Horse Training &
Coaching
- Positive Reinforcement
- Science Based
- Force Free
- Relationship Based
Positive Reinforcement, also known as R+ for short, is a description of one of the ways all organisms on the planet learn.
For me personally, “R+ Training” or “Clicker Training”, represents more than just training with positive reinforcement. The title includes various other approaches to training and there’s a philosophy I embrace when I’m training as well.
In its most raw form, the scientific definition of Positive Reinforcement means adding in a mathematical sense (plus or +) something, following a behaviour. The aim is to make the behaviour more likely to occur again in the future.
What I love about R+ training is that it’s like a little science experiment!
“Clicker training is fun, it’s safe and it builds a joyful relationship between you and your horse”
Horse Training using Positive Reinforcement (Clicker Training)
Like all good scientists, we make a prediction as to the outcome, but we don’t know if we’re correct until we see what happens in the future.
First, we figure out how to create behaviour without using pressure or force.
Then we add (+) something we think our horse likes immediately after their behaviour. I recommend using food and we call this an appetitive stimulus.
We then wait to see whether the horse repeats the behaviour or if it gets stronger in the future, because we added food after their behaviour, as a consequence. When we see how future behaviour was affected, we will know if our prediction was correct and positive reinforcement occurred.
This is one of the ways learning happens. Our horse learns that as a consequence of their behaviour, they are given something they like and value and will therefore want to repeat the behaviour in the future. What it doesn’t describe is how we get that behaviour in the first place without pressure or using gear.
That’s where I can help.
Science Based Horse Training
R+ training is an abbreviation of many techniques that enable us to change behaviour. From Positive Reinforcement (Operant Conditioning), to Habituation, to Systematic Desensitisation and Counter Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning).
We can change behaviour and also the associated emotion of the equine we are training, especially if fear or anxiety is preventing them from living their life to the fullest.
If you want to create a joyful and harmonious relationship with your horses, donkeys or mules, Positive Reinforcement training is it!
A happy, enthusiastic and well mannered horse is everyone’s dream.
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