Dr Gemma Pearson is director of equine behaviour for The Horse Trust and is a qualified veterinary surgeon with more than 15 years’ experience with behaviour cases. She's a qualified veterinary equine behaviourist who splits her time between seeing clinical behaviour cases at the university of Edinburgh's equine hospital and ongoing research on this topic. She is also an accredited racecourse veterinary surgeon, working at Musselburgh racecourse, and the Veterinary Liaison Officer for the International Society for Equitation Science.
Gemma is passionate about improving interactions between horses and people – specifically regarding the application of learning theory – and this is where she has directed her work. She has completed her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (specialising in Equine Medicine), as well as an MScR (Master of Science by Research) investigating horse veterinarian interactions. Gemma then went on to complete her CCAB (certified clinical animal behaviourist) and her PhD thesis, which is titled ‘Stress in equids undergoing veterinary care and the development of interventions that positively influence the horses’ experience’.
Alongside continuing her research, Gemma lectures internationally and has produced a series of short YouTube videos with the British Equine Veterinary Association aiming to reduce injury rates when dealing with difficult horses under the ‘Don’t break your vet’ campaign.
Gemma has competed up to advanced level endurance on a home-bred horse, and has enjoyed competing in affiliated dressage and eventing.
