Equine Behaviour & Equitation Science How utilising learning theory can prevent problems and improve performance

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1 Equine Behaviour & Equitation Science How utilising learning theory can prevent problems and improve performance Gemma Pearson BVMS Cert AVP (EM) MRCVS Senior Clinical Scholar, Royal (Dick) Vet Equine Hospital Veterinary Liaison Officer, International Society for Equitation Science

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5 Mission: To promote and encourage the application of objective research and advanced practise which will ultimately improve the welfare of equids in their associations with humans.

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7 Why is Behaviour Important? Wastage 66.4% of horses in a slaughterhouse in France Safety Most dangerous sport to participate in Improve Performance Learning theory used by animal trainers worldwide

8 The Mental Capacities of Horses Poorly developed Prefrontal Cortex No imagination Unable to problem solve Learn through trial and error Excellent long term memory, Poor short term memory

9 Faster Steps vs. Longer Steps

10 How Do Horses Learn?

11 Classical Conditioning = PREDICTABILITY Making associations between two previously unrelated cues Pavlov s dogs Consider one horse showing aggressive behaviour to a subordinate Through previous learnt associations the subordinate horse will predict it is about to be bitten and can move away, thus preventing injury

12 Operant Conditioning = CONTROLABILITY

13 Negative Reinforcement Pressure release The removal of an aversive stimulus when the desired behaviour occurs, makes the horse more likely to offer that behaviour in the future Each time the behaviour removes the source of discomfort

14 Negative Reinforcement

15 Positive Reinforcement The addition of something pleasant follows the correct response, that makes the horse more likely to repeat the behaviour in the future Food Scratching withers (not patting) Timing is important needs to be as close as possible to the behaviour occurring to be most efficacious

16 Secondary Positive Reinforcement Clicker Training An association between the click and food allows timing of the desired behaviour to be signalled by the click Improves timing

17 Use of Operant Conditioning

18 Punishment Punishment reduces the likely hood a behaviour will be offered again in the future Positive punishment = applying an aversive stimulus after an unwanted behaviour has occurred to suppress it Negative punishment = removing something pleasant from the horse after an unwanted behaviour has occurred to suppress it

19 The Problems with Punishment 1) It lowers the motivation of the horse to trial new responses in training - It is telling the horse what not to do, but not what it should be doing 2) The horse can become desensitised to the punishing stimulus 3) Timing 4) The horse may have an extreme reaction to the stimulus 5) It creates powerful fear associations with the person/whip

20 Hospital Case Study

21 Shaping The horse is very unlikely to offer the final outcome early in training Reward any basic attempts and then improved responses each time

22 Shaping responses to worming

23 Retraining Unwanted Behaviours

24 7 Methods of Desensitisation Gradual Habituation Systematic Habituation Flooding Counter Conditioning Stimulus Blending Approach Conditioning Overshadowing

25 Gradual Habituation Natural habituation method Slow, horse is free to escape Application 1) Stable horse next to another getting shod to habituate to the smoke/noise 2) Turn a horse out in a field next to a railway/ busy road/livestock

26 Systematic Habituation Flight response is minimised through signals from handler Horse gradually approaches object or object is gradually brought towards horse Negative reinforcement may accelerate learning

27 Flooding Overwhelming the horse with an aversive stimulus whilst preventing any escape No place in horse training due to potential for extreme reactions and association of people with fear Highly stressful Spontaneous recovery

28 Counter Conditioning Replaces the horses fear response to a stimulus with one that predicts a positive outcome Utilises classical conditioning E.g. turning the clippers on then immediately feeding the horse Habituates to sound of clippers but not sensation

29 Approach Conditioning Horses naturally habituate to objects/stimuli they can chase Ask the horse to walk towards the aversive stimulus As the horse approaches the stimulus (umbrella, quad bike, gym ball, tractor,livestock etc) should then retreat Allow the horse to follow the object for a few steps, then ask him to halt for a moment before following again (the object should continue retreating)

30 Stimulus Blending Blend the aversive stimulus with a stimulus the horse already readily accepts E.g. hose the horses legs (acceptable stimulus) and slowly introduce a spray bottle (previous aversive stimulus) E.g for horses that are head shy first habituate them to a damp towel, then slowly unfold to shape the sensation of the human fingers

31 Overshadowing Represents competition of two stimulus for the horses attention The more intense signal is prioritised, this means the other signal undergoes habituated (sensitisation or learning of the stimulus is reduced) Very effective technique for desensitisation to most stimuli (clippers, injections, plastic bags etc)

32 Overshadowing to Clippers

33 Other Common Problem Behaviours All represent deficits in any of GO STOP TURN (YIELD) Responses either in hand or under saddle

34 Case Study Problems at mounting block

35 Case Study Problems at mounting block

36 Unwanted Behaviour Under Saddle Unpredictable, Jekyll and Hyde Sudden bursts of hyperactive/dangerous behaviour

37 Leg aids = Go

38 Rein aids = Stop/slow

39 Conflicting aids

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41 Nearly time to go home?

42 Go

43 Back up/stop

44 Practice Go at the Ramp

45 Half Way in

46 Repetition

47 The Final Result

48 Remember There are no bad horses, Just confused ones

49 Any Questions?

50 Obedient Basic Responses

51 A Good Park