About Dr Debbie Marsden

Brief Biography

Internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading experts in her field, Dr Debbie Marsden’s success in dealing with equine behaviour problems is based on the highest level of academic and professional qualifications combined with a lifetime’s experience of living and working with horses.

She rode for the University of Edinburgh Riding Club Team before graduating with a BSc (Hons in Physiology and Genetics) and a PhD in Animal Behaviour, Husbandry and Welfare.
During her many years as a Fellow of the University of Edinburgh attached to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, investigating the causes of equine behaviour problems and teaching vets wishing to further specialise in horses, Debbie combined her academic knowledge and practical experience to contribute to the development of the applied science that is popularly known as ‘equine behaviourism’. Debbie now runs her own consultancy company, trading as MDM Equestrian, dealing with equine behaviour problems and advising vets, lawyers and horse owners on all aspects of horse behaviour, management and training, with clients including the MOD (The Defence Animal Centre and Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment), the RSPCA, the BHS and major insurance companies.

She still rides for fun and as a qualified riding instructor runs performance clinics and teaches regularly, helping riders improve, get the best from and enjoy their horses at all levels.

Debbie says;

“I was extremely lucky growing up with horses in N Ireland to enjoy a huge variety of equestrian experience. Apparently, I constantly strayed into the horse’s fields as a toddler and told those who would try to drag me away that ‘it was all right for me to stay there as they were my friends’. I accompanied my farrier grandfather in the school holidays, visiting all sorts of yards and seeing how many different ways there were of doing most things equestrian. I did all the usual Pony Club things, and had the benefit of lessons from visiting English and German dressage Instructors. I was thrilled to finally have my very own pony at the age of 8. He was a 13:2 jet black Arab and only 4 years old himself. He taught me a great deal – mostly about what not to do! We eventually made it into the Prince Phillip Cup Mounted Games Team and raked the countryside at every available opportunity visiting local shows, trying for ribbons at everything! Later I rode for a variety of owners, including a local racehorse trainer, various probably rather ‘dodgy’ dealers (not that I knew that at the time of course!) and a lady who grew up in Argentina and trained her horses the ‘Gaucho’ way. I was so keen that I rode anything I was offered, including the ‘problem’ ponies and horses that others sensibly declined to get on and eventually was rewarded by being able to help to bring on quality young horses for their owners and compete at National level showjumping and IHTS eventing. I had no idea at the time how immensely valuable all this was all going to be in my future career. I have since had the benefit of being taught by those who were world leaders in their field and the further luxury of travelling myself, meeting wonderful people and their horses, lecturing at Universities, Veterinary Schools and speaking at major scientific conferences all over the world, in between skiving off for a ride and having a nose around the local stables. My mother is still hoping I will ‘grow out of it’ but the horse bug in me is here to stay! They are still my friends and I have dedicated my life to helping others understand them better and improving their lot.”

Dr Debbie Marsden C.V. Summary

Director MDM Equestrian Consultancy Company 1999 – currently
Fellow of University of Edinburgh attached to Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 1994 – 2002, lecturing and consulting in Equine Behaviour and Management
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 1990 – 1994 (Effects of Housing and Management on Behaviour Problems in Horses) Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
PhD Degree 1989 (Effects of Husbandry, Housing and Management on Animal Behaviour and Welfare – Practical Solutions) University of Edinburgh
BSc Degree 1984 (Agricultural Science, with Honours in Physiology and Genetics, specialising in Animal Behaviour) University of Edinburgh.

In addition to the above, I hold BHS Riding Instructor (PTT) qualifications, am an RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) Group Instructor and a BHS approved Riding and Road Safety Trainer, teaching riding every week in a huge variety of stables in addition to my consulting work, which keeps me fully up to date with a broad range of industry standards and common practices.

Professional experience includes:

a) Providing RCVS required training for Veterinary Inspectors of Riding Establishments and other CPD courses for qualified veterinarians wishing to further specialise in horses, such as the ‘Diagnosis and Treatment of Equine Behaviour Problem’ and ‘Practical Behaviour and Safe handling of Horses’

The RCVS required course for Inspectors of Riding Establishments includes training on adequacy of facilities and assessment of the competence of the proprietors of riding establishments and their staff to meet all of the needs of the horses in their care, the selection, training, management and allocation of suitable horses appropriate for their clients’ riding abilities and to provide for their own safety, that of their clients and the general public.

b) University lecturing and supervising practical thesis projects at all levels (e.g. from HND - MSc) on horse behaviour, specialising in management, training, and safety around horses, including the effects of husbandry and management on equine behaviour, with appointment as External Examiner for MSc Equine Science course at Writtle College, Chelmsford.

c) Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons sub-committee for the Veterinary Inspection of Riding Establishments, serving 6 years.

d) Research and consultancy work for a number of organisations including the RSPCA, the BHS (British Horse Society), MOD (Household Cavalry, Defence Animal Centre), BBC Watchdog, other TV and film companies and insurance companies, advising on behaviour, management, welfare, safety and training, finding practical solutions to problems in riding schools, livery yards and other stables.

e) Writing scientific articles and books on the topic of horse behaviour, management and training, including the Behaviour Problem section in the major veterinary textbook ‘Equine Medicine and Surgery’, edited by Colahan, Mayhew, Merritt and Moore, Mosby (1999), ‘How Horses Learn’ Allens (2005) and the chapter on ‘Stereotypic and other Behavior Problems’ in the veterinary textbook ‘Equine Neurology’, edited by Furr and Reed, by Blackwell (2008), referee for scientific publications, am asked for comment by journalists and regularly contribute articles to popular equestrian magazines.

f) Speaking at major UK and international scientific and veterinary conferences, BHS Proprietors of Riding Establishments conferences, as well as public speaking to Riding Clubs and all sorts of horsy groups on horse behaviour, management, safety and training.

g) Over 20 years instructing experience and a lifetime’s practical experience of horses and stable management, including National level competition riding for various owners, bringing on young horses, training and re-schooling ‘difficult’ horses and have worked in all sorts of stables, including for dealers, a racing yard, several riding schools and a trekking centre, in my youth and student days.

h) I currently run a consulting company, ‘MDM Equestrian’ , offering practical advice on horse behaviour, management, safety and training, including a referral clinic for vets requiring specialist second opinion and treatment of behaviour problems in clients’ horses with retraining of horse and rider as required, professional training for Equine Behaviour Consultants and Expert Witness work.

i) I am accordingly included in the current ‘vetted’ and ‘checked’ listings of Expert Witnesses in Britain, ie the UK Register of Expert Witnesses, the Expert Witness Directory and the Law Society of Scotland Directory of Expert Witnesses on equestrian matters.

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You may be interested to know that the MDM Equestrian logo is an equine EEG brainwave pattern going from highly agitated to calm and relaxed. Debbie chose this to represent the effect she hopes to have on horses and their owners.