Changing the way we look at training horses.
Like many horse trainers and horse enthusiasts, I have spent a lot of money, time and resources attempting to find the most up-to-date research and best-practices in horse ownership and training. Recently, I have been exceptionally frustrated when trying to find best-practice protocols for behavioural problems in sport horses.
While it is relatively easy to find research on equine nutrition, podiatry, ethology and internal medicine, one area that clearly lacks in research is in equine behaviour -- particularly as it relates to training the sport horse. A lack of researched behavioural protocols for horses in the presence of fear, anxiety, and aggression has resulted in an overwhelming amount of anecdotal material lacking research or evidence that can lead horse owners down training paths that are at best ineffective and at worst (and arguably more common) abusive.
Over the last several hundred years there has been very little advancement in the general training of horses. Modern equestrian sport (racing, steeplechasing, endurance, show jumping, cattle penning etc) carry with them large sums of prize money and prestige, which motivates trainers to find the quickest methods of training based on results. However, these methods lack an awareness of or knowledge based in behavioural modification, an orientation that could help to ensure humane and more effective long term training. With a focus on external motivators and a lack of clear protocols for training, the current situation leads to a significant number of injuries to horses (4) and their handlers and riders (3). According to a paper submitted by Prof Natalie Waran of the University of Edinburgh and Dr Hayley Randle of Duchy College, UK for the 2013 ISES Conference in Delaware, USA, "70% of these accidents are due to behaviour and training of the horse rather than due to their own competence."
By contrast, companion animal behaviour research has moved forward at an incredible pace over the last 50 years (5). A quick google scholar search shows countless research papers on learned helplessness, cognitive bias, learning theory, behavioural analysis and more. We have even begun to see the emergence of a profession known as Animal Behaviour Consulting. Animal Behaviour Consultants are hired to mitigate behaviours that are problems for the animal's owner (2). These highly qualified individuals usually carry post-graduate degrees in Psychology and/or Behaviourism from accredited universities and have undergone specific training to apply behavioural analysis to individual cases. While primarily prevalent in companion animal training (cat and dogs), there are a small number of qualified equine behaviourists making waves in the world of equine behaviour.
While the presence of this newer discipline of applied clinical animal behaviour is an incredible advancement for companion animal owners, there still is a huge gap for the equine trainer or owner who could use these principles of behaviourism to help mitigate the welfare issues sport-horses face on a daily basis.
At present, horse trainers have had to rely on other equestrians (in such informal formats as blogs, community forums and facebook groups) or through published works such as The Pony Club Manuals which, while offering a great deal of knowledge about horse husbandry, fall desperately short when it comes to tools for behavioural modification. An example in a modern Pony Club textbook includes using mechanical restraint devices to “safely hold a horse during procedures” and the frequent use of “more leg” as a solution to riding problems and disobedience (7). In all of the manuals that I have read from Equestrian Canada, the Canadian Pony Club, the British Horse Association and more, there is no mention of behavioural principles or protocols that are aimed at helping horses learn. This is compounded by the current use of social media as an information source, which normalizes horses in fearful states and leads our equestrian community to accept ineffective and often abusive training as the standard. An increase in applied equine behaviour studies would help horse trainers and owners find more acceptable methods to train horses for both husbandry (cooperative care) and for sport. It may also be the push required to change desperately outdated methods of horse training. Horse trainers need to have the tools to build basic behaviours and mitigate unwanted behaviours if we want to improve equine welfare and sport. By recognizing adverse reactions in horses for what they are (fear and frustration), learning to split behaviours (build behaviour chains and shaping plans) and developing scientifically scrutinized training protocols, we can help improve the ethics and quality of our training as it pertains to horses.
One would be hard-pressed to find an equestrian trainer using shaping plans let alone be able to explain the components of a conditioned stimulus, emotionally conditioned response, environmental reinforcer or the like.
By contrast to the world of equestrians, in the world of dog training and dog sports, there is a greater deal of practical knowledge that is evidence-based and has a best-practice approach to behaviour modification. Well-researched protocols like CAT and BAT for fear and counter-conditioning as well as entire university departments dedicated to behaviour modification and dog training have shifted many people away from “dog whisperer” to more humane and effective protocols for teaching dogs.
While some advancements have most certainly been made (please see the notes at the end of this article) in equine behaviour, there is still a lack of clear, evidence-based, and practical methodologies for horse training. The formation of the IAABC horse division, the International Society for Equitation Science, and other organizations are working towards making humane training a priority, but more needs to be done from a research perspective.
As more and more research becomes available on ethical animal training in companion animals, it is imperative as responsible equestrians - and especially as equine trainers - that we pursue more modern approaches to training. Equine behaviour and the knowledge to modify behaviour are imperative to moving our industry forward.
It's all just behaviour!
Katrina Per-Carruthers Equine Canada Licensed Coach, Behaviour Enthusiast, Bachelor's in Psychology
Leviosa Equine
REFERNCES:
Smith, A.V.; Proops, L.; Grounds, K.; Wathan, J.; McComb, K. (2016). "Functionally relevant responses to human facial expressions of emotion in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)". Biology Letters. 12 (2): 20150907. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2015.0907. PMC 4780548. PMID 26864784.
"Animal Behavior Consulting 101 Part 1: What is an Animal Behavior Consultant?". International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Retrieved May 8th 2022.
Sorli, J. M. (2000, March 1). Equestrian injuries: A five year review of hospital admissions in British Columbia, Canada. Injury Prevention. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/6/1/59
O’Brien, E., Stevens, K. B., Pfeiffer, D. U., Hall, J., & Marr, C. M. (2005). Factors associated with the wastage and achievements in competition of event horses registered in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Record, 157(1), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.157.1.9
Ord, T. J., Martins, E. P., Thakur, S., Mane, K. K., & Börner, K. (2005). Trends in animal behaviour research (1968–2002): Ethoinformatics and the mining of library databases. Animal Behaviour, 69(6), 1399–1413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.08.020
Sat. (n.d.). History of French equitation - part I: Dressage a la francaise. Eurodressage. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://eurodressage.com/2014/09/13/history-french-equitation-part-i-dressage-la-francaise
H-HM/H/H-A Check List ©The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. 2016 . (n.d.).
NOTES:
For further reading into advancements in horse training and behaviour I suggest the following resources.
Let’s bump this to the top and get more people reading it! Good stuff Katrina!
Thank You for the necessary convincing descriptions . I absolutely agree! With my extroverted, extremely selfconfident horse I invested several years to become a top team. The relationship that should be a priority! Not the results in sports occasions. The pressure we exert determines the trust we gain. As the horses do with each other. Share as much time as possible with each other without requiring anything. Often also works among people I am so glad to have learned this from my horse! Reto Huber