Olivia Turner

I am deeply passionate about animals, especially those in our care as we have a responsibility for their wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Empathy is essential for successful communication with animals, without seeing the world from their perspective we can’t change things for the better.

For me, the animal's needs always come first, and I will only move at a pace the animal is comfortable with. I aim to create a balanced, happy animal that is ready for successful training which avoids stress and confusion. 

I will not perform ‘quick fixes’, these often involve putting the animal under stress which is unnecessary when there are better, more ethical ways to modify behaviour. I do not use fear or punishment in my approach to training and my methods are evidence based. Owners that are 100% committed to working with me and their animal will see good results and a permanent, positive change in their animal’s behaviour. 

 

Education

I started my professional career with animals in 2009 when I studied at university, graduating in 2013 with a first-class BSc Hons in Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. I focused my studies on horse training and behaviour which led me to present my research on the use of positive reinforcement in horse training at the International Society for Equitation Science’s conference in Delaware, USA, 2013. I won the award for the best student presentation and was subsequently asked to be a guest speaker at Anglia Ruskin’s first Animal Welfare conference in 2014.

In 2015 I developed my skills in Equitation Science at the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre as a working pupil, gaining my Certificate of Attainment with Equitation Science International in 2016.

Since 2014 I have been lecturing at the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) on their Animal Osteopathy Foundation and MSc degree courses. I teach the students canine and equine behaviour to improve their practical skills in handling and treating their animal patients. I believe it’s essential that anyone treating animals should have a thorough understanding of body language; particularly signals of pain and stress. Giving the students the skills to identify what the animal is thinking and how it’s feeling optimises the care and treatment they can give to that animal. These skills support a safe working environment for both practitioner and animal patient.

At the ESO I have been a dissertation supervisor for the MSc and undergraduate students undergoing their research projects. I’m also a member of the Research Ethics Committee.

I’ve brought some new knowledge and skills to combine with my behaviour work and am a fully qualified bit fitter. In 2017-2018 I completed the Neue Schule Foundation and Intermediate courses in Bits and Bitting and Lorinery Science with Distinctions. In 2019 I completed their practical Bitting course and am one of 12 fully qualified bit and bridle fitters in the UK that are certified by Lantra.   

I regularly attend courses to continue my professional development in behavioural consultancy and equine bitting to ensure I’m up to date with the latest training techniques and science (see professional biography for full details). If you would like to know more about me or my qualifications, please feel free to ask.

 

Qualifications

Core Qualifications

  • BSc Hons Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (1st)

  • Post. Grad Training and Assessment in Fundamentals of Bits and Bitting (Distinction), Neue Schule and Lantra, 2017

  • Post. Grad Training and Assessment in Lorinery Science (Distinction), Neue Schule and Lantra, 2018

  • Training and Assessment in Bit and Bridle Fitting, Neue Schule and Lantra, 2019

Seminars and Conferences

  • Separation Anxiety seminar, by Dr Amber Batson

  • IAABC UK conference

  • Lorinery Conference: Equitation in the Rider’s Hands

  • Equine Dentistry evening, RVC

Additional Certificates

  • Certificate of Attainment in Equitation Science (Equitation Science International), 2016

  • Treating Separation Anxiety webinar (International Canine Behaviourists), 2017

  • The Challenging Behaviour Case (Learning About Animals), 2017

  • Aggression in Dogs for Professionals, basic and advanced courses, by Dr Amber Batson, 2017-2018

  • Teaching Life Skills (Kay Laurence), 2018

CPD

  • Research presentation at ISES conference, Delaware, USA

  • Research presentation at Anglia Ruskin University Animal Welfare conference, Cambridge

  • Lecturing at the ESO since 2014

  • Guest speaker at Association of Animal Osteopaths AGM's

  • Guest speaker at Vaquero Horsemanship Clinic

  • Guest speaker for E-horse

  • Lecturer for Animal Osteopathy International