Equine Behaviourist or Trainer?

When faced with training or behavioural challenges with a horse, it can be difficult to know whether to seek help from an equine behaviourist or a trainer. While these professionals work to improve the horse-human relationship, their approaches, qualifications, and goals can differ significantly. Understanding these differences is key to ensuring the best possible outcome for both horse and owner.

In this webinar, equine behaviourists and trainers Justine Harrison and Trudi Dempsey will explore their respective roles, methods, and techniques. They will discuss how they assess and address equine behaviour, the importance of ethical and science-based approaches, and how to determine which professional is best suited to help in different situations. Whether you're a horse owner, trainer, or equestrian professional, this session will provide valuable insights into the complementary roles of behaviourists and trainers. 

Webinar content includes:

  • The key differences between an equine behaviour consultant and a horse trainer

  • How behaviourists and trainers assess equine behaviour and training needs

  • When to call a behaviourist and when to call a trainer

  • When you should call a veterinary behaviourist

  • How behaviourists and trainers can work together for the horse’s benefit

  • The science behind behaviour modification and training techniques

  • The qualifications and experience required for each role

  • Considerations of either role as a career

  • Common misconceptions about both professions

  • The importance of ethical, evidence-based approaches in working with horses

  • What’s in a name? What’s the difference between an equine behaviour consultant, a behaviourist, a behaviour specialist, an equine psychology specialist or an equine psychologist.

  • The importance of ethical, evidence-based approaches in working with horses

After the presentation, Trudi and Justine answered questions from the audience.

This presentation is for horse owners, students, equine professionals interested in horse behaviour and physiology.

Once enrolled, you have 60 days to watch this recording.

Who is this course for?

  • HORSE OWNERS

  • EQUINE STUDENTS

  • EQUINE PROFESSIONALS

Continuing Professional Development (CPD/CEU)

  • Course Contents

    1 x webinar recording and 1 x CPD/CEU quiz

  • Course Duration

    1.5 Hours

  • Certificate of Completion

    You can download a personalised CPD/CEU certificate after watching the webinar and completing the quiz.

  • BHS

    This course has been approved for 2 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches by the British Horse Society. Upon course completion APCs can log their points by completing the CPD Feedback form on the BHS website.

  • IAABC

    This course has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) by the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). You will need to request an IAABC CEU certificate directly from us, so please get in touch once you have completed the course and quiz.

  • IAAT

    Understand Horses is a trusted partner of the International Association of Animal Therapists, offering external CPD courses for its members.

  • KPA

    This course has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) by the Karen Pryor Association (KPA). Once you have completed the course you can contact us for an event code, then email both code and CEU certificate to the KPA.

Equine Behaviourist or Trainer?

Your Instructors

JUSTINE HARRISON

Justine is passionate about improving horse welfare and founded Understand Horses to provide practical, evidence-based information to the equine world. She is a Certified Equine Behaviour Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. She is also the organisation’s UK Co-Chair and a member of the Application Review Team. She is also registered as an Accredited Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour & Training Council, and sits on the Equine Committee. 
Justine is a visiting lecturer in equine behavioural science at several UK universities and colleges and also acts as an expert consultant in court cases involving equine behaviour. She holds lectures and workshops around the UK, presents at conferences internationally, and regularly contributes to a wide variety of international publications either writing articles, commenting or answering specific questions about horse behaviour and training.

TRUDI DEMPSEY

Trudi is a certified horse behaviour consultant with the IAABC and an Accredited Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Training and Behaviour Council. Trudi has been offering her own unique blend of classical dressage and positive reinforcement as Creative Equine training since the ’90s. She is an experienced gymnastic groundwork coach and specialises in bitless training. For the last 10 years, Trudi has written and judged the Baroque dressage classes at Interdressage and offered online training to international clients. She presents clinics, talks and workshops in person throughout the UK and webinars and courses online around the world.

COURSE PRICE

Archived webinar recording