Equine Behaviourist - Emily McDonald

09/07/2025

BIG NEWS. 10 days before my 10 year anniversary of meeting the meadow family we had our offer accepted on a field for the horses! Then after a 10 month sale it finally went through and on the Summer Solstice we went to our new field. This is truly a dream come true, but very overwhelming! So far we have:
* Spread seeds that I collected from our rented field.
* Planted a few plants.
*Pulled up ragwort.
* Removed the rusty chicken wire from the gate.
*Cut back the hedge so we can open the gate and access the water trough.
* Tried and failed to fix the trough 🫢. Although I did succeed in emptying the very old water and found no bones!
*Put up posts and tape to mark out our plans.
More to come!

27/05/2025

'Summer has arrived for most of us, and with it comes greater stability in the sugar and starch levels of pasture grasses. So why assume your pasture is unsafe? Without testing, any concern is purely speculative. In fact, in many cases, pasture grasses have tested lower in sugar and starch than the hay being fed.

The only way to know for sure is to have your pasture analyzed. Testing for sugar and starch gives you a clear picture of how your pasture is behaving. Specifically, measuring ESC (ethanol soluble carbohydrates) will tell you the sugar content — the primary factor influencing insulin levels. Starch breaks down into glucose and can raise insulin as well. Knowing these numbers takes the guesswork out of pasture management, especially for horses with metabolic concerns.'

Dr. Juliet Getty shows you how to test your pasture during the summer months to determine its safety for insulin resistant horses.

07/04/2025

Here is a great video by Hannah Weston explaining which treats to use for training horses with food. The key is to find the food that gives your horse a relaxed motivation :)

It can make a huge difference to the success of your training when you choose the RIGHT reward for your horse. Here, I talk you through 7 different treat opt...

07/03/2025

27/02/2025

Great video by The Willing Equine on what food she uses to train horses.

Curious what type of food reinforcers I train with? Here is a look! If you have any questions or future video suggestions, drop them in the comments. Thank y...

11/12/2024

https://thehorse.com/118825/20-things-your-horses-teeth-are-telling-you/?lid=vrhp4p8bm01k&utm_source=braze&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_content=TheHorse%20-%20Newsletter%20-%2020241210%20-%20Horse%20Health&uuid=66ed6dd55fda993087550edf

Brush up on your equine oral health knowledge with these facts about dental anatomy, issues, and exams.

10/12/2024

01/12/2024

Another great article by Juliet Getty!

A letter from Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. The issue is still free choice forage feeding. I respect and honor the way horses are made—they are different—unique, really. In a suitable, native environment, they are quite capable of taking care of themselves. They are free to eat and roam and, well, be h...

17/11/2024

I have really been enjoying listening to this podcast by Lauren Fraser Equine Behaviourist and Matthias Lenz. I love the open, honest discussion and it has really got me thinking!

The podcast of animal training and behaviour professionals Lauren Fraser and Matthias Lenz, that promises to be less show and more substance.

05/09/2024

Very interesting video showing the three types of hoof flare, which of these should be trimmed off and how.

Should you remove FLARE on the horse’s hoof or leave it alone? Do you know the 3 different types of flare?In this 🚀 lesson I’m going to...

04/09/2024

This article details how a healthy diet and reducing stress can help horses deal with vaccination inflammation. Although of course the first thing to consider is does the horse really need the specific vaccine? Anecdotally I have heard of several horses who have got colic or laminitis within days of being vaccinated. Also, having several vaccines at one time may be more risky.

By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. You’ve seen it firsthand – a decline in your horse’s overall demeanor and health following routine vaccinations. Inflammation is the reason for this reaction. A new study from the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University...

05/07/2024

https://thehorse.com/1122420/handling-the-head-shy-horse/?lid=qc2hk7zh9nl3&utm_source=braze&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_content=TheHorse%20-%20Newsletter%20-%2020240704%20-%20Welfare%20&Industry&uuid=__equine_main__5481_emily.mcd%40hotmail.co.uk__

Determine what is causing the horse's head shy behavior, and then use learning principles to reverse it.