behavior consultations
What does a behavior consultant do?
A behavior consultant works on a case-by-case basis, within a limited number of sessions. I gather information about a behavior-related problem an owner or handler is having with a horse, work with the people involved to come up with a plan for the client to address the problem, and make sure the client understands the plan and can carry it out.
Preparing for Certified Equine Behavior Consultant certification
I'm currently a supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). I've been talking about becoming certified for years, and now need to be an example of behavior change myself and do it! Along with an extensive list of core competencies and an established standard of ethics, there are continuing education requirements as well, so learning never stops (nor should it or would I want it to!).
What does a behavior case look like?
An behavior case involves a behavior-specific problem, which generally comes in some flavor of aggression toward and/or fear of humans, other horses, objects, or in spaces:
- In the stall or barn
- In turnout
- During feeding
- During training
- During a healthcare procedure such as vaccinations/blood draw, foot handling, oral medications, or other situations where medical or husbandry procedures are required for the health and safety of the horse
Multiple approaches to problem solving
First the health care and management aspects:
I may refer you to your health care professional if a health care issue is suspected, or if your horse hasn’t been seen while in your care, or if it's been over 12 months since their last appointment. I’m happy to chat with your health care team and keep them informed. There are a few reasons we may need to bring a HCP on board:
- Pain from a variety of sources
- Illness or body condition, as well as hooves
- Possible medication or sedation for illness, pain, or symptoms or circumstances of acute anxiety or depression
After that, we need to take a look at:
- Management changes, for example changing turnout time or turnout with different horses or in a different space
- Dietary changes, which may also be a health care professional referral
Please note that, while I have some experience with pain, lameness, and illness and how they affect behavior, I do not diagnose or recommend treatment for anything a vet, farrier, or other HCP would do.
Then two categories of interventions:
Direct, more training-based approach:
- Desensitization/counter conditioning: changing the horse’s experience by careful incremental exposure to the aversive thing and/or pairing with pleasant experiences
- Constructional Approach Training: using a variable distance, determined by the horse's behavior, that allows a horse to dictate their comfort level and therefore control their distance to people, objects, and places to help the horse feel more comfortable with those things
- Reinforcement training: a systematic approach using a marker signal and food (positive reinforcement or R+) and/or pressure-and-release (negative reinforcement or R-) to make a behavior more likely to occur again
Indirect approach working with sensory input and social relationships:
- Scentwork/other enrichment activities
- Social learning/support from other horses
- Literally doing nothing (hand grazing, sitting in a chair outside a fence, just being present)
Often all of the things above are necessary for robust success.
Outcome
My ultimate goal is to find the best solution possible so everyone is safe, happy, and cared for.
In addition to helping individuals with behavior they find problematic, I intend for this process to help bring the greater equine industry together on best practices for welfare, management, and training.
Ready to get started?
Head on over to the intake form, or contact me with questions.