Carley O'Callaghan

Carley O’Callaghan is the co-owner of Equi-nine UK and the proud winner of Behaviour Trainer of the Year 2024. Her journey with horses began in childhood, when she begged her non-horsey parents for riding lessons. Expecting it to be just a phase, they eventually gave in—but it quickly became clear that Carley’s passion for horses was anything but temporary.

She started out at a local riding school, moved on to loan ponies, and eventually owned her first horse—an ex-racer straight off the track. But it was the purchase of a 3-year-old off the mountain that truly ignited her passion for understanding horse behaviour. What started as youthful confidence quickly turned into a deep need to learn. That horse didn’t just test her skills—he reshaped her thinking, sparking a lifelong interest in psychology-based horsemanship.

As Carley began helping others on her yard, someone suggested she turn her talent into a career. Determined to do things properly, she pursued qualifications through Intelligent Horsemanship and became a Recommended Trainer. She founded Considerate Horsemanship, growing a loyal client base and earning a finalist spot in national awards before co-founding Equi-nine UK with her partner, Gareth.

Carley met Gareth while helping him with two of his horses. He had already begun applying his dog training background to his equine work—and Carley immediately saw the value in their shared philosophy. With Gareth’s award-winning dog behaviour background and Carley’s equine expertise, Equi-nine UK was born.

Today, Carley is known for her ethical, force-free training methods rooted in positive reinforcement and clear communication. She blends knowledge from a wide range of trainers and approaches, creating tailored strategies that prioritise both the horse’s mental and physical wellbeing. She believes every horse is an individual, and her work focuses on reading body language, reducing fear, and setting each horse up for success.

Equi-nine UK now offers a wide range of services including behaviour consultations, loading and spook-busting clinics, starter training, groundwork, and more. With a growing team and waiting lists of up to 16 weeks, the company also works closely with vets, physios, dentists, and farriers to ensure that every behaviour issue is viewed through a whole-horse lens.

Carley’s mission is simple but powerful: to help people and horses truly understand each other. Through patient, science-based, compassionate horsemanship, she creates partnerships built on mutual trust, respect, and communication—giving both horses and humans the chance to thrive together.


                                                                            Return to Judges' page