Virtue must be encouraged, malice comes by itself.
Wilhelm Busch
I was looking for information about raising weanling horses on the web. I run across Ellen Warren's natural horseman site and found a lot of useful information. Among it was Alexandra Kurland's book "Clicker training for your Horse". I was intrigued by this positive way to train horses. (Besides I was fascinated by the science behind it.)I never liked using a whip on my Arabian Gelding Hajia and longing him felt like a brainless activity. I can truly say Alexandra's book opened the door to a new world for me.
In the meantime Alexandra has published several more books and lots of DVDs. Every DVD is like a private lesson with Alex. Her videos are a treat to watch and very enlightening. I went to one clinic with Alex and hope to go again soon.
< Nasym is picking up my hankie and giving it to me.
Clicker training is a technology, based on behavioral science first
described by B. F. Skinner, that came into general use in the training of dolphins and whales.
It is named for the acoustic "marker signal" (a YES signal) which marks the behavior that is being reinforced during the instant that the behavior is occurring. Without a marker signal the horse needs many repetitions to find out which the wanted behavior is.
Clicker trainers avoid physical force and punishment for scientific reasons and for humaneness. Research shows that learning proceeds much faster when pain and fear are avoided. It is a very forgiving way of training.
Karen Pryor’s book ‘Don’t Shoot the Dog’ is a must read for every serious animal trainer.
Scientists classified the stimuli that cause behavior change into 4 categories. Here are the terms and abbreviations.
R+ positive reinforcement
R-
P+ positive punishment
P-
Reinforcements increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, punishments decrease the likelihood.
Negative means you take something away from the animal's environment, positive means you add something to it.
