Archives

• “Gwelfare” students win again.

  Once again, CCSAW’s students lived up to their nickname “Gwelfare” at the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Assessment Contest held at Texas A&M University.

  

  Over 270 registrants from 23 universities across North America tested their skills in assessing the welfare of a number of species including tilapia, pet gerbils, Gaboon vipers in a zoo, and dressage horses. The students were given a welfare scenario to evaluate, then presented their findings to a panel of judges.

  OVC students were the first prize winners in the Veterinary Student Division, while in the undergraduate senior division, the CCSAW team placed 2nd. Individual awards went to DVMs Hayley Bryce (2nd) and Mia Nanini (4th) while Gillian Forestell was fifth in the individual graduate category.

  

  The group was coached by Drs Derek Haley, Tina Widowski and PhD student Lydia Benn,

  Congratulations to all.

• Sarah Baert Becomes First ACAW Board-Certified Veterinarian from OVC and CCSAW

  

  Sarah Baert, a laboratory animal veterinarian working in Animal Care Services, has achieved a unique milestone: she is now a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW), one of the newest veterinary specialty organizations recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). This certification underscores her expertise in animal welfare science, ethics, and policy, and positions her at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field.

  ACAW was established to advance the science and practice of animal welfare within veterinary medicine. Diplomates demonstrate proficiency in areas such as pain management, housing and enrichment and the development of welfare assessments across species. Sarah is not only the first graduate of both the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW) to achieve ACAW board certification, but she is also one of only two ACAW diplomates currently in Canada, highlighting the rarity and prestige of this accomplishment.

  Sarah’s journey into animal welfare began somewhat unexpectedly.

  “It was Derek Haley, my CCSAW master’s advisor, who made me aware of the accreditation process after I graduated from vet school, knowing I had a particular interest in welfare,” she recalls. “I wasn’t sure where my career would lead, but I knew I wanted more of a focus on welfare than what I would find in private veterinarian practice. In many ways, I was simply following my curiosity.”

  Her path to certification was unconventional. Unlike most veterinary specialties, which offer structured residencies, animal welfare required an alternate route, meaning she had to design her own training plan covering a broad spectrum of species and welfare topics under the guidance of a board-certified mentor.

  “Both my training package and my eventual credentialing package were about 150 pages long – a lot of writing from me, and reviewing from the ACAW training and credentialling committees,” Sarah notes. She completed this five-year program while balancing work and a master’s degree.

  A distinctive aspect of her training was the opportunity to collaborate with members of the CCSAW community who specialize in a wide range of species.

  “I was fortunate to connect with experts across diverse fields,” Sarah explains. “That’s one of the things that makes Guelph so remarkable – we have leading animal welfare scientists working with many different species, all in one place”. This experience gave her a breadth of knowledge far beyond that of typical veterinary practice.

  Her path to specialization was also shaped by a strong foundation in research. After completing her MSc with CCSAW in 2021, she spent the following year working both as a laboratory animal veterinarian at the University of Guelph and with the Secretariat of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Table, a multidisciplinary advisory group that provided independent, evidence-based guidance to decision-makers in Ontario. This work deepened her expertise in experimental design and rigor.

  She applies her diverse knowledge every day in her current role as Clinical Research Veterinarian with Animal Care Services, where she partners with research teams to find practical solutions when experimental requirements and animal welfare appear to conflict.

  “I work alongside my veterinary colleagues to oversee the care and use of animals involved in research and teaching on campus. Our day-to-day responsibilities include diagnosing and treating disease, reviewing animal utilization protocols, advising the Animal Care Committee, and training personnel. But what I enjoy most is finding creative solutions where both the animals and the research benefit,” she says. Drawing on her welfare and methodological expertise, she advocates for improved housing and pain management, particularly for species that receive less attention, such as rodents and fish.

  The ACAW certification itself culminates in an intensive eight-hour board examination and requires ongoing professional development to maintain.

  “Your accreditation is valid for 10 years, after which the college asks for a report demonstrating how you’ve kept your knowledge current,” Sarah explains. Mentoring new residents is also a key component of maintaining expertise and advancing the specialty.

  Looking ahead, Sarah hopes to expand teaching and training opportunities in animal welfare.

  “I would love to see an animal welfare residency at Guelph someday. Our institution is uniquely positioned to offer formal training for veterinarians in this field, thanks to the concentration of expertise on campus,” she says. It’s a goal rooted in her own journey—motivating others to challenge convention, just as her mentors inspired her.

  Sarah Baert’s achievement represents not only a personal milestone but also a broader step forward for the veterinary profession, integrating scientific rigor with ethical responsibility to enhance the welfare of animals in research and beyond.

• Forensic vet to host webinar, workshop to tackle equine abuse/neglect

  

  GUELPH – Ontario Veterinary College Professor and forensic veterinarian Dr. Shane Bateman will be hosting a workshop on October 1st to continue his advocacy regarding animal abuse/neglect – with a strong focus on the equine industry.

  Read the full article at the Wellington Advertiser and sign up today for the workshop. The workshop has a capacity of 16 people and can be accessed through The Horse Portal. 

  This program is in part sponsored by CCSAW.

• Cathy Wentworth – Stanley: Teaching Horses and Humans with Science and Heart

  When Cathy Wentworth – Stanley was eight years old, her parents bought her a horse. They weren’t “horse people” and didn’t fully understand her fascination, but that gift was enough to set her on a lifelong journey. Cathy would spend hours just sitting in a field, watching how horses interacted with each other. “I think that sparked my real interest in animal behaviour.”

  

  From Pony Club to completing the British Horse Society Assistant Instructor course in the UK, Cathy pursued every opportunity to deepen her knowledge of all things equine. In the early 2000s, when Equine Guelph launched its pioneering online courses Cathy enrolled. “They were the perfect way to update my knowledge while raising my family,” she says. Those courses marked the beginning of a two-decade journey that would take her from student to instructor.

  A Lifelong Learner

  The online format suited Cathy perfectly—flexible, accessible, and built on evidence-based research. She devoured classes on physiology, anatomy, and orthopedics, but it was the behaviour courses that pulled her in deepest. Research by scholars like Drs. Andrew McLean and Paul McGreevy opened her eyes to equitation science and the importance of ethical, welfare-based and science-driven management and training.

  Hungry for more, Cathy went on to complete her MSc. in Equine Science at the University of Edinburgh. Her dissertation—exploring Canadian coaches’ understanding and application of learning theory—earned distinction. What she discovered was troubling: many coaches misunderstood the very basics of operant conditioning, often confusing negative reinforcement with punishment. “This misuse of negative reinforcement is a major welfare concern,” Cathy notes. “It motivated me to keep going, to keep learning, and to find ways to share what I was discovering.” This drove Cathy to earn her Diploma in Equitation Science under the tutelage of Dr. Andrew McLean.

  Returning to Equine Guelph

  Today, Cathy teaches Equine Behaviour and Management of the Equine Environment at Equine Guelph, part of the Campbell Centre for Animal Welfare (CCSAW). Known as the “Centre for the Horse Owner,” Equine Guelph is a global pioneer in online equine education and the first in the world to offer accredited online equine studies through a university. Since 2003, it has reached learners in more than 40 countries, blending scientific research with practical application.

  Cathy’s courses form part of Equine Guelph’s flagship programs, including the Equine Science Certificate, the Equine Business Management Certificate, and the Diploma in Equine Studies. These flexible, online programs cater to a wide audience, from 18-year-olds starting their careers to lifelong horse enthusiasts well into their sixties. “I’ve had students not only from Canada and the U.S., but from Australia, Europe, Japan, and India,” Cathy explains. “It’s incredible to see the worldwide interest in evidence-based equine knowledge.”

  Teaching with Empathy and Clarity

  In her virtual classrooms, Cathy doesn’t just teach technique—she instills understanding. Equine Guelph emphasizes the importance of learning theory, and Cathy echoes this in the Equine Behaviour course. “Students gain a firm understanding of learning theory. They learn the correct application of negative reinforcement and how positive reinforcement can be applied to horse training. Students achieve a better understanding of why horses do the things they do and learn how to provide the best training environment for their well-being.” By grounding her teaching in science, she helps students see training not as control, but as clear and consistent communication.

  She often refers to the First Principles of Horse Training from the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), which optimize welfare and training efficiency. When riders pull back on the reins while kicking forward, for example, they send conflicting signals. “It’s like putting one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator at the same time,” Cathy explains. “It just increases the horse’s tension and anxiety, putting them in a negative affective (emotional) state, which reduces their ability to learn.”

  Her approach is to strip training back to the basics: go, stop, turn, yield. By ensuring these responses are clearly understood, Cathy helps riders and handlers avoid confusion and conflict behaviours. Horses are trained to respond to the lightest of cues resulting in calmer and safer horses—and more confident students.

  

  Inspiring Change in the Industry

  Equine Guelph’s mission is to improve horse health and welfare through education, and Cathy embodies that mission in her work. She is part of a movement that is slowly changing the industry—away from outdated, heavy-handed methods and toward evidence-based practices that prioritize welfare. While progress can be uneven, Cathy sees encouraging signs. “There’s a lot more written about learning theory and welfare than even a decade ago,” she says. “The question is whether people are truly applying it correctly. That’s where education is so important.”

  Outside her teaching role, Cathy continues to assist at her daughter’s riding facility, where she helps troubleshoot training challenges. She prefers to let the horse “speak” first. “Don’t tell me what the problem is,” she often says. “Let me walk the horse around, and I’ll tell you what I see.” Her ability to identify the roots of behavioural issues—often linked to conflicting signals or misunderstood cues—has earned her a reputation as both a problem-solver and a compassionate advocate for horses.

  A Teacher at Heart

  For Cathy, teaching is about planting seeds. Whether her students are new horse owners or seasoned professionals, she encourages them to stay curious, to ask questions, and to never stop learning. “I love when students really engage in the courses,” she says. “When they’re enthusiastic and open-minded, that’s when real change happens—for them and for the horses.”

  From the eight-year-old girl who once watched horses in a field to the accomplished educator she is today, Cathy Wentworth – Stanley’s journey reflects the very spirit of Equine Guelph: combining science, compassion, and education to build a better world for horses and the people who love them.

• Student Successes – New Theses Published

  When Fat Horses Face Inflammation: How Weight Loss and Exercise Affect Equine Health

  

  In her University of Guelph PhD research, Anna Garland investigates how being overweight impacts horses—focusing on both the physical changes in fat tissue and the inflammatory effects on joint cartilage. Across four studies, she discovered that inflamed fat tissue can trigger more inflammation in cartilage than direct exposure to bacterial toxins. In one study, horses were fed to gain weight over 16 weeks, and measurements showed that fat wasn’t distributed uniformly—spots like the tailhead and neck held the most fat. Another study compared three weight-loss plans: exercise only, calorie restriction only, or both combined. The exercise groups lost more fat, and when these horses performed a standardized exercise test, their joints showed signs of inflammation in synovial fluid, whereas the diet-only group showed lower levels of inflammatory markers. Overall, Garland’s work suggests that exercise-based weight loss may improve body composition faster, but may also stress joints—highlighting the need to balance weight management with inflammation control in overweight horses
  https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/4bc170b4-4405-4e2b-a747-207543af902c

  Boosting Calf Health with a Cup of Green Tea?

  

  Kristen Lutz’s 2025 Master’s thesis at the University of Guelph investigates an innovative question: can caffeine from green tea extract help newborn dairy calves get a stronger start in life? In her trial, Holstein heifer calves were given either a placebo, a single dose, or a double dose of green tea extract shortly after birth. Compared to controls, calves that received caffeine showed greater vigour within hours, improved health scores, and higher weight gains by four weeks of age. These results suggest that naturally sourced caffeine may provide a safe, simple boost to neonatal calf performance, especially during the vulnerable early weeks. Lutz’s research highlights the potential of nutritional supplements to improve both animal welfare and dairy farm productivity, while opening the door to further studies on natural alternatives to support calf health. https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/f663a715-33dc-41a0-a7f8-b24d7d391f94

  ---

  Do Animals Want to Be Touched? Studying Consent in Therapy Settings

  

  Amir Sarrafchi’s PhD research at the University of Guelph delves into a fascinating and important question: how does giving animals the choice to participate in therapy interactions affect their wellbeing—and ours? In a series of experiments with dogs and horses, Sarrafchi compared their responses when they could freely approach a human versus when they were restrained and touched without choice. His findings were clear: when animals had no choice, they showed more stress signals like pinned ears, tail swishing, and fidgeting. Surprisingly, humans also felt less at ease during forced interactions. Sarrafchi’s work challenges traditional animal-assisted intervention models and advocates for a more ethical, agency-based approach—where animal consent is central to human-animal relationships.
  https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/dfb2397b-919a-4996-b9e5-0d38e71700c1

Past Events

• Forensic vet to host webinar, workshop to tackle equine abuse/neglect

  GUELPH – Ontario Veterinary College Professor and forensic veterinarian Dr. Shane Bateman will be hosting a workshop on October 1st to continue his advocacy regarding animal abuse/neglect – with a strong focus on the equine industry.

• How can we sustainably improve human’s relations with farm animals?

  Monday, March 17th, 2025 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM

• CCSAW Research Symposium

  testing category