| The following free horse training tips will help you teach | | | | conditioning, although it required no training on my part. |
| your horse some basic things that will keep him and | | | | One of my horses figured out she could open a gate |
| you from getting hurt. Some horses will learn more | | | | and let herself out of her pasture. The first time she |
| quickly than others. Many elements come into play | | | | did this she probably was playing with the latch with |
| when we look at this fact more closely. Research has | | | | her mouth and inadvertently pushed the latch out of |
| indicated breed, temperament, and even age can all | | | | place. She wondered out of her pasture into another |
| have an influence on how quickly horses learn. | | | | larger pasture. Her reward was new grass or possibly |
| Classical conditioning is probably the most familiar | | | | a new place to explore. |
| method used for training horses. We teach the horse | | | | After placing her back into her original pasture she |
| to respond to a new stimulus or cue by combining it | | | | once again experimented with the latch. She did not |
| consistently with a stimulus for which there is a | | | | remember exactly how she managed to get the gate |
| response. This horse training tip can be an easy way | | | | open but she did remember the latch had something to |
| to teach all horses. | | | | do with it. She kept experimenting until she was able to |
| A practical example of classical conditioning is teaching | | | | unlatch the gate. Each time she was placed back into |
| the horse to stop his feet when you say "whoa". Your | | | | this pasture she would return to the same gate and |
| horse probably already knows to stop his feet when | | | | play with the latch until it opened and each time she |
| he feels the pressure of the rains. If you say "whoa" | | | | became faster at doing this. Through operant |
| before you apply the rein aid he will in due course learn | | | | conditioning she learned how to unlatch this particular |
| to stop when he hears the word. | | | | gate and let herself out. This is a training tip that she |
| Say you want to train your horse to come to you | | | | taught herself, but with a little experimenting, you can |
| when you whistle. You may begin by shaking some | | | | find ways to use this method to train you horse |
| feed into his bucket (or feed can) and give him a | | | | yourself for free. |
| chance to smell the feed. Before pouring the food into | | | | Operant conditioning is simply the animal performing the |
| his feeder begin a distinct whistle. Repeat the same | | | | behavior not the trainer. With this method of training |
| whistle each time he is fed. Over time he will come to | | | | the horse learns to deliberately offer a behavior that |
| you when he hears your distinct whistle. This free | | | | has previously been reinforced. When positive |
| horse training tip is a simple example of classical | | | | reinforcement is used, operant conditioning can |
| conditioning. | | | | become a very effective training tool. This method can |
| Operant conditioning is another method used for | | | | work exceptionally well for everything from trick |
| training horses. With this type of learning for horses a | | | | training to training the horse to go into a trailer. And the |
| behavior is strengthened, or in other words the | | | | best thing about this training tip, it is free. You just have |
| behavior will take place regularly. The horse will learn to | | | | to spend a little time and effort and with a little |
| act on his environment to gain a reward he wants. | | | | patience, you can reap some tremendous rewards. |
| I recently experienced an example of operant | | | | |