Lucy Butt - Equine Behaviourist

13/01/2025

JANUARY UPDATE

Good Evening everyone!

I am back in the swing of things after my Christmas break and have already been very busy.

Thank you all for your support in 2024 and I look forward to seeing many of you in 2025!

I have some remaining availability for January and February so pop me a message to get booked in. I also have lots going on behind the scenes so will have some admin bits to catch up on. I also have a few people I am needing to send dates for lessons to so I will do that over the next few days.

A little reminder of what I do:

✅ Qualified and insured Equine Behaviour Consultant
✅ Specialising in young horses
✅ Problem Behaviours - aggression, loading, ridden behavioural issues, fear based issues etc.
✅ Young horse training/starting
✅ Positive reinforcement lessons
✅ Virtual lessons
✅ Spook busting/desensitisation clinics
✅ Educational content and talks!

Pop me a message and we can chat about how we can work together to help your horse!

Lucy x

📷 By Jessica Grange Photography

05/01/2025

Really sad to read the news that Karen Pryor has passed away. She has made such a massive difference on animal training throughout her life and I am sure her knowledge will continue to be taught for generations to come. Rest In Peace Karen ❤️

A sad day, my thoughts are with the family and friends of the incredible Karen Pryor who left our world today. This was one of the first dog training books I picked up over 20 years ago now. It was the first to make sense to me and set me on the best path. Having the opportunity to hear her speak in person was wonderful and her legacy will live on through so many incredible trainers through her Karen Pryor Academy
Thank you Karen, a true pioneer for dogs

24/12/2024

OUT OF OFFICE

I am now out of office until the 2nd January. I will be available for emergencies (veterinary treatment, severe aggression, rescues etc) there will be an additional fee for this so please message me with an indication of what is going on and time frame you need me out by!

To all of my wonderful clients new and old this year THANK YOU! It has always been a dream of mine to help horses and owners understand each other better and I am so incredibly privileged to call this my job.

For those doing the December challenge we have one more challenge for December which you will receive on Monday and I will still be available for feedback!

We have lots planned for 2025 and I can't wait to share it with you all.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all🎅🏼🎄

13/12/2024

CHRISTMAS GIFT VOUCHERS

Looking for the perfect gift voucher for your horse-loving friend or family member?

Here at Lucy Butt Equine Behaviourist we know it can be tricky to buy for those who 'don't need anything!' so why not buy them some lessons?!

We have gift vouchers available for a variety of price points and they never expire!

Click this link to get yours today... https://www.lucybuttequinebehaviourist.com/shop

Terms and conditions apply.

Lucy x

06/12/2024

FUN FACT FRIDAY

YOUNG HORSES & WINTER

We know how tough winter can be but when you have a young horse these challenges can be even more difficult.

Do you ride still?
Do you need to keep up with groundwork?
Give them the winter off?
Give them a few weeks off?
Keep them in full work?
Practice other things with them like co-operative care?

So many questions and lots of opinions makes it really difficult to know what to do.

I personally think winter is a great time to give young horses a bit of a break. And this doesn't mean you can't keep doing groundwork and your usually handling but the intensity doesn't need to be there. As long as you techniques are consistent so your horse can understand.

Saying that..there are situations I would keep engaging their brain. If you horse is not able to be in the field for long periods of time it is vital that you help them to get out whenever possible. Going for enrichment walks and doing some basic handling out of the saddle is great to give them that much needed break.

We need to be aware of horses growth and know that their bodies are not fully mature until at least 5/6/7. So we must be mindful of this and giving them the winter off can do wonders for their growth and allowing them to 'be a horse!'

Most importantly, you know your horse so do what's best for them!

Good luck this winter!

📸 of the lovely Emily and 4 year old Sky having a wander around the village 🥰

01/12/2024

Starting tomorrow! Sign up now!

DECEMBER CHALLENGE - R+

So I have had something in the works for a little while that I am excited to bring to you all.

Winter is a bleak time for most horse owners and we struggle with short days, cold, rain etc. So I figured I would do an easy to follow challenge to help motivate you in December.

This is perfect for beginners and experienced R+ (positive reinforcement) trainers and can be done with the facilities and equipment you have already.

Throughout December I will send you a new challenge each Monday for you to practice throughout the week. There will be a private page set up for you to post videos and questions in which I can answer, this will also provide a supportive virtual environment.

This challenge is suitable for horses and owners of any age and only requires a few minutes of training throughout the week, so don't stress if you can't do any training mid-week! There are also plenty of challenges that can be completed in a stable/yard setting.

All plans including videos of each task will be sent straight to your email every Monday. This means you can access it anytime, forever! I have included both written instructions and video instructions to help suit different learning styles :)

How it works:

1. Head to this link https://www.lucybuttequinebehaviourist.com/product-page/december-challenge

2. Purchase the December challenge for £15

3. I will send you information on how to join the facebook group

4. Wait until Monday 2nd December when you will receive your first challenge

5. Complete the challenge and post videos and questions on the facebook group as often as you like!

6. Complete the challenges at your own pace throughout December

7. Have fun!

Any questions about how this works pop me a message :)

I hope you all find this useful and look forward to sharing it with everyone!

01/12/2024

YOUNG HORSE CLINIC 30/11

Another wonderful young horse clinic with an excellent group of horses and owners.

Most of the horses were slightly concerned coming into the arena but all settled very quickly and completed the obstacles they felt confident to. Some excellent horsemanship and no pushing horses beyond their comfort zone which is always what we aim for!

I will be releasing some more dates for the new year so keep your eyes peeled!

❤️

28/11/2024

Super excited for this!

We are please to be welcoming Lucy Butt - Equine Behaviourist back to Water Farm this weekend.
These clinics are fantastically informative, and there are still a couple of spaces available. Please get in touch with Lucy if you would like to come along.

28/11/2024

HOW TO DO BOX REST/STABLING

This time of year we are often restricted on our horses turnout time. I tend to get LOTS of messages this time of year with horses behaviour suddenly flipping. Now this can have so many factors (including pain!) but one of the big ones is decreased turnout and in some cases no turnout.

I want to start by saying if you yard cannot offer some kind of turnout (days of torrential rain is an exception) throughout the winter...MOVE YARDS! We don't have lots of land available in the UK as a whole but especially in the South, this makes it really difficult to have appropriate sized paddocks for horses. But I promise you there are yards that will be better! You may have to sacrifice some of the human luxuries, but your horse will be happier.

Inevitably there will be times where your horse has to stay in. I currently have a horse on box rest as he knocked himself and has a slight swelling and lameness, luckily he is nearly ready to go back out in the field. We have done lots to keep him as happy mentally as possible whilst he has been in. Some things we have included:

🚶Allowed him to walk around the yard (as advised by our vet)
🐴 Always ensure he has a friend in with him - we have swapped this friend so that the rest of the herd don't suffer!
🌿 LOTS of forage - in many different forms (loose, slow feeders etc)
🥕 Enrichment - treat balls, lick mats, foraging boxes, hay blocks etc.

We always want to ensure he is as happy as we can make him whilst he is in. We have also been taking him on walks (with our vets permission) to help him get out and about and prevent too much running around when he first goes back out.

One of the most vital parts of box rest is to ensure they have constant forage - slow feeder haynets are excellent for this but we also give them some loose hay so they have different eating positions.

Let us know in the comments your best tips for keeping your horse happy when stabled 👇🏼

25/11/2024

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER AVALIABILITY

I have some remaining dates for sessions throughout November and December. These sessions can be completely tailored to you and your horse.

I am a qualified equine behaviour consultant, specialising in young horses. I use positive reinforcement methods to help shape desirable behaviours in our horses. Whether you are new to positive reinforcement training or a seasoned professional, I can help get the best out of you and your horse!

I can help with:
✅ Problem Solving (loading, mounting, veterinary treatments etc.)
✅ Young horse handling
✅ Young horse starting
✅ Introduction to R+
✅ Liberty training

And much more!

Wednesday 27th - AM Stock/Chelmsford
Thursday 18th - AM Colchester
Friday 29th - some AM and PM slots Stock/Chelmsford/Braintree

Monday 2nd - PM anywhere in Essex
Wednesday 4th - AM Colchester/Tiptree
Thursday 5th - PM Colchester

Wednesday 11th - anytime
Thursday 12th - AM anywhere in Essex
Friday 13th - AM Witham/Chelmsford
Sunday 15th - PM Maldon/Tiptree

I have some dates further into December too if you can't do any of the above!

Message me to get booked in!

📷 by the amazing Jessica Grange Photography

25/11/2024

1 WEEK TO GO!

We have lots of you signed up already. The content is nearly ready to go🤩

It's not late to sign up!!

DECEMBER CHALLENGE - R+

So I have had something in the works for a little while that I am excited to bring to you all.

Winter is a bleak time for most horse owners and we struggle with short days, cold, rain etc. So I figured I would do an easy to follow challenge to help motivate you in December.

This is perfect for beginners and experienced R+ (positive reinforcement) trainers and can be done with the facilities and equipment you have already.

Throughout December I will send you a new challenge each Monday for you to practice throughout the week. There will be a private page set up for you to post videos and questions in which I can answer, this will also provide a supportive virtual environment.

This challenge is suitable for horses and owners of any age and only requires a few minutes of training throughout the week, so don't stress if you can't do any training mid-week! There are also plenty of challenges that can be completed in a stable/yard setting.

All plans including videos of each task will be sent straight to your email every Monday. This means you can access it anytime, forever! I have included both written instructions and video instructions to help suit different learning styles :)

How it works:

1. Head to this link https://www.lucybuttequinebehaviourist.com/product-page/december-challenge

2. Purchase the December challenge for £15

3. I will send you information on how to join the facebook group

4. Wait until Monday 2nd December when you will receive your first challenge

5. Complete the challenge and post videos and questions on the facebook group as often as you like!

6. Complete the challenges at your own pace throughout December

7. Have fun!

Any questions about how this works pop me a message :)

I hope you all find this useful and look forward to sharing it with everyone!

25/11/2024

YOUNG HORSE CLINIC
THIS WEEKEND!

I have a young horse obstacle clinic on Saturday 30th November 12:15-1:45pm.
We only have a few spaces left so message me to secure your place.

Water Farm EC is based in Raydon, Suffolk and have recently had a refurb of their indoor arena with a brand new surface. We will be inside so no need to worry about the weather!

These clinics are popular and we always hear excellent feedback from attendees, with many coming back again and again! It is perfect for all horses and owners to help their horses feel relaxed and happy in a new place.

Our sessions are run in groups of up to 5, we find this helps horses settle as we know they feel safer in herd environments. It is a no pressure environment so there is no expectation to do all or any of the obstacles. We would much rather it be a positive experience for your horse. We use desensitisation and absolutely NO FLOODING.

Pop me a message to find out more and secure your place :)

19/11/2024

YOUNG HORSE CLINIC 13/11

Another wonderful young horse clinic last week. We had some wonderful horses and owners, was lovely to see some familiar faces too :)

It's always wonderful to see the change in horses confidence from the beginning to the end of the session.

It is always important to not pressure our horses into doing the obstacles and allowing them to explore the obstacles at their own pace. For some horses the environment is enough by itself!

Well done everyone 🥰

The next young horse clinic is Saturday 30th November at Water Farm EC (Suffolk) we have some spaces for this left so pop me a message !

18/11/2024

DECEMBER CHALLENGE - R+

So I have had something in the works for a little while that I am excited to bring to you all.

Winter is a bleak time for most horse owners and we struggle with short days, cold, rain etc. So I figured I would do an easy to follow challenge to help motivate you in December.

This is perfect for beginners and experienced R+ (positive reinforcement) trainers and can be done with the facilities and equipment you have already.

Throughout December I will send you a new challenge each Monday for you to practice throughout the week. There will be a private page set up for you to post videos and questions in which I can answer, this will also provide a supportive virtual environment.

This challenge is suitable for horses and owners of any age and only requires a few minutes of training throughout the week, so don't stress if you can't do any training mid-week! There are also plenty of challenges that can be completed in a stable/yard setting.

All plans including videos of each task will be sent straight to your email every Monday. This means you can access it anytime, forever! I have included both written instructions and video instructions to help suit different learning styles :)

How it works:

1. Head to this link https://www.lucybuttequinebehaviourist.com/product-page/december-challenge

2. Purchase the December challenge for £15

3. I will send you information on how to join the facebook group

4. Wait until Monday 2nd December when you will receive your first challenge

5. Complete the challenge and post videos and questions on the facebook group as often as you like!

6. Complete the challenges at your own pace throughout December

7. Have fun!

Any questions about how this works pop me a message :)

I hope you all find this useful and look forward to sharing it with everyone!

13/11/2024

Happening tonight! Spectators welcome but please make sure you stay in the gallery! I will be available for a chat afterwards if you have any questions :)

YOUNG HORSE CLINIC

Beechwood EC 13th November 6:45-8:15pm

This will likely be our last young horse clinic of the year at Beechwood as the diary is already pretty full for December! So now is the best time to get booked in.

We have a variety of different obstacles set up and a qualified equine behaviour consultant on hand to help you and your horse stay nice and relaxed throughout the session. We won't push them past their comfort zones and the sessions are never about completing the obstacles!

We always receive excellent feedback and often have people returning to our next clinic!

Message me today to secure your place!

12/11/2024

MOUNTING AND RIDING - FOOD ANXIOUS HORSE

Gemma and Elsa are doing AMAZING!

I have the pleasure of going to help Gemma and her adorable Redwings pony Elsa. When Elsa first arrived she had some anxiety around food . Gemma has done lots of positive reinforcement previously and has been doing an amazing job with her. We found a combination of constant access to forage, water, being near her friends and chaff mixed with some grass nuts was the ultimate combination for Elsa.

Gemma has done an excellent job of helping Elsa understand cues from the ground and they have been on lots of walks exploring their local area. Elsa has had some previous riding experience but we aren't sure how long ago/what she got up to etc. so we started from scratch.

Gemma has sat on Elsa a few times and she has been super. We set up an amazing pole exercise that I picked up from Trudi Dempsey: Equine Trainer and Behaviour Consultant to teach Elsa to come between two poles, touch a cone and be in the perfect position for Gemma to get on. Once she was good at this we introduced Gemma on the block and gradually putting some weight on her back and then getting on.

The first combination of videos was about 2 weeks before the actual riding ones!

Once Elsa mastered this, we set up a combination of cones. This gives Elsa a clear indication of where to go next. We will now introduce the walk-on vocal cue ridden so we can gradually remove the cones.

Amazing job Gemma and Elsa! Can't wait to see you out and about having fun 🥰

Thank for allowing me to share!

07/11/2024

Yes...There are no bad horses, they all just communicate through each single behaviour they may express and it's our own responsibility to understand the reason and work about it...

Picture source unknown