- 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.
Cathy Wentworth Smith uses clicker training on a horse with injection adversion. 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-a747-207543af902cBoosting 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 - Latest Grad Student Theses
CCSAW saw eight of its grad students successfully defend their theses over the winter semester. Congratulations to them all.
Below is a summary of the first four:
The Tough Decisions Around Down Cows: A Look Inside Dairy Farm Practices
When a dairy cow can’t stand up—called a “down cow”—it’s a big concern for farmers and veterinarians alike. In his PhD research, John Brindle of the University of Guelph examined how dairy producers and vets in Ontario handle these challenging cases. His work found that even though we know the best practices for helping these cows, not all farms follow them. There are many reasons: lack of time, equipment, or facilities; emotional difficulty in deciding when to euthanize; and traditional habits that are hard to change. Brindle emphasizes that earlier care and more collaboration between farmers and vets can make a big difference—not just for cow welfare, but for the mental well-being of those providing care. His research calls for better protocols, training, and tools to support timely, humane decisions on farms.
Read more: https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/b01b2472-e3b8-47fa-b329-49fa3602327c
Rethinking Rabbit Rescue: Why Some Bunnies Get Left Behind
Rabbits are the third most commonly surrendered pet in shelters—but why are so many ending up there, and what can be done to help? In her PhD at the University of Guelph, Carol Tinga dug deep into the human–rabbit relationship to understand the issues behind unwanted pet rabbits. She surveyed over 2,000 rabbit owners and looked at how shelters across North America are managing intake. Her research found that people’s emotional bonds with their rabbits vary widely, and some are more likely to give them up based on things like living conditions, knowledge gaps, and how they interact with their pets. Shelters also reported changes in rabbit surrenders during COVID-19 and following outbreaks of rabbit disease. Tinga’s work points to the need for better public education, shelter practices, and support tools for owners—so fewer rabbits are left without homes.
Read more: https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/1032eb1a-8dae-49e4-b03b-f1a115b6d960
Why Do Some Mice Just Keep Spinning? New Research Looks at the Roots of Repetitive Behaviours
Have you ever seen a zoo animal pacing the same path or a pet repeating strange movements over and over again? These repetitive behaviours—called “stereotypic behaviours”—are often signs of poor welfare. In her master’s research, University of Guelph student Shay Forget explored why some of these behaviours persist even after conditions improve. Using laboratory mice as a model, Forget tested whether things like age, anxiety, or habit formation explained why enrichment doesn’t always work. Surprisingly, age wasn’t a factor—but mice that actually used the new enrichment showed more improvement. Her findings suggest that helping animals engage with their environment may be key to reducing these troubling behaviours. This work not only sheds light on lab animal welfare but has broader implications for animals in zoos, shelters, and farms.
Read more: https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/ff5daed0-bb7c-40b5-9f0f-cb0233541ffc
Do Cow Personalities Influence What They Eat? Exploring New Feed Additives for Dairy Health
In her University of Guelph Master’s research, Sarah Bruner explored how dairy cows respond to a novel fat‑microencapsulated anionic salt—a feed additive meant to support cow health during the dry period. She asked two key questions: Do cows prefer this additive over a standard fat placebo, and does personality play a role in their response? The cows showed no overall preference and found both diets equally palatable. However, less bold cows consumed more of the additive-containing feed compared to their more outgoing counterparts. Personality also affected how cows sorted their feed—shyer cows selecting medium-sized particles, more active cows preferring shorter bits. These findings offer fresh insights into how individual behavior and personality can influence feed intake and sorting, shaping approaches to more targeted and effective nutrition strategies on dairy farms. Sarah is now working as a Ruminant Nutritionist at Grand Valley Fortifiers.
https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/6f401fcf-ad4a-43bb-821e-55865e01e938 - Researchers Convene at Guelph for 2025 ISAE Regional Meeting on Animal Welfare Science
University of Guelph hosts 15th annual North American event focused on applied ethology
The 15th North American Regional Meeting of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) took place last month at the University of Guelph, bringing together 190 registered participants from 51 institutions across North America. The event, hosted by the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW), featured scientific presentations, keynote lectures, and networking opportunities aimed at advancing research in animal behaviour and welfare.
Held at the Arboretum Centre, the conference drew 152 in-person attendees, including 103 students and postdoctoral researchers and 49 professionals. Twelve Canadian universities from eight provinces were represented, along with 16 U.S. universities spanning 12 states.
Keynotes Challenge Assumptions in Animal Welfare
The meeting opened with a keynote address by Prof. Cassandra Tucker of the University of California, Davis, titled “Invisible harm: how our blind spots reveal unanswered questions in animal welfare.” Tucker outlined four areas where cognitive bias and ingrained assumptions—such as “barn blindness”—obscure meaningful improvements in animal care. Her presentation underscored the need for greater scientific rigour and introspection in both research and industry practices.
The second day featured a keynote by Prof. Daniel S. Mills of the University of Lincoln, UK, on the topic “Animal faces: Beyond the rational.” Mills presented findings from over ten years of research on canine and feline facial expressions, emphasizing the complexity of interpreting animal emotions and warning against anthropomorphic bias.
Student Research Highlighted
Student participation was a major focus of the meeting. Graduate students presented oral and poster sessions, with submissions judged for scientific quality and communication. Award recipients were recognized as being Michelle Gygax (University of Bern) and Emiline Sundman (Iowa State University) for presentations and Rituparna Sonowal (Texas Tech University) and Xiaowen Ma (Michigan State University) for posters.
In addition to formal presentations, graduate students attended lunch sessions with the keynote speakers, providing a forum for mentorship and informal dialogue on research and career development. And for fun, a dog ‘dance’ team performed at one afternoon break, while the banquet featured a 4-H youth square dance set with a ‘learn-to-square dance’ hour afterwards.
ISAE and the Role of Regional Meetings
Founded to promote the study of applied animal behavior, the ISAE hosts international and regional meetings to support scientific collaboration and education. Regional meetings, such as the North American event, are designed to provide accessible opportunities for emerging scholars and local networks to exchange ideas and share findings in the field.
The 2025 meeting at Guelph reinforced ISAE’s commitment to scientific integrity, critical inquiry, and the advancement of evidence-based animal welfare practices. With presentations ranging from theoretical critiques to applied case studies, the event served as both a professional development platform and a barometer for current trends in ethology.
Organizers reported high engagement throughout the event, noting that the blend of early-career and established researchers continues to be a strength of the regional meeting model.
- Celebrating 10 Years of the Saputo Dairy Care Program
Saputo’s investment in dairy cattle welfare and training tops $1.75 million.
In 2015, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW) launched the Saputo Dairy Care Program with a commitment of $500,000 from Saputo. Ten years later, the world’s first and only formal dairy cattle welfare training program for veterinarians is celebrating Saputo’s second investment renewal that will bring the company’s total support for dairy cattle welfare at OVC to $1.75 million.
Dr. Anna Schwanke
This year’s renewal pledge of $500,000 will allow OVC to continue and expand dairy welfare training and outreach for student and practicing veterinarians, dairy producers and industry representatives, as well as hire a new full-time Saputo Dairy Care Program Manager, Dr. Anna Schwanke.
Over the past decade, more than 130 senior large-animal veterinary students from across Canada, the U.S. and beyond, have engaged in week-long immersive rotations. This largely hands-on training delves into sometimes controversial issues affecting dairy cattle welfare, like transportation and culling decisions.
To respond to demand by rotation alumni for more in-depth training, in 2022, the CCSAW and Dairy at Guelph faculty began offering a second week-long course in the summer. Early in their veterinary career, outstanding graduates were admitted to another rotation, tailored to their specific animal care interests and the nature of their clinical practice.
For the full story, and to learn more about Dr. Schwanke, please visit https://www.uoguelph.ca/ovc/news/node/4898.
Past Events
- 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
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