New Forest Animal Behaviour Clinics

21/11/2025

Come and join APBC Equine for our next webinar!

3 Days to Book Our Next Webinar "Slow Feeding. Once More with Feeling. Feeding Enrichment and Modifying Equine Behaviour"

This webinar isn't just about standard slow feeding! It's about fundamental welfare. Whether you need to:

🔹 Reduce stable vices such as crib-biting and weaving
🔹 Support digestive and mental health through natural foraging.
🔹 Precisely implement slow feeders to minimise frustration and maximise enrichment.

Feeding enrichment is the key to lasting behavioural progress.

Don't wait! Register now to secure your spot (and access to the recording!).

Date: Tuesday 25th November, 2025

Link to Register: https://bit.ly/435PPjR

06/11/2025

📲 New tool to help horse owners stay one step ahead of Equine Grass Sickness

The Equine Grass Sickness Fund has launched a free Weather Risk Alert System, allowing owners to receive real-time WhatsApp alerts based on the risk in their local area.

🤳Research shows that certain weather conditions can increase the risk of Equine Grass Sickness, a disease with a devastating 80% fatality rate. These timely alerts are a valuable tool to help owners take preventive action and protect their horses.

Sign up here 👉 https://bit.ly/4hDWTKw

💡 Learn more about EGS and how to spot the signs 👉 https://bit.ly/4oSL9GC

06/11/2025

The collie at the beginning of this RSPCA message is Nero who we have on long term foster here with us at home. As a clinical animal behaviourist and a long suffering but supportive family, we are well placed to care for Nero's needs but also to report that this video only touches on the extent of his suffering around fireworks season. It is likely that the suffering shown of all of these animals featured is also just the tip of the iceberg.

During the blind panic that fireworks can cause, it's unlikely that anyone would be in a position to take their camera out and video the carnage. Many clips, including the video of Nero, are likely to be taken after all available measures have been put in place to minimise the effect of fireworks including playing music, closing curtains where appropriate, using calming equipment such as a Thundershirt and even medications. The thing about noise phobias (phobia meaning an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to) is that they have been scientifically linked to and can cause not only psychological pain, but physical pain. The muscle tension can either severely exacerbate an already existing pain condition or potentially cause it.

In a world where fireworks can occur unpredictably, day or night every day for weeks or months on end and where all precautions, medications and actions taken to ameliorate the physical and psychological pain have only a minimal effect, it is understandable why some brave owners feel that the only reasonable thing they can do to make the best welfare decision is to euthanise their pet or best friend. This, in turn, causes untold grief and trauma to the family of the animal.

A happy ending for Nero as we have both his physical and mental pain under control, not without immense effort, expertise, financial cost and life altering changes that we have made as a family. However, this is the exception and it would be impossible for many homes and families without costly and consistent support. Please do all you can to support tighter regulation of fireworks and reduced, more predictable timescales. You will not just be advocating for the animals that we as a society say we care about, but the people who care for and look after them.

15/10/2025

If you believe and want demonstrable minimum, positive welfare knowledge and competency standards within the animal training and behaviour industry, then you really need to check out the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). The ABTC is a voluntary, not for profit organisation set up to regulate the industry in accordance with Defra requests. It has many major training and welfare organisations signed up to it's science-led minimum standards and ethics policies as well as other stakeholders including British Veteribary Nursing Association, RSPCA, Battersea Dogs and Cats, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, The Horse Trust, Cats Protection, British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, British Veterinary Association, British Veterinary Behaviour Association, World Horse Welfare, ARU Writtle, Hartpury University, British Horse Society, University Centre Sparsholt Association of Pet Behaviour Coubsellors, Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and so many others.

𝗔𝗕𝗧𝗖 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗨𝗞𝗔𝗦 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗔 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿. 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) is proud to announce that its Assessing Organisations Certification Scheme has been formally recognised by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

Following a detailed review, UKAS confirmed that the ABTC Scheme meets the requirements of the international standard ISO/IEC 17067. In simple terms, this means the Scheme meets the high standards required for recognised certification programmes, the same framework that underpins quality assurance across many professional sectors.

This recognition, published in the UKAS Stage One Report on 6 October 2025, confirms the ABTC Scheme as suitable for use within formal certification processes. It also enables the ABTC to apply for Certification Body status under ISO/IEC 17065.

For the first time, the animal behaviour and training community has a UKAS-recognised certification scheme. This milestone strengthens ABTC’s long-term goal of embedding professional standards, supporting practitioners, and helping the public find ethical, evidence-based help for their animals.

We extend sincere thanks to the volunteers and representatives from our Member Organisations whose expertise and dedication made this possible.

“The ABTC Assessing Organisations Certification Scheme was reviewed for compliance against the requirements of ISO/IEC 17067. UKAS confirmed that the ABTC Scheme is formally recognised as suitable for use in the Conformity Assessment arena.” - UKAS Stage One Report, 6 October 2025

[Alt text: Red graphic titled “Important Announcement.” Text reads: “ABTC secures landmark UKAS recognition — a first for the animal behaviour and training sector. Driving excellence in animal behaviour and training.” Includes ABTC logo and two megaphone icons.]

09/10/2025

For the first time, a research team from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen and the Schöningen Research Center have reconstructed the genomes of an extinct horse species, Equus mosbachensis, from the archaeological site of Schöningen in L...

10/07/2025

Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CABs) work with animals that are demonstrating all types of undesirable, inappropriate, problematic or dangerous behaviour on veterinary referral.

Animal Behaviour Technicians (ABTs) design and implement programmes to provide preventative and first-aid behavioural advice. ABTs work with Clinical Animal Behaviourists or Veterinary Behaviourists in the implementation of behaviour modification plans.

Find a Full APBC Member at https://bit.ly/3BCV6VE

28/06/2025

Pain is one of the major causes of behaviour change in most animals that we see, including horses. Kissing spines can occur all too readily in horses that have been ridden before their spinal growth plates have set (usually prior to the age of 5 hears).Here, LGAP who cover the New Forest area highlight a case study.

Kissing Spine – what is it and what can you do?

Also known as overriding dorsal spinous processes, Kissing Spine occurs when the bones in a horse’s spine are too close together, sometimes even touching or “kissing.” This can lead to pain, reduced performance or behavioural changes under saddle.

Signs may include:
* Bucking or resistance under saddle
* Hollowing the back
* Reluctance to jump or collect
* Difficulty bending or working through

Anna, pictured, was repeatedly throwing her rider off after about 20 minutes of exercise. We assessed her and she presented with poor spinal mobility, but minimal pain. Her soft tissue was hypertonic, through her back, so we advised a veterinary assessment, resulting in the x-ray and veterinary treatment before physiotherapy intervention took place.

The good news is that with early diagnosis and a tailored rehab plan including physiotherapy, targeted exercises and in some cases, veterinary treatment - many horses can return to comfortable, happy work.

Have a question or want to know more about managing kissing spine? Drop us a message!

15/06/2025

When horses are denied regular contact with other horses, they can experience increased stress, which may manifest as restlessness, stereotypic behaviours (such as weaving or cribbing), and even health issues like digestive or musculoskeletal problems.

Social isolation has also been linked to heightened anxiety, learning difficulties, and a greater risk of injury, as horses deprived of companionship are more likely to become despondent or withdrawn.

Humans can offer comfort and support to horses during periods of social isolation, but cannot fully substitute for the social bonds horses form with other horses.

A recent (2025) study by Janczarek and colleagues examined this issue by measuring heart rate, heart rate variability, and behavioural responses in 12 horses during brief isolation periods.

The researchers found that even with attentive human support, horses still show physiological and behavioural signs of stress when isolated from other horses. Mares, in particular, remained stressed regardless of the type of human interaction.

Janczarek, I., Gazda, I., Barłowska, J., Kurnik, J., & Łuszczyński, J. (2025). Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals

15/06/2025

Apparently, we have New Forest Unicorns! And NF collies, of course!