COURSES
Understand Horses produces short on-demand courses and lectures, longer instructor-led courses, and membership clubs on a range of topics including equine behaviour, horse training, ethology, nutrition, physiology and welfare.
Our mission is to provide clear, well presented, evidence-based content that is easy to understand and useful to anyone that is interested in learning more about horses and equine science.
ACCREDITED COURSES
Comprehensive, in-depth programmes for those seeking recognised qualifications in horse training and behaviour. These accredited courses are evidence-based, professionally led and designed for learners who want to develop real-world skills and credentials.
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PROFESSIONAL HORSE TRAINER CERTIFICATE
Trudi Dempsey
£1,950 (EARLY BIRD £1,450) | 22 WEEKS
Gain the skills, practical knowledge and accredited certification to work confidently as a professional horse trainer, guided by expert instruction over a comprehensive 22-week programme.
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TRAUMA-INFORMED HORSE TRAINER CERTIFICATE
Emma Lethbridge
£499 (EARLY BIRD £399) | 8 WEEKS
Learn how fear and trauma affect horse behaviour and master compassionate, science-based training approaches you can use professionally or with your own horses.
INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSES
Interactive, instructor-led courses delivered by experienced equine behaviour professionals, combining expert teaching with guided learning and real-world application. Ideal if you want structured support, feedback and deeper understanding.
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HORSE BEHAVIOUR CONSULTING MENTORSHIP
Justine Harrison
£780 (EARLY BIRD £650) | 8 WEEKS
Advance your ability to assess, interpret and solve real world horse behaviour challenges with personalised mentoring and expert feedback.
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UNDERSTANDING AND ASSESSING EQUINE PAIN
Roxane Kirton, Justine Harrison & Holly Gallacher
£279 (EARLY BIRD £199) | 4 WEEKSLearn to recognise and interpret subtle and obvious signs of pain so you can improve your horse’s welfare and make better clinical or handling decisions.
ON-DEMAND COURSES
Self-paced online courses delivered by experienced equine experts, designed to fit around busy schedules and focused on practical, evidence-based skills you can use straight away.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO HORSE NUTRITION
Rosa Verwijs
£70 | 2 HOURS
Understand how a horse’s digestive system and natural feeding patterns influence health and behaviour, enabling you to provide more balanced, welfare-focused diets.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING HORSES WITH FOOD
Trudi Dempsey
£65 | 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES
Discover effective, humane food-based training techniques and troubleshooting strategies to improve behaviour, enhance learning and strengthen your connection with your horse.
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GREY MATTERS! UNDERSTANDING THE EQUINE BRAIN
Emma Lethbridge
£90 | 2.5 HOURS
Learn how the horse’s brain influences behaviour so you can interpret actions more accurately and train with deeper insight into cognition and emotion.
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HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PLAN
Trudi Dempsey
£35 | 1 HOUR
Gain the tools to design clear, step-by-step training plans that support consistent progress for both in-hand and ridden work.
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TRAIN YOUR HORSE TO: WAIT
Trudi Dempsey & Sooz Foster
£55 | 1.5 HOURS
Master practical strategies to teach your horse calm, reliable waiting behaviour that improves safety and everyday handling.
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UNDERSTAND CLICKER TRAINING FOR HORSES
Trudi Dempsey
£145 | 5 HOURS
Build or refine your clicker training skills so you can shape behaviours more effectively and with positive reinforcement methods.
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UNDERSTAND EQUINE BODY LANGUAGE
Justine Harrison
£90 | 2.5 HOURS
Develop the ability to read and interpret your horse’s body language, helping you to spot stress, fear, pain or relaxation before it affects performance.
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UNDERSTAND HORSE BEHAVIOUR
Justine Harrison
£70 | 2 HOURS
Gain a practical understanding of why horses behave as they do so you can handle, train and interact with greater confidence and clarity.
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WHY DO HORSES BEHAVE BADLY?
Lauren Fraser
£35 | 1 HOUR
Explore the underlying causes of common behaviour problems so you can address them with informed, evidence-based strategies.
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WORKING WITH FEAR AND TRAUMA IN HORSES
Emma Lethbridge
£235 | 6.5 HOURS
Learn compassionate approaches for helping horses overcome fear responses and trauma-related behaviour challenges.
ON-DEMAND LECTURES
Focused lectures exploring specific topics in horse behaviour, welfare and training. Perfect if you want to deepen your understanding of a subject without committing to a longer course.
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BEST FRIENDS? AFFILIATIVE BEHAVIOURS IN WILD HORSES
Samantha Couper
£35 | 1 HOUR
Discover how horses form social bonds and resolve conflict, with insights you can apply to improve horse-horse and human-horse relationships.
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HOW CHRONIC PAIN AFFECTS HORSE BEHAVIOUR
Roxane Kirton
£35 | 1 HOUR
Understand how persistent pain influences behaviour and how better recognition can support welfare and management.
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WHEN POSITIVE BECOMES TOXIC...
Trudi Dempsey
£35 | 1 HOUR
Learn to recognise and address problems that can arise from well-intended but misapplied positive reinforcement training.
On-DEMAND WEBINARS
Watch past expert-led webinars covering real-world challenges in horse care, behaviour, training and welfare. Gain practical insight from qualified professionals and apply it immediately to your own horses or practice.
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Building Trust: Co-operative Care for Horses
Trudi Dempsey & Gabriel Lencioni
£25 | 1.5HRS
Learn practical techniques for building trust with horses that make routine care and handling calmer and more cooperative.
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Recognising Behavioural Signs of Pain in Horses
Justine Harrison
£25 | 1.5HRS
Develop the skills to detect less obvious behaviour indicators of discomfort so you can support your horse’s welfare.
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Managing Equine Obesity - Balancing Diet, Enrichment, Behaviour & Welfare
Rosa Verwijs
£25 | 1.5HRS
Get evidence-based strategies to manage weight, nutrition and behaviour together for healthier, more engaged horses.
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EQUINE GASTRIC ULCERS - DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT
Jessica Weigh
£25 | 1.5HRS
Learn how to identify and manage gastric ulcers with nutrition, enrichment and behaviour-informed practices.
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UNDERSTAND BITLESS HORSE RIDING AND TRAINING
Trudi Dempsey
£25 | 1.5HRS
Explore the principles and benefits of bitless riding so you can choose and apply humane training alternatives.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO EQUINE ETHOLOGY
Samantha Couper
£25 | 1.5HRS
Gain insight into the natural behaviours of horses so you can interpret and respond to what horses are communicating.
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HORSE SHOW WELFARE MATTERS
Tamzin Furtado & Amanda Stoddart-West
FREE | 1.5HRS
Learn how equine welfare stewards support wellbeing at events and how you can advocate for better practice around competitions
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CAN HORSES SUFFER FROM PTSD?
Emma Lethbridge
£25 | 1.5HRS
Explore the science of trauma and stress in horses to deepen your ability to recognise and support affected individuals.
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BETTER WEANING FOR MARE AND FOAL
Aline Bouquet
£25 | 1.5HRS
Understand best practices around weaning that support health, behaviour and welfare for both mare and foal.
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EQUINE BEHAVIOURIST OR TRAINER?
Justine Harrison & Trudi Dempsey
£25 | 1.5HRS
Clarify the distinct roles, methods and professional pathways for behaviourists versus trainers in equine practice.
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RECOGNISING LAMENESS IN HORSES
Roxane Kirton & Holly Gallacher
£25 | 1.5HRS
Learn to spot both obvious and subtle behavioural and physical signs of lameness to improve assessment and management.
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PLAY IN HORSES - BENEFITS AND BEHAVIOURS
Samantha Couper
£25 | 1.5HRS
Discover how play supports social skills, welfare and development and how to recognise it in your own horses.
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UNDERSTANDING EQUINE STEREOTYPIES
Aline Bouquet
£25 | 1.5HRS
Learn what causes stereotypic behaviours (stable vices) and how to address underlying welfare issues.
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BETTER BEGINNINGS - BUILDING RESILIENCE IN YOUNG HORSES
Trudi Dempsey & Gabriel Lencioni
£25 | 1.5HRS
Explore how early life experiences shape behaviour and long-term resilience so you can make better management decisions.
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IMPROVE HORSE AND RIDER CONFIDENCE
Robin Foster
£25 | 1.5HRS
Learn techniques to build mutual confidence so riders and horses perform together more positively and safely.
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LIVERY YARD SURVIVAL GUIDE
Tamzin Furtado
£25 | 1.5 HRS
Gain practical coping strategies for managing the social and logistical challenges of life on livery yards.
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BAD GIRLS? UNDERSTAND MARE BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS
Roxane Kirton
£25 | 1.5 HRS
Get evidence-based insight into common mare behaviour issues so you can respond effectively rather than reactively.
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INTERPRETING WILD HORSE BEHAVIOUR
Lucy Rees & Samantha Couper
£25 | 2.5 HRS
Learn how wild and feral horses behave to enrich your understanding of natural equine communication and social systems.
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STABLING AND BOX REST SURVIVAL GUIDE
Justine Harrison
£25 | 1.5 HRS
Find out how to improve a horse’s wellbeing when stabled or on box rest by understanding their behavioural needs and learning practical ways to reduce stress and enrich their environment.
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TOTAL RECALL - TRAIN YOUR HORSE TO COME TO YOU
Trudi Dempsey
£25 | 1.5 HRS
Discover why horses often hesitate to come when called and learn clear, step-by-step training methods to build reliable recall you can use in any environment.
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UNDERSTAND ANXIETY, FEARS & PHOBIAS IN HORSES
Emma Lethbridge
£25 | 1.5 HRS
Learn how to recognise and interpret the subtle signs of anxiety, fear and phobia in horses and gain practical, science-based strategies to help them feel safer, more confident and better understood.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO HORSE BEHAVIOUR CONSULTING
Justine Harrison & Lauren Fraser
£25 | 1.5 HRS
Learn the fundamentals of horse behaviour consulting and what it takes to work effectively helping others solve equine behaviour problems.
CLUBS
Members clubs include regular online meetings plus individual and group community discussions.
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POSITIVE HORSE CLUB
Trudi Dempsey
£29 | MONTHLY
Join equine behaviourist and trainer Trudi Dempsey in her exclusive alumni training club for a supportive community where you deepen your training knowledge, discuss cases and get ongoing professional guidance.
Approved CPD/CEU PROVIDER FOR
New courses and events are added on a regular basis, so sign up to the mailing list to keep up to date.