Is your horse afraid of the farrier? Are you both struggling during training sessions? Do you want to use clicker training but don't know where to begin?
If you understand how your horse learns and why your training is effective, you can train faster, more ethically, and more sympathetically. Knowing Your Horse will be a key resource if you want to better understand your horse's behaviour and make the most of that understanding to improve your training techniques.
Knowing Your Horse gives you a range of practical tools to employ in solving equine behaviour problems, and training tasks and case studies demonstrate these tools in use. Emma Lethbridge thoroughly but simply explains learning theory as applied to horses, and offers practical advice on reward systems, positive and negative reinforcement, and overcoming fears and phobias. If it's not horses but humans that are causing you problems in training, this book will also help you to explain the concepts to other people. Learning recaps offer quick summaries and training logs are provided for your own training notes.
By:
Emma Lethbridge (University of Lincoln)
Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 244mm,
Width: 173mm,
Spine: 12mm
Weight: 472g
ISBN: 9781405191647
ISBN 10: 1405191643
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 08 May 2009
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Foreword Dedication Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 The Principles of Good Horse Training Ten Basic Principles of Good Horsemanship Learning recap Chapter 2 Does Classical Conditioning Ring a Bell? Different Stimuli and Response Terms Training Task: How to Classically Condition Your Horse Specific Training Situations Learning recap My training log Chapter 3 Living With the Consequences Operant Conditioning Applying Simple Operant Conditioning Training Task: 'Don't Mug Me' Training Learning recap My training log Chapter 4 All Possible Consequences Defining Positive and Negative Consequences Reinforcement Punishment Which Consequence? Learning recap Chapter 5 Other Laws and Factors in Learning The Final Law - Extinction Understanding Generalisation and Discrimination Learning in Training Learning recap Chapter 6 The Power of Positive Reinforcement What Can Be a Positive Reinforcer? Which Reinforcer Should I Use? When to Reward Training Using Positive Reinforcement Learning recap Training Task: Using Positive Reinforcement to Teach the Back, the Heel, the Stay, the Recall and the Yield Training Task: Teaching the Head Down and Placement using the Target Lure My training log Chapter 7 The Sound of Learning - Clicker Training What is Clicker Training? The Training Game Target Training The Secrets of Clicker Success Learning recap Training Task: Using Clicker Training My training log Chapter 8 Negative Reinforcement - Reinforcement Through Escape Pressure-Release Training The Important Factors for Applying Negative Reinforcement Ethically When Not to Use Negative Conditioning Avoidance Learning Is Every Physical Contact with the Horse Negative Reinforcement? Combining Positive and Negative Reinforcement Adding Cues and Commands Learning recap Training Task: Using Negative Reinforcement Through Pressure-Release My training log Chapter 9 Understanding Punishment The Side Effects and Problems of Punishment Applying Punishment (Minimising the Side Effects) Is it Possible to Train a Horse Without the Use of Punishment? Learning recap Chapter 10 How to Deal with Unwanted Behaviours Without Using Punishment The Simplest and Hardest Option - Ignoring the Horse Counter Conditioning Driven to Distraction A Final Note Learning recap Case Studies: Alternative Ways to Correct Unwanted Behaviour My training log Chapter 11 Step by Step Shaping Chaining Applying Shaping Training Task: Shaping Training Task: More Complicated Shaping - Teaching the Spanish Walk Applying Chaining Conclusion Learning recap My training log Chapter 12 Overcoming Fears and Phobias Prevention Is Better Than Cure Overcoming Established Fears and Phobias Habituation Flooding Systematic Desensitisation Counter Conditioning Combining Systematic Desensitisation and Counter Conditioning Learning recap Case Studies: Helping Horses Overcome Their Fears My training log Chapter 13 Learning with Character Does the Sex of the Horse Affect Learning Ability? The Effect of Age on Learning Ability Does Social Status Affect Learning? Nature Verses Nurture Learning recap References and Furthern Reading. Index
Emma Lethbridge is an animal behaviour consultant and riding instructor, who has ridden and trained horses for 20 years. She is currently reading a PhD in Psychology at the University of Lincoln. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience from the University of Sussex and a Diploma in Practical Equine Behaviour, as well as having trained with the British Horse Society attaining the Groom’s Certificate and Preliminary Teaching Qualification. Emma currently trains with well-known classical dressage master Heather Moffett, and her renowned High School horse trainer assistant Becky Holden, and holds their ‘Enlightened Equitation Teacher’ Qualification.
Reviews for Knowing Your Horse: A Guide to Equine Learning, Training and Behaviour
This book is for owners who not only care about their horse, but also are willing to make a little effort to discover the true potential of their relationship. I can assure you your efforts will be more than rewarded. This book blends good science effortlessly with practice, so that the reader can soon become a more skilled trainer… If you understand the principles, then you are only limited by your imagination, and as you discover the many joys of training you will inevitably develop a deeper appreciation of horses… Emma is a passionate horse lover who genuinely takes the welfare of horses to heart, and she is also a scientist who understands both the theory and practice of learning and training. Perhaps what is less obvious is how rare it is to find this combination of characteristics in an individual who can write so clearly. She has brought together a wealth of knowledge with some of the latest research findings, to create an easy to read text. Professor Daniel S. Mills, RCVS Recognised & European Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine, University of Lincoln, UK Instead of punishing what many perceive to be the horse ‘misbehaving’, often it is the horse trying to communicate that he is in pain, or is being blocked by the rider. Far from being able to carry out the rider’s wishes, it may be impossible for the horse to do so, but because, unlike a dog, he cannot cry out, he is punished for merely trying to communicate his pain or fear. It therefore behoves us to understand how the horse learns, and how his mind works. Scientific in thinking, Knowing Your Horse is nonetheless very readable. This book should be on the bookshelves of all who ride or train horses. Heather Moffett, classical dressage trainer and founder of Enlightened Equitation, Devon UK
