 |
|||
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
CoursesEquine Behaviour Courses for Horse OwnersOne day courses or evening talks can be arranged for riding clubs or other groups of interested people. They are designed for horse owners but you do not need to own a horse to be welcome! The aim is to help people understand and develop good relationships with their horses, as well as how to recognise and deal with some common problems. Popular talks are listed below but the content can be tailored to suit your particular requirements. Talk 1 Talk 2 Talk 3 Talk 4 Talk 5 A popular format is an evening talk at a local pub/hotel (eg 7-9pm) which gives plenty of time for questions and answers with a break for refreshments halfway through. Socialise, swap experiences and learn at the same time! I can do a two hour talk for £150 at venues near Edinburgh plus mileage if the venue is further than an hour's drive from Edinburgh. This gives the organiser the opportunity to use the event to raise funds through ticket sales etc. Please contact Dr Debbie Marsden to discuss details if you wish to book a talk or arrange a course. Equine Behaviour Career CourseAbout the course The career course, run by the internationally recognised equine behaviour expert Dr Debbie Marsden, author of “How Horses Learn”, with many years of equine behaviour research and teaching experience at the University of Edinburgh attached to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, aims to train successful applicants to run their own business as professional Equine Behaviour Consultants. Combining the science of animal behaviour and learning theory with the best of traditional and modern equine training techniques, this course offers trainees the benefit of Dr Marsden’s practical and professional experience; having lived and worked with horses all her life and developed her own highly respected equine behaviour practice over the past 20 years. The course covers key elements of horse behaviour, the practical application of this knowledge to solving equine behaviour problems and good business practice. Teaching comprises lectures, workshops, and practical exercises using slides, videotape/DVD, horses and ‘guinea pig’ clients. Trainees are given every opportunity to participate in discussion and practical work with horses and clients as well as contributing to ‘role play’ exercises, to consolidate their knowledge and help develop the ‘people’ and other practical skills required for this kind of work. The emphasis of all teaching throughout the course is on the practical and how to successfully solve equine behaviour problems in the ‘real’ world of today’s horse industry, using a wide variety of teaching techniques, including problem based learning. The schedule is organised into 10 week-end modules, allowing trainees to join the annual programme at any time, although maximum benefit will be gained by taking these in order starting in October each year. In between modules trainees complete a short practical project and those who reach the required standard in all project work will be entitled to sit the final exam which is comprised of a short answer written paper, oral examination using videotape and a practical exam based on a series of ‘mock’ client situations. Further details on requirements and assessment standards will be given to trainees with each project. Certificates are awarded to candidates passing all sections and assessed as professionally competent by external examiners. All modules must be completed within 3 years to be eligible for examination ie trainees can miss the same module twice but must take it in the third year if they wish to proceed to examination. The usual allowances regarding extensions and assistance will be made for illness, personal and family problems, and people with particular needs such as dyslexia etc. Venue Oatridge The College is near Edinburgh, beside the small village of Ecclesmachan just outside Broxburn in West Lothian. It is very well served by road (M8/M9 just west of Edinburgh City Bypass A720) and rail and is only a short taxi ride from Edinburgh Airport. For directions and travel details please contact the College directly on 01506 864 800 ask for Lynn West or email info@oatridge.ac.uk. The College also offers B&B on campus, ranging from £26 - £36 per night depending on whether en-suite, full or half board is required. Contact the College directly and ask for the Accommodation Officer. Alternatively, there is a wide range of Hotels and Scottish Tourist Board Approved accommodation nearby and the College is easy to get to from Edinburgh, (5 mins from Junction 3 of M8, Livingstone). Warwickshire Warwickshire College is also a BHS Training and Exam Centre , renowned for its equestrian facilities and equine courses, being a Centre for Vocational Excellence (Equine) and popular competition venue. All teaching and practicals are held in the Cotswold Court building and the adjacent equestrian facilities of the College’s Moreton Morrell Centre, just South of Coventry near Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick within easy reach of the M40, easily accessible via the M5, M1 and M6. Accommodation may be available on campus and there is a wide selection of Hotels, B&B etc nearby. For accommodation information call 01926 318295 or email kfiggit@warkscol.ac.uk . For general enquiries contact the College directly on 0800 783 6767 or enquiries@warkscol.ac.uk or visit www.warkscol.ac.uk . Timetable There are 10 modules and each module will be taught at approximately monthly intervals usually in the middle weekend of each month at Oatridge and the last weekend of each month at Warwickshire (dates to be confirmed). There are no Modules in December and July giving a Christmas and Summer break and the final exams are held in early December for students who have completed the Course. Classes run from 7-9pm on Friday evening, 10am – 5pm Saturdays and 10 am – 12 noon on Sundays. The Friday evening session is usually a lecture, with workshops and practicals on the Saturday and a tutorial, revision, Q and A session, including review of project work, on Sunday morning. Modules 1. History Taking This module covers case history taking, from first contact with potential clients to procedures for assessment visits. Teaching includes key facts required, cross presentation of handling, ridden and other problems, interview technique, assessment of information from clients, safety do’s and don’ts, procedure and methods of note taking and record keeping. Trainees will have the opportunity to interview clients under Dr Marsden’s guidance and observe and discuss others’ performances. 2. Reading Equine Body Language This is one of the most important elements of horse behaviour to understand and become proficient in for any equine behaviourist. Unconscious awareness of this is the main way in which experienced equestrian professionals become ‘good with horses’ and how many ‘horse whisperers’ impress clients. Being able to read, understand and explain this to clients is an important clinical ‘tool’ for behaviour consultants. In particular trainees will be taught how to distinguish physiological ‘misbehaviour’ (eg that due to pain/fear/pathology) from psychological ‘misbehaviour’ (eg that due to ‘naughtiness’ or learned ‘misbehaviour’). Teaching uses slides and videotape before progressing to practical session with horses. 3. Equine Social Behaviour An in depth knowledge and thorough understanding of equine social behaviour is also particularly important for the successful behaviour consultant. Misunderstandings between horses and people here are a common cause of serious problems. Trainees will be taught to understand equine social communication and how to explain this to clients as well as how horses interpret common human behaviour and many husbandry and handling procedures. Equine social systems will be explained as well as how to distinguish between play, defensive aggression, proactive aggression, social relationship issues and other types of normal equine social behaviour, including gender–related and reproductive behaviour, an understanding of all of which can be very valuable in solving problems for clients. Teaching uses slides and videotape before progressing to practical session with horses. 4. Recognising Learned Behaviour Problems This module teaches trainees how to recognise learned ‘misbehaviour’ and distinguish this from ‘misbehaviour’ due to physical problems. This skill is not only vital to choosing appropriate treatment techniques but also particularly useful when working for a vet or insurance company. The benefits of ruling out ‘learned misbehaviour’ or early positive diagnosis of this and related safety and welfare issues are discussed. 5. Practical Retraining Techniques The most useful practical re-training techniques are explained, along with how to select which techniques are most appropriate for individual clients, depending on their attitude, ability and the facilities available to them. This module also covers safety issues, assessing and teaching clients as well as the pros and cons of taking horses in for ‘re-schooling’. Trainees will have the opportunity to practice a little ‘re-training’ themselves, to help understand common pitfalls and develop the required training and teaching skills. 6. Evaluation of Alternative Training Systems Opinions vary on the benefits or otherwise of alternative training systems, but these are increasingly popular today, especially amongst those relatively new to horses. Many clients experiencing behaviour problems with their horse will have ‘had a go’ and will ask about these. Trainees will be taught how some of the most popular of these systems actually work (ie not always as promoted), how they can lead to problems and how some elements of some systems can be useful when dealing with some kinds of behaviour problems. The safety and welfare issues involved will be discussed. Trainees are welcome to bring promotional material or videotapes of any system they are particularly keen on or interested in for class discussion. 7. Husbandry, Handling and Travel Problems Trainees will be taught how common practices here affect behaviour, can lead to problems and how to diagnose and solve these kinds of problems. Safety and welfare issues will be discussed. Be prepared to discuss your own practice and experiences! 8. Saddlery, Tack and associated Problems Incorrectly fitted or inappropriate tack is the most common cause of fear and pain related equine behaviour problems. Trainees will be taught how to recognise poor saddle fit in particular and procedures for recognising and dealing with these kinds of problems, including how physiotherapy can benefit horses. 9. Ridden Problems This module covers procedures for assessing, diagnosing and solving ridden behaviour problems. Safety and welfare issues will be discussed. A wide variety of the most common ridden problems will be explained, including rearing, bucking, bolting, napping, spook and spin, difficulties mounting or cantering, various head and bit-related evasions as well as common jumping and other performance problems. 10. Professional Conduct and Business Practice Business practice teaching will include book-keeping, tax, marketing, public and employee liability and other insurance matters, as well as the pro’s and con’s of running your own business and how to avoid some common pitfalls. Trainees will also be taught about professional conduct, including veterinary referrals and liaison with other professionals within the equestrian industry as well as report writing, customer service and dealing with difficult customers including bad payers. Safety and welfare issues will be discussed. This module also covers relevant aspects of equine law and legislation relating to Duty of Care and Trading Standards. Trainees are welcome to bring in video clips/DVDs of their own or friends’ horses for class discussion in any module. Tutors The course is taught by Dr Marsden and other tutors who are experts in each of the other relevant fields eg Chartered Accountants, HMRC Small Business Advisors, Advocate/Barristers, Chartered Physiotherapists, SMS Qualified Saddle Fitters, etc. Application Procedure
Applicants with other degrees, without degrees and/or combinations of professional expertise and personal experience, eg a qualified riding instructor, nurse, veterinary nurse, saddler or stud farm or riding school/livery yard managers with sufficient practical experience with horses, or those with relevant professional skills from other disciplines, will also be considered. Applicants should complete and return the enclosed application form to the address on the form. Please fill in each section as fully as possible and add C.V. or extra sheets with further information if necessary. The more information is provided, the more likely an application is to be successful. Two references will be required Registration Successful applicants will be invited to register for their place on the course and asked to enclose evidence of qualifications (eg copy of degree and other certificates etc) with full payment of fees, to secure their place. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised of the reasons why they were not offered a place on the course at this point and, where appropriate, advised on the further qualifications or experience required before re-application is likely to be successful Fees Fees include all tuition over 10 modules, course notes with reading list, project assessment, all refreshments and lunches, guidance and on-going telephone support with course work and in first year of practicing professionally. Exam fees are payable separately for those proceeding to examination after completion of the Course. Fees for 2010/11 are £195.00 per module . Please do not send fees with application. Successful applicants will be advised on how to pay when registering, usually monthly in advance by direct debit. Grants and assistance with funding is available to some, depending on the various grant awarding bodies’ criteria. Fees will be refunded in full should unforeseen events result in the course being cancelled. Proposed dates for 2011/12 Oatridge
Warwickshire
NB. DATES YET TO BE CONFIRMED |
All material on this website is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without permission from Dr Marsden or Michelle Rushen.
© 2009-2011 Dr Debbie Marsden