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Lead a Horse to Water

Trudi Dempsey

Lost in the sea of horse training?
Step aboard for evidence based equine training and behaviour content.
Listen to professionals and enthusiasts from the world of horse training and behaviour as well as associated areas of the equine world.
Trudi Dempsey is an English equine trainer and behaviour consultant, specialising in positive reinforcement.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first
  • Friday · 20 min

    Inside the Professional Horse Trainers Forum with Naomi Garner

    In this episode, I sit down with Naomi Garner a presenter from the upcoming Professional Horse Trainers Forum, at Understand Horses. Naomi began her career in equine podiatry in 2019, training with Equine Podiatry Training Ltd. Owning nervous horses herself shaped her desire to work with cases others often avoid. Over time, she developed a practical, welfare-led approach to supporting anxious, dangerous, and physically compromised equines. This led her to specialise further in behaviour change and positive reinforcement, continuing her education with Understand Horses. Naomi’s work focuses on ethical, non-forceful solutions that prioritise both horse and human safety. In her presentation Naomi will explore what both horse and handler need for safe, welfare-led hoof care - good hoof care is not only about what is done to the feet, but how it is carried out. Too often, forceful handling is normalised, despite escalating fear and risk. This talk covers handling hooves, essential skills for both horse and owner, training alongside your hoof care provider, and retraining the “kicker.” Attendees will leave with practical tools to improve safety while advocating for their horse’s physical and mental wellbeing. This conversation offers a preview of one of seven presentations at this year's Professional Horse Trainers Forum, hosted by myself, Trudi Dempsey and Justine Harrison on 26 September 2026, early bird ticket £35 but get one soon as the full price will be £50. For tickets and info ⁠The Professional Horse Trainers Forum⁠ Find Naomi Podiatry Horse Training and on social media as Bare Remedy Equine Podiatry and Halcyon Equine on social media.

  • July 11 · 20 min

    Inside the Professional Horse Trainers Forum with Milly Paton and Christa Culbert

    In this episode, I sit down with Milly Paton and Christa Culbert, two presenters from the upcoming Professional Horse Trainers Forum, to explore what makes training genuinely safe and effective for both horse and human. Milly, a mental health nurse and positive reinforcement trainer, unpacks psychological safety as the foundation for learning. In her presentation she will discuss how distress and cognitive overload can be present even when a session looks successful on the surface, and how session structure, pacing, and learner agency support nervous system regulation in both horses and humans. Christa will look at the role of patterns in communication, groundwork, and riding. She'll explain how thoughtfully applied patterns can build reliable behaviours, from husbandry to riding, and how they give horses a clearer way to communicate back to us, regardless of discipline or method. Together, this conversation offers a preview of two of the seven presentations at this year's Professional Horse Trainers Forum, hosted by Trudi Dempsey and Justine Harrison on 26 September 2026, early bird ticket £35 For tickets and info The Professional Horse Trainers Forum Find Milly and Christa... https://www.christaculberthorsemanship.com/ https://millypatonhorsecraft.com/

  • May 18 · 56 min

    How Well Do We Read Equine Pain - in conversation with Dr Nicola Gregory

    In this episode I talk to Dr. Nicola Gregory, a psychologist with a lifelong passion for horses whose research has been asking questions about how well we actually read equine pain. Nicola holds a BSc in Neuroscience from the University ofSussex (2000) and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Exeter (2011). Following her doctorate, she undertook a post‑doctoral position at the University of Portsmouth since then she has been based at Bournemouth University, progressing from post‑doctoral researcher to lecturer and now Principal Academic in Psychology. Her research focuses on how humans understand others through non‑verbal cues, particularly facial expressions. Throughout her academic career, she has used eye‑tracking technology to examine how attention is directed within social environments and how we interpret subtle visual information. She is now extending this work into equine research, exploring how humans process cues from horses. Find Nicola here https://staffprofiles.bournemouth.ac.uk/display/ngregory Join us at Understand Horses Live in June 2026 https://www.understandhorses.com/understand-horses-live

  • April 5 · 38 min

    Cooperative Care a Carpool Podcast with Gabriel Lencioni

    What happens when two behaviour nerds, a parked car, and a determined group of tourists get in the way? You get this episode. Recorded in my car after a series of camera mishaps and unexpected background 'ambience,' this carpool podcast with veterinary behaviourist Gabriel Lencioni dives into the art of cooperative care, Horse‑Initiated Training (HIT), and the many ways we can give horses more agency in their own handling and healthcare. Despite the technical hurdles, the conversation is rich, practical, and full of insight. We explore how small shifts in training can transform everyday procedures, why opt-ins for handling is important, and how trainers and vets can work together to create calmer, more confident horses. A slightly chaotic recording. A seriously good discussion. Gabriel is a Veterinarian and PhD student in Animal Welfare at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ) of the University of São Paulo (USP). He is an IAABC CEBC and Elite Fear free certified professional. His main research field is in affective states in horses and the use of technologies (AI) as indicators during competitions. Gabriel has a special interest in positive reinforcement training and cooperative care approaches to veterinary procedures. Find Gabriel on Instagram Find my courses equine.training

  • March 6 · 1 hr 6 min

    Positive Reinforcement Based Training - In Conversation with Coraline Plumat

    In this episode, I sit down with Coraline Plumat of Une Leçon d’Ancrage to explore the current state of positive reinforcement–based equine training. We discuss the challenges of introducing R+, the importance of sharing knowledge, and how collaboration can help trainers and horses alike reach their full potential. Whether you’re just curious about new approaches or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation offers insight, honesty, and practical perspective from a leading voice in Belgium’s R+ based equine training community. Find Coraline on: Facebook Instagram Une Carotte au Coin du Feu podcast in French Language Check out my courses here: equine.training And my subscription training club here:Positive Horse Club

  • January 18 · 50 min

    Choice, in Conversation with Christa and Taylor Culbert

    In this episode I'm delighted to be joined by sisters Taylor and Christa Culbert. We talk about offering choice to our horses in their lives and their training. Christa is a horse trainer who lives in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, two dogs, and two horses. She has a BFA in painting and drawing, and is currently in a Masters program in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. Christa offers in-person and online horse training and behavior consulting to foster joyful relationships and improve equine welfare. She particularly enjoys working with unhandled horses and horses who struggle to fit into the domestic world, and the amazing human beings who support them. Taylor is a horse trainer and English professor living in the Hudson Valley in New York State, and she recently completed her PhD in Theatre and Performance. Her research focuses on the history of animals in performance and how cultural narratives about animals shape the ways that humans interact with them in performance settings. Taylor’s research draws heavily on her practical experience working with horses and she currently runs a positive reinforcement training program at a local equine rescue. Check out the first episode of their podcast (linked) for more about their background story. The book that started it all for Christa when Taylor gifted it to her: Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches us About All Animals by Karen Pryor Find Christa:christaculberthorsemanship.com Facebook: Christa Culbert Instagram: christaculbert2 And Taylor:Instagram: @thediscoursehorse Facebook: Taylor Claire Culbert My professional horse trainer course at Understand Horses My cooperative care course with vet Gabriel Lencioni

  • Dec 4, 2025 · 20 min

    Forming Habits

    In this episode I talk about habits. We often describe them as automatic and almost separate from conscious training, yet the processes that build them are the same ones that shape all learned behaviour. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are usually taught as if they belong in different boxes. One is presented as passive association. The other is active learning by consequences. In practice they are almost inseparable.In this episode I look at how those two processes weave through the behaviours we repeat every day, and why understanding their overlap matters. When we see how inseparable they are, it becomes easier to understand why certain habits form so quickly and why others resist change. It also gives us a way to design environments and routines that support the habits we want, instead of relying on willpower alone.If you want some help in forming habits you can find me at www.equine.training where you can find all my courses and services.My flagship professional course begins in March 26 and the early bird price ends on 31st December. Positive Horse Club Fenzi course with Irith

  • Nov 9, 2025 · 1 hr

    Listening to Horses, in conversation with Nicky Ross

    My Professional Horse Trainer Certificate Course is now open for 2026 and there is a scholarship place available with applications closing at the end of November. https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/professional-horse-trainer-certificate In this episode I’m delighted to be joined by Nicky Ross, an equine behaviourist with over 20 years of experience. Nicky specialises in exploring and nurturing the horse–human relationship and teaches equine behaviour both online and at home in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, where she lives alongside her herd of Shetland ponies. Her recent case study, published with CABI, explores how developing agency and giving horses the ability to make meaningful choices, can enhance the bond between horses and humans. Through her “Pony Adventure Walks,” Nicky invites her ponies to choose whether to take part, which route to follow, and even which person they’d like to accompany. Nicky’s work challenges us to reimagine what partnership with horses can look like when we truly listen to their voices. Find Nicky in all these places: www.horseplayhighlands.com https://www.facebook.com/horseplayhighlands/ https://www.instagram.com/horseplayhighlands/ https://www.youtube.com/@horseplayhighlands https://www.tiktok.com/@horseplayhighlands https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-ross-950730326/

  • Jul 22, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min

    In conversation with Irith Bloom

    In conversation with-Irith Bloom certified professional trainer, behavior consultant and TAGteacher. I hope you enjoy the conversation I had with friend and colleague Irith about training and behaviour including, parallels between horses and dogs and much more. Irith Bloom, author, presenter, trainer, and teacher, owns The Sophisticated Dog, a company that provides both peer-to-peer and trainer-to-pet-family services worldwide, as well as in-person training to select clients in Los Angeles. Along with Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Irith co-founded and is faculty at Carefree Companion, a program that helps people teach greater stress resilience and better emotional regulation to their non-human animal companions. Irith has been training animals since the 1980s and has worked with animals ranging from chickens and rabbits to dogs and horses—not to mention humans. A biologist by training, Irith is fascinated by the science of learning. She is a sought-after presenter at conferences and seminars worldwide, and her writing has been published in countless online outlets, as well as in print media including her book “Your Puppy and You: A step-by-step guide to raising a freak'n awesome dog.” Irith is a CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, VSPDT, KPA CTP, CSAT, CBATI-KSA, and a Fear Free Certified Practitioner (FFCP - Trainer). She is also certified in TAGteach, a positive-reinforcement method for teaching humans. Irith has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is faculty at both Victoria Stilwell Dog Training Academy and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, on the Board of Directors of the IAABC Foundation, a member of the Advisory Board for Pets for Vets, Chair Emeritus of the Education Committee of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and a former CCPDT Board Member. She also volunteers for National English Shepherd Rescue. Irith lives in Los Angeles. She is between dogs at the moment, but shares her home with a well-behaved spouse. Courses at https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/people/786-people/faculty/37995-irith-bloom Irith on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSophisticatedDog/

  • Jul 15, 2025 · 27 min

    Can we shape behaviour using negative reinforcement?

    We often think of behaviour produced with positive reinforcement as the only behaviour that can be shaped but of course behaviour produced using negative reinforcement can be shaped too. In this episode, I explore what constructional training is, how CAT protocols use R- to build functional skills, and where R- stops serving the learner and starts serving the trainer. Spoiler: for me it’s all about whose needs the behaviour is meeting.

  • Jul 7, 2025 · 25 min

    Can we build 'giving a break' into a reinforcer

    As humans we might perceive many reinforcers in our world from edible delicacies to buying new clothes but often we feel limited with finding different reinforcers for our horses. This is a hypothetical discussion about using a 'time to relax' or 'giving a break' as a reinforcer. https://www.equine.training/my-courses/ for my courses.

  • Mar 21, 2025 · 22 min

    We all make mistakes

    In my equine scent work session with Rum this week, I made a mistake that really highlighted the need for an errorless approach. He indicated on the wrong container, the blank without odour (in theory) and my instinct, was to offer no reinforcement, and redirect him to the search. Not really an errorless approach. In an errorless framework, we don’t let the learner practise mistakes. Instead, we set up the training so they always have a clear path to success. In scent work, that means making the right choice easy and reinforcing it well, while using free food to reset if they make an unexpected response. When Rum got it ‘wrong,’ the real error was mine, my container was potentially contaminated. I should have dropped food to reset and adjusted the setup to prevent it happening again. It’s about guiding the learner rather than correcting them, so they’re always working in a space where success is inevitable. trudi@equine.training if you have questions Please recommend the podcast, share it and like it.

  • Feb 28, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

    The fix starts with you: in conversation with Katrina Per-Carruthers

    In this episode my friend and colleague Katrina Per-Carruthers unpick some training fails and discuss solutions that are horse centred. Mounting block problems, fence refusal and unwillingness to go forward were in our sights this time. If you have topics you'd like us to cover then do drop me a message. Katrina Per-Carruthers lives in British Columbia, Canada where she trains a variety of species. Katrina has been a coach for over 15 years and is a passionate advocate for the use of humane training methods to improve animal welfare. Find Katrina here: https://www.instagram.com/leviosaequine https://www.facebook.com/leviosaequine https://www.leviosaequine.com/

  • Feb 11, 2025 · 16 min

    Why clicker training might not be my go to with new equine clients

    I don't always recommend clicker training as a first option when I start working with a new client. Why? Well take a listen as I talk through a specific example and explain ways that I might add some R+ based training without the pressure of the trainer carrying food and having to be great at timing and mechanics. How do I square this with working inside a LIMA framework? As always questions and comments are welcome! Email me at trudi@equine.training

  • Jan 8, 2025 · 18 min

    Male horses 'dropping' when training with food

    The topic of male horses 'dropping' when training with food (clicker training) has reared its head again- I'm glad because it is a topic we need to consider. In this short episode I will explain (again) why I don't think we should brush this topic under the carpet! Warning- I talk about penises in this episode. If you want help with your horse dropping or over threshold when training with food- get in touch, trudi@equine.training or www.equine.training

  • Dec 29, 2024 · 1 hr 12 min

    Cooperative Care In conversation with Dr. Katerina Junghansova

    In this episode Dr. Katerina Junghansova (Kate) and I chat about cooperative care for horses. Kate is an equine veterinarian, lifelong equestrian, animal lover, and the founder of an educational project called VetCareTraining. Her mission is to promote safe, and ethical horse handling and training. She is really passionate about equine cooperative care, and she thinks it´s the future of equine health care. In her project, she offers online courses and individual online consultations. She also teaches clinics and seminars focused on helping horse owners, as well as equine professionals, handle horses in an easier, safer, more effective, and more ethical way during daily care, veterinary or husbandry procedures, and other real-life situations. Find Kate: Insta Threads Facebook YouTube

  • Dec 23, 2024 · 16 min

    Talk about clicker training targets; it's a wrap

    In this final short episode on target training I delve a little deeper into how and when I use targets in my training. Questions? Comments? Drop me a message or email trudi@equine.training

  • Dec 12, 2024 · 12 min

    Talk about clicker training targets; when to use a target

    The third (hop back and listen to the first two if you haven't yet) in the clicker training targets mini series. In this one I discuss when I use targets in my training from cognitive enrichment to training movement. If you want to learn how to train in this way then join me on my accredited professional trainer course in 2025 ⁠https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate⁠ Drop me any questions trudi@equine.training