Changing Rein

Gabriel Lencioni is a young, equine vet with an interest in horse welfare and behaviour.

Recently qualified, Gabriel is already embarking on research that just might change the way we think about horse welfare in equestrian sport - he is creating an AI model to assess horse welfare during competition.

Not your regular AI tech-bro, Gabriel shares with us his journey into animal behavior and welfare, and why he is determined to leverage the latest technology to improve the lives of horses, vets and owners.

As our first guest from South America, we also explore cultural perspectives on animal welfare, and as always, we talk about how optimistic we are the future of horse sports.

Reading and Resources

Find all of Gabriel's research here

The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness (2012)

An integrative and functional framework for the study of animal emotion and mood (Mendl et al, 2010)

Rachel is both a racing 'insider' and an academic - she has worked in horse racing for over 20 years and she obtained her PhD from the University of Bristol in 2023 for her work developing a racehorse welfare assessment protocol.

This welfare assessment has been trialled by industry assessors to gather population level racehorse welfare data. The welfare assessment has also been used to monitor the welfare of Military Working horses from the Household Cavalry and racehorses in Hong Kong. 

In this episode we talk about the practicalities of racehorse welfare assessment, the small changes that can result in big improvements, and the importance how young Thoroughbreds are managemed on stud farms to set them up for a good life in racing.

Rachel is currently an Equine Technologist at CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland and is a post-doctoral researcher at University College Dublin (UCD).  

Rachel's research output is available on ResearchGate

In this episode, Master Farrier Andrew Bowe discusses his journey from traditional farriery to a focus on barefoot hoof care.

He shares insights on treating chronic conditions like laminitis and navicular disease, the ethical considerations of hoof care, and the importance of educating horse owners.

The conversation also covers performance solutions for horses, the significance of farrier care, and the future of hoof care regulation. Andrew emphasizes the need for a mixed approach to hoof care, combining traditional and modern methods for optimal horse health.

At their farm, Mayfield, Andrew and wife Nicky host the Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy where they train the next generation of equine hoof care practitioners, plus they also offer a lameness rehab and retirement agistment facility. In addition, at Mayfield and at locations around Australia they offer maintenance hoof care workshops so owners can learn how to safely care for their horse's feet in between farrier visits.

Visit Andrew's website here: https://barehoofcare.com/

For our extended

Mette is a Danish veterinarian who until earlier this year was veterinary advisor to the Danish Equestrian Federation. She resigned from that role  in September 2024 and is now chief consultant to Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Animal Protection Denmark). Mette has devoted her career to being a voice for animals. As well as her work with DEF, Mette is

This episode is particularly fitting as we wind down to the

We hope that wherever you are that you enjoy this extended

You can find Mette’s research output at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mette-Uldahl

For our extended

Mette is a Danish veterinarian who until earlier this year was veterinary advisor to the Danish Equestrian Federation. She resigned from that role  in September 2024 and is now chief consultant to Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Animal Protection Denmark). Mette has devoted her career to being a voice for animals. As well as her work with DEF, Mette is

This episode is particularly fitting as we wind down to the

We hope that wherever you are that you enjoy this extended

You can find Mette’s research output at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mette-Uldahl

Life with horses is complicated, because we take on responsibility for another sentient being- and if we humans want to improve horse welfare, we need to find common ground with one another.

Tamzin Furtado BA(Hons), AdvDip, PhD is a social scientist with a background in global health, and a specific interest in the interconnections between human and animal health, and well-being.

She completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool studying human behaviour change in relation to obesity in horses, particularly focusing on horse-human relationships. Tamzin works on projects across the equine welfare spectrum, including: studying people’s perceptions of sport horse wellbeing, livery yard management, and anthelmintic resistance.

In this episode we talk about barriers and enablers of change, at both individual level and organisational leve. We also hear about Tamzin's novel work on the tricky topic of equine obesity. We discuss the welfare of livery yard owners and managers, and we chat about uncertainty.

Tamzin’s publications can be found at this link

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tamzin-Furtado

Should riding bit-free be an option for all equestrian sports?

Should racing include whipping horses to make them run?

What is the most important project in the realm of sport horse welfare right now?

Listen to this episode of Changing Rein and find out from arguably the world's most influential person in horse sport welfare, Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare (WHW).

Roly Owers has huge influence in sport horse welfare because alongside his World Horse Welfare CEO role, he is a director of British Equestrian the peak body for equestrian sport in Britain, and affiliated with the FEI. Plus he is an advisor to other national and international organisations including the British Horseracing Authority and the International Horse Sports Confederation

What he says matters!

Think all the fuss about horse welfare is overblown?

Or maybe you think the opposite, that not enough is being done...either way you want to know what Roly Owers thinks.

Our conversation covers not only the important changes we have seen in sport horse welfare but what is needed in the future. There are some predictable bits and some surprises...but don't take our word for it...jump in and have a listen!

Summary

In this episode, Bronwen Williams discusses the principles of Motivational Interviewing, emphasizing the importance of respectful conversations and understanding the fixing reflex. The conversation explores the stages of change, the role of self-efficacy, and how to navigate identity shifts during change. The hosts and Bronwen also discuss strategies for supporting individuals in making changes, particularly in the context of animal welfare, and the significance of observational learning in inspiring change.

Takeaways

Motivational Interviewing fosters respectful conversations.

The fixing reflex can hinder change efforts.

Ambivalence is a common experience when considering change.

Support and accountability are key in the change process.

Understanding identity is crucial when navigating change.

Scenario planning can help visualize potential outcomes.

Self-efficacy influences the ability to make lasting changes.

Pre-contemplation requires a gentle approach to conversation.

Observational learning can inspire change in others.

Change is a journey that requires patience and understanding.

Buy Bronwen's book

Practical Human Behaviour Change for Animal Health and Welfare

Listen to Meta's Tedx Talk

Saving Our World with One Welfare Education

Watch Karen's webinar for Equitopia

The benefits of tracking and monitoring horse welfare

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

07:48 The Origins and Principles of Motivational Interviewing

10:57 The Role of the Fixing Reflex in Conversations

13:33 Understanding Ambivalence in Change

16:31 Navigating Identity and Change

19:28 Scenario Planning and Change Management

22:14 Stages of Change Model Explained

25:31 Recognizing Slips and Maintaining Change

28:23 Supporting Change in Group Settings

31:12 The Importance of Self-Efficacy in Change

34:06 Modeling Behavior and Influencing Change

36:56 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

41:29 Building Self-Efficacy for Change

42:28 Supporting Others in Making Changes

45:27 The Role of Information in Change

49:23 Navigating Pre-Contemplation Stages

53:24 Conversations About Change

55:10 The Journey of Writing a Book

01:00:17 Who Can Benefit from Motivational Interviewing?

01:04:09 The Importance of Connection and Kindness

We're taking a few weeks break, and we'll be back before you know it with some great guests and great new content. Before that we thought we'd share with you some of the highlights of Season 2 - now is your opportunity to catch up on listening to some really interesting guests discussing all things horse sport and equine welfare. Thanks for sharing our journey - and be sure to share with your friends how much you are enjoying Changing Rein!

Dr Jo Hockenhull is Head of Research at The Donkey

Jo’s research output can be found at this link:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jo-Hockenhull/research

Dr Jo Hockenhull is Head of Research at The Donkey

Jo has had a wide-ranging and varied career in animal welfare science – her particular interests include horse behaviour and welfare, human-animal interactions and the possibilities inherent in the science of Human Behaviour Change to improve the welfare of animals.

Jo’s research output can be found at this link:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jo-Hockenhull/research