Jazz's fan club isn't that big! It's lovely to hear from you again. The centered riding course had a really unexpected bonus in all the lovely feedback Richard and I received about Jazz. He had only just come back into work after transitioning to barefoot and before the course I was really worrying about how he would behave, whether he was fit enough, whether my riding would show me up etc, etc. The positive comments we got were a real confidence boost. I mean - I know Jazz is gorgeous but it is still nice to know other people think he is too!

Liz,

great to know that not all Anglesey is still in the dark ages for horse training. I've sent you an email.

Clare

Hi All

I have been directed to this site by Catherine. Have just started CT with my mare Chloe who I have owned for 18 months after a 25 year break with no riding ! I am 44, divorced and live in Warrington, Cheshire. I am a bit of a novice and have had a loss of confidence which I am now getting over. Am finding CT very helpful in building a bond with Chloe, but get a bit stuck every now and again !

Look forward to discussing with you all

Gaye x

I'm janet. I did stage 1 & 2 equine behaviuor with Heather Simpson. I'm a psychiatric social worker, reiki practitioner and an NLP master practitioner. I'm keen on classical riding and have a Lusitano I imported form Portugal. I live in Stockport, Cheshire.

I am an intermittent lurker on the site and honestly keep meaning to post.. new years resolutions and all have managed to at last.

I am Juliet live in Surrey own one horse (Rudy) who lives in Hampshire (life is never easy!) I have done the equine behviour course with Heather Simpson and passed last July. Since then I have been and done a few cases but haven't really advertised myself as such. Another New Year's resolution waiting to happen.
I have been clicker training my horse for about two years, made mistakes got over them, made more .. luckily no harm done.
Really enjoy the forum and hopefully will be contributing a bit more to the discussions.
Would be interested in meeting up with anyone in Surrey or North Hampshire areas.

I am an Equine Behaviour Qualification (EBQ) graduate with the advanced stage 2 as well. I also organise animally events via my website: www.learningaboutanimals.co.uk. I am also the editor of a biotech journal but building up the equine behaviour cases I see.

I have two horses, a 15'3 shire x cob called Jake, black with a white blaze, and a bay welsh cob x something else called Gracie. They both live out all year with shelters/food etc.

Both horses done quite a bit of clicker training and so have my rabbits, dog and even the chinchilla.

I've done quite a few correspondence horse psychology/behaviour courses as well as the EBQ and some workshops with Ben Hart. I am a provisional member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors) working towards full membership.

I live in Surrey, work in London, and am from Somerset.

Hmm think that's about it. Oh, I'm also a keen scuba diver.

[Edited to update Sept 2006]

deleted, out of date

Hi
I'm Fiona and have been lurking here for months (think I have posted once!!!). I am 46 yrs old..eeek and live in Stockport. I have 2 chidren, a husband, 2 clicker crazy border collies and Cas my wonderful 33 year old mare who lives at Dean Valley, Woodford. We have been together for 28 years.
I have been learning clicker training with my dogs for 4 years now and have dabbled a bit with Cas....we are all loving every minute of it.
I really enjoy this forum despite not posting. It is thought provoking, gives great information, is friendly and gives me a feeling that I am not alone.

Bye for now
Fiona

Rachel could you give me your email address, I seem to have lost it..ta

Just joined the forum today. My name is Mercedes, but I use the log on name Alcippe on other Forums. I work in insurance, but am going back to Uni this year to become an acupuncturist. I am also training to be an equine shiatsu practitioner.
I live in Sussex and own a larger than life coloured mare called Lolita. She's very beautiful and has a big personality.
Sadly she was diagnosed with bone spavin last year and the vet has told me to give her two years off. She is now living the good life without a care in the world but I intend to do some training with her in hand in the months to come. I would also like to breed a foal from her, but I am not sure whether that will be here or in Spain, where I am from.
Pleased to meet you all!

Hi I'm Carolyn. Have two horses, 15.1hh Sec D aged 13 and a personality - lazy and definitely has his own agenda at times - had him for 11 years so it's all my own fault but I love him! And Indy a 17.2hh shire x TB 8yo with epsm. Bred him myself - to sell (bred 3 others too) but had to keep him cos of epsm. He's very loving and laid back, a real sweetie. Started with CT when his epsm was so bad I couldn't ride him and had such fun I've really got into it.
Spent 3 years researching and trying to manage his epsm symptoms and have had enough success that he is now rideable and increasingly comfortable in his legs and back now.
Also bought 2 little ponies from a dreadful sale last summer - wild and extremely wary of humans - my friend just backed them with a little help from me and started basic riding out - learned loads doing this.
Did Alex Kurlands first UK clinic last year and about to do her next one in 2-3 weeks
Done all IH courses - considering whether to qualify or not.
Am a trained saddle fitter for Saddle Co saddles
Use CT with my young black lab Nero - with astounding results.
This forum is very interesting and thought provoking and for that I thank you all.

oooh just saw this and thought I better introduce myself formally!

My name is Laura, I am 19 (feeling old now?......)! and I live on the east coast of suffolk. Have been with long suffering partner charlie for 5 yrs, met at high school, aww bless etc.

I currently work as a PA for a very understanding non-animal boss who tries to sound interested when i bore him with behaviour conversations but doens't really get it! He also lets me bring Tilly, my 7 month old border collie pup into work wh olikes to un plug things, chew things, knock things off desks and jump on your lap when your on the phone! Charlies mum used to breed german shepherds and 3 years ago she sadly died in a car crash and we were in the best position to take them on, two quite elderly that died shortly after and one lovely big boy Hershall who unfortunately had to be put to sleep at the start of this year due to liver failure.

Horsewise I currently have William 15.3hh 18yr old anglo arab who is a perfect gentleman and taught Charlie to ride, Toby 15.1hh cob (arab x welsh?)who is 9 and came to me as a bit of a problem horse and as of friday will have Sov from the ILPH rising 3 arab filly on loan to do some work with.

I started various BHS courses but didn't really agree with lots of the things so decided to quit. Have had various 'experts' in to see Toby and after one session each was not invited back. When we got him here the vet sedated him and removed his shoes to minimise any damage he caused should he 'explode' like he used to do often. Various so called 'experts' trying to put chiffneys and blindfolds etc on to box him and instructors suggesting martingales, draw reins and side reins etc. anyway 2 years on a little girl who lives near me ( i think she's 8) got her first clear round rosette on him the other day at a local show. I wish all the people that said he should be put down could of seen this little girls face they'd have to take it all back!

All are untrimmed, toby has no rugs lives out etc. william lives out but is rugged (fly rug cos he's white and gets pestered a lot and winter rug as he's getting old and a bit fragile) Sov will have to see how she copes once she's here.

I posted on a dog forum if anyone knows of a site like this and was directed here, thanks correlli!

Found very interesting reading and useful advice, well done, will have to work out how to post pics now tho!

Hi all, I was very kindly invited to join this forum because of certain interests expressed in another, so I thought the least I could do would be to introduce myself ...

I'm Michaela, single, approaching 60 and a GP currently working in the Australian "outback" in a remote area of Western Australia with an Aboriginal health project. I also "lend a hand" elsewhere when medically needed, as remote places = short-staffed.

I've been around horses ( and other animals ) all my life, my grandpa and my favourite uncle were both farriers - and very open-minded, educated farriers for their generation - and because of my, or rather my family's approach to animals (and various other things!) we, and me in particular, have always been considered a bit odd-ball.

I am a dreadful cynic about almost anything that's commercially promoted - I followed a gentleman friend to the US some years ago and fled in horror after a couple of months at what was expected of me as a doctor! - but am an avid reader of all books ( which I suppose are commercially promoted, but which I can at least use to light a fire or as loo paper, or both, if I am totally disgusted by them ).

I believe there is a lot of "old knowledge" about managing (for want of a better word) both people and animals which has been ignored or mocked over the past century or more, until resurrected in a mutated form to "make a buck" ( or many million $$) by promotional and marketing gurus such as Parelli and Roberts. But the other thing I'm cynical about is any one or any thing which smacks of evangelism or a one-track mind, or which won't look and give credit to outside influences.

I also think I had better riding lessons from my mother ( who never ever rode at all ) when she said "If I see you pulling on that pony's mouth again, you'll have no reins at all!" and my uncle, who was a driver, not a rider, who said "Sit up and feel the pony under your bum, he'll tell you what he's going to do if you listen properly" than I ever had when, as a young adult, I tried to 'do' the university riding thing.

I currently ride - wait for it! - a 13.2 donkey, Denny (Neddy, reversed!) who had been running with a mob of brumbies and was going to be loaded up and sent to the meatworks ...she had a very large belly so I thought she might be pregnant with a hinny foal. However, a few large evacuations of worms and sand and all sorts of fibrous rubbish left her looking much slimmer and I'm training her as an active, willing, mount and as a good companion. I currently ride her in a 1912 UP trooper's swivel-tree saddle which, while fine for her, plays havoc with my bum, so will have a Rebecca treeless on order soon, and a Cashel softsaddle for while I wait. I also have a few dogs which hang around(they're not actually mine but seem to think they are!), a lop-eared rabbit who is my house-pet, a pony acquired from a difficult situation and a galah with a wonky wing.

To be honest, I don't really have any training problems; I seem to be able to deal with any that arise in a non-confrontational manner but this forum looks really interesting and maybe will enable me to analyse just why and how it is, that I can do what I do - and even do it better!

No digital camera yet, but when I do have one, expect pics!

Hi,

My name is Hilary , am 41, and live in North Yorkshire.Horsewise, I have 5 , and they all live together with free access to their stables , whose doors only get shut at feedtime.

I have Topper,a 13 year old chestnut thorough bred, who made me realise my communication skills were not what they should be. She is mother of 2, Ben 9 year old gelding , who is the boss of his harem ( by that I mean if he wants to eat something the othes move out of his way , if it was a lion to face.he would definitely send his mother), Lottie a 2 year old highland, Callisto a 18 month old Lusitano cross lippianer , and Isabella 7 month old foal (out of Topper, by Assirico a lusitano stallion).

I started off by doing a level 1 parelli course, then found Ken Faulkner, an Australian whose development has beeen interesting to watch over the past 3 years - he broke his leg badly a couple of years back, and then realised how much softer he could be ( having a lack of strength in his leg). I incorporate clicker training into everything I do and have done one of Alex K's courses, though hope to do more. I do some trick training with the youngsters - pedestal work, Lottie lies down, sits up, Isabella loves the pedestal,sits down on a beanbag , and will walk, trot backup etc following the target. Callisto can get quite emotional ( ok head up, big blows down nostrils), and her head lowering work is working wonders.

The more I do , the more I realise how little I know.

Hilary C

Anyone know how to edit old posts? Not me, so thought I'd better update mine as a few changes to add. So...now living very near Manchester which is great for art, cafe society, football and motorway connections but not so good on the hills/big sky/wild weather front. Sadly without my beloved whippet-x Jess now, but have adopted a collie and a deaf dalmatian along with a new man. Ex-ace-eventer Rusty now 31, retired except for a bit of clicker ground work, out 24/7 in a settled group, barefoot and rugless except for the worst weather, with a pair bond and one other, both also retirees. Miffed that I don't have full control over his management as he is on a grass livery yard, so I witness some unnecessary RHP contests, but current situation much better than his previous lives.

Legal work still pays the mortgage, but qualified in Heather Simpson's Equine Behaviour Qualification in 2005 so now also in business as a behavioural consultant, where I find the counselling skills come in very handy too. So I still get to spend lots of time with horses, either Rusty's group or clients'. Finding the recent threads on training methods and dominance/leadership/rank very interesting!

Best wishes to all,

Debbie

Debbie, to edit past posts you have to first log in, then go to your past post and you'll see an 'edit post' bar appears at the bottom of it...

Thanks Suz! Now, I'd like to ask you some questions about rewarding rabbits during clicker training.....

I am Jenny, 31, work as a sales rep for a veterinary publisher and live in Northants with cats and my 16hh 12 yo TB X mare, Lou. I learned as a child the BHS way, worked in various yards and went on to Writtle College where I studied breeding stock, became fascinated by behaviour and was first introduced to Monty Roberts' methods. Then I wasn't around horses for 8 years or so before starting to help some people with just backed youngsters get them out and about hacking. This led to me buying Lou, technically my first horse.
I've had her for a year, and amongst many health problems, have spent the time getting to know her, building up trust between us, and we have just started doing some Winter TREC competitions. Previously she's done Novice Eventing and lots and lots of competing in BHS disciplines, and she really seems to enjoy the interest of hacking out, going to new places and learning new things.
I don't have much experience of particular systems, but have read quite widely on behaviour and my philosophy is to try my best to understand what Lou is saying and to communicate with her in a way that she finds easiest to understand and doesn't stress her. Basically, I want her to be the happiest and healthiest that she can be, bearing in mind that I ask her to live at a livery yard and put up with me riding and handling her.
I know Manda through her Shamanic work, and she recommended this site to me and told me to take a look.

I'm looking forward to learning a lot.

Jenny

I'm Lynne, 45 (eek), living in Yorkshire but have been in London or Hertfordshire for most of my adult life. My 'day job' is as a clinical cardiac physiologist where I specialised in cardiac electrophysiology, pacemakers and implantable defibrillators although I did and can do everything within cardiology. I'm currently unemployed due to cutbacks and hoping that I can find something that isn't anything to do with healthcare or cardiology

I'm the single parent of Saffy, 10, who is a RISH mare with 'character' I started off many years ago the BHS way but was lucky enough to have a good instructor who followed classical principles and wasn't of the 'kick it' and 'hit it' school. I will be eternally grateful to her even though she'd be horrified at some of the things that I do now.

Saffy's behaviour when I got her as a 5 year old led me initially to IH which worked to a point but which wasn't the whole answer for us. I was very lucky to meet Emma Lethbridge although very unlucky to meet a drunk driver who wrote off my beloved sports car and almost wrote me off with it. I couldn't walk for a month and it took me about 18 months before I could say that I was almost back to 'normal' although I'd gained weight and lost fitness in that time Emma rode Saffy for me when I couldn't and introduced me to clicker training. It is the only method that I've been truly comfortable with and has transformed Saffy no end.

I took Saffy's shoes off about 6 months after I got her and we haven't looked back. We were lucky in that she'd not been in shoes long so transitioned overnight. She happily stomps over all kinds of ground including slate chippings and stony ground. We use an EPA EP who we are very happy with.

My journey away from the 'traditional' also took me to classical riding, which I'd always thought of only being for those who were really experienced and had Iberians, and to treeless saddles. I ride her in an SBS (Heather Moffett treeless) and recently bought an Iberica (which is, essentially, a Fhoenix Vogue but based on the Portuguese Relvas saddle).



This is me trying not to look like a bag of spuds, the first time back up after my accident



Something that I never thought that I'd see, Saffy giving a lesson to a beginner (my niece, first time ever on a horse).

Hi everyone,

I'm Julie and have been owned by Charlie, a rescue of "your guess is as good as mine" breeding for 10 years now. Charlie is now 15. I am also, most recently half owned by little Leo who also has ownership of Rachel. Leo is also a rescue and we think he is part Andalucian and possibly only 3years old.

You are all far more learned than me it seems, as I have no qualification but seem to have landed myself the best job ever, working for Rachel in Cheshire. Rach owns a stunning yard, which I manage, and we currently have 1 full livery (the only one who has so far managed to stick to the principles and ethics of the yard) We are at www.quarrystables.piczo.com .

I also have a cat called Henry, who would probably wear hoodies and have an ASBO iff he were human. I love him though as only a mother could

I have a keen interest in all things behavioural and have recently started working part time as a support worker for a lady with very challenging behaviour. The parallels between this work and working with horses are huge.

Hi Everyone

I'm Linda I'm 48 and owned by my adorable mares Cindy and Puff. Married with grown up children and live in Essex.

I work as a secretary/pa/management accounts 'bod' for a steel lintel manufacturer, I only do 30hours a week so it leaves me plenty of time to 'play'.

I completed an equine psychology and behaviour course last year and got a distinction overall so was very chuffed !

I'll post some pictures of the girls when I've worked out how !!

Hi everyone, just joined following a link sent re the EBF forum in Harrogate. Nice to see some old friends here as well as lots of new people.

I'm in my early 50's and have 7 horses between my daughter Hannah and self. Mainly rescues; only 2 are currently rideable as my own lovely mare is nursing an injured foot.


With my daughter I am the franchisee for Simple System feeds in the North East of England. I also run James Shaw's "Ride from Within" programme in the UK. We've just posted a video of him teaching a grand prix dressage rider at www.horsehero.com if you want to check out his Tai Chi approach.

I've also been working on CT with Alex Kurland for the last three years and Hannah and I are about to start teaching CT courses this winter...all very exciting.

I was a memebr of the EBF for many years and founded and ran the Natural Horse Group "oop north" for 5 years and hosted many excellent practitioners such as Lucy Rees, Marthe Kiley-Worthington and Pete Ramey, so always interested in seeing the best people around.

Horses have been barefoot for 8 years and travelled to the States a couple of years ago to study barefoot but barely wield a rasp now as I have a great trimmer (Lesley Holehouse).

Looking forward to hearing horsy happenings on this group!