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 lectures 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 4-Part Training Video Workshop💖

[Workshop] If you feel that your horse could be more 🥰 relaxed, happier😃 to leave the home yard and his or her friends and more engaged 👌 with you, take this FREE 4-part 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 ✔️ engage your horse with you to ✔️ enable your horse to ✔️ relax and ✔️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 for you both.

"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 aren’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 don’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 life…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 horses’ 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)

Lecturer (equine science)

B Equine Science (Hons)

Accredited Trainer

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

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  

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

Read the paper 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 the paper 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 the paper 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 the paper 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 the abstract here

Anthrozoös, 2018

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


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