dr. siobhan watkins
Siv Watkins is Skeleton Key Equine, and specializes in working with with senior, neglected and injured horses. She is intensely dedicated to caring for sick horses, and horses undergoing rehabilitation. Siv has worked as a barn manager for a racehorse rescue, herd manager for a therapeutic riding barn, and has also been a wilderness riding guide, and spent time teaching folks in recovery/survivors of domestic violence how to be in relationship with horses.
Before becoming an equine professional, Siv had a career spanning 17 years in the academic and corporate life sciences, and has a Ph.D in biology. Her background in the biological sciences, which included teaching high-level subject matter at the university/college level, has fostered a deep interest in equine science and research.
Siv initially learned to be around horses in the backcountry – never having received a formal lesson, Siv’s body learned to ride by riding. She was fortunate to be able to experience many different breeds and temperaments over varied terrain and speed in the NM wilderness. Grateful for this foundation, which was developed literally by the seat of her pants, Siv has been equally fortunate to meet teachers who could explain the importance of a higher technical level of physical awareness, control and balance, both on the trail and in the arena.
Siv started her training in horse-informed proprioceptive rehabilitation techniques under Mary Ann Menetrey in 2021. Since then, she has also been lucky to collaborate with and learn from exemplary horsewomen with a diverse range of skills: Christina Savitsky, Erin Calhoun, and Ginger and Leela of Legacy Horse Training.
Siv’s greatest and most impactful teachers have been the very many horses she has been privileged to work alongside. In particular, her own big gelding, Apollo, who was lost to sudden unpreventable illness in 2023. Apollo was one of Siv’s greatest teachers, and she misses him every day. The good work she does to help horses now is part of Apollo’s rich and lasting legacy.
Siv is a regular contributor to Eclectic Horseman, and writes articles and offers online classes on topics relating to equine science. Outside of work, Siv enjoys the desert, cinema, and hanging out with her cats.
