About Equine Centred®
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My name is Jenny Eichner and I set up Equine Centred to teach and promote standards of equine management and training. I aim to improve welfare and wellbeing of equines through encouraging evidence based approaches; using science to help us understand equines and how we improve our management and training of them based on this information.
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One of my key focuses is how we can do this in the most ethical way possible, a way that is equine centred; which puts the equine first. I believe in respect for the horse as a sentient being and I do not want to use fear as the motivation for good behaviour. I adopt a Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) approach. I believe in the use of positive reinforcement based approaches and in giving the equines as much control and choice as possible during training and management. It is my belief that through being with horses in this way leads to a better relationship and connection with your horse and is more rewarding for both the horse and the human.
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I have also observed that being around equines increases our welfare. I have often heard of people who say that when they’re with their horses, they feel calmer and happier in themselves. I believe that equines help us find our centre; this, as well as being equine centred in my approach to training and management, is why I have called myself Equine Centred.
About Jenny
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I have been involved with horses my whole life. My family always had horses and I used to ride and hang out with horses for hours on end in my childhood. Whilst doing my undergraduate degree in psychology at university, I studied animal behaviour and did my dissertation on foals understanding of human given cues which contributed to a published paper under my maiden name of Rayner: Proops. L., Rayner, J., Taylor, .A.M, and McComb, K. (2013). The Responses of Young Domestic Horses to Human-Given Cues. PLoS ONE 8(6): e67000. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067000
After graduating University, I then went on to train as a Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Equine Therapist, did a Diploma in Applied Equine Behaviour to instructor level to teach ground work skills and qualified as an Equine Behaviourist having completed the Natural Animal Centre Equine Behaviour Qualification. I have a passion for learning and education, and over the years have carried on learning about different approaches to horsemanship, including natural horsemanship and most recently positive reinforcement and clicker training.
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Alongside my training, I have worked as Programme Director which included the roles of assessor, tutor and lead internal quality assurer for IFEEL Qualifications Ltd (2010 - 2020) who provide qualifications in Equine Facilitated Human Development and Psychotraumatology. I also worked for the Dare to Live Trust charity (2015 - 2019) as an equine facilitator working with military veterans. I run a human counselling private practice, Integrated Psychotherapeutic Solutions (2015 - present) in addition to Equine Centred which I founded 2015. Previously I have volunteered as an addictions counsellor, intake assessor and group facilitator with Catalyst, a Surrey based addictions charity (2014 - 2017).
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Family time is also very important to me and through starting my own family I have noticed there are many connections between being a parent and horse owner, with positive and attachment based parenting approaches fitting well with my approach to horses.
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It is my passion to share knowledge and teach people and their horses in a way that is enjoyable and stress free for both the human and the horse. I like to work responsively with people and horses, adapting the process to meet individual needs and help people reach their goals. It is lovely watching communication and connection grow between horse and human and for the horse to become more engaged in their interactions.
Qualifications
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Equine Behaviour Qualification stage 1 with the Natural Animal Centre (2017-2018)
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Pearson Edexcel Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Process and Practice (2018)
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Level 6 Advanced Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling - Ad Prof Dip PC (2011-2016)
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Advanced Diploma in Equine Facilitated Human Development - Ad Dip EFHD (2013-2016)
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Diploma in Applied Equine Behaviour to Instructorship Level in Ground Skills (2011-2015)
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BSc (hons) Psychology at Sussex University (2008-2011)
Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and Member of Standards for Assisted & Facilitated Equine Professionals (SAFE Professionals). I carry professional insurance for the services I offer and I am enhanced DBS checked.
I continue my professional learning with regular continued professional development (CPD) which includes on-going positive reinforcement training, 6 week IAABC online course Resolving Fear Issues in Horses, 5 week Animal Behaviour and Welfare online course, 8 days overall with Applied Equine Podiatry and I regularly attend conferences and courses covering various aspects of equine behaviour and training and also keep up to date through reading various publications.
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About the Horses
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I currently own two horses who live on family land which I manage. They live outside 24/7 and I aim to provide an environment which is most suited to fulfill their innate needs as horses. They have natural shelter from the elements, they are barefoot, they’re kept as a herd and they have access to a variety of grazing from grasses, hay, plants and trees. They enjoy various enrichment activities and are given plenty of time to just be horses.
Testimonials
I felt Jenny had such great technical knowledge about equine behavior and training that I always felt in very safe hands being taught by her. She has a really warm teaching manner and involves everyone in the room. It is clear that Jenny has a huge amount of knowledge and is a very effective teacher.
Jenny was a very reassuring presence. I was always a little nervous around horses and Jenny guided me through not only how to interact with horses without being afraid of them but noticing what they were trying to communicate. She is a fantastic and patient teacher and I would highly recommend her to anyone.
Worked with Jen for a year now, I have come to respect and appreciate her calm, gentle and friendly manner through the process of developing my horsemanship skills. Through her extensive knowledge and understanding of the subtlety of horses, I have come to learn different ways of interacting with my horses and have gained much greater confidence in my abilities.
Jenny has been an outstanding mentor to me and allowed me to feel supported but still empowered enough to figure out my own solutions.
Jenny put me instantly at ease with her relaxed, gentle manner. She really helped me, and I feel confident she could help anyone.
Even though I have been around horses a long time Jenny helped me understand a part of horsemanship I had never really used before She helped me realise and overcome a fear I had with effective techniques. Her horses are also beautiful and so gentle to be around.
Brilliant workshop with Jenny yesterday. So much learning in a warm welcoming environment. Fun, laughs (especially liked the positive sweet reinforcement!) and great group discussions with like minded people. Jenny manages to deliver some serious science and knowledge whilst making it fun and inclusive. Would recommend to anyone wanting to understand the horse better and be the best horse carer they can.
Jenny has a friendly and easy calm way of imparting knowledge to the group.
An excellent, informative and supportive day. Both scientific and practical.
Very friendly and informative day. Thoroughly worth doing for all riders of all levels
I enjoyed your training style, impressed with your calm, easy, clear way.