“When we understand motivation, we can increase desired behavior using generous and kindly means which the horse can also enjoy.”
– Jenifer Zeligs, Ph.D

Jenifer is a world-renown animal behaviorist with over 40 years of experience, award winning presentations on animal behavior modification, and numerous publications to her credit. In 2014 she published what has been called the new industry “bible” Animal Training 101: The complete and practical guide to the art and science of behavior modification.

Dr. Zeligs is a founder of the Animal Training and Research International Center which oversees an animal care facility affiliated with the California State University system where she currently teaches.

Her second book: Mindful Partners: The Zen art and science of working with animals has just been published. With a wealth of experience in many species, both domestic and exotic, and specifically with horses. Dr. Zeligs current passion is to help encourage students to greater successes by helping them to develop better relationships with horses through mindful training.

Here’s what Jenifer says about joining our panel:
“I am honored and excited to learn and share with such a distinguished group of trainers around such an important topic!”

“HOW we train our horse makes all the difference in the quality of our relationship and how our horse FEELS about what we ask of them.”
– Sharon Madere

Sharon is a Certified Horse Behavior Consultant (IAABC), member of ISES, a boutique breeder of Iberian horses, and trains and competes in artistic Classical riding (The Baroque Equestrian Games). She sees individual behavior cases, conducts workshops and wet-labs, lectures to veterinary students, and consults with upper level competitors – focusing on the science of learning and positive reinforcement training to improve equine welfare, increase safety, and enhance higher level riding performance.

Her breeding program has gained recognition for her innovative and systematic early education: Foal to Foundation. Along with Dr. Robin Foster, Sharon developed and launched the annual Progressive Equine Behavior &Training Forum.

Here’s what Sharon says about joining our panel:
“I am so jazzed that Karen Rohlf has taken the lead to organize such a dynamic panel on this vital topic! I can’t wait to share and learn together with this group and audience.”

“Underlying all techniques, is the thing that keeps trainers up at night – motivation! For me, combining Natural Horsemanship with Positive Reinforcement Training gives extraordinary results not found with either alone.”
– David Lichman

David is a 5-Star Master Parelli Professional with a specialty in Liberty Horses. He has performed across the continent with his three-horse act, which includes bridle-less riding and riding to music.

He is the creator of Liberty Outside the Round Pen, a Parelli Mastery Series release, available for streaming and on DVD, in which David gives step-by-step instructions on building a connection that resists distractions, enabling students to play at Liberty with exuberance in large open areas.

Here’s what David says about joining our panel:
“I consider both Karen and Jenifer personal friends, colleagues and mentors. Whenever we get together something good always results. I am looking forward to meeting Antonia and Sharon as well, with an eye towards more fun and learning in the future with them.”

“Science tells us that horses trained with positive reinforcement, learn the task more quickly, retain it longer, respond to the trainer more positively, and generalize that “humans are very cool” positive attitude to other humans in their lives. In short, positive reinforcement training is the relationship-building stuff of the horse to human dynamic.”
– Antonia Henderson, Ph.D

Antonia (Toni) Henderson recently retired as a psychology professor from Vancouver’s Langara College in British Columbia, Canada, where her research has focused on interpersonal relationships, attachment, and the human-animal bond. She continues to work as a research psychologist – teaching, consulting, and writing about the psychology of human/animal relationships, and particularly our relationship with sport horses. She has designed and taught university courses in Human-Animal Studies and Equine Behaviour. She currently sits on the Council for the International Society for Equitation Science, an international body of scholars, practitioners, and veterinarians whose mission is to promote evidence-based research and impart that knowledge to the greater horse community for the advancement of equine welfare.

Since 2011 she has been a regular contributor to the horse magazines Horse Sport and Horse Canada writing about the science and psychology of equine behavior in language accessible to non-scientific horse owners, trainers, and horse enthusiasts. Toni has a notable publication record in academic journals, books, and book chapters, but has more recently focused on publishing for the general horse public, to distill the science, and bring it to the stable. Toni has a strong practical background in the equine industry.

Here’s what Antonia says about joining our panel:
“I am thrilled to be invited to this panel of experts on how we might use reinforcement strategies to better horses’ lives. Learning Theory has been a core part of Psychological Science for more than 100 years…This webinar is key to bringing more attention to this much needed discussion so that we can use what science has taught us to make for healthier and happier horse-to-human interactions. I feel very honored to be included in this veritable who’s who of equine science researchers and practitioners.”