Beth Behaviourist

24/01/2024

Great support offered by the ABTC for people who use sign language, making consultations more accessible! I know sign supported English, but not full BSL, and have worked with lots of clients with sensory impairment. This is an exciting step in the right direction to allow more people the opportunity to fully understand and help their pets!

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗦𝗟 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀
The Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC) is thrilled to announce a new service for our British Sign Language (BSL) users. Whether you're seeking behaviour or training help for your animal or you're an ABTC registered practitioner, we've got you covered!

🛈 For Animal Carers: If you're a BSL user looking for training or behaviour support for your animal, we've made it easier and more accessible. ABTC practitioners can now arrange for a BSL video interpreter to join your training or behavioural sessions, ensuring clear communication and understanding. This service is available for both in-person and online appointments. 🐕‍🦺📹 To find registered ABTC practitioners near you, visit our Practitioner Directory at https://abtc.org.uk/practitioners/

🛈 For ABTC Practitioners: Registered ABTC practitioners who are BSL users or work with BSL clients, we're here to support you too! Through our partnership with Sign Solutions, you can access BSL video interpreters for your training or behaviour appointments. This service includes both pre-booked appointments with your clients, and on-demand virtual signing support, making your sessions more inclusive and effective. 🗣️✨

The ABTC believes in fostering inclusivity within the animal behaviour and training sector. This new service is a significant step towards ensuring that everyone, regardless of language, can access the best care and support for their animal companions.

🔗 Find out more about this service and how to access it on our website
- For BSL animal carers https://abtc.org.uk/bsl-owners/
- For ABTC registered practitioners https://abtc.org.uk/bsl-practitioners/



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION]: Cartoon image of a hand holding a megaphone with black text to the right, stating a call to action.
[TEXT READS]: Exiting news for British Sign Language Users. Whether you're seeking behaviour or training help for your animal or you're an ABTC registered practitioner, we've got you covered!

09/11/2023

Looking forward to the World Horse Welfare conference today, ‘Horses and the environment: friend of foe?’ There’s a host of great speakers talking about the effect of horses on their environment, and how grazing practises can be used as a tool to boost habitat health. The conference will be streamed live here today from 9.45am if you want to join

Find out about World Horse Welfare's annual conference, including watching the films from previous events

17/06/2023

Sadly this is all to common when sending horses to be trained by a ‘professional’. Do your research before sending your horse anywhere!

HAVE YOU EVER PAID FOR A TRAINER, RIDER OR ‘PRODUCER’ TO ABUSE YOUR HORSE?

This may seem like a weird question, but every day I receive emails from distraught horse owners who have employed a professional and their horse has either ended up injured or with behavioural problems they didn’t have previously. This week I have been asked to see a horse with a broken nasal bone as a very popular ‘behaviourist’ (clearly without any knowledge of horse behaviour!) used a pressure halter to try and force a horse to load.

Part of my job as a behaviour consultant is to help owners address behaviour and training problems. The number of requests I receive to help undo problems caused by professionals seems to be increasing all the time.

Some of these problems are very serious – horses who previously didn't have any issues have become terrified of people or they have started bolting, bucking, napping or rearing. Some have become anxious generally and are now more difficult to handle than previously, some have become depressed and withdrawn. Some have been forced to do more than they can cope with physically and end up struggling to accept the bit, are overbent and carry themselves incorrectly, and some have even been physically injured. These problems can be very difficult to undo and may affect the horse for their lifetime. Some horses will never be physically sound again. Some horses are euthanised.

Owners will have spent thousands of pounds on a young horse, then expect them to be trained in 4–8 weeks as this is the ‘norm’. Trainers want to achieve results as quickly as possible, so they use all sorts of techniques to speed up the process. They use pressure halters, gadgets, excessive pressure and force the horse to do things they are not physically or mentally ready for. They either don’t recognise or they ignore the body language cues the horse exhibits to say they are anxious, and they suppress any behaviour the horse may perform to try and avoid what is happening.

I regularly meet horses who have been drugged when they were backed, or hear from grooms who work at trainer’s yards saying the trainer’s routine is to withhold food or water for the first few days so the horses are less likely to 'put up a fight'. Some horses are put in side reins and left in the stable for hours on end, some are chased around round pens until they are exhausted and give up, or lunged so they are too tired to object. Sadly trainers use all sorts of flowery language to describe how they work and often it is to hide some very aversive techniques.

Please do your research before employing someone to work with your horse. Don't feel intimidated to find out as much as you can, your horse's mental and physical wellbeing depends on this. Ask them what approach they will take, how long training sessions are, what their qualifications are, what they do when the horse doesn't do as asked (do they just increase the pressure and force the horse to do as asked?) and whether they will use gadgets, whips and spurs or swing ropes at your horse.

Speak to people who have had horses trained by them previously, ask if they have training films you can see. Ask if you can watch the trainer working with different horses in person. Watch the horses and see how they are reacting – are they abnormally quiet and shut down, are they very reactive and tense or do they look relaxed and happy in their work? Does what the trainer says they are doing correspond with how the horse is reacting?

At the moment I can only recommend a handful of trainers in the UK. If you are looking for help with your horse and need advice or local help I may be able to recommend someone that can help.

06/06/2023

Click bait title, but actually a really interesting study on canine intelligence between breeds.

Border Collies are among the smartest, while Labradors are among the dumbest — but they are still lovable.

19/04/2023

The Positive Herd The Positive Herd Project CIC needs your help! Please donate to allow our little organisation to continue doing incredible work for horses and people!

I’m starting a relief fund for The Positive Herd Project CIC to alleviate some… Beth Gibbons needs your support for The Positive Herd Project CIC Relief Fund

18/04/2023

Horse racing isn’t a victimless sport. Horses die on the tracks. They’re ruined from intense training as babies. They’re disposed of when they don’t make the grade or can no longer win. They’re often sold on to dealers or euthanised after a short racing career. It’s not just the horses who are shot on the racetrack that are the victims, it’s all of them.

A little louder for those at the back:

Yes horses will run even when they don’t want to.

Yes whips hurt.

Yes horses will run “in the wild” but that is when they are frightened. (Play being an exception but it looks very different with stopping/starting/interacting etc....)

Treating horses “like kings” or “like royalty” is not the same as meeting their equine needs.

Today’s horses have not evolved a whole different set of needs that sets them apart from their wild counterparts.

Horses will often be compliant even though they are fearful and/or in pain.

If horse racing ceased to exist then, no, horses would not become extinct.

When young horses are frequently dying in the pursuit of human “sport” then we really need to step back and reassess what we are doing.

Non-horsey people often “get this”, yet horsey people seem to think they can gaslight them into thinking otherwise.

Stop it.

12/01/2023

This looks like an excellent course and CPD. Dr Sue Dyson has made huge scientific advances into how we understand behavioural signs of pain in ridden horses. This course looks like it’s be valuable for professionals and enthusiasts alike who work with ridden horses.

28/11/2022

The Positive Herd Project CIC are hosting an online auction to raise funds for the rescue and sanctuary horses in their care.

Bidding ends midnight tonight!

There are amazing items up for grabs, including a 2 night stay in a beautiful lodge on Anglesey, 20 hours of driving lessons, full pet portrait, Oil2Horse gift set and lots of vouchers!

Please place your bids underneath each item on the original post.

Please bid generously, the funds are hugely needed right now and go directly to the horse's care.

Happy bidding, and good luck!

11/08/2022

We’re having a summer fair at The Positive Herd Project CIC.

Come down to see what we’ve achieved so far with this huge project, and have a lovely day out too!

Not long now until our incredible summer fair!

We're really excited about this event, and it just seems to get better each day! If you've ever wondered about the work we do and fancied a look around, now is your chance! It promises to be a fun filled day for all the family. All funds raised go directly back into the work we do, supporting horses and people.

16/07/2022

How exciting, Beth Behaviourist has now got 1,005 followers 🥳

I feel so grateful that I have such an incredible network of clients and supporters! It seems like the horse world is slowly moving towards more ethical, evidence based methods of horse training and management. This is great news for equine welfare!

Thank you all for being part of the journey.

08/07/2022

Wow, work is really starting to pick up and I’ve had so many wonderful sessions recently. Yesterday I had a day full of positive reinforcement training clients who all did incredibly well, and we’ve had huge success with our Horse Helpers volunteer program the past fortnight ! All of our rescue horses have begun training and and are making great progress.

It is so rewarding seeing the horses, clients and beneficiaries all getting so much back. It reminds me why I do this job, and I absolutely love it.

As my diary gets busier I’m taking limited bookings now for late July/ August for consultations and trainings now. Please email [email protected] to make a booking. Thank you!

08/07/2022

Sleep deprivation in horses is a common and complex issue, with a lot of potential contributing factors. It is something I encounter a lot, and there isn’t always an obvious cause. Owners may not even be aware their horse is sleep deprived, as most sleep happens during the early hours of the morning. Shavings and bedding on the horses rug or body may be due to them rolling, but not achieving recumbent sleep.

‘If horses are physically unable to lie down or choose not to for any reason then recumbent sleep deprivation occurs, causing a substantial impact on the health and quality of life of the individual. Recumbent sleep deprivation can cause serious injuries as often the individuals will fall into paradoxical sleep while standing and subsequently the complete muscle relaxation causes them to collapse.’

In this thorough article Anna Haines explains about the characteristics of sleep deprivation in horses.

Sleep deprivation in horses can be complex, so a methodical collaborative approach can be the most beneficial way to provide a solution

03/06/2022

Practitioner spotlight with the ABTC

**PRACTITIONER SPOTLIGHT**

Beth Gibbons is an ABTC Accredited Animal Behaviourist (AAB) working with Horses. She runs Behaviourist and The Positive Herd Project CIC.

Beth is a certified horse behaviour consultant with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. She holds a first class Animal behaviour BSc (Hons) and MSc with distinction.

She is also the founder and managing director of The Positive Herd Project CIC, which aims to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome horses with complex behaviour problems and provide sanctuary for those who cannot be rehomed. Alongside this, the project works to educate the public on ethical and science-based methods of equine management, care and training. It offers therapeutic activities to people in need which are mutually beneficial to the horses.

You can find out more about Beth and the Positive Herd Project CIC here - www.bethbehaviourist.co.uk and wwww.positiveherd.org.uk

27/03/2022

It’s Mother’s Day, and so today I’d like to talk about artificial weaning.

Most horses are taken from their mothers at around 6 months old, when they no longer require milk. However, naturally living mares may spend their whole life with their mothers. If related to the breeding stallion the foals will usually stay in the natal band for up to a year before disbanding.

Artificial weaning is usually abrupt and done much too early, which leads to a host of physical and behavioural problems down the line. What’s more, in a natural setting the foal will gradually spend time building social bonds within their group, and becoming less dependent on their mother. If their mother is all they have known and then they are suddenly separated from her this is incredibly traumatic. Early and abrupt weaning contributes to separation anxiety, poor socialisation, aggression, fearfulness and many more problems that horse owners face each day. But how many people are aware how their horses have been socialised and weaned?

It is imperative for the welfare of equine mothers and foals that breeders educate themselves and improve practises, and that horse buyers are aware of the lasting impact weaning has.

Weaning time? Controversial post alert! 🚨⚠️

Is there a right time and right way to wean a foal?

🐎 At 6 months of age the foal's stomach lining is nearly, but not quite ready for a life without milk and within 2 weeks of weaning at this age or earlier, the foal's stomach will most certainly ulcer. If you own a foal, are you prepared for that?

🐎 Weaning normally involves the complete separation of mare and foal, gradual or immediate. So we aren't just talking about stopping milk here. We are breaking the most significant attachment bond in a horse's life, before they even get to adolescence - which won't even start until next spring/summer. Do you have a suitable alternative adult to help fill that gap? Attachment bonds provide horses with security which helps them to be confident and better regulate their feelings as they grow up. Horses are adapted to growing up in a family group and naturally leave home by tooing and froing for a bit before they finally leave aged between 18 months and 4 years of age.

🐎 Weaning may be accomplished by shutting mare and foal in separate places out of earshot - abrupt weaning. Very stressful. By removing one broodmare at a time from the group - very stressful as who know which mummy will be abducted next? By placing all the foals in one place and the mares in another - at least some degree of group solidarity but still stressful. Day by day separating mare and foal for very short periods usually associated with feed time and reuniting them before they get upset - better but still need to be mindful of foal age and replacement attachment figure. Allow the natural process to run its course.

🐎 Weaning can be a significant welfare issue, even when seemingly "normal" practices are followed. Let's recognise stressful weaning practices as a welfare issue and move towards more mare and foal centred practices.

🐎 Weaning well sets the foal up to cope with life. Good weaning is an investment in the foal's future

I wrote quite a bit more in my chapter on breeding in the book, Equine Behaviour in Mind edited by Suzanne Rogers

22/03/2022

The website is live again! Same site, new domain.

After someone stole my original domain I've gone .com! So glad to have finally bit the bullet and got back online.

www.bethbehaviourist.com

14/03/2022

I’m offering behavioural consultations through The Positive Herd Project CIC. If you’d like to address behavioural issues using an ethical, scientific and effective approach then please do get in touch.

Did you know that The Positive Herd Project CIC offers behavioural consultations with Beth Behaviourist?

Beth is an IAABC Certified Horse Behaviour Consultant and ABTC Accredited Behaviourist, as well as holding a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Animal Behaviour. She endeavours to address behavioural problems in the most ethical manner, by applying the science of behaviour and learning to achieve lasting change.

If you’d like to find out more about consultations please visit https://www.positiveherd.org.uk/consultations.html #/

10/03/2022

10/03/2022

We’ve 3 livery spaces available at The Positive Herd Project 🐴 Specialising in retirement livery, horses with behavioural issues or positive reinforcement training livery!

- IAABC certified horse behaviourist and ABTC Accredited Behaviour Consultant on site
- BHS AI Instructor and equine specialist
- In house farrier
- Behaviourally minded care and housing, specialising in retirement or horses with complex behaviour
- Ethos of positive and force free horse training
- Shared barn living to promote natural behaviour and optimal welfare.
- Ad lib forage and bedding provided
- 24/7 access to fields or outdoor space.
- CCTV continuously monitored
- Regular egg worm count samples with Westgate labs, and full worming schedule provided
For more information please see our website or contact [email protected]

We are proud to offer very limited spaces on our natural equine livery service, at our farm in Middlewich, Cheshire. Our service aims to meet the behavioural needs of your horse, as well as allowing...

04/03/2022

The Positive Herd Project is looking for volunteer directors to advise on our board.

Could you help with the overall management and governance of the organisation? We’re looking for volunteer directors to join our board, bringing with them a diversity of skills and experience to help drive The Positive Herd Project forwards and better meet our aims.

We especially need individuals with experience and skills in finance, accounting, safeguarding, business management and/ or fundraising.

For the full role description and application form please visit https://www.positiveherd.org.uk/board-director.html #/

27/02/2022

We started Dotty yesterday on her training journey with us at The Positive Herd Project.
To begin we just lead her around the farm to assess her behaviours and response. She handled it extremely well, and just got a little stressed as we got around to the car park. Dotty has a history of rearing and being extremely difficult to handle on the ground.

Usually we don’t like to trigger old behaviours, but we feel it is important to capture evidence of how horses come to us, so that we can better evidence their progress. From here on in she will be working through a positive training plan and will stay within her comfort zone.

Overall Dotty has a lovely temperament and we’re really excited to see how this girl progresses.

13/02/2022

An old and precious video showing the power of positive reinforcement training.

This was my beloved horse Molly, who I have to thank for my journey into equine behaviour and +R training. She developed uveitis and lost her right eye in 2017, then to our horror also got uveitis in her left eye the following year. We spent weeks trying to treat her remaining eye, having to give eye drops 5 times a day. Molly found this very stressful, and so I spent time training her to have her eye handled and eventually for drops to be put in on cue. The fact this was trained in a crisis, in between us having to do the eye drops anyway, was incredible. It was a game changer for us all, and made those weeks so much more peaceful and harmonious.

Sadly we were unsuccessful, and Molly later went completely blind. As she was such a traumatised and stressed girl we decided it was in her best interest to put her to sleep, rather than expect her to live a life in darkness. That was one of the hardest decisions of my life.

Molly was a legend and her legacy lives on in The Positive Herd. I will always be grateful for the lessons she taught me, right up until the end. It was an honour to have shared a life with her, what an incredible horse.

09/02/2022

I’ve been really enjoying getting back into positive reinforcement training with the horses at The Positive Herd Project CIC

It’s been so rewarding already to see their progress and how quickly they remember previously trained cues!

I can’t wait to see where we get to as the year progresses, it’s very exciting.

18/01/2022

Really interesting article doing the rounds this morning, and the science is spot on!

Why weren’t zebras domesticated? Basically because they were harder to force into conditioned suppression. They don’t respond well to stress, and would keep fighting.

Fascinating read!

They look like stripey horses – so why don’t we ride them?

02/01/2022

What a brilliant way to start the new year! I woke up yesterday to news that I’m now an IAABC Certified Horse Behaviour Consultant, after successfully meeting the assessment criteria.

I’m so grateful and excited to be part of such an incredible and well renowned organisation. This has been a long term goal of mine and I’m overjoyed to have finally realised it.

09/11/2021

I still stand by the fact that horses are not naughty, and labelling behaviours as naughty prevents you from identifying the true cause.

Er zit altijd meer achter gedrag dan wat de meeste mensen denken. We kunnen niet ervan uitgaan dat dieren (en kinderen trouwens ook) altijd hun behoefte op een constructieve manier met ons delen - hoe dan ook? Dieren spreken ons taal niet. Dus gedrag is hun manier van communiceren met ons.

Te zeggen gedrag is ‘stout’ en ’ondeugend’ is te kort door de bocht en doet dieren en kinderne vreselijk onrecht aan.

Paarden zijn niet in staat om dingen opzettelijk tegen ons te doen. Ze doen alleen maar wat ze denken moeten te doen. Als het jou niet bevalt dan moet je erachter gaan waarom het paard het doet en in hoever jij dat gedrag op roept.

Schuld heeft geen plaats in een relatie.

06/11/2021

‘A rider who was told for years her horse had training or behavioural issues and should be pushed, only to find he had kissing spine and major foot imbalance, wants to help others “hear what their horses are telling them”.’

Horses behave the way they behave for a reason. It’s up to us to try and work out what that reason is. This article highlights the problem with simply labelling a behaviour ‘naughty’ and not investigating it further. So glad this horse’s pain was detected and resolved!

A rider who was told for years her horse had training or behavioural issues and should be pushed, only to find he had kissing spine and major foot imbalance, wants to help others “hear what their horses are telling them”. Rachael Smith bought her Irish cob Arthur, her first horse, as a five-year...