ABOUT JUSTINE
Justine has spent most of her life with horses.
She started riding at 5 and by the age of 7 she was competing in her first National Final. She has since competed successfully in a number of disciplines including show jumping up to 1m 30, and dressage up to Medium level. She has many years of experience riding, competing and handling horses for owners and friends, helping with riding advice, training issues, ‘difficult’ horses and managing livery yards.
Justine decided to study equine behaviour after unknowingly buying a young horse with significant aggression-related behaviour. She sought help from veterinary surgeons, physiotherapists and osteopaths and a range of well-known trainers, yet no one was able to clearly explain what was happening or offer effective support. As the situation progressed, the horse became increasingly anxious and aggressive while being handled by the professionals involved.
Having already studied human psychology, Justine wanted to find out why this behaviour was happening. She initially studied the science of equine behaviour and welfare with Heather Simpson, where she gained her Equine Behaviour Qualification. She then trained with animal behaviourist Dr. Marthe Kiley-Worthington in the South of France. In 2020 Justine was awarded an Honorary Degree by Writtle University College for distinction in the equine industry.
Justine is a fully certified member of the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). She is also the organisation’s UK & Ireland Co-Chair and a member of the Application Review Team. She is also registered as an Accredited Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council and sits on the Equine Committee.
As a Fear Free Certified Equine Professional, Justine is dedicated to improving horses’ emotional and physical wellbeing, advocating low-stress, welfare-centred management, handling, and behaviour modification.
In 2021 Justine founded Understand Horses – an online equine education platform with courses for horse owners, equine students and industry professionals. The contributors are a brilliant team of experienced and highly qualified professionals who are passionate about presenting practical, evidence-based information on a range of topics including horse behaviour, training, nutrition, physiology and welfare.
Justine is a visiting lecturer at several universities and colleges around the UK, and also acts as an expert consultant in legal disputes and court cases involving equine behaviour and welfare. She works as a consultant for a number of equine charities and has delivered webinars and CPD for the BHS, World Horse Welfare, The Brooke, Blue Cross and the RSPCA.
In addition to helping horse owners solve their horse behaviour problems Justine regularly writes for magazines including Your Horse, Horse & Rider (US), Endurance GB and Equitopia. She has also contributed to British Horse, Horse & Hound, Bit (Netherlands), Horses & People (Australia), Horse & Rider (UK), Horse Deals, The Guardian and The Sun newspapers as well as writing articles for Agria Equine, Petplan Equine Insurance and Vetvits. She has been an advisor and application reviewer on the editorial board of the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases resource with scientific publisher CABI since its inception.
She is a practitioner member of the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES). She also has BHS Stage 3 Riding and Horse Care qualifications, holds a current equine specific first-aid certificate, and is fully insured as an equine behaviour consultant and trainer.
Justine regularly attends CPD courses to keep up to date with new research in equine science and behaviour.
Contact Justine to arrange a consultation.
