Lead a Horse to Water

Is it pain or is it behaviour? Lou Stobbs of LS Horsemanship joins me to talk about why that question can let horses down. We talk about how she got into this work and lots more.

In this episode, I sit down with Coraline Plumat a presenter from the upcoming Professional Horse Trainers Forum, at Understand Horses.

Coraline Plumat of ⁠Une Leçon d’Ancrage ⁠ is a leading voice in Belgium’s R+ based equine training community and is a certified equine behaviour consultant CEBC with the IAABC.

Find Coraline on:

⁠Facebook⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Une Carotte au Coin du Feu⁠ podcast in French Language

Coraline's presentation will be: Training day gone wrong: how to avoid it, and what to do if it still happened We've all been there...

An audio only episode with me, Trudi, talking about how cooperative can we really be.

If you want to know how to supercharge communication with your horse, this is the place to start.

In Person Cooperative Care Weekend

Professional Horse Trainers Forum

If your ethos aligns with mine and you want to grow your training then join my monthly subscription Positive Horse Club for monthly meeting/webinar feedback on training and a supportive R+ based/clicker training community. Drop me an email [email protected]...

In this episode, I sit down with Naomi Garner a presenter from the upcoming Professional Horse Trainers Forum, at Understand Horses.

Naomi began her career in equine podiatry in 2019, training with Equine Podiatry Training Ltd. Owning nervous horses herself shaped her desire to work with cases others often avoid. Over time, she developed a practical, welfare-led approach to supporting anxious, dangerous, and physically compromised equines. This led her to specialise further in behaviour change and positive reinforcement, continuing her education with Understand Horses. Naomi’s work focuses on ethical, non-forceful solutions that prioritise both horse and human sa...

In this episode, I sit down with Milly Paton and Christa Culbert, two presenters from the upcoming Professional Horse Trainers Forum, to explore what makes training genuinely safe and effective for both horse and human.

Milly, a mental health nurse and positive reinforcement trainer, unpacks psychological safety as the foundation for learning. In her presentation she will discuss how distress and cognitive overload can be present even when a session looks successful on the surface, and how session structure, pacing, and learner agency support nervous system regulation in both horses and humans.

Christa will look...

In this episode I talk to Dr. Nicola Gregory, a psychologist with a lifelong passion for horses whose research has been asking questions about how well we actually read equine pain.

Nicola holds a BSc in Neuroscience from the University ofSussex (2000) and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Exeter (2011). Following her doctorate, she undertook a post‑doctoral position at the University of Portsmouth since then she has been based at Bournemouth University, progressing from post‑doctoral researcher to lecturer and now Principal Academic in Psychology.

Her research focuses on how humans understand others thro...

What happens when two behaviour nerds, a parked car, and a determined group of tourists get in the way? You get this episode.

Recorded in my car after a series of camera mishaps and unexpected background 'ambience,' this carpool podcast with veterinary behaviourist Gabriel Lencioni dives into the art of cooperative care, Horse‑Initiated Training (HIT), and the many ways we can give horses more agency in their own handling and healthcare.

Despite the technical hurdles, the conversation is rich, practical, and full of insight. We explore how small shifts in training can transform ev...

In this episode, I sit down with Coraline Plumat of Une Leçon d’Ancrage to explore the current state of positive reinforcement–based equine training. We discuss the challenges of introducing R+, the importance of sharing knowledge, and how collaboration can help trainers and horses alike reach their full potential. Whether you’re just curious about new approaches or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation offers insight, honesty, and practical perspective from a leading voice in Belgium’s R+ based equine training community.

Find Coraline on:

Facebook

Instagram

Une Carotte a...

In this episode I'm delighted to be joined by sisters Taylor and Christa Culbert.

We talk about offering choice to our horses in their lives and their training.

Christa is a horse trainer who lives in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, two dogs, and two horses. She has a BFA in painting and drawing, and is currently in a Masters program in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. Christa offers in-person and online horse training and behavior consulting to foster joyful relationships and improve equine welfare. She particularly enjoys working with unhandled horses and horses who...

In this episode I talk about habits. We often describe them as automatic and almost separate from conscious training, yet the processes that build them are the same ones that shape all learned behaviour. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are usually taught as if they belong in different boxes. One is presented as passive association. The other is active learning by consequences. In practice they are almost inseparable.In this episode I look at how those two processes weave through the behaviours we repeat every day, and why understanding their overlap matters. When we see how inseparable they are...

My Professional Horse Trainer Certificate Course is now open for 2026 and there is a scholarship place available with applications closing at the end of November.

https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/professional-horse-trainer-certificate

In this episode I’m delighted to be joined by Nicky Ross, an equine behaviourist with over 20 years of experience. Nicky specialises in exploring and nurturing the horse–human relationship and teaches equine behaviour both online and at home in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, where she lives alongside her herd of Shetland ponies.

 Her recent case study, published with CABI, explores how devel...

In conversation with-Irith Bloom certified professional trainer, behavior consultant and TAGteacher.

I hope you enjoy the conversation I had with friend and colleague Irith about training and behaviour including, parallels between horses and dogs and much more. Irith Bloom, author, presenter, trainer, and teacher, owns The Sophisticated Dog, a company that provides both peer-to-peer and trainer-to-pet-family services worldwide, as well as in-person training to select clients in Los Angeles. Along with Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Irith co-founded and is faculty at Carefree Companion, a program that helps people teach greater stress resilience and better emotional regulation to their...

We often think of behaviour produced with positive reinforcement as the only behaviour that can be shaped but of course behaviour produced using negative reinforcement can be shaped too. In this episode, I explore what constructional training is, how CAT protocols use R- to build functional skills, and where R- stops serving the learner and starts serving the trainer. Spoiler: for me it’s all about whose needs the behaviour is meeting.

As humans we might perceive many reinforcers in our world from edible delicacies to buying new clothes but often we feel limited with finding different reinforcers for our horses. This is a hypothetical discussion about using a 'time to relax' or 'giving a break' as a reinforcer.

https://www.equine.training/my-courses/ for my courses.

We consider your questions on:

Hunter training- balance and more

Choice vs Structure in training

Listening to horses

Reinforcers failing

Techniques we stole from dog trainers

X-species training

If you didn't catch the webinar you can do so at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd-rr-4HLVY

Thanks to those who asked some brilliant questions.

In my equine scent work session with Rum this week, I made a mistake that really highlighted the need for an errorless approach. He indicated on the wrong container, the blank without odour (in theory) and my instinct, was to offer no reinforcement, and redirect him to the search. Not really an errorless approach. In an errorless framework, we don’t let the learner practise mistakes. Instead, we set up the training so they always have a clear path to success. In scent work, that means making the right choice easy and reinforcing it well, while using free food to...

In this episode my friend and colleague Katrina Per-Carruthers unpick some training fails and discuss solutions that are horse centred.

Mounting block problems, fence refusal and unwillingness to go forward were in our sights this time. If you have topics you'd like us to cover then do drop me a message.

Katrina Per-Carruthers lives in British Columbia, Canada where she trains a variety of species. Katrina has been a coach for over 15 years and is a passionate advocate for the use of humane training methods to improve animal welfare.

Find...

I don't always recommend clicker training as a first option when I start working with a new client. Why? Well take a listen as I talk through a specific example and explain ways that I might add some R+ based training without the pressure of the trainer carrying food and having to be great at timing and mechanics.

How do I square this with working inside a LIMA framework?

As always questions and comments are welcome!

Email me at [email protected]

<...

The topic of male horses 'dropping' when training with food (clicker training) has reared its head again- I'm glad because it is a topic we need to consider.

In this short episode I will explain (again) why I don't think we should brush this topic under the carpet!

Warning- I talk about penises in this episode.

If you want help with your horse dropping or over threshold when training with food- get in touch, [email protected] or www.equine.training

In this episode Dr. Katerina Junghansova (Kate) and I chat about cooperative care for horses. Kate is an equine veterinarian, lifelong equestrian, animal lover, and the founder of an educational project called VetCareTraining. Her mission is to promote safe, and ethical horse handling and training. She is really passionate about equine cooperative care, and she thinks it´s the future of equine health care. In her project, she offers online courses and individual online consultations. She also teaches clinics and seminars focused on helping horse owners, as well as equine professionals, handle horses in an easier, safer, more effective, an...

In this final short episode on target training I delve a little deeper into how and when I use targets in my training.

Questions? Comments? Drop me a message or email [email protected]

The third (hop back and listen to the first two if you haven't yet) in the clicker training targets mini series.

In this one I discuss when I use targets in my training from cognitive enrichment to training movement.

If you want to learn how to train in this way then join me on my accredited professional trainer course in 2025 ⁠https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate⁠

Drop me any questions [email protected]

The second (hop back and listen to the first if you haven't yet) in the clicker training targets mini series.

In this one I discuss planning and setting up the behaviour- essential for all training.

If you want to learn how to train in this way then join me on my accredited professional trainer course in 2025 https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate

Drop me any questions [email protected]

My Understand Horses Trainer's course https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate

My IAABC Foundation course https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/equine-discomfort-ethogram/

My IAABC Foundation Journal article on targets

https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/target-training-for-horses-hit-or-miss/

In this episode I talk to Chess about her journey with Gambit her young Exmoor pony. I met them when she needed help with his behaviour and the two have been a real joy to work with.

My new accredited trainer course is now live at Understand Horses

https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate

Check out my IAABC Foundation course here https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/equine-cooperative-care/

In this episode Jessie Sams and I finally got around to talking to her about her life and work with horses and other topics like a biopsychosocial model, the 3 C's of communication, choice and consent (with Emily Kieson) , compassion for human horse carers and lots more. Jessie Sams is an animal behaviour consultant with a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science from the University of Greenwich. She’s currently a Provisional member with the APBC and is working towards her certification as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist. Jessie has a wealth of experience with horses, having worked with showjumpers and ra...

Are science based or evidence based titles a good idea? How do we feel about science, especially in light of the recent dog study. Does science absolutely support R+ based/clicker training? How science has made me cross and how I'm learning to cut more slack! Heads up my Horse Trainer Foundation Certificate Course (accredited by Rural Skills) will be coming online in 2025, details will be released by Understand Horses very soon!

It will come as no big surprise that intentionally combining positive and negative reinforcement isn't something I'm huge on. I was surprised to hear experts/academics lack of understanding regarding things like shaping and backchaining and reducing reinforcement without frustration.

It's a bit ranty :)

As a young horse trainer I was very aware of creating situations where the horse could 'guess' the behaviour- we called it anticipation. Back in those days I didn't know about using reward based training but anticipation was a great way to create a willing and enthusiastic horse. Sadly some of the old ways haven't been passed on- in some cases that's a good thing, in others I think it means we lose a little of the common horse sense.

Join me in considering how we can motivate horses and be better trainers.

Videos showing behaviour professionals sitting out bucks and rears gain thousands of likes, why? Above all other areas of equestrianism shouldn't behaviour be seen for what it really is and not used as a social media magnet? Or maybe I'm old and jaundiced!

We owe every animal in our care the ability to know how to interact with our world and us. That requires some basic training. I rarely see the basics done well or even at all.

My courses at www.understandhorses.com and www.iaabcfoundation.org

I've had a tiring few weeks and my poor brain and body hurt. How might it feel for our horses when they are tired and we ask them to perform behaviours when training?

Taking note of changes in behaviour might help us spot problems early.

This is part 1 of my summer shorts 2024, if you have questions you'd like answering in another short episode message me!

This time on the podcast I'm joined by friend and colleague Dr Robin Foster. For a very long time I've wanted to dip into Panksepp's work on emotions, which in some small way has been adopted by the clicker training world, and finally I got to chat with Robin. We STILL didn't get to valence...I think another chat is needed soon. I hope you enjoy Robin's this thought provoking chat. Robin Foster has a PhD in Animal Behavior and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), Certified Equine Behavior Consultant (CEBC) and Certified Fear Free Professional. After 20 years as...

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...

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. ...

In this episode I chat to Polly Smeath about rope halters and controlling horses when leading. Polly has an extensive background in the world of horses, a passion that has woven throughout her life since childhood. Born into a family with a history of racehorses, Polly's earliest memories include a vivid encounter with a tall, dark brown horse at the age of two. Her journey as a "pony mad youngster" began at the age of nine, marked by a memorable fall from a skewbald pony named Star Trek, who had been rescued with severe laminitis.   Undeterred by challenges, Polly persevered t...

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 Senior Lecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). He received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience...