The College of Animal Welfare is pleased to announce a new series of equine evening courses during June and July.
Aimed at horse lovers and enthusiasts, these two hour courses will be run at our Huntingdon centre in Cambridgeshire from 7-9pm and cost just £10 per evening. Each evening is independent so don’t worry if you’ve miss one – just sign up for the next one!
Groundwork, Training, Leadership and Your Horse – 11 June 2012
Horses are intelligent, caring animals that respond brilliantly to confident, positive handling. Don’t worry if you think this isn’t you! Some leaders are born, but many more have learned effective techniques to be a successful horse owner! Pick up the foundations of groundwork and you’ll be on the road of success – no matter what discipline you choose. Learn how to be a confident leader and watch your horse become your enthusiastic partner!
Stable Yards, Paddock Setup and Pasture Care – 18 June 2012
Ah, the paddock – a horse’s home on the range. A well-planned stable yard is key to a happy, healthy horse, and a happy, unstressed owner. Keeping a horse is a year-round activity, and proactive planning will make sure you are using your yard’s resources to the maximum. This evening lecture will discuss the ways to plan a safe, hygienic paddock, and how to keep your pasture healthy (and delicious!) for your equine pals! Remember, grazing isn’t just about putting them out in the nearest convenient field – a little homework will keep your horse safer and healthier, and may even save you loads in time and money!
Anatomy and Physiology for Horse Owners – 25 June 2012
A horse is one of the most complicated creatures you will find! There’s a long list of things that can go wrong in a horse. That said, a basic knowledge of a horse’s anatomy and physiology will help take the mystery out of horse health! Come along to this evening lecture and cover the skeletal system, the horse’s major organs, and where and how the tendons are on a horse. Finish up with an overview of the major muscle groups, and you’re on the way to understanding your equine friends just a little better!
Buying and Selling Horses – 2 July 2012
Buying or selling a horse is an exciting time for everyone! Unfortunately, we’ve all heard the horror stories – so it’s a scary time for everyone too! Buying a horse? It’s wonderful that you’ve made the choice to buy, but it’s vital to have a plan before you get ‘stuck in’. Tragically, unscrupulous horse sellers are out there, and it’s up to you to make sure you’re picking the right horse! This evening you’ll learn about pre-purchase checklists, purchase contracts, how to spot a phony, trying before you buy, and the crucial importance of fully vetting any horse you want to buy. Selling a horse? It can be a happy time and a sad time – but if you’re here on this evening, you’re someone who wants the best for their equine friends! One of the keys to a successful sale is knowing how to answer the questions you may be asked, and arranging a successful viewing. Find out what to expect, from whose vet you should use, to a contract that protects yourself, the buyer, and the vet!
Bite Size CPD: Laminitis and Cushing’s Disease – 9 July 2012
Laminitis is a severely painful disease of horses. Swelling and inflammation between the bone and the hoof causes severe pain and lameness in the unfortunate horse. Urgent veterinary care is a priority – too many horses are condemned to chronic lameness because nobody saw the signs. Luckily, there is hope! This evening’s lecture will cover the main causes of laminitis as well as what you can do to keep your horse healthy.
Sometimes, though, laminitis is nobody’s fault! An increasing number of horses with laminitis are being diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease – a hormonal disease! This can cause a wide variety of symptoms, from weight loss, increased sweating, poor coat, poor condition, and of course, laminitis! Come along to this evening and learn about these two diseases that have an enormous effect on a horse’s quality of life! Find out how you can recognize the signs of disease and work with your vet to manage and care for your horse! Help them have the best treatment possible!
Your lecturer for these evenings is Jackie Sansom RVN A1 V1 DAEP MIAEP. Jackie has owned horses for the last 15 years and has a keen interest in horse behaviour, biomechanics, and the function of the hoof. She is a keen advocate of a holistic approach to caring for and training horses. Jackie is particularly passionate about education and training of young horses.
After starting her career as a Veterinary Nurse, in 2007 she retrained as an Applied Equine Podiatrist. She now runs a successful business (Phenomenal Hooves) dedicated to managing horse hooves without shoes and educating owners on modern principles of hoof health, structure, and function. She has recently trained as an Equine Bodyworker to further her knowledge of equine biomechanics.
To sign up for any of the courses please either click on the course titles above or call us on 0844 372 9410.