© Copyright 2009 Creative Inspiration Limited Introduction

What does this mean in plain English?

Even with its roots in

behavioural psychology, you

don’t need a degree in

psychology or science to

understand or use positive

reinforcement – simplified, it

translates as - if your horse

does something you want,

you give him a reward.

Behaviour Matters – The Science of Successful Equine Training

What is equine positive reinforcement?

Based on scientific principles equine positive

reinforcement is a motivational, reward based

training method that enables the trainer to

increase the likelihood of a behaviour through the

addition of a positive reinforcer.

1. Ask

Asking the horse to walk on

tarpaulin, by offering target.

2. Behaviour occurs

Horse has approached, and

stepped on to tarpaulin to

touch target.

3. Horse is rewarded.

Target training and various

applications are covered in

Action Guide 3.

So what does science have to do with training?

Scientific theories may encourage and raise questions about current practices in

any field of expertise. Equestrian science considers not only the techniques

and applications within the equine industry, but also the welfare of the horse

and the sustainability of the techniques.

The science behind positive reinforcement enables us to manipulate the

environment and the stimuli that the horse experiences in order to achieve a

result. Using classical conditioning the trainer conditions the horse to the

bridge signal or ‘yes’ signal. Using operant conditioning the trainer asks the

horse to do certain behaviours in order to earn the reward. Knowledge of both

these principles allows us to train simple and advanced behaviours using clear

stages of progression.

A step by step methodical training system designed to

create a true partnership between horse and rider.

© Copyright 2009 Creative Inspiration Limited Introduction

I’m doing fine, how can it help me?

Here are some specific applications where positive reinforcement training may

be useful to you!

• Worming,

• Mounting,

• Truck loading,

• Training a flying change,

• Training piaffe and passage,

• Catching reluctant horses,

• Clipping.

The ultimate benefit of having a standard consistent approach to dealing with

‘issues’ is you are constantly building on the horse’s previous good experience.

This means the horse learns to associate you with good consequences!

Positive reinforcement will help you to enhance the methods you currently use

by making your signals clearer and the rewards for your horse more explicit.

Gaining the edge in your training may allow you to compete even more

successfully or achieve a result you may have only dreamed about. It could be

your horse has a difficult, challenging behaviour that surfaces one day – having

a range of skills to draw on, plus an understanding of the scientific principles,

enables you to approach and review any challenge from a strong theoretical

base.

What is different about EPR compared to other

traditional training methods?

EPR Training incorporates a sound scientific approach to

training based on research and evidence. By considering what

works and why, you are ready to make adjustments to your

techniques with each individual horse. Including EPR in to

your programme enhances the training process, while an

understanding of the theory and science behind the process

enables you to adapt to the many training challenges you will

encounter.

Horse Welfare

Horse welfare and the

sustainability of any

training technique have to

be a priority in today’s

enlightened society. It’s

not enough to get a

response from a horse; we

need to consider the cost

of getting this response?

What is the impact on the

horse? What long-term

effects are there? Finally,

are we able to consider an

alternative, less intrusive

or aversive technique? If

such an alternative exists,

why not check it out?

A step by step methodical training system designed to create a true

partnership between horse and rider.

A behaviour that is reinforced has

an increased likelihood of reoccurring.

© Copyright 2009 Creative Inspiration Limited Introduction

Want to know more? What’s next?

Positive reinforcement is logical, straightforward, and simple to learn and

apply. It can be used on its own or as an addition to many other training

approaches. To get started with positive reinforcement there are a number of

resources available.

• Online Action Guides designed to introduce the training process step by step

www.eprtraining.co.nz

• Books Kate Southcombe “Melita’s Legacy”

Shawna Karrasch “You Can Train Your Horse To Do Anything”

www.amazon.com

• Courses

Contact EPR Training

for details on seminars

and workshops,

involving practical

activities and

demonstrations with

supportive background

theory

info@eprtraining.co.nz

Order the complete set of Action Guides

1. Introduction to EPR

2. Conditioning for Success

3. Targeting for Success

4. Desensitising Success

5. Successful Loading

Action Guide 2

Conditioning for Success

Take the first step towards applying positive

reinforcement by learning how to condition

your horse.

Available from www.eprtraining.co.nz

Who’s using learning

theory in the equine

industry?

ISES – The International

Society for Equitation

Science - is currently a key

mover in the drive to have

equitation science embedded

within equine studies.

International universities are

involved in research that

supports the use of positive

reinforcement and other

science based techniques.

Check out the ISES website

for further details on

research and development.

www.equitationscience.com

Western Australia’s

Mounted Police

“We use the application of

learning theory in both the

selection and training of

riders and importantly in the

training of the horses. It is

effective for the efficient and

ethical habituation and

desensitisation of the horses

to many different stimuli that

the patrolling environment

has to offer. It is a way of

limiting the variations of

signals between horses and

riders by breaking down the

learning process for both

horses and riders, to develop

lightness of aids in order to

ensure horse welfare and

sustainability which some

traditional training methods

do not as they focus on

roundness.”

Sgt Rebecca Thomas

Senior Training Officer