As humans we might perceive many reinforcers in our world from edible delicacies to buying new clothes but often we feel limited with finding different reinforcers for our horses. This is a hypothetical discussion about using a 'time to relax' or 'giving a break' as a reinforcer. https://www.equine.training/my-courses/ for my courses.
We consider your questions on: Hunter training- balance and more Choice vs Structure in training Listening to horses Reinforcers failing Techniques we stole from dog trainers X-species training
If you didn't catch the webinar you can do so at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd-rr-4HLVY Thanks to those who asked some brilliant questions.
In my equine scent work session with Rum this week, I made a mistake that really highlighted the need for an errorless approach. He indicated on the wrong container, the blank without odour (in theory) and my instinct, was to offer no reinforcement, and redirect him to the search. Not really an errorless approach. In an errorless framework, we don’t let the learner practise mistakes. Instead, we set up the training so they always have a clear path to success. In scent work, that means making the...
In this episode my friend and colleague Katrina Per-Carruthers unpick some training fails and discuss solutions that are horse centred. Mounting block problems, fence refusal and unwillingness to go forward were in our sights this time. If you have topics you'd like us to cover then do drop me a message. Katrina Per-Carruthers lives in British Columbia, Canada where she trains a variety of species. Katrina has been a coach for over 15 years and is a passionate advocate for the use of humane trai...
I don't always recommend clicker training as a first option when I start working with a new client. Why? Well take a listen as I talk through a specific example and explain ways that I might add some R+ based training without the pressure of the trainer carrying food and having to be great at timing and mechanics. How do I square this with working inside a LIMA framework? As always questions and comments are welcome! Email me at trudi@equine.training...
The topic of male horses 'dropping' when training with food (clicker training) has reared its head again- I'm glad because it is a topic we need to consider. In this short episode I will explain (again) why I don't think we should brush this topic under the carpet! Warning- I talk about penises in this episode. If you want help with your horse dropping or over threshold when training with food- get in touch, trudi@equine.training or www.equine.training...
In this episode Dr. Katerina Junghansova (Kate) and I chat about cooperative care for horses. Kate is an equine veterinarian, lifelong equestrian, animal lover, and the founder of an educational project called VetCareTraining. Her mission is to promote safe, and ethical horse handling and training. She is really passionate about equine cooperative care, and she thinks it´s the future of equine health care. In her project, she offers online courses and individual online consultations. She also te...
In this final short episode on target training I delve a little deeper into how and when I use targets in my training. Questions? Comments? Drop me a message or email trudi@equine.training
The third (hop back and listen to the first two if you haven't yet) in the clicker training targets mini series. In this one I discuss when I use targets in my training from cognitive enrichment to training movement. If you want to learn how to train in this way then join me on my accredited professional trainer course in 2025 https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate Drop me any questions trudi@equine.training...
The second (hop back and listen to the first if you haven't yet) in the clicker training targets mini series. In this one I discuss planning and setting up the behaviour- essential for all training. If you want to learn how to train in this way then join me on my accredited professional trainer course in 2025 https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate Drop me any questions trudi@equine.training...
My Understand Horses Trainer's course https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate My IAABC Foundation course https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/equine-discomfort-ethogram/ My IAABC Foundation Journal article on targets https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/target-training-for-horses-hit-or-miss/...
In this episode I talk to Chess about her journey with Gambit her young Exmoor pony. I met them when she needed help with his behaviour and the two have been a real joy to work with. My new accredited trainer course is now live at Understand Horses https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/horse-trainer-foundation-certificate Check out my IAABC Foundation course here https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/equine-cooperative-care/...
In this episode Jessie Sams and I finally got around to talking to her about her life and work with horses and other topics like a biopsychosocial model, the 3 C's of communication, choice and consent (with Emily Kieson) , compassion for human horse carers and lots more. Jessie Sams is an animal behaviour consultant with a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science from the University of Greenwich. She’s currently a Provisional member with the APBC and is working towards her certification as...
Are science based or evidence based titles a good idea? How do we feel about science, especially in light of the recent dog study. Does science absolutely support R+ based/clicker training? How science has made me cross and how I'm learning to cut more slack! Heads up my Horse Trainer Foundation Certificate Course (accredited by Rural Skills) will be coming online in 2025, details will be released by Understand Horses very soon!
It will come as no big surprise that intentionally combining positive and negative reinforcement isn't something I'm huge on. I was surprised to hear experts/academics lack of understanding regarding things like shaping and backchaining and reducing reinforcement without frustration. It's a bit ranty :)
As a young horse trainer I was very aware of creating situations where the horse could 'guess' the behaviour- we called it anticipation. Back in those days I didn't know about using reward based training but anticipation was a great way to create a willing and enthusiastic horse. Sadly some of the old ways haven't been passed on- in some cases that's a good thing, in others I think it means we lose a little of the common horse sense. Join me in considering how we can motivate horses and be bette...
Videos showing behaviour professionals sitting out bucks and rears gain thousands of likes, why? Above all other areas of equestrianism shouldn't behaviour be seen for what it really is and not used as a social media magnet? Or maybe I'm old and jaundiced!
We owe every animal in our care the ability to know how to interact with our world and us. That requires some basic training. I rarely see the basics done well or even at all. My courses at www.understandhorses.com and www.iaabcfoundation.org
I've had a tiring few weeks and my poor brain and body hurt. How might it feel for our horses when they are tired and we ask them to perform behaviours when training? Taking note of changes in behaviour might help us spot problems early. This is part 1 of my summer shorts 2024, if you have questions you'd like answering in another short episode message me!
This time on the podcast I'm joined by friend and colleague Dr Robin Foster. For a very long time I've wanted to dip into Panksepp's work on emotions, which in some small way has been adopted by the clicker training world, and finally I got to chat with Robin. We STILL didn't get to valence...I think another chat is needed soon. I hope you enjoy Robin's this thought provoking chat. Robin Foster has a PhD in Animal Behavior and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), Certified Equine Be...
In this episode I was again joined by the fabulous Heather McManamy of Equus Integratus. Our focus was on bridleless riding but the skills we discuss go so much deeper than riding. Heather shares some great resources on her website https://equusintegratus.com/ on Facebook and Instagram Articles and videos can be found here https://equusintegratus.com/resources/videosarticles/...
In this episode I had the great pleasure of talking to Annabel Holmes, The Equine Ecologist a mum, ecologist and passionate horsewoman based in the Cotswolds. Growing up on a nature reserve in Suffolk, Annabel later went on to study Ecology, starting her career splitting her time between a feed company, and later in agricultural botany during the holidays. After university, while working in ecological consultancy and conservation, she turned her studies back to horses, to study equine behaviour ...
In this episode I am thrilled to talk wild and feral horses with the wonderful Samantha (Sam) Couper PhD. We delve into Sam's back story right up to her present day training with her own horses and her work as a behaviour consultant. Sam is Board Chair of the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation, a group dedicated to compiling citizen observations of the Onaqui wild horses in Utah, USA, in the pursuit of research and public education. With the foundation, Sam teaches a course on wild horses at the Univer...
In this episode I chat to Polly Smeath about rope halters and controlling horses when leading. Polly has an extensive background in the world of horses, a passion that has woven throughout her life since childhood. Born into a family with a history of racehorses, Polly's earliest memories include a vivid encounter with a tall, dark brown horse at the age of two. Her journey as a "pony mad youngster" began at the age of nine, marked by a memorable fall from a skewbald pony named Star Trek, who ha...
Sooz Foster joins me again and this time we're talking self control. We consider horses and dogs, whether they can have self-control and how we can build build patterns to help. You can find Sooz these days at https://soozdogtraining.co.uk/ or come and join me training at her new club https://www.dreamsdogclub.co.uk/ Or catch us both presenting at Understand Horses Live in July https://www.understandhorses.com/understand-horses-live...
I was thrilled to be able to talk to Dr Eduardo J Fernandez on the podcast. Not only is he an amazing applied behaviour researcher but he is great at putting some of the more technical definitions into easy to understand terminology. Our discussion centres around training as enrichment but there were also some rabbit holes and side stories that we delved into. Eduardo J. Fernandez is a Senior Lecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the ...
In this episode I had a fabulous chat with Heather. We had aimed to look at what draws people to more 'glamorous' 'from different world' trainers but it turned into a wonderful introspective (well certainly for me, I hope Heather enjoyed it too). We ask how to be credible. What are our insecurities How to collaborate and build connections. If you are a trainer, a coach, a consultant, a business woman, a horse lover...this one is for you. Heather helps horses and people learn to be comfortable wi...
In this final (for now) episode on cues I look at transferring cues which is great if you want to tidy up your complex cues or change your original cue for something more appropriate. Please share these short episodes and let me know if you've tried any of my suggestions for improving your cues!
What to choose as a cue? Physical, verbal, tactile? What is clear, easy to use, easy to replicate?
