An Equine Conversation

• S5 E8: The path to mules - with Ellen Cochrane

  I’m delighted to welcome Ellen Cochrane back to An Equine Conversation. We heard from Ellen in Season 4, talking all about equine agility and The International Horse Agility Club. This episode is something quiet different: We’re hearing about Ellen’s journey to and experiences in working with mules, both her own mule Inara, and her voluntary efforts in supporting humans working with mules in Morocco to improve welfare outcomes for animals and people. I get tingles even thinking about this episode & what Ellen has been involved with. I hope you find the episode as educational and inspiring as I have. Ellen Cochrane:Ellen Cochrane is from Worcestershire, England. She is a positive reinforcement trainer who works with a variety of equines and their humans through her business Gaia Horsemanship and as part of her work with the International Horse Agility Club - listen to Season 4, Episode . Ellen works mostly with horses in England but she has a huge passion for mules which started in 2014 when she started working to improve mule welfare in Morocco. Ellen works in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco helping muleteers to improve the welfare of their working mules by improving knowledge and communication and using kinder equipment, plus Ellen is the UK ambassador for Moroccan-based equine rescue charity, Jarjeer Donkey and Mule refuge. Ellen has her own mule, Inara, who has gone from unhandled and fearful of humans to Horse Agility World Champion.  In this episode we discuss: 1:26 - Merry Christmas!3:10 - introduction to today’s episode & guest7:26 - Ellen’s horsie origin story10:20 - how positive reinforcement came into Ellen’s world12:20 - Ellen’s herd18:09 - conditions & context22:15 - what’s haylage?25:04 - how Ellen got involved with mules - a request to go to Morocco27:46 - the work done by the mules in the mountains of Morocco30:18 - where the work with mules & humans began32:33 - what even is a mule & mule breeding36:41 - what happened after the first trip, working alongside muleteers42:00 - how does the communication happen: language & gender roles45:28 - engaging effectively with the male muleteers as an English woman46:59 - the primary things Ellen helps muleteers with52:54 - being sought out & the muleteers ‘paying it forward’, a story showing how amazing mules are55:26 - mule social needs56:28 - the amazing work of the Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust1:00:36 - trips to Morocco now & contrasts1:02:32 - getting a mule back at home1:09:26 - going back to Morocco1:12:42 - tips for working with mules1:16:47 - finding out more & supporting1:19:35 - huge thanks to Ellen for all her efforts1:23:24 - wrapping up this episode & Season 5 of An Equine Conversation Links from Ellen:Gaia Horsemanship Website: www.gaiahorsemanship.co.ukGaia Horsemanship Facebook: www.facebook.com/gaiahorsemanshipIt’s A Mule’s Life Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsamuleslifeJarjeer Donkey and Mule refuge Website: https://www.jarjeer.org/Jarjeer Donkey and Mule refuge Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jarjeermules Our links mentioned this episode:  Please share with us, your thoughts on S5 of An Equine Conversation 

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• S5 E7: My Accident

  On the 8th of June 2008, my life changed forever with a split-second accident that saw me trampled by my then 2.5-year-old horse, Fernando, and air-lifted to Hospital for life-saving surgery.This episode is the story of that accident, what happened, the damage that did and where that’s left me now. Before I even introduce this episode, I want to give you a warning. This episode talks about my accident in some detail. There has been one person who on hearing the story, when I was still in Hospital, passed out as a result. If you are someone likely to do that, then please skip this episode or at least, do not listen while driving or doing something where you could get injured… I don’t want my accident resulting in other accidents… not the effect I’m hoping for! -----In S4 E4 of An Equine Conversation, Why Virtual Learning’s Worth Exploring, I make mention of my being immune-compromised and why for me, that’s one of the reasons that virtual learning is so awesome as I’m so limited to what’s possible in-person due to the very real and serious threat Covid still holds for me. I mention this again in S4 E5 with Erin Moore too when we’re talking about giving micro & small business owners a metaphorical hug – I like a good hug personally but being immune compromised makes it a no-no.So anyway, in this episode of An Equine Conversation I’m going to share with you my story of the horsey accident that left me immune-compromised. It’s a story I’ve told many times. I know some of you will have heard some or all of it before. For those newer to me and my work teaching and my approach, hearing about this part of my story will help inform you more about who I am, what I’m about and why I’m passionate about safety… and importantly, why my horse Fernando and I have a very unique, very special relationship and why he has been my best teacher.  In this episode we discuss:1:22 - episode warning2:04 - episode introduction3:29 - the 8th of June 20085:09 - the backstory of Fernando’s misadventures, to get you up to speed9:18 - setting the scene & it all going pear-shaped13:19 - paramedics ahoy!16:17 - arriving at The Alfred (Hospital)21:02 - time in Hospital isn’t fun but it was busy28:21 - recovering at home & an unexpected Hospital re-visit scenario38:43 - the upshot of my injuries now48:02 - how I’ve changed my outlook (or not) as a result of the accident53:57 - Fernando, the best teacher57:38 - take-aways from my experience1:01:33 - episode wrap-up & what’s on next week Links mentioned this episode:  Sign-up to our email listAbbey's Run Equestrian websiteAbbey's Run Equestrian on Facebook Thank you to Matthew Bliss for podcast production & consultation. If you'd like him to help with your podcast, get in touch by email at [email protected]

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• S5 E6: The Horse's Mouth - with Dr Paul Owens

  I am so pleased to be welcoming our 2nd first time guest to An Equine Conversation for Season 5. We’ve had some super wild weather here in my part of the world this Spring that meant this guest and I had to reschedule recording this episode multiple times. Despite the severe storms, power-outages, trees down, no internet, we got there in the end and are bringing you an episode with our most wonderful Equine Veterinary Dentist, Dr Paul Owens from the Horse Vet Dentist.I won’t lie, I used to think the horses mouth was a whole lot simpler than it is. For many years, my horses had an annual visit from an equine dental technician. I’d seen a couple of talks given by them & I thought I knew much of what there was to know. Gosh, how wrong I was! It was thanks to a number of wonderful horsie friends whose opinions I rate, who were working with Dr Paul Owens and singing his praises, that we too got Paul on board our horse-care team maybe 4-5 years ago now. And wow, have we learnt so much over that time. Paul’s knowledge is amazing, as is his preparedness to educate interested owners. Each time Paul’s here, which is every 6-months, there are things I learn and get to see with my own eyes in my horses mouths which is really impactful for my understanding.We really love having Paul as part of our herd’s care team as we share the mission of improving welfare for equines through our work and both love learning more, with Paul bringing us information on the latest research into all things horses mouths. Not only that, but we get to hear some cool stories about the work he does with Zoo’s Victoria too. Which, for those of you who like me, train with positive reinforcement, mean that Paul is already really familiar with this training approach as he sees it in action in his work with the Zoo & is so awesome in supporting what I do with my herd, which can be to our amusement. In his visit here just a few weeks ago, Rufus is such a pro at loading on the crush, we’ve made it so positively reinforcing for him, that he took himself there before we were even ready for him.In today’s episode, we’re going to peer inside the horse’s mouth with Paul and learn a bunch about how it works and equine oral health care. Dr Paul Owens:Paul graduated from the University of Liverpool in the UK in 2001 following a degree in Animal Science and PhD in Animal Nutrition. He worked in North Yorkshire in mixed practice where he developed his interest in equine dentistry attending several BEVA course in this field.In 2007 Paul came to Australia working in Equine/Small Animal Practice in SE Melbourne before eventually setting up a dedicated veterinary dentistry practice in 2011 called HorseVetDentist.The practice offers a wide range of equine dentistry services from routine dental assessments to referrals for advanced dental extraction techniques, periodontal treatments and restorative dentistry.Paul is a tutor on the EVDS veterinary dentistry courses and teaches veterinary students at the U-Vet centre Werribee. He has been fortunate to assist with dentistry procedures at Zoos Victoria and Healesville Sanctuary.Paull attained his MANCVS Memberships in Equine Dentistry in 2014 and continues to attend workshops in dentistry both overseas and in Australia. In this episode we discuss: 1:23 - introduction to this episode & to Dr Paul Owens4:08 - Dr Paul Owens bio5:20 - welcoming Paul6:59 - Paul’s Vet Dentist origin story & ongoing education13:24 - the importance of evidence-based practice15:37 - how the horse’s mouth works20:33 - are donkey and mule mouths the same?21:24 - what a horses’s oral check/assessment involves (a lot!)30:53 - teeth are living structures33:14 - the carrot bite test & the periodontal ligament35:22 - dental pain in humans and horses (with a shout-out to Dr...

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• S5 E5: Conscious Consumerism: how not to tank the market - with Erin Moore

  Please note: this episode does contain 'conversational profanity'I am so grateful for the knowledge that business coach, Erin Moore has brought into my life & so I’m delighted that Erin is back with me on An Equine Conversation this episode, to share more of her wisdom with you.In this episode, we’re taking a look at some of the gnarly problems that face micro & small businesses, especially those who work in caring industries (with a focus on the equine world). We consider some of the differences between big and small businesses, and how our consumer expectations differ between the two.We discuss how you, we, as consumers, can support micro & small businesses so that they/we, can continue to provide awesome products and services to you, …. and not contribute to ‘tanking the market’. Annnnd there might be some great tips in there for micro & small business owners too.There is so much in this episode that it’s hard to capture it all in a short, written intro, so you’ll just have to listen to hear all the wisdom within. Erin Moore:Erin Moore was a dog trainer for 13 years, and, by her own admission, made every mistake a dog training business owner could make. After burning out and leaving the industry completely, Erin knew that if she wanted to come back to it, she would need to figure out a different way to do things. So Erin did just that. She hired a coach and learned all about the business end of things, and that changed her entire business and her life. Now Erin coaches trainers on how to set up their businesses so that they can actually have a life and not burn out like she did!  In this episode we discuss: 1:24 - profanity warning1:52 - introduction to this episode & giving the context (shout-out to Jemima from the now closed Sweet Iron Co & Shelby from Milestone Equestrian)8:23 - welcome back Erin9:24 - the caring industry, small versus big businesses13:31 - defining ‘tanking the market’15:38 - I’ve done it & the absence of business education19:00 - being draw to a caring industry, our values & beliefs & how we can help more people21:11 - free content - time & effort and small versus big business24:41 - the impact on veterinarians32:07 - the extra load of financial stress & empathising with the humans35:33 - if we’re not financially secure, we can’t help anyone and regardless, we can’t help everyone37:41 - when small businesses make more money, they can help more people40:07 - the impact of not supporting small business42:01 - a snapshot of the different hats worn in a business & the costs you don’t see49:37 - the different aspects of running a micro or small business - besides the actual passion part52:22 - the correlation between neurodivergence & small business53:11 - where does the time go in business54:40 - the importance of self-care for how we show up in business (or what you get as a consumer)1:00:45 - what do we do as consumers - what’s your sphere of influence (shout-out to Samantha from The School of Visibility)1:09:37 - more top tips on what you can do & a summary of what you can do1:17:20 - episode wrap-up & what’s on next week Links from Erin:Free, thought-provoking resources on Erin’s website (and other ways to work with Erin too)Find Erin on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/businessendoftheleash Our links mentioned this episode:  Sign-up to our email listAbbey's Run Equestrian...

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• S5 E4: Why Virtual Learning's Worth Exploring

  In today’s episode I’m going to chat with you about the awesomeness of virtual learning in the horse world. This episode is inspired in part by Ivy sharing her experience in last week’s episode and just how integral Michelle’s remote support has been to Swagger and Ivy’s journey and progress. But it’s also inspired by my own experiences with the virtual learning landscape, and by conversations I’ve had with a few people who groan at the prospect…And if, you’ve had to do eLearns for your job, then um, let me just say that these can be, uh, dry, and um, uninspiring. So please, please don’t rate your virtual learning experience based on those alone!If you are groaning at me suggesting more screen time, I know so many people have screen-fatigue, particularly off the back of Covid and due to the way some jobs now operate, I’m not immune from this at all, but if you can stand to, bear with me while I talk through why virtual or remote learning is awesome and why it’s not actually always about the screen. Spoiler alert, you’re listening to me right now, learning, sans screen.I want to nudge you up-front to say that you’re actually likely already engaging in enjoyable, helpful, virtual learning - most likely the free stuff if not paid. Like me, you’re a good chance to have watched things on YouTube, see things on social media, read blog posts, and I mean, you’re listening to this podcast. You’re doing it already!Today, I’m talking more about the paid virtual learning opportunities that exist. I’m going to start with talking about my experience as a learner, then expand on what online learning can do for you. Then I’m going to switch and talk about my experience as an educator and coach and what it’s like from that perspective – which will also explore why the benefits for me and other coaches are benefits for you too. In this episode we discuss:1:24 - episode introduction3:00 - you’re already doing it4:01 - my experiences as a learner with remote/virtual learning5:13 - the challenge of being so far away7:28 - the variety of online learning delivery methods8:47 - horses get to stay home9:58 - loving virtual learning despite technology not being ‘my first language’10:49 - making new friends12:54 - it’s inclusive for me14:22 - benefits of remote/virtual learning for you & some of the challenges with a conventional format18:28 - it’s not always about the screen22:06 - consuming on your time, in your location23:44 - learning remotely is not new here in Australia25:04 - learning the tech is like learning anything26:18 - why virtual learning is great as an educator with a micro-business & why that makes it great for you too, starting with some of my history to give context31:27 - the overheads, the real costs33:15 - what virtual learning offers us36:02 - in-person learning is also awesome36:56 - ask super nicely38:29 - after listening40:14 - episode wrap-up & what’s on next week Links mentioned this episode:  Sign-up to our email listAbbey's Run Equestrian websiteAbbey's Run Equestrian on Facebook Thank you to Matthew Bliss for podcast production & consultation. If you'd like him to help with your podcast, get in touch by email at [email protected]

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