Pennie Clayton-Horse and Hound School

06/11/2024

It's that time of year where you may need a bit of motivation, help and support with your horse.

If you would like some guidance in your training programme or would like to improve your confidence do give me a call or send a message

Sometimes all you need is a little support and guidance! I am happy to teach individual sessions or I am happy to teach groups

WhatsApp 07910 720961

Or follow the link
https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/horses

05/11/2024

It's November 5th-and Firework season is well and truly upon us

Please, please, please do not listen to the very old and outdated "advice" to ignore your dog if they become anxious when fireworks are let off

I am fed up of this old and completely incorrect "advice". Only first thing this morning when I was listening to the radio people were calling in and mansplaining that people shouldn't mollycoddle their dogs because it is this that makes them anxious during firework season
THIS IS INCORRECT!!!!!

Dogs have similar brains to ours and when they are extremely anxious this results in identical emotions to those that we would experience

If your dog is worried offer whatever they need.

You wouldn't ignore a human best friend if they would upset and neither should you ignore your dog

There are many so called canine professionals that are still telling people to ignore their dogs if they are fearful of fireworks and the loud crashes and bangs which accompany them, they are out of step and horrendously behind the times

Do cuddle and talk to your dog if they need reassurance -DO NOT ignore them

30/10/2024

Please look after your dogs and keep them safe over the next few weeks

This time of year can be really overwhelming for dogs.

There are lots of Halloween decorations around, and they are not put up thoughtfully as they are there to create a reaction-that's ok for us but not for our dogs.

Then there is Diwali and part of the festival includes fireworks AND then there is Firework season where people regularly just let fireworks off at random times of the day and night

Please keep exercise quiet and don't expect anything from your dog if they find this time of year overwhelming.

They will return to their normal selves in a few weeks just in time for Christmas and all the distractions that accompany it

But please, please do be mindful that pain is often at the root of a dogs terror of fireworks.

And-if nothing else..........LET YOUR DOG SNIFF.

Blogs on how to help your dog through firework season below

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/post/the-firework-chronicles-part-1

28/10/2024

There are several spaces available on the next course

You will get

Individual attention in a small group

I have been training puppies for 15 years and am a fully insured and qualified trainer

Notes sent ahead of each class -which you can refer to throughout your dogs life

Classes are all force free-it is important that your puppy gets the best possible start to their life

For more information call or WhatsApp 07910 720961

27/10/2024

It's behind you Sprite!!

22/10/2024

What should socialisation look like for a puppy?

It should look like this. Forget that building social skills is all about puppies dashing about and jumping all over other dogs and people

In fact if puppies are overwhelmed they WILL jump all over other dogs and at people and children.
I am not knocking play but if we really want to build social skills puppies need kind mentors -and remember that the "puppy licence" expires at around 16 weeks. This means that adult dogs start to take umbrage if a puppy jumps all over them, and this is not healthy or helpful for puppies and certainly not positive for older dogs particularly if they have pain issues

These kinds of short walks help puppies to develop physically and mentally plus because they are calm there is no risk of injury

We need to take care of puppies and teach them, not encourage them to points where they are overwhelmed and overstimulated

Short puppy walks are held regularly and classes are held on Saturday mornings

22/10/2024

Why is recall so important?

Because it keeps our dogs safe PLUS as you can see from the puppy in the video, they can become distracted but if we teach them carefully they learn that we are fun to be with

There will be a new course of puppy classes starting on November 9th
If you have a puppy and want to have fun, and teach your puppy and learn solid skills which are positive and kind then give me a call 07910 720961

21/10/2024

I have been teaching for many years but I feel that there has been a huge switch lately in how people relate to their horses and how they train

My most important goal is to change peoples perceptions about how they train their horses and employ only positive methods that benefit the horse and take into account how the horse learns.

Perceptions need to change and shift to using more empathetic methods and put the horse first

19/10/2024

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/post/the-firework-chronicles-part-3

Last night, this morning. The aftermath of the fireworksWe are still a little while off this scenario, but I have to say on Sunday evening some muppet let some really loud fireworks off opposite my houseThe episode lasted around one minute-was very loud and very pointless but one of my dogs was imme...

16/10/2024

This business page reflects my approach to my work and how I go about my daily life

I make no apologies for this as not only are we all learning but I feel very strongly that there are a multitude of things that stink within both the "horse and dog industry".
I even hate calling them industries because this means there is a slant towards making a lot of money.

I am constantly perplexed at people motives for working with horses or dogs-I understand we all have to make a living but sometimes I wonder if many people in this line of work actually like horses or dogs.

Today as I have time I have a few thoughts about how people are taught to ride and their attitude towards the horses they sit on

Facebook business pages prevent me from using bold type or underlining things when I am using a lap top-so things often get misread-so read this carefully if you are of a mind to wade through it

Putting the coach before the horse.

We are taught that horses should move off the leg “smartly” otherwise they are not listening.

If their reaction is not prompt then aids should escalate, and perhaps a smack with a whip so the horse jumps forward-this is what we are told success looks like-and it is part of training
This is what the majority of riders are told when they learn to ride, and what they start to believe.

Even if a rider is hesitant to take action if these commands are issued enough times it is likely that this is the action that is taken if a horse won't move forward-not only tis this incorrect but other tools are not taught so the result is few riders have alternative tools to use if a horse is reluctant to move as fast as required

This is not only the tools but also the empathy and the mindset to understand the horse properly

Most coaches and trainers are judged by their competition successes -this is- we are told- a real positive as to how beneficial they are to horse and rider

This is not only incorrect but what dismays me the most is that these trainers that are insistent of this kind of drivel have never taken their education further.

We have other things to consider rather than how promptly a horse moves off when we plop our legs onto their sides
When I was taught to teach, thus was pretty standard stuff-I had to search hard to find mentors to teach me to observe and think and feel what the horse was trying to tell me.

I became more skilled at producing results but even then I rarely put the horse first-results were always more important

As I learnt more, watched clients ride and asked them to think more about how the horse was moving and to consider that the "outline of the horse" should not be proof of training (either bad or good) I started to have problems with what was going on around me

It is not easy stepping back and considering what the horse thinks/ feels and is experiencing when we climb onto their backs and it certainly wasn't part of what I was initially taught myself -unless of course the horse was hunched up ready to buck, or constantly spooked or planted their feet and refused to go forward but then the reaction to these things was always a defensive one rather than a notification from the horse that all was not well. That horrible one liner "ride the horse through it",(whatever "it" is) never was or is appropriate

How did we get to be so ignorant to what the horse is experiencing? Why are so many riders told that rosettes and results more important than the horse?

I feel I am qualified to talk about this-because-well-I am qualified, not that this is something I am particularly proud of at this point of time

Success should never look like this. This lies at the feet of trainers -trainers in all disciplines and at all levels.

There is so much to discuss here but for now the most important thing in the scenario is the horse.

We literally have to stop putting the coach before the horse

If you actually feel you want to switch tracks and would like to understand how to work WITH your horse follow the link

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/horses

11/10/2024

Why? Why? Why?
Dogs and horses are amazing-that is the first and most important fact we need to understand
There are no magic wands, no quick fixes, no easy solutions to things we think of as problems.
If you would like to understand more about your dog, your horse or need help you need only ask WhattsApp 07910 720961
https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/hounds
https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/horses

11/10/2024

Why? Why? Why?

Dogs and horses are amazing-that is the first and most important fact we need to understand

There are no magic wands, no quick fixes, no easy solutions to things we think of as problems.

If you would like to understand more about your dog, your horse or need help you need only ask WhattsApp 07910 720961

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/hounds

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/horses

10/10/2024

If you have a dog that is terrified of fireworks it can be really distressing for everyone

Many dogs become so worried and stressed that they look as if they will collapse
This is familiar to many people who year after year worry about the effect that fireworks have on their dogs.

I will be doing a few posts over the next week -because now is the time to prepare and plan.

08/10/2024

It will soon be "Howl o Ween"!

During October there is a "spook-tacular" event at Crabtree Canine Enrichment. Appointments are available at the VERY special price of £15.00 instead of £26.00 plus there will be gifts to the dogs that attend and special things to find

These appointments are available on October 20th, 27th and 3rd November and can help support your dog as we start to come into the most difficult season for many dogs.

Autumn is full of scary stuff which doesn't include Halloween-fireworks can turn a dogs world inside out and upside down

The enrichment area is perfect for reactive dogs and provides a safe space for dogs to explore-more information on the link

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/crabtreeenrichmentcentre

If you would like to claim one of the special sessions and give your dog a treat, during Halloween
WhatsApp 07910 720961 or message

07/10/2024

New week-new post

Last week I started doing a few posts about the services I offer

One of the things I am passionate about is horses. Horses of all shapes and sizes and horses are often misunderstood and there is a long tradition
These traditions are not often of benefit to the horses themselves

Many people are not taught to understand and question why horses appear unco- operative or "unreasonable" in many situations

While there is more awareness of equine needs and behaviour -many people will still blame the horse when things go wrong

Instead of tackling a problem logically with the horses best interest at the heart, many people will reach for quick fixes and try to rush into finding solutions

If problems are tackled like this-they are never really resolved and this can create further problems and erode the horses trust in the handler/ rider/ or whoever handles and rides the horse.

As far as I am concerned the first thing we need to be is kind

Horses don't do things to upset us for no reason at all-they will do their best to explain to us that they are anxious, worried, in pain or confused

It can be like a puzzle sometimes but often we have the pieces to solve the problems. This is one of my roles.

If you would like to understand your horse better, improve how he moves, or help your horse to be more balanced or just want to build your confidence give me a call -or click on the link or
WhatsApp 07910 720961

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/horses

03/10/2024

Sometimes I like to explain some of the services I offer.

Many of you will know that I have rescue dogs-and to be more exact I have ex racing greyhounds and a lurcher.
I have had rescue dogs for many years and understand what sort of problems they have when they first enter their new homes and why they exhibit all kinds of behaviours if they feel unsure or unsafe

Safety is one of the most important and valuable things we can offer any rescue dog
This includes understanding them when things don't go to plan

Dogs don't do things we dislike for the sake of it-things like toileting in the house, freezing on walks, taking food from worktops, pulling on the lead and being disagreeable at times can all be because they are struggling to acclimatise to their new lives

If you would like help understanding your dog and need a plan to help a dog to settle and help them relax, and to take the next steps towards truly integrating them into your life please do contact me
Below is a picture of one of my greyhounds on her first day at home-she was worried, and didn't understand life at home

WhattsApp 07910 720961

https://www.horseandhoundschool.co.uk/rescuedogs

26/09/2024

Believe in your horse.

Sometimes we have grand plans when we are schooling but I was always told
"The horse is your calendar"

This means that we must be aware if we are asking too much during training sessions-and equally it is possible that the horse may be ready to do a little more-especially if we have listened to the horse while we training

It is not for them to listen to us-it is for US to listen to them.

What is difficult? What is easy? Is there something basic they haven't understood-or have WE assumed that the horse is happy with what we are asking the horse to do?

The more we listen- the better -believe in the "back and forth" conversation that exists when the horse is placed first and our opinions are placed down the list

Stop when your horse is tired-DON'T believe the "ride the horse through it" scenario-it has no positives for the horse.