The Ultimate Horseman's Digest ... naturally!

HORSESource online! is brought to you from PENZANCE EQUINE SOLUTIONS, 200 South Street, Douglas, MA 01516 (508) 476-1317

Basic Classical Conditioning

Pavlov was the father of what is now called Pavlovian Theory. He gave us the very first proven examples of "conditioning". Conditioning is exacting a stimulus in order to achieve a  resultant behavior. Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate at the mere sound of a bell. He began by showing the dog meat as he rang a bell. After this was repeated numbers of times, just the sound of a bell ringing was enough to cause salivation in the dogs. This type of conditioning can be utilized in a positive manner when working with any animal, including the horse. However, this type of conditioning can reap either positve or negative results. The horse that becomes agitated when the vet arrives has been conditioned to expect  discomfort or pain when smelling the particular medicinal smell of a vet (or at the sight of a long, white coat.) The sight of a syringe can cause horses to go into flight mode because they have learned to associate pain with syringes. 

Example of negative conditioning:

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning uses a specific cue, with a specific signal to achieve a specific behavior. Skinner brought this to light with his "skinner box" ... a box where a food reward can be received for pushing a specific button or lever. This operant conditioning is a very easy method to train animals, including horses. The coined term for positive reinforcement conditioning is now "Clicker Training." The operant is the animal that is "controlling" its behavior in order to receive or experience a positive result.  The horse is being conditioned to respond in a particular manner according to the behavior that results in a reward. Food is most commonly used as the reward given that horses are highly motivated by food. The signal is the particular sound made when the specified behavior is exhibited. The behavior is then reinforced with a reward. Repetitive exercises result in the horse being conditioned to respond in a particular manner to a particular, specific cue. Let's now look at a chart exemplfying operant conditioning with positive reinforcement:

Operant conditioning:

When working with horses one wants to assure that the horse will want to please and be willing to perform a requested task. In order to do this, one must always strive to set up positive conditioning. This is most easily achieved through positive reinforcement. The horse will not experience discomfort or pain through specific stimulus but only rewards and motivation to perform the requested task repeatedly. Behavioral issues and work intolerance will not become a hinderance in the training of the horse. Any unwanted behavior should be ignored as much as safely possible which will result in the positive behavior being conditioned according to the specific cue/request without conflicting and confusing punishment being directed towards the unwanted behavior. Once the horse is conditioned to respond to a particular stimulus, the signal and the reward can be eliminated. Just as Pavlov's dogs became conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell even without the stimulus of the meat, the horse will become conditioned to respond in a desired manner to the specific cue without the stimulus of the treat.

By working in small steps, the horse will build a foundation of behaviors which can all be gradually combined towards the ultimate goal. Each horse, being an individual, will have different learning curves from one another. It is important to realize the uniqueness of each individual animal and to work according to its own capabilites. One horse may not be fazed at all by a new blanket while another may immediately go into flight mode at the new smell and sight. The first can bypass the initial steps of introduction while the second will have to go through a complete series of introduction  from smelling the new object to touching the new blanket to being touched by the blanket and so on and so forth.  It is in the recognition and respect of the individual horse's particular personalities that we, the horseman, can establish a firm foundation of trust and respect within our relationship with the horse. If one were to just throw a new blanket onto the back of a horse with a very timid and easily frightened personality, a negative conditioning will ensue. By taking small steps, as small as is individually required, a positive conditioning will take place thereby not only strengthening the relationship between horse and horseman but also initiating the growth of tolerance and bravery in the horse.

BACK TO MONTHLY FEATURES