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About Catherine Bell

Equine Behaviour - I provide help and support for anyone wanting to learn more about equine behaviour and to understand why horses might behave as they do. By ensuring that the ethological, physical and emotional needs of the horse are being met, and working to improve the relationship between horse and handler, I can help to solve behavioural "problems". This may include the use of postive reinforcement and clicker training where appropriate. I am a Certified Horse Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and am registered as an Accredited Equine Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.

Jak
Barefoot Hoofcare - I have been an independent barefoot trimmer since 2002 and have studied with a wide variety of eminent and international practictioners. I have particular experience with horses who need gentle and patient handling and I provide training to the owner to help the horse cope better with hoof-handling.

I have been around horses since I was 11, including working with horses in the UK and USA, and owned my late quarter horse, Jak, for over twenty of them. It was the many lessons he taught me - from researching why a six-year old horse should develop arthritic symptoms to discovering as much as I could about what increased his motivation - which led me down the route of equine behaviour, equine shiatsu and barefoot hoof-care. I qualified with the School of Equine Shiatsu in 2005 but opted to cease practicing in favour of behaviour and hoofcare. I continue to study and undertake Continuing Professional Development, learning from any practitioner and any horse. I currently foster ponies for an animal charity, aiming to give these youngsters a more positive start to life. I have run the Thinking Horsemanship Forum since 2005, initially on an internet forum site and then on Facebook, with the aim of furthering education about behaviour (equine and human) and exploring what we mean by "ethical horsemanship". I am also a founder member of the Equine Behaviour and Training Society and continue to lead an active role within the group, including writing Chapter 3 of the book "Equine Behaviour in Mind".