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ABOUT THE NAC...
Started by Ross and Heather Simpson in 1997, the centre has grown from its original small base in Sussex, England to its current two centres in beautiful west Wales as well as three game reserves abroad.

The NAC at Penhill is our main centre for courses (Equine, Canine, Feline, Small Animals and Bach Flower Remedies)and is also the home of the Natural Animal Veterinary Centre (NAVC) whilst NAC2, just 10 minutes’ drive away, is our sister centre for visitor accommodation and long-term rehabilitation of animals.

The NAC has also expanded internationally and students now have opportunities to visit our three wildlife reserves, two of which are in southern Africa, NAC South Africa and NAC Mozambique and one that is in the Himalayas, India, NAC Ladakh (see Wild Equid Protection Trust).

Compassion through science and ethical action . . .

Compassionate understanding of animals is always our main goal and we help people develop this awareness through gaining a sound base of scientific knowledge which creates opportunities for positive choices to be made regarding actions taken with their animals:

NAC Triangle

Ethically we promote the use of positive reinforcement in training and behaviour modification and the NAC currently has one of the highest standards in this regard. In the management of animals, we help people to appreciate the lifestyles of the wild cousins of domestic animals like horses, dogs and cats when they visit the NAC wildlife reserves and in so doing raise awareness of deprivation of basic needs in many common animal management practices. We also act as a role model by showing compassionate alternatives available in management (see the NAC Barn Management System for horses, mules and pigs or the manmade rabbit warren at NAC Penhill).

Our mission:

Philosophy
The Natural Animal Centre is a living embodiment of the philosophies we promote.
A visit here will reveal dogs who are calm & gentle enough for the rabbits to let themselves be groomed, our herd of horses mix with our 5 pigs freely, the cats range with the hens, cockerels & ducks.
Using positive reinforcement allows you to dream of and achieve things which other techniques cannot deliver.
But there is not really any magic here, just successfully applied scientific behavioural principles.

We believe that the compromises that we have chosen are those which impact least on our animals' natural behaviours. The horses, along with the pigs, live in a herd 24 hours each day. We are proud to have been the first to have pioneered the Barn System of managing horses. In the winter they shelter in the open barn as a herd and have unlimited access to socialise, have hay and to move about. Our rabbits have access to an above ground replica warren and freedom to stay in during the day and come out at night as they would in the wild. Animals which live gregariously in the wild all occur in a minimum group size of two. All of our animals get to have their turn at positive reinforcement training … the challenge is not getting the session started, it’s agreeing that it’s finished.
Visit us at the Natural Animal Centre & we promise you a very special experience. You will leave with one the greatest gifts … knowledge. Combine it with a positive attitude and there is little that you will be out of your reach.