Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T16:26:09.509Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The use of blended positive and negative reinforcement in shaping the halt response of horses (Equus caballus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

AK Warren-Smith  and
PD McGreevy
AK Warren-Smith*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 883, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
PD McGreevy
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Twenty horses were paired for age, sex and breed and placed into one of two groups. The horses in Group A (control) were reinforced using only negative reinforcement (NR) while those in group B (treatment) were reinforced with both positive reinforcement (PR) and NR concurrently. All horses were shaped for the halt response while being driven in long-reins over a period of 5 consecutive days. On day I, all horses were given a baseline test of 20 random halts while being long-reined in an indoor arena. On days 2-4, the shaping of the halt response continued with horses being reinforced according to the group to which they had been allocated. On day 5 of testing the baseline test was repeated (final test). During the baseline and final tests, behavioural responses and accuracy of completion of the halt response were recorded. Heart rates were recorded continuously during testing. One-way analysis of variance in randomised blocks and analysis of covariance using baseline data as a covariate showed no effect on latency to halt. However, horses reinforced with both NR and PR shook their heads vertically less and were more likely to lick their lips than those reinforced with NR only. There was also a trend for an increase in roundness of outline of the horses that were reinforced with both PR and NR. These results suggest that the implementation of PR effectively into equitation training may improve the welfare of the horse.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourequitationhorsereinforcementtraining
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , November 2007 , pp. 481 - 488
Copyright
© 2007 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Anon 1986 The complete riding and driving system: Advanced techniques of riding, Book 2. Official instruction handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation. Threshold Books: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Anon 1988 The manual of horsemanship: The official manual of the British Horse Society and The Pony Club, 9th edition. Kenilworth Press: Warwickshire, UKGoogle Scholar
Anon 1990 The complete riding and driving system: The principles of riding, Book 1. Official instruction handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation. Threshold Books: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Berndtson, WE 1991 A simple, rapid and reliable method for selecting or assessing the number of replicates for animal experiments. Journal of Animal Science 69: 67–76CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casey, RA 2002 Clinical problems associated with the intensive management of performance horses. In: Waran, N (ed) The welfare of horses pp 19–44. Kluwer Academic Publishers: The NetherlandsCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, WR 1999 Pathophysiology of bit control in the horse. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 19: 196–204CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, WR 2002 Bit-induced asphyxia in the horse. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 22: 7–14CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, J 1998 Comparative learning theory and its application in the training of horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 27: 39–43Google Scholar
Dougherty, DM and Lewis, P 1991 Stimulus-generalization, discrimination-learning, and peak shift in horses. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 56: 97–104CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Endenburg, N 1999 Perceptions and attitudes towards horses in European societies. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 28: 38–41Google Scholar
Ewbank, R 1985 Contribution of ethology to clinical interpretation of the horse's welfare. Equine Veterinary Journal 17: 2–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) 2003 Rules for Dressage Events, 21st edition. Fédération Equestre Internationale: Lausanne, SwitzerlandGoogle Scholar
Fiske, JC 1979 Behavior and learning in horses-applications in management and training. Southwestern Veterinarian 32: 37–44Google Scholar
Frape, DL 1986 Equine nutrition and feeding. Longman Scientific and Technical: Essex, UKGoogle Scholar
Friedberger, J 1970 Modern horse training methods - what is justifiable? Veterinary Record 87: 229–231CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Genstat 2003 Genstat Release 7.1 Reference Manual-Part 3 In: Payne RW and Arnold GM (eds) Procedure Library PL15 2003. VSN International: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Haag, EL, Rudman, R and Houpt, K 1980 Avoidance, maze learning and social dominance in ponies. Journal of Animal Science 50: 329–335CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hafez, E, Williams, M and Wierzbowski, S 1969 The behaviour of horses. In: Hafez, E (ed) The behaviour of domestic animals pp 370–396. Williams and Wilkins: Baltimore, USAGoogle Scholar
Heird, J, Lokey, C and Cogan, D 1986a Repeatability and comparison of two maze tests to measure learning ability in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 16: 103–119CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heird, JC, Whitaker, DD, Bell, RW, Ramsey, CB and Lokey, CE 1986b The effects of handling at different ages on the subsequent learning ability of 2-year-old horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 15: 15–25CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houpt, K 1991 Investigating equine ingestive, maternal, and sexual behavior in the field and in the laboratory. Journal of Animal Science 69: 4161–4166CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karrasch, S and Karrasch, V 2000 You can train your horse to do anything! On Target™ Training: Clicker Training and beyond. Kenilworth Press: North Pomfret, USAGoogle Scholar
Kiley-Worthington, M 1997 The behaviour of horses: In relation to management and training. JA Allen: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Kratzer, D, Netherland, W, Pulse, R and Baker, J 1977 Maze learning in quarter horses. Journal of Animal Science 45: 896–902CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Launchbaugh, KL, Provenza, FD and Werkmeister, MJ 1997 Overcoming food neophobia in domestic ruminants through addition of a familiar flavor and repeated exposure to novel foods. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 54: 327–334CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieberman, D 2000 Learning: behaviour and cognition. Wadsworth/Thompson Learning: Belmont, USAGoogle Scholar
MacDonald, EK 2003 Principles of behavioral assessment and management. Pediatric Clinics of North America 50: 801 -816CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mader, D and Price, E 1980 Discrimination learning in horses: Effects of breed, age and social dominance. Journal of Animal Science 50: 962–965Google ScholarPubMed
Mal, M, McCall, C, Newland, C and Cummins, K 1993 Evaluation of a one-trial learning apparatus to test learning ability in weanling horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 35: 305–311CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marinier, S and Alexander, A 1994 The use of a maze in testing learning and memory in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 39: 177–182CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marschark, E and Baenninger, R 2002 Modification of instinctive herding dog behavior using punishment and reinforcement. Anthrozoös 15: 51–68CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marshall, LM 1981 Novice to advanced dressage. JA Allen: London, UKGoogle Scholar
McCall, C, Potter, G, Friend, T and Ingram, R 1981 Learning abilities in yearling horses using the Hebb-Williams closed field maze. Journal of Animal Science 53: 928–933CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCall, C 1989 The effect of body condition of horses on discrimination learning abilities. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 22: 327–334CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCall, C 1990 A review of learning behavior in horses and its application in horse training. Journal of Animal Science 68: 75–81Google Scholar
McCall, C, Salters, M and Simpson, S 1993 Relationship between number of conditioning trials per training session and avoidance learning in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 36: 29 I -299Google Scholar
McCall, CA and Burgin, SE 2002 Equine utilization of secondary reinforcement during response extinction and acquisition. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 78: 253–262CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGreevy, PD 2004 Equine Behavior: a guide for veterinarians and equine scientists. WB Saunders: London, UKGoogle Scholar
McGreevy, PD, McLean, AN, Warren-Smith, AK, Waran, N and Goodwin, D 2005 Defining the terms and processes associated with equitation. In: McGreevy PD, McLean AN, WarrenSmith AK, Goodwin D and Waran N (eds) Proceedings of the 1st International Equitation Science Symposium pp 10-43. 26-27 August 2005, Melbourne, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
McLean, AN 2003 The truth about horses. Australian Equine Behaviour Centre: Victoria, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Mills, D 1998 Applying learning theory to the management of the horse: the difference between getting it right and getting it wrong. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 27: 44–48Google Scholar
Mills, D and Nankervis, K 1999 Equine behaviour: Principles and practice. Blackwell Science Ltd: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Murphy, K, Wishart, S and Mills, D 1999 The acceptability of various solutions by thoroughbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 28: 67Google Scholar
National Research Council 1989 Nutrient requirements of horses. National Academy Press: Washington DC, USAGoogle Scholar
Ödberg, FO 1987 Chronic stress in riding horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 19: 268–269CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ödberg, FO and Bouissou, MF 1999 The development of equestrianism from the baroque period to the present day and its consequences for the welfare of horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 28: 26–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perone, M 2003 Negative effects of positive reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst 26: 1–14CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Podhajsky, A 1967 The complete training of horse and rider in the principles of classical horsemanship. Double Day and Company: Garden City, NY, USAGoogle Scholar
Potter, G and Yeates, B 1990 Behavioral principles of training and management. In: Evans, J, Borton, A, Hintz, H and Vleck, L (eds) The horse pp 655–682. WH Freeman and Co: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Randall, RP, Schurg, WA and Church, DC 1978 Response of horses to sweet, salty, sour and bitter solutions. Journal of Animal Science 47: 51 -55CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robinson, I 1999 The human-horse relationship: How much do we know? Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 28: 42–45Google Scholar
Rubin, L, Oppegard, C and Hindz, H 1980 The effect of varying the temporal distribution of conditioning trials on equine learning behavior. Journal of Animal Science 50: 1184–1187Google ScholarPubMed
Sappington, B, McCall, C, Coleman, D, Kuhlers, D and Lishak, R 1997 A preliminary study of the relationship between discrimination reversal learning and performance tasks in yearling and 2-year-old horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 53: 157–166CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shettleworth, S 1972 Constraints on learning. In: Lehrman, DS, Shaw, RAH and Shaw, E (eds) Advances in the study of behavior pp 1–68. Academic Press: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Shields, C and Gredler, M 2003 A problem-solving approach to teaching operant conditioning. Teaching of Psychology 30: 114–116CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Niekerk, HP 1980 Etiological studies within the man-horse relationship. Journal ofthe South African Veterinary Association 51: 237–238Google Scholar
Visser, EK, van Reenen, CG, Schilder, MBH, Barneveld, A and Blokhuis, HJ 2003 Learning performances in young horses using two different learning tests. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 80: 311–326CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Voith, V 1986 Principles of learning. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Equine Practice 2: 485–506CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waran, N, McGreevy, PD and Casey, RA 2002 Training methods and horse welfare. In: Waran, N (ed) The welfare of horses pp 151–180. Kluwer Academic Publishers: The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Waring, GH 2003 Horse behaviour, second edition. Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing: NY, USAGoogle Scholar
Warren-Smith, AK and McGreevy, PD 2005 An audit of the application of the principles of equitation science by qualified equestrian instructors in Australia. Proceedings of the 2nd International Equitation Science Symposium p 20. 19-20 September 2005, Milan, ItalyGoogle Scholar
Warren-Smith, AK, Curtis, RA, Greetham, L and McGreevy, PD 2007 Rein contact between horse and handler during specific equitation movements. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. In pressCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren-Smith, AK, McLean, AN, Nicol, HI and McGreevy, PD 2005 Variations in the timing of reinforcement as a training technique for foals (Equus caballus). Anthrozoös 18: 255–272CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolski, K 1984 Equine behavior: Patterns, types, and causes. Veterinary Technician 5: 250–258Google Scholar
Wynmalen, H 1952 Equitation. JA Allen and Co Ltd: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Wynmalen, H 1985 Dressage: a study of the finer points of riding. Wilshire Book Company: California, USAGoogle Scholar