From The Ashes - Canine & Equine Behaviourist

Thankyou to everyone for the support 💓
Next week is looking busy with Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday booked. If your looking for an appointment please message me 🥰

I love my horses but no one ever speaks about the darker side of the equine industry.

The times we lose ourselves or our confidence.

The toxic environments,
the judgey yards,
the snobbery,
the bullying,
the eating disorders,
the fear being enough or doing enough,
the tears,
the fears,
the equine guilt - am I doing enough, should I ride my horse everyday,
what will people think,
Is my horse happy,
I should get over that fall,
I should just get back up,
The silent tears in the tack room,
The tears that spill onto your horses mane as you groom them and consider just giving up -selling them because "you aren't good enough" .

You aren't alone, you are heard. Your fears, your doubts, the anxiety, the self loathing - it doesn't have to win. I didn't let it neither should you ❤️

The smile of someone finally getting their confidence back after all the hard work 🥰👏 we were drowned but anyone who knows me knows I don't do fair weathered riders. We work and we work in all weather 🥰 well done girls 😍
6 weeks of going back to basics for Sarah Jane and look how far she's come from the stroppy mare to an absolute angel

😜

Hi everyone ❤️

I have appointments available for:

3pm -booked

Thursday (22nd)
11am
1pm -booked
3pm -booked

Friday(23rd)
1pm
3pm

I don't care who you know, what Rossettes you've won, prize money, where you've competed.

I care when you pulled up, when you resigned, when put your horse ahead of winning, when you dismounted and walked your horse miles home because they didn't feel right in the saddle.

So lets look at why the concept of a 'time out' works. Because horses work in a social structure, often times being driven away from the herd by a head mare or stallion for discipline.

They pin the ears, swish tail, extend neck, show teeth and chase the culprit out.... you will not be part of this family until you change... have 'time out' and think about what you've done. Come back when you're ready to play the game.

Using natural training methods reaps huge results. Because you are using your animals brain to its fullest its not having to learn your language and new human behaviour to change. Its using what it already knows. 🤷

Asking a horse to stop smashing buttons and think is the same concept asking a horse not to race at fences and ground poles. Being pressure affected animals asking them to stop and think can have a huge impact on their performance.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find?fbclid=IwY2xjawEpWpxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHei5XUv3C4YAi8poXyE-SN99cqR7F03afytFvc6q4Bg9-SGoLqCPJ-pjFA_aem_3nuAbaJAVrjc9lK4UrABSQ

Horses can plan ahead and think strategically, scientists find Team hopes findings will help improve equine welfare after showing cognitive abilities include being ‘goal-directed’

Cancellation appointment available for tomorrow (15/8) at 4pm
And Friday at 4pm
Covid is going around again, stay safe every🥰

When you ask the gorgeous jett to help teach luna how to relax 😌

What is the 3-3-3 rule when rescuing a dog?

3 days - for your dog to decompress. It's all new and scary.

3 weeks- for your dog to start feeling safe/settled and familiar with his /her new routine.

3 months - before your new dogs personality comes fully through. They feel safe and secure finally.

⚠️Thunder and lightning ⚠️

Please watch out for dogs/ livestock on the road that may have gotten spooked by the storms.

Dogs should be wearing collars and tags to help reunite them with their owners.

Redirected aggression happens when a dogs emotions are high. So petting, stroking and kissing your dog is to be avoided at this time. Dogs aren't always able to distinguish friend from foe, getting into their space 'to provide (human version) comfort' isn't helpful and through no fault of their own may lead to being bitten.

Provide water as dogs will be panting heavily.

Provide space.

Provide a dark safe 'den' like space for your dog.

Provide a distraction such as toys -but should your dog not want to play respect that.

Keep children away from all animals during this time, thunder and lightning can be traumatising for many animals and children don't understand the need to respect boundaries.

When I started working with the beautiful Sarah Jane 2 weeks ago she was head bolt upright, completely tense and bouncing on her toes. Very pushy in the chest and with lightening fast hind legs. This was half way through the training last night.

A beautiful soft, kind eye, listening ears, soft muzzle and nose, elongated low neck. What a superb mare 😍🥰

I hate having to make these posts.

A reminder, this is not a hobby, small time job, sideline. This is my job, one I spent 15+ yrs studying, perfecting and training for. I have trained with over 900 equids and 1000 dogs at this point. I have done studies, webiners, workshops to excel in my field. Worked along side vets, chiropractors, dentists, groomers and masseuse and multiple rescue organisations to better understand the animals I work with.

Studied behaviour, anatomy and physiology, neurology, psychology, gut bio health, I spent my offdays seeking out more knowledge and education to help those who need it.

⚠️Notice of cancellation should be given within 24 hrs of appointments.

⚠️Same day cancellation has a fee of €15 that is to be paid before the next appointment.

⚠️if you create a habit of cancelling (3x in a row) you will not be allowed to book an appointment, you can reserve a cancellation slot when/if they become available.

To those who cancel for genuine reasons this post is not directed at you, and I apologise for having to make this post, but there are ones who show a lack of respect by cancelling just because.

"Be prepared for this behaviour to become 10x worse or for your animal to really push back sometime soon, just don't lose hope. Stick with it and things will improve"

So I am always 100% transparent with my clients. And often times when I deal with aggressive cases or extreme behaviour this may have been something you heard me say.

1.What do I mean?
2.Why does it happen?
3.Shouldn't an animal just change?

1. Extinction burst is a burst of behaviour that has always gotten rewarded ie. The animal snaps, bites kick, threatens and we let get of the treat 'by accident' or we release pressure because we are scared or we back away and put them away or stop asking for fear of the response. Ie. This 'bad' behaviour gets rewarded and its always gotten what I want so I must escalate it to keep its affectiveness.

2. An extinction burst is a sudden increase in behavior when the reinforcement, or reward, for an undesirable behavior has been removed. It is a temporary response pattern when an expected result of action no longer occurs. So if a toddlers crying always gets what it wants it learns to cry more, if the crying doesn't work it escalates to a tantrum...
It's the same in animals. I buck, bite, kick, chase and get what I want normally... so what happens when it no longer gets the desired results because this trainer is too stubborn to give in 😅.

3. That's just a stupid question to be honest. Do humans "just change'? Nope we stupidly keep going on with same patterns of bad and unhealthy habits and coping mechanisms same as animals.

When something has always worked and now suddenly doesn't it takes a while to relearn healthy habits, to learn a new pattern, to undo and reestablish. Same with our animals don't immediately think the training doesn't work, or am I doing this right, did I do something wrong... no this is why I always openly communication with my clients to expect this. 🥰 you're doing great guys ❤️

Meet the fabulous luna, anyone who knows me knows my love of mallys 😍 she reminds me so much of my own girly.

Hi Everyone, 🥰 thankyou for your support!
This week all lessons are booked and next week is already filling up so please message if your are looking for an appointments as I will not be working Thurs next week (15/8) due to a family members funeral.

❤️Availabilities for the coming week:❤️

Tuesday
3pm
mallow area

Wednesday
2pm - booked
mallow area

Thursday
1pm -booked
3pm -booked

I once did a quiz with my students - equestrian brand, horse breed, common illness that affects horses and made up word.

They got all 10 equestrian clothing brands right,

They only knew 2 out of 10 of the horse breeds,

And they only knew 1 illness out of 5

And I gave them no made up words.

I don't care what brand you ride in, nor if your outfit matches, nor the 6th pair of boots you bought this year.

I care about how you care for your horse, how you communicate with your teammate, the aftercare from your ride, if you still love and spend time with your horse if its sick/lame/ unridable and I care how you control your frustration/embarrassment or anger around your horse.

I'm off for the weekend, but wish everyone a fab weekend 🩶