Northumberland College welcomed leading equine experts to its Kirkley Hall Campus in a series of Equine professional development opportunities.
Following the success of the ‘Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare’ launch event last year, led by journalist and PhD candidate Cristina Wilkins, the equine team have continued with their promise to bring sector leaders to the region to provide the latest research and evidence-based practice for students, staff and the local equestrian community.
Naomi said: “Northumberland College has been leading a growing community of equestrians in a more ethical and sustainable form of equestrianism, and we always look forward learning from individuals who are committed to improving equine welfare.
“By identifying ways in which we can make a positive difference to the lives of all horses we work with, we are helping to safeguard the future of the equestrian sport and horse industry.”
Dr Dorothy Heffernan, an equine behaviourist and World Bitless Association endorsed trainer, visited the campus in November last year and February this year to deliver practical workshops to help rider’s transition to bit-free riding.
Equiculture’s Stuart Myers introduced the Equicentral system of land management in February, discussing practical ways to improve grazing sustainability and has been kind enough to return to the College in May to advise the team with regards to our land management.
Renowned equine ethologist, Lucy Rees, Horses in Company, will be leading a two-day workshop at Kirkley Hall on 24th and 25th June and tickets for this event have already sold out. Lucy has been revolutionising our understanding of horses since the 1980s. Studying wild horses provides a basis for understanding why domestic horses behave as they do.
Lucy said: “We have a lot to learn, not just about them but from them. Inside every domestic horse is a feral one with the same certainty about how life should be lived.” This is a rare opportunity to learn from a zoologist/ethologist and horse trainer who has dedicated her life to the study of wild horses and horse behaviour.
Northumberland College’s equine workshops have been attended by multiple equine professionals so far, which have allowed them to begin conversations with their clients when welfare issues arise and have included research and practical sessions, focusing on discussions, and talking points as well as demonstrations from professionals.
Later in the summer we have Dr Dorothy Heffernan returning for the workshop “Safe start with positive reinforcement training” and autumn dates are being scheduled with equine podiatrist and advocate of ethological study, Bonny Mealand and Dr Emily Kieson, equine behavioural psychology and welfare research, for a CPD workshop ‘From Theory to Practice: Applying an Equine Perspective.
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