Supporters of Progressive Equine Partnerships are organisations or individuals who are experts in their field. They support our mission to build a forward-thinking organisation recognisable as the ‘kitemark’ of an ethical equine professional or establishment committed improving equine welfare to the highest of standards.
Cynthia Cooper is the designer of LightRider Bitless Bridles and runs the Natural Horse World Store. Sharing her wealth of knowledge via hundreds of articles and blog posts as well as designing products, Cynthia is improving the lives of horses worldwide.
Cynthia has studied horse psychology, equine ethology, natural horsemanship, and positive-based training methods for keeping, feeding, treating, and hoof trimming her own horses, naturally. Her experience with horses spans over 50 years including studying with Pat Parelli at his International Study Centre before teaching the Parelli system for 4 years. She then made the decision to leave the Parelli organization and focus on teaching people a wider variety of methods, including clicker training (+R) also known as positive reinforcement training. She now bases all of her interactions with horses on positive ways and at liberty as much as possible.
Cynthia’s interest in providing as close to a natural environment for her horses as possible has led her to develop skills in hoof trimming for barefoot performance, feeding, and treating most health problems naturally. She practices Equine Permaculture on her property where she has cared for up to 15 horses and a mule.
Developing more awareness of what horses prefer has led Cynthia to design her own Bitless Bridle, Bareback Pad, and Knotless halters.
Based in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Shelby Dennis is a professional horse trainer and behaviour consultant, boasting over 22 years of experience in working with horses. Throughout her career, she has gained practical knowledge in various equestrian disciplines, including the Arabian horse circuit, hunter/jumper, dressage, and exercising racehorses. This diverse experience has shaped her into a well-rounded individual with a deep understanding of horses.
Shelby has shown a strong commitment to her education by pursuing post-secondary studies in Equine Science. She has undertaken numerous Equine Science based courses through Guelph as part of her journey toward earning a Certificate of Equine Science. Her focus has primarily been on Equine Behaviour, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing behavioural issues in horses.
In recognition of her expertise, Shelby received her Equine Behaviour Consultant certification from the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants in early 2021. This certification has greatly enhanced her skills as a trainer, allowing her to apply equine learning theory effectively and modernize her training methods. Shelby’s approach is heavily influenced by equine ethology and a strong commitment to ethical practices.
Beyond her professional expertise, Shelby is an accomplished author and influential figure, advocating for the welfare of horses. She is a founding member of the alliance for horse welfare in sport, contributing her strong voice and extensive knowledge to various welfare concerns. Most notably, she has been invited to speak at the international equine welfare conference in Paris, where she will share her knowledge and continue to campaign for improved equine welfare in competitions worldwide.
