Training for LIFE Workshop
Training for Life: Life stages, Innovation, Function and Enrichment. This two day event will combine theory and practical, working with a variety of amazing species at the Wildwood Trust in Kent.
About the event:
Course overview:
Discover the powerful intersection of animal behaviour and physiotherapy. Nicky Plaskitt, a global zoo consultant and certified zoo animal training professional (Shaping Behaviour (please keep the link from the previous text)) with over 20 years of experience, is combining her expertise with Shackleton Veterinary Physiotherapy (zoo consultants, veterinary physiotherapists, and university lecturers).
Together, we are delivering a unique, collaborative workshop designed to highlight how fundamental husbandry duties, such as training, enrichment, and environmental management, are critical to supporting life-long physical health, optimal biomechanics, and longevity.
Venue and facilities:
This workshop is hosted at the ground-breaking Wildwood Trust, nestled within 40 acres of enchanting woodland in the heart of Kent. As a premier conservation charity, Wildwood is home to over 200 fascinating British species living in spacious, natural enclosures that mirror their habitats in the wild.
This immersive environment offers an unparalleled opportunity to study animal movement, habitat interaction, and behavioural management up close, featuring native and keystone species including:
- Brown bears, wolves, lynx, and wildcats.
- Bison, elk, deer, and wild boar.
- Badgers, Arctic foxes, owls, storks, and snakes.
What you will learn
Training for life: core curriculum
This intensive workshop bridges the gap between management and medicine. Through a dynamic combination of theoretical teaching, live demonstrations, and practical sessions, we will cover four critical pillars of modern animal care:
- Life stages: Evaluating the profound behavioural and physiological changes an animal undergoes throughout its life, and understanding how these shifts must influence your training, learning approaches, and daily management decisions.
- Innovation and welfare: Exploring how creativity within environmental design and daily management directly improves training outcomes, allows for sharper continual assessment, and elevates overall welfare.
- Function and physical health: Analysing how an animal’s physical health and evolutionary adaptations intersect with your training goals, prompting you to reflect deeply on how your handler choices influence their movement, activity, and rehabilitation.
- Purposeful enrichment: Moving beyond basic activity to design targeted enrichment driven by species-innate behaviours, individual history, and specific physical fitness requirements.
Reviews
With a wealth of experience training zoological teams worldwide, Matthew and Nicky let the feedback from their previous events speak for itself:
Book your tickets today and reserve your space!
What is this workshop about?
Nicky Plaskitt of Shaping Behaviour and Matthew Shackleton of Shackleton Veterinary Physiotherapy are combining their experience to discuss both behavioural and physiological components for good health and welfare throughout the course of an animal’s life. With theoretical and practical components, this workshop is sure to enhance your knowledge of how to assess and monitor musculoskeletal health and use behavioural observations to identify potential issues.
Who are the speakers?
Who are the speakers?
Nicky Plaskitt: Nicky is a certified professional animal and bird trainer through the International Animal Trainers Certification Board (IATCB) with over 20 years of experience working directly in zoos with a multitude of species. Through her zoological behaviour consultancy, Shaping Behaviour, she works with facilities across the UK, Europe, and beyond to improve animal welfare by empowering caregivers with the knowledge to manage behaviour in the most positive, least intrusive ways.
Matthew Shackleton: A qualified veterinary physiotherapist with an MSc from Nottingham Vet School and a background in zoo-keeping. Matthew provides exotic animal treatment and lameness consultancy to major zoological collections worldwide, drawing on over a decade of experience teaching zoo animal rehabilitation. He delivers accredited CPD globally, is an associate member of the British Veterinary Zoological Society, and serves as a clinical advisor for the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance.
Where is it?
The workshop is hosted by Wildwood Trust, Herne Bay in Kent, which has a unique variety of native wildlife, housed in natural habitats, including a large group of free range bison, recently introduced to the Blean forest. We will be observing and discussing training with the species housed at the trust.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is aimed at professionals working with animals, in a zoo keeping/animal training or veterinary capacity. Animal caregivers from all fields work together to ensure the best welfare of the species in their care, and this workshop will give background knowledge as to WHY certain mobility exercises and assessments are important to monitor physical health, and HOW to teach the animals the behaviours needed to allow this using positive reinforcement training. Nicky and Matt will also be available to answer questions throughout the workshop.
What do I need?
Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for spending time outside in the great British weather since this workshop will have components outside in the elements. Please bring a reusable water bottle and coffee cup if required to help us be sustainable, and your own note taking devices.
What’s included?
Your ticket includes refreshments and lunches both days and all required materials for the workshop will be provided. All participants will receive a certificate at the end of the second day. Parking is available and free on site at Wildwood Trust.
Accommodation:
There are several hotels and B&Bs in the local area, none of which are affiliated with the workshop itself. Options can be found here: www.booking.com, www.travelodge.co.uk, or www.airbnb.com or by using your own preferred search engine.