Sitting here typing my first blog, I am feeling very happy and excited about where I am today and how far I have come in the last 2 years. My journey started when I attended a Mastersons Method weekend, December 2020. Trying to find my feet in a new upside down world I decided to see how body work on horses will fit into my new life so to speak. Observing how the horse reacts to a light touch and becoming a willing participant in a session made me start looking at the world differently.
This sent me down the rabbit hole into Ethology: The scientific study of animal behaviour in their natural environment.
I enrolled into the Ethology academy and got my certificates end 2021 in basic animal behaviour dogs and horses. In February 2021, I did a Canine behaviour and training instructor course with Petsense and got a distinction.
Animal Behavioural Care was born and I started professional dog and puppy training classes. Being new in the business, or shall I say, any business venture on my own, I took it slowly to find my feet and how I can truly help people. Throughout I was reading up and taking courses online with the Ethology institute on dog and cat behaviour, Absolute dogs (UK) and also did a Rally free crash course with Kommetjie Canine Collage. On the horse side of the business I follow Warrick Schiller religiously. His way of looking at horsemanship fits perfect into how I see training and understanding horses.
In 2022, I enrolled into the advance animal behaviour course for dogs at the Ethology academy and happy to say got my distinction. Along the way, I build up confidence and started to focus more on body language and concept training. All the way still working on my own and friends horses doing the Mastersons Method and helping them to cope with what life throws at them with light touch that release stress in the body.
And here we are. 2023. Focusing this year more on the Mastersons Method and getting that anatomy course under my belt. On the training and behaviour side, helping students how to understand what their animals are trying to tell them with scientific backing and off course tons of play and fun. And then some cat courses I have my eye on to enrol in.
I want to thank Dr J Slabbert and Dr F Hurley for their support and wisdom at the Ethology Academy.
Prof Abrantes and all the tutors at the Ethology Institute that are always there when you get stuck and need help. Prof Abrantes opened my eyes to see behaviour in a totally different way. Stick to science, keep your ego out of it and always see the whole picture.
Jim Masterson, with his Mastersons techniques. Cannot wait to become a certified practisioner and helping more and more people with their horses.
Warrick Schiller. Thank you for confirming that the way I was working with horses was correct. Being different and also new in the horse world can be very intimidating when the old ways is still seen as the right ways to train and work with horses. Your podcasts is inspiriting to say the least.
To all my students and friends that kept me sane and on the right path. And then thanks MOM for helping when it was tough going towards the end of a month. And last but not least, my Zoo. Lea, my amazing, hyper, over enthusiastic, talent for barking, Jack Russell/ Pitbull cross. You are helping so many dogs by being you and also showing people that even dog trainers do not have perfect dogs. That is way we became dog trainers in the first place to help our own dogs. Our Journeys is amazing and I am so very proud of you. Broken Arrow, my one and only horse. I started this journey 9 years ago, knowing nothing about horses. And here we are. And then everybody that knows me very well. The cat lady: my first passion. To all my best behaved cats in the whole wide world. You are the reason for only starting cat behaviour courses now. I would like to share my 40 years of knowledge but, want that certificates first for backup. Science rule.
Thank you for taking the time and reading my journey. Till next time.
Jessie and me. A long time ago……
Weirdos! Broken Arrow and me.
Lea and me.