Dr Kate Fenner

Kate is an equine science lecturer (University of Queensland), and researcher with a PhD in horse behaviour and training (Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney), studied equestrian coaching (Intro coaching certificates with Equestrian Australia and British Horse Society) and horse trainer (John and Josh Lyons Certified Trainer). Kate has ridden, trained and competed in Dressage, Jumping, Western and polo in Australia, Europe, USA and Asia.

After years of experience starting horses for clients, Kate feels strongly that owners are best served by learning to train their own horses. As a result, she founded Kandoo Equine and has developed a series of ethical, easy-to-follow, step-by-step guides that are suitable for horses and riders of all levels.

Kate is also an hon. lecturer in equine science, in the areas of training, behaviour and welfare, at the University of Queensland.

Welcome to Kandoo Equine

The Kandoo Equine Online Training System has been developed to enable YOU to train your horse at home.

 

FREE Training Video WorkshopšŸ’–

[Workshop] If you feel that your horse could be more šŸ„° relaxed, happieršŸ˜ƒ to leave the home yard and his or her friends and more engaged šŸ‘Œ with you, take this FREE video training workshop and find out how you can achieve that, regardless of your horse's past experience or training level.
You'll learn how to āœ”ļø engage your horse with you to āœ”ļø enable your horse to āœ”ļø relax and āœ”ļøfocus on you and the cues you are giving. This will keep your horse in the engagement zone, focused on you and not on the surroundings, for a safe and happy ride.

"Thank you! I just wanted to share with you how much confidence, focus and enjoyment your course has ALREADY brought me! I have been working on give to the bit the last three days and my horse is responding soooo well! I love how easy to follow, clear and full of useful and practical info your videos and lesson plans are. In an age when information overload can actually be a problem and the internet is full of (often conflicting) thoughts and ideas on horse training, it has been a breath of fresh air to find you!"


"I really appreciate your help. There arenā€™t many training programs that you can talk directly to the one who created the program! So helpful and reassuring to know I can get help. I tend to over think things and can confuse myself sometimes ha ha! But, I donā€™t want to confuse my horse:)"


"Thank you so much for the 100 days emails. Its been really interesting and nudged me to reflect on what I am actually doing with my horse. My horse came to me with DJD (a started too young Dutch warmblood competition show jumper) at 9 yrs old for an easier lifeā€¦which we happily had for a few years until 6 months ago when he presented as lame as when I first got him so I have had to completely rethink what I am doing. Your daily emails helped a lot sometimes very pertinent and other times in a broader way. The most important point is that I am my horsesā€™ trainer now!"


Qualifications

Kate has experience training and competing and judging in Dressage, Show Jumping, Western, Working Equitation, Hacking, Polo and much more.

PhD (horse behaviour and training)

Hon. Lecturer (equine science)

B Equine Science (Hons)

Accredited Trainer

Pony Club Board Member

BHS Introductory Coach

100 Days - 100 Emails

Learn much more about Kate and the Kandoo Equine Online Training System by getting these emails delivered to your inbox for the next 100 days. They contain tips, chat and fun!

Selected Publications

Restrictive Nosebands

The Effect of Noseband Tightening on Horses’ Behavior, Eye Temperature, and Cardiac Responses

Fenner, Yoon, White, Starling & McGreevy

Read the paper here

PLoS, 2016

Review of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram

Public acceptance of future use of horses for elite sports likely depends on whether the international and national riding federations can provide credible, objective evidence that horse welfare is truly paramount at all times.

Ladewig, McLean, Wilkins, Fenner, Christensen, McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Journal of Veterinary Behaviour,Ā 2022

The Validation of E-BARQ

Validation of the Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ): A New Survey Instrument for Exploring and Monitoring the Domestic Equine Triad Ā 

Fenner, Matlock, Williams, Wilson, McLean, Serpell and McGreevy

Read theĀ paperĀ here

Animals, 2020

The Development of E-BARQ

The Development of a Novel Questionnaire Approach to the Investigation of Horse Training, Management, and Behaviour

Fenner, Dashper, Serpell, McLean, Wilkins, Klinck, Wilson and McGreevy

Read theĀ paperĀ here

Animals, 2020

Identifying Bias in Surveys

Identifying Sources of Potential Bias When Using Online Survey Data to Explore Horse Training, Management, and Behaviour: A Systematic Literature Review

Fenner, Hyde, Crean and McGreevy

Read theĀ paperĀ here

Veterinary Sciences, 2020

Building Bridges

Building Bridges between Theory and Practice: How Citizen Science Can Bring Equine Researchers and Practitioners Together

Fenner, Dashper, Wilkins, Serpell, McLean, Wilson and McGreevy

Read theĀ paperĀ here

Animals, 2020

The Round Pen Review

Cutting to the chase: How round-pen, lunging, and high-speed liberty work may compromise horse welfare

Fenner, McLean & McGreevy

Read the paper here

Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2019

E-BARQ Pilot Study

Behavioral, demographic and management influences on equine responses to negative reinforcement

Fenner, Freire, McLean & McGreevy

Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2018

Read the abstract here.

Bias and stereotyping based on gender/sex

It's all about the sex, or is it? Humans, horses and temperament

FennerCaspar, Hyde, Henshall, Dhand, Probyn-Rapsey, Dashper, McLean, McGreevy

PLoS, 2019

Read the paper here.

The Engagement Zone

Effects of pre-conditioning on behavior and physiology of horses during a standardised learning task

Fenner, Webb, Starling, Freire, Buckley & McGreevy

Read the paper here

PLoS, 2017

Sex and Gender

The Anthropomorphic Application of Gender Stereotypes to Horses

Dashper, Fenner, Hyde, Probyn-Rapsey, Caspar, Henshall and McGreevy

Read theĀ abstractĀ here

Anthrozoƶs, 2018

Fibre Requirements

The Fibre Requirements of Horses and the Consequences and Causes of Failure to Meet Them

Ermers, MGilchrist, Fenner, Wilson & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2023

Accident Analysis

Development of a Human Factors Approach to Equine-Related Human Accident Analysis, and Preliminarily Evaluation with Simulated Incidents

Chapman, Fenner, Thomas

Read the paperĀ here

Safety, 2022

The Sex of the Handler

The Impact of the Sex of Handlers and Riders on the Reported Social Confidence, Compliance and Touch Sensitivity of Horses in Their Care

Anzulewicz, Fenner, Hyde, Heald, Burattini, Romness, McKenzie, Wilson & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2021

Impact of Multiple Riders

Equine Responses to Acceleration and Deceleration Cues May Reflect Their Exposure to Multiple Riders.

McKenzie, Fenner, Hyde, Anzulewicz, Burattini, Romness, Wilson & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2021

Tongue-Ties and Nosebands

Reported Use of Tongue-Ties and Nosebands in Thoroughbred and Standardbred Horse Racing-A Pilot Study

Weller, Franklin, White, Shea, Fenner, Wilson, Wilkins & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

animals, 2021

Ageing Horse Behaviour

Ageā€Related Changes in the Behaviour of Domestic Horses as Reported by Owners

Burattini, Fenner, Anzuleqicz, Romness, McKenzie, Wilson & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2020

Unwanted Behaviours

Associations between Ownersā€™ Reports of Unwanted Ridden Behaviour and Inā€Hand Behaviour in Horses

Romness, Fenner, McKenzie, Anzulewicz, Burattini, Wilson & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2020

Mares Vs Geldings

Reported behavioural differences between geldings and mares challenge sexā€driven stereotypes in ridden equine behaviour

Aune, Fenner, Wilson, Cameron, McLeanĀ & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2020

The Use of Nosebands

The reported use of nosebands in racing and equestrian pursuits

Weller,n Franklin, Shea, White, Fenner, Wilson, WilkinsĀ & McGreevy

Read the paperĀ here

Animals, 2020


Click on the image to see a full list of publications


Oral presentations at the International Society for Equitation Science Conference 2017

ABC Lateline story

Dressage Downer

Radio New Zealand interview with Kate about tight nosebands, 2016.

Kandoo Horses

Kandoo Equine is about training relaxed and confident horses, regardless of their surroundings