POSTPONED - BEVA Approved: Equine Behaviour Modification Techniques for Veterinary Personnel

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the Horse Trust has postponed this course.

About the Course

This course is designed for veterinary professionals dealing with equids in practice. It will review equine ethology and learning theory and explain how these principles can be used to address behavioural problems encountered by veterinary professionals in their day-to-day work, for example when handling needle/clipper shy horses or horses that won’t go into stocks/vehicles. The 2013 BEVA accident survey highlighted the high incidence of accidents affecting equine veterinary surgeons and the need for training in methods that practitioners can employ to remain safe when working with horses. Upon completion of this course delegates will understand how the horse’s health status, environment, diet and learning history can contribute to the development of challenging behaviour, and be able to apply effective, humane handling techniques in practice. This course includes demonstrations and hands-on practical sessions so delegates have the opportunity to practice many of the techniques themselves.

BEVA Member: £250 
BEVA Member – Nurse: £250
BEVA Member – Student: £250
BEVA Non-Member: £300

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand equine ethology and how the horse’s health status, environment, diet and learning history can contribute to the development of challenging behaviour
• Understand associative and non-associative learning processes and how to use learning theory appropriately when handling or restraining horses for veterinary examinations or procedures
• Understand how to assess horse behaviour and the principles of re-training horses that perform unwanted behaviours during common husbandry and veterinary procedures.
• Understand how unwanted ridden behaviours can develop as result of pain and learnt responses
• Be able to assess horse behaviour and correctly apply learning theory when handling horses.

Course Speakers

• Gemma Pearson BVMS Cert AVP (Equine Medicine) MScR MRCVS, ESI Associate Diploma in Equitation Science – Edinburgh
• Liane Preshaw MPhil MSc - Buckinghamshire
• Amber Batson BVetMed MRCVS, ABTC Accredited Animal Behaviourist - Wiltshire

Course Downloads

Full Course Programme