Dr Kate Fenner
Training & Horsemanship
Kate has been riding all her life, but when competing at a Rolex International Dressage competition in Singapore found her horse was tense, and she didn’t think either was enjoying the event. At that moment, she decided to find a better way of training and riding that both she and the horse would enjoy and provide her with a more relaxed and happy riding partner. This quest took her to the USA, where she studied with John and Josh Lyons and then home to Australia to learn more about the science behind how horses learn to gain a PhD in horse behaviour and training from the University of Sydney.
Throughout this time, Kate has continued to help riders around the globe with their own horses through her online program, Kandoo Equine. Kate believes that horses learn best when engaged and relaxed, and prioritizing this and understanding the science behind horse behaviour and cognition is the key to building safe and happy riding horses. Whenever we interact with the horse, we are training him/her and we can and should make each interaction positive, relaxing and safe for both horse and rider/handler.
Through her training of thousands of horses and scientific research into horse behaviour and training, Kate shows riders how to get their horse into the Engagement Zone to optimize relaxation, learning and positive training outcomes for horses of all levels and riding disciplines. The Kandoo Equine step-by-step lessons begin on the ground and transition to the saddle when both horse and rider are ready.
Visit Dr Kate Fenner at the following sessions
Details
Thursday November 14th
Off The Track Demonstration Arena (OTT Pavilion)
Engaging your Horse with Learning
This demonstration will show the audience how to break down lessons and use combined-reinforcement to engage their horse with them.
We know that shying is one of the most commonly seen unwanted behaviours, and getting your horse into the Engagement Zone in this way is the first step to building a safe and happy riding partner.
A horse in the Engagement Zone is focused on the rider/handler, who regulates the horse’s emotional level. The session will explain the importance of the horse’s emotional level, show viewers how to recognise the ideal level for learning and demonstrate how to raise and lower the emotional level to minimize stress and optimize learning and safety for both horse and rider/handler.
The audience will leave the session with a step-by-step plan for getting their horse into the Engagement Zone and an understanding of how lessons are broken down to shape behaviour. Regardless of their experience level, each audience member will have a practical takeaway from the session to implement at home.
Details
Friday November 15th
Duncan Equine Group Arena
Long Reining (Double Lunging)
Long-reining or double-lunging is an excellent tool when the horse is correctly prepared for the exercise.
This demonstration will show the audience how to correctly perform that preparatory work; habituating the horse to the lines, choosing equipment (including surcingle, bit, saddle and so on), and teaching the horse to travel in frame and be soft in the bridle.
Long-reining is useful for all levels of horses and riders. It is a particularly helpful exercise for horses coming back into work after a break, for horses changing discipline (such as off-the-track), and for horses being started under saddle. It allows the horse to build top-line muscle and learn to travel in frame (including through transitions) without having to carry the rider. It allows the rider to learn to release pressure on the reins when the horse is in self-carriage, develop verbal signals for changes in gait and tempo, and judge whether or not the horse is ready to be ridden – all done safely from the ground.
Spectators will leave the session with the tools to go home and teach their own horses to long-rein.
