Professional experience includes:
a) Directing and teaching
a number of CPD courses for qualified veterinarians wishing to further specialise in horses, such as the Diagnosis and Treatment of Equine Behaviour Problems and the RCVS required course for veterinarians wishing
to be registered as Veterinary Inspectors of Riding Establishments. This course
includes 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 clients and the general public in connection with these activities.
b) Lecturing, providing
and supervising practical thesis projects at all levels (e.g. from HND level on Equine Studies courses to MSc level in
Applied Animal Behaviour courses and DVM&S theses) throughout the UK and overseas on horse behaviour, specialising in
management and training, 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 and major insurance companies,
advising on horse behaviour, management, safety and training and finding practical solutions to problems arising in livery
and private yards.
e) Writing scientific
articles and books on the topic of horse behaviour, management and training, including the Behaviour Problem section in
the 5th edition of the major veterinary textbook ‘Equine Medicine and Surgery’ , edited
by Colahan, Mayhew, Merritt and Moore, published by Mosby (1999), ‘How Horses
Learn’ published by Allens (2005) and the chapter on ‘Stereotypic and other Behaviour Problems’
in the veterinary textbook ‘Equine Neurology’, edited by Furr and Reed, published by Blackwell (2008).
Speaking at major international scientific and veterinary conferences on horse
behaviour, management, safety and training and refereeing papers on these topics for major scientific publications.
f) I currently
run a consulting company, trading as 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.
This day to day work requires regular professional visits to a huge variety of horse establishments which, along
with my regular instructing work, keeps me fully up to date with a broad range of industry standards and common practices.
g) In addition
to the above professional experience, I have 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 a variety of riding schools and all sorts of stables
including a racing yard and a trekking centre in my youth and student days.
h) I am accordingly included
in the current ‘vetted’ and ‘checked’ listings of expert witnesses in Britain, including the UK Register of Expert
Witnesses, the Expert Witness Directory
and the Law Society of Scotland Directory of Expert Witnesses, on equestrian
matters.
