Susan Gammage Equine Behaviourist

22/04/2024

Calm ponies on the forest

18/03/2024

18/03/2024

Amazing to see this horses in their natural environment.

08/12/2023

14/11/2023

How great to be part of an international organisation.

A WHOLE NEW LOOK, FOR A WHOLE NEW ORGANISATION!​

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We are thrilled to announce another significant milestone in the 30-year COAPE journey. ​

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COAPE’s graduate membership organisation - the CAPBT (COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers) - has officially been rebranded as the CABTi (COAPE Association of Behaviourists and Trainers International). ​

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This transformation represents the CABTi's commitment to fostering and supporting our global community of COAPE Qualified professionals dedicated to the ethical and science-based practice of animal behaviour. Over the next few months, we will be doing a social campaign to update you about all the new and exciting changes that come with this rebranding, but for now, rest assured that if you are looking for a qualified, emotions-first educated behaviourist, the CABTi is the place to go! Visit the new page on our website (https://coape.org/cabti-home-page/) to read more about why choosing a CABTi member is the right choice when looking for help with your companion animal.

18/04/2022

Beautiful picture

SENSITIVE

Hair around the mouth of a zebra
Ross Couper Wildlife Photography

05/03/2022

In its efforts to invade Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s troops took control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in late February. Troops seized the exclusion zone around it, which is now a wildlife refuge where wolves, elk, and other animals live mostly undisturbed. In the surrounding woods are bands of the...

14/01/2022

Are your horses needs being met.

Domestication is relatively new to horses, which is why two Italian researchers are urging competitive riders to allow their horses to engage in natural behaviors.

09/01/2022

Is your horse getting enough good quality sleep, how would know.

All horses need deep sleep overnight that requires lying down completely. Stall size, bedding, and stress can cause horses to get insufficient rest.

06/11/2021

Consider providing some dietary enrichment by making small and gradual changes to your horse's forage. You could add a different type of hay/haylage or a different sort of chaff. Try splitting your feed between two buckets and varying the ratios of the different chaffs or other foodstuffs - then your horse can pick and choose. Does he prefer it mixed together or separate? Let him explore different tastes, smells and textures. Include different sorts of root vegetable.

Obviously this one won't suit all horses and you may need to consult your vet/farrier/nutritionist first but there are now some great unmolassed, unprocessed chaffs on the market so should be something for everyone. Also remember that this sort of forage-based "haynet in a bucket" can safely be a much larger "feed" than a grain-based feed and also makes a great option for the older horses who might struggle to eat hay.

19/10/2021

More target training today.

16/10/2021

We are making lots of progress at The Retreat Rescue.

08/10/2021

We are making slow but steady progress with an unhandled horse at The Retreat Rescue.

20/08/2021

A visit to the Retreat Rescue centre to help with a horse that cannot be touched who needs some vet treatment.
We have started by using observational learning and interacting with the horses companion who does like human contact.

08/08/2021

Lets hope they will listen to the public outrage about the treatment of the horses.https://www.uipmworld.org/news/uipm-official-statement-horse-welfare-and-athlete-safety-modern-pentathlon?fbclid=IwAR01l3MybEJ1_d-M42-mRW10vXBU4258KeucE5t0uDMbyxa04PWftVuYoLs

The events of August 6, 2021 in the Tokyo Stadium have caused distress both inside and outside the global UIPM Sports community. Riding is an integral part of the Modern Pentathlon, as envisaged by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who aimed to create the ultimate test of moral and physical qualities. The....

29/07/2021

Just an amazing place to watch ponies.

The perfect day trip for any horse lover looking for an active day out of the City. English Forest Where Horses Roam Free Hampshire Horses - Hampshire - The English Forest Where Horses Roam Free

21/07/2021

It is very sad to hear that these beautiful horses are not cared for once they are no longer profitable.

Kim Bailey insists it is the responsibility of his fellow trainers, and owners, to ensure ex-racehorses are properly cared for throughout their lives.

07/07/2021

Equine hoof

07/07/2021

Some mares are affected by being in season more than others, but there are things you can do to help keep her on your side

06/07/2021

This is how much room you should give a horse rider when you overtake, say police

30/06/2021

Whiskers are important

FEI ban trimming the whiskers of competition horses

From July this year, horses who have had their sensory hairs removed (unless for veterinary reasons) will be disqualified from FEI competitions, with other governing bodies following suit.

Why are whiskers important?
A horse’s whiskers (also known as vibrissae) are sensory hairs that provide valuable information to the horse. They have their own nerve and blood supply. The long and thick hairs are tactical receptors, which act as a ‘third eye’, and help them gain a sense of their surroundings. The whiskers enable the horse to sense the environment in their blind spot and identify objects. Therefore, whiskers ought to be left as nature intended!