About The Equine Advisor
Jo and her beautiful horse, nicknamed HippoHead.
Jo has had a passion for horses since a young age, and despite coming from an unhorsey family has managed to be involved with horses for most of her life.
Jo has owned a range of horses and ponies, from 16hh "HippoHead" whom she competes, to a cheeky pair of miniature shetland ponies, and foals through to golden oldies.
Horses and ponies in need of a bit of help often find their way into Jo's life where she rehabilitates them before finding them good homes. This has led to Jo developing a range of skills and, along with a lifetime of experience and a love of learning means she is in the great position of being able to share her knowledge for the benefit of the horses she is lucky enough to be involved with.
It was one horse, a french trotter called Nick, that started Jo's Equine Touch journey. Three years of study; four anatomy and physiology papers, four theory papers, an essay and over 120 case assessments later Jo qualified as an Equine Touch Practitioner in 2015.
At the same time, Jo also studied for and successfully passed British Horse Society Stage exams, as well as certificated online courses in Equine Nutrition and Animal Welfare. The Equine Advisor was being created!
Although the journey was only just beginning and there was much, much more to be learned and many more skills and qualifications to be gained which have all added to Jo's portfolio of services offered. Jo firmly believes that there can never be too many skills available to any horseman or woman and the old adage is true:
You never stop learning where horses are concerned!
Jo's Key Achievements & Qualifcations to Date:
Jo has owned a range of horses and ponies, from 16hh "HippoHead" whom she competes, to a cheeky pair of miniature shetland ponies, and foals through to golden oldies.
Horses and ponies in need of a bit of help often find their way into Jo's life where she rehabilitates them before finding them good homes. This has led to Jo developing a range of skills and, along with a lifetime of experience and a love of learning means she is in the great position of being able to share her knowledge for the benefit of the horses she is lucky enough to be involved with.
It was one horse, a french trotter called Nick, that started Jo's Equine Touch journey. Three years of study; four anatomy and physiology papers, four theory papers, an essay and over 120 case assessments later Jo qualified as an Equine Touch Practitioner in 2015.
At the same time, Jo also studied for and successfully passed British Horse Society Stage exams, as well as certificated online courses in Equine Nutrition and Animal Welfare. The Equine Advisor was being created!
Although the journey was only just beginning and there was much, much more to be learned and many more skills and qualifications to be gained which have all added to Jo's portfolio of services offered. Jo firmly believes that there can never be too many skills available to any horseman or woman and the old adage is true:
You never stop learning where horses are concerned!
Jo's Key Achievements & Qualifcations to Date:
- 2000 - BSc (Honours) Degree in Geography, Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing to offer equine thermography.
- 2001-2003 - Jo studied for and passed the British Horse Society's Horse Owners Certificates Levels 1-3 at evening school.
- 2009 - The Equine Touch was discovered by Jo at a demonstration at Your Horse Live.
- 2011 - Jo undertook the first of many Equine Touch courses.
- 2013 - Jo partook in Gillian Higgins' Horses Inside Out Biomechanics Course.
- 2015 - Jo qualified as an Equine Touch Practitioner.
- 2016 - Jo became a certified and registered saddle fitter for The Saddle Company.
- 2018 - Jo qualified as a Bach Flower Registered Practitioner.
- 2021 - Jo qualified as a Registered Animal Medicines Advisor SQP-E.
- 2021 - Became a saddle fitter for additional, international, brands.
- 2021 - Undertook the Introduction to Saddle Fitting webinars and Practical Course with The Society of Master Saddlers and successfully applied to become a Trainee Saddle Fitter Member of The Society of Master Saddlers.
- 2022 - Jo trained with Cirencester Saddlers to pass the City & Guilds qualification on flocking and reflocking saddles
- 2022 - Jo also started training as a SMS Trainee Bridle Fitter recognising that there is far more to learn with regards to bits and bridles with the advent of the numerous anatomical versions available on the market.
- 2022 - Jo undertook The SMS Qualified Saddle Fitters Practical Course, having already attended the associated webinars.
- Additionally Jo has attended numerous online and in person seminars and events, and regularly attends conferences and such to network, cement relationships, undertake CPD and learning seminars, research new products and understand the latest research surrounding the wonderful world of all things equine.