Are you spending more time than necessary training your
horse?
If you are repeatedly training your horse to do the same
task every day, a recent study suggests that you could well be spending your
time more productively.
The research, by equine scientists from Germany and
Australia, found that allowing horses breaks of two days between training
sessions rather than training daily results in similar learning progress over a
period of 28 days. The researchers suggest that such a training schedule
might be considered to make more efficient use of trainers’ (and horses’) time.
Uta König von Borstel, head of the Animal Husbandry,
Behaviour and Welfare section at the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen,
Germany and her team of researchers set out to find the optimal time interval
between training repetitions of a learning task.
She presented her findings at the 14th International Society
of Equitation Science (ISES) conference in Rome.
The aim of the study was to assess the speed a horse learns
novel tasks when trained at different time intervals using negative
reinforcement and then compare the results. Negative reinforcement training,
often referred to as ‘pressure-release’, involves the removal of pressure in
order to increase the likelihood of a horse repeating the desired behaviour.
While there is some scientific information available on the
use of negative reinforcement training, little objective data currently exists
regarding the optimal time interval between training sessions.
The researchers trained 39 horses ranging in age from 2-24
years to perform three different, unfamiliar tasks. One group of 20 horses was
trained once daily and the second group of 19 were trained once every third
day. The horses were trained, using negative reinforcement, to lower the head
on poll pressure (HL), back up from neck pressure (BU), and to step forward
upon pressure at the fetlock (SF).
Training sessions lasted 1 min, allowing for 3-5 repetitions
per task and session. Training success was scored using a 6-point scale, with 0
being no response, 1 being moving slightly (less than 1cm) using strong
pressure and 6 being the horse moving well using light pressure. The horses’
heart rate, behaviour and the time and pressure they needed to respond were
also recorded.
In all cases, the horses’ performance improved significantly
during both training schedules. The researchers found that after two weeks the
horses trained daily performed slightly better than those trained every third
day. However, when comparing their performance at the end of week one and at
the end of the 28-day study period, the horses showed no significant difference
in the time or pressure required to respond for any of the tasks, or in their
learning progress.
Similarly, when comparing the learning progress of both
groups after the same number of training sessions, there were no significant
differences in performance.
The results of the study suggest that horses do not forget
what they have learned if they are trained every third day rather than daily.
Allowing horses a break of two days between training sessions rather than
training them daily not only results in similar learning progress, but is a
more efficient use of the trainers’ and the horses’ time.
Uta König von Borstel commented “While training every day is
not necessarily a welfare concern, it is important to remember that the type of
task trained is also relevant. If the horse is taught a strenuous physical
task, they will need time out between training to allow their muscles to rest
and repair.”
Co- author Andrew McLean, of Equitation Science
International, Australia, added: “Overtraining is a problem for horses both
mentally and physically. When horses are over-trained they start to show a
range of mental issues including switching off, response lowering, aggression
etc. They may also show physical ailments such as bone, tendon and muscle
issues. So, the more we can actually reduce these stressors, the better.”
“The key is we are trying to turn action into habit. During
the acquisition phase (the training phase) things can go wrong, so the more
efficiently we achieve the habit phase, the better it is for both horse and
rider.”
The team now hope to continue their research and investigate
whether learning outcomes are affected by longer breaks between training and
how learning is affected by training different tasks between the training
sessions.
For more details, see:
Horses’
learning performance when using different training schedules (daily vs. every
three days training sessions) to train novel tasks via negative reinforcement
J. Schomber,
A. McLean and U. König von Borstel
Proceedings 14th
International Conference International Society of Equitation Science (2018) p30
The Proceedings are available to download:
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