Knowledge from research. Skill from the yard.
Equus Research & Therapy is the practice of equine behaviour specialist Machteld van Dierendonck. Scientific research, clinics, lectures and the resolution of behavioural problems in horses — all from one coherent view.
Who
Machteld van Dierendonck
Born in 1961. Biologist, clinical ethologist and independent researcher.
Machteld took her doctorate on the social herd behaviour of horses. That research still forms the basis of her work: horses are social animals, and much of what we label “problem behaviour” is ordinary behaviour that ends up in the wrong context.
Since then she has combined three strands that reinforce one another — carrying out research, passing on knowledge, and actually treating horses with behavioural and management problems. What stands out in the field feeds the research. What the research yields goes straight back to the yard.
Her clients range from professional businesses in the equine sector to private owners with one horse and one persistent question.
Expertise
Three strands, one practice
At Equus, research, teaching and treatment are not separate activities. They keep each other sharp.
Research
Scientific research into the behaviour, welfare and social structures of horses — independently and in collaboration with other researchers and institutions.
Teaching
Clinics, lectures and masterclasses in which complex knowledge is reduced to something you can genuinely act on at the yard.
Treatment
Resolving behavioural problems in individual horses and advising on housing, herd composition and management.
Principles
What we never compromise on
Four principles that determine how we look at a horse — and what you may expect from our advice.
Welfare is not a side issue next to performance. Advice that harms the horse is not advice.
“It has always been done this way” is not an argument. We test against what is actually known.
Sometimes the cause is medical, or the situation cannot be resolved under the current circumstances. We would rather say so out loud.
You go home with steps you can carry out yourself, in an order that makes sense.
Knowledge only gains value the moment someone can do something with it at their own yard.
Working together
Curious what we could do for your horse?
Describe the situation briefly. We will let you know whether a consultation, a clinic or something else fits best.