Formal qualifications and relevant professional affiliations and
experience
I began riding as a child and have interests in dressage,rider biomechanics, trick
training and more recently in Western equitation and trail. I have been combining
positive reinforcement training with “ordinary” training based on feel and release
since 1998, after joining discussions initiated by the leading proponent of clicker
training for horses, Alexandra Kurland, on the Internet.
Main Practical and Philosophical Influences on Horsemanship and
Training of Horses
*Signifies I have personally attended clinics with this trainer
I have ridden in or attended clinics with many other trainers - some well known,
other not so well known - and have learnt something from all of them - including
what not to do. (And don't even ask about my video and DVD collection!)
Practical and Philosophical Influences on Riding
I have a strong interest in the use of imagery and use of the right side of the brain
in riding. These are also important concepts in singing, one of my other passions.
Public Performances and Displays
Pitch has been an outstanding ambassador for clicker trained horses at these
events. He calmly walks through crowds of people and keeps his focus on me the
whole time in spite of strange sights and loud noise, such as malfunctioning sound
systems and bursting balloons.
Pitch and another of my horses, Jimbo, have also been the demo horses for
introductory clicker training workshops I have presented since 2001.
Pitch (and new equine trainee Petite) will be appearing at the Pet Expo at the
Adelaide Showgrounds in March 2007 to strut their stuff, along with some canine
(and human) friends who will be performing canine freestyle.
Other Useful Horse-Related Experience and Information
In 2003, as one of only three Australians, I accepted an invitation from Alexandra
Kurland to attend the inaugural Clicker Training for Horses Instructors’ course in
New York, USA. This was a 10 day intensive course which included presentations
on the Bailey chicken camp, how to promote clicker training (esp in the face of
misunderstanding) and what horse trainers can learn from dog trainers. We were
all privileged to spend time with Ann Edie and Panda, the world’s first guide horse
trained solely with clicker training by Alexandra. Panda is pushing the boundaries
of what we know about equine learning and intelligence.
I also attend workshops with noted dog trainers and exotic animal trainers
whenever I can. So far these have included Nina Bondarenko (trainer of assistance
dogs), Kayce Covers of Synalia Animal Training System (“bridge and target”) and
Carolyn Scott (musical dog sport freestyle choreographer). I have been a long
standing member and contributor to many Internet discussion groups, including
amongst others Clickryder, (discusses clicker training for horses), Clickryder-
dressage, Natural Classic, Ridinginlightness, Rationalriding, RWYM (ride with your
mind), L-Equitation, Bridgeandtarget2 and ClickerSolutions. I have also clicker
trained my two cats and am a member of Cat-Clicker and ICAT-Events, as well OC-
Assist Dogs (stemming from my professional interests in disability studies and
public health). I am also an experienced teacher as I have taught within the
university environment for over a decade.
Clicker training is for me the missing link and I am glad to share what I have learnt
from others and from my own experiences on my journey so far.
experience
- 1989 - Bachelor degree in psychology (focus on learning theory)
- 1992- First Class Honours degree (Social Sciences)
- 1997 - PhD in social sciences (focus on ethics and justice)
- 1997 - 2003 Member of Flinders University Social and Behavioural Research
Ethics Committee
- 1997 - 2006- academic research interests in animal geography (relationship
between human and animal habitats and interactions) and role of pets in
public health (amongst a whole lot of other unrelated things!)
- 2003 One of only three Australians attending the inaugural Clicker Training
for Horses Instructors’ course in New York, USA, personally invited by
Alexandra Kurland.
- 2006 - Associate member of International Association of Animal Behaviour
Consultants
- 2004 - Board member of Click-EFFECT representing Australia
- 1993 onward - Tertiary level teaching at Flinders University (specialising in
research methods and data analysis); all teaching based on positive
principles (formal evaluations of teaching)
I began riding as a child and have interests in dressage,rider biomechanics, trick
training and more recently in Western equitation and trail. I have been combining
positive reinforcement training with “ordinary” training based on feel and release
since 1998, after joining discussions initiated by the leading proponent of clicker
training for horses, Alexandra Kurland, on the Internet.
Main Practical and Philosophical Influences on Horsemanship and
Training of Horses
*Signifies I have personally attended clinics with this trainer
- Tom Roberts (author of the first good books on horse training I ever read, at
age 15 - don't ask what year that was!!) for his common sense combined with
compassion - Harry Whitney* - connecting the reins to the feet and value of "float" in
contact (amongst many other things!) - Tom Dorrance - peeling many layers of onion away to show what exists within
horses and people - Ray Hunt - for trying to communicate what "feel" really means
- Mark Rashid* - looking for the positives and considering the horse's
perspective - Alexandra Kurland* - opening a new door
- Jean-Claude Racinet* - most clearly describing an alternative road to Rome
- Bill Dorrance - encapsulating the meaning of good horsemanship with gentle
humour
I have ridden in or attended clinics with many other trainers - some well known,
other not so well known - and have learnt something from all of them - including
what not to do. (And don't even ask about my video and DVD collection!)
Practical and Philosophical Influences on Riding
- Mary Wanless*
- Sally Swift
- Heather Moffett*
I have a strong interest in the use of imagery and use of the right side of the brain
in riding. These are also important concepts in singing, one of my other passions.
Public Performances and Displays
- Home Ideas and Lifestyle Pet Expo, 2003
- Macclesfield Annual Strawberry Fair, 2003
- Channel 7 Pet Expo at Morphetville Racecourse, 2004
- Gawler Horse Festival 2005
Pitch has been an outstanding ambassador for clicker trained horses at these
events. He calmly walks through crowds of people and keeps his focus on me the
whole time in spite of strange sights and loud noise, such as malfunctioning sound
systems and bursting balloons.
Pitch and another of my horses, Jimbo, have also been the demo horses for
introductory clicker training workshops I have presented since 2001.
Pitch (and new equine trainee Petite) will be appearing at the Pet Expo at the
Adelaide Showgrounds in March 2007 to strut their stuff, along with some canine
(and human) friends who will be performing canine freestyle.
Other Useful Horse-Related Experience and Information
- Pony Club instructor (going back a while!)
- Have taught children, nervous adults and disabled adults (with (visually
impairment and/or mild cerebral palsy) to ride
In 2003, as one of only three Australians, I accepted an invitation from Alexandra
Kurland to attend the inaugural Clicker Training for Horses Instructors’ course in
New York, USA. This was a 10 day intensive course which included presentations
on the Bailey chicken camp, how to promote clicker training (esp in the face of
misunderstanding) and what horse trainers can learn from dog trainers. We were
all privileged to spend time with Ann Edie and Panda, the world’s first guide horse
trained solely with clicker training by Alexandra. Panda is pushing the boundaries
of what we know about equine learning and intelligence.
I also attend workshops with noted dog trainers and exotic animal trainers
whenever I can. So far these have included Nina Bondarenko (trainer of assistance
dogs), Kayce Covers of Synalia Animal Training System (“bridge and target”) and
Carolyn Scott (musical dog sport freestyle choreographer). I have been a long
standing member and contributor to many Internet discussion groups, including
amongst others Clickryder, (discusses clicker training for horses), Clickryder-
dressage, Natural Classic, Ridinginlightness, Rationalriding, RWYM (ride with your
mind), L-Equitation, Bridgeandtarget2 and ClickerSolutions. I have also clicker
trained my two cats and am a member of Cat-Clicker and ICAT-Events, as well OC-
Assist Dogs (stemming from my professional interests in disability studies and
public health). I am also an experienced teacher as I have taught within the
university environment for over a decade.
Clicker training is for me the missing link and I am glad to share what I have learnt
from others and from my own experiences on my journey so far.
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Lisel
Lisel with Jimmy, the horse that
started it all.
Lisel with Jimmy, the horse that
started it all.