Help? I need specific examples of how a person would use stimulus control to create a safe,respectful horse?

Question

Help? I need specific examples of how a person would use stimulus control to create a safe,respectful horse?

Answer 1

Please read this Web-Site, I don't know if I agree on everything there, but it's an excellent Site for your Question, it's  all about Stimulus Control.

With my Horses. I always use rewards, Horses should never be hit or even smacked. They know how you feel at all times, the tone of your voice, and even your mood.

Give a lot love, and your Horse will return everything back to you.

You are his Trust, and the Herds Leader.

1. The animal performs the behavior when the cue is presented

    2. The animal does not perform the behavior if the cue is not presented (within that training session - what they do on their own time is not relevant)

    3. The animal does not perform another behavior when presented with the cue

    4. The animal does not perform that behavior when presented with another cue

Answer 2

My horses are trained to respond to their fears in safe ways.  Tarp training, for example, teaches a horse to walk calmly on a tarp.  It instills the lesson that responding with craziness is stupid, and responding by doing nothing is smart.  A horse that walks on a tarp is not trained to walk through water...horses don't make the connection.

Multiple training situations are set up and achieved in finally producing a horse that learns how to repond sensibly to his fears.  It is the replacement of the instinctive response of fight or flight, with the trained response of stand and remain calm.  The fear never leaves....the response to it is what changes.  My horses were allowed, for example, to whack themselves and injure themselves as they tried to run from or fight their fears...they quickly learn that my way is the smart way, and their way hurts.  I don't do anything but present the situation...I am quiet, and stand my ground as I let them respond.

This is natural horsemanship done right.  I do nothing to interfere with what they can learn...I just set up a circumstance, stand my ground, and let them run around (on a lead) until they figure out that they are tired, bumping their legs or whatever, accomplishing nothing, and they figure out that they need to do something different.  Stand and wait for me to tell them what to do is what they figure makes sense.

I could give you lists of examples, but thought this response would be more pertinent?

ADD...no chains, whips, spurs, martingales, tie downs, shanked bits....or you name it , are used in my training or horsemanship.  My horses are as safe as they come, and require none of these "aids".  Both were re-trained after lengthy show careers using all of the devices.

Answer 3

We used to make newly training horses walk over tarps of plastic to get them used to different environments.   You can also "pet" the horse with pieces of different materials to "de-sensitize" them to things.  This helps them be calm during any situation.

Answer 4

Bodoman made some good suggestions.

Remember who is the boss EVERY TIME someone is around the horse. Stop small misbehaviors immediately. A simple "popping" of a lead shank with a firm "NO" will go a long way to keeping your horse's ground manners proper.

Same philosophy applies to under saddle. A tap of a crop or a firm nudge with heels (in a half-halt) and that firm "NO" remind Dobbin who's in charge.

Answer 5

Examples could run from playing a radio in the barn 24/7 to spraying the horse with water, starting with the feet and working up the legs to ultimately include the whole body...it's all a form of sacking out a horse...old timers used to like to do it all in one session...just tie up the horse and take a saddle blanket and rub on the horse, then slap the horse all over his body with the saddle blanket...it just gets to the point where the horse gets so desensitized that he doesn't care...there is no more adrenalin to make it jump or run...I can't fault that method, it has worked for many years for hundreds of cowboys, it just isn't my method.  I like to take teaching a horse in small increments so instead of bullying the horse into submission, I prefer to teach respect and to bond in the process.

Answer 6

Bonding with the horse , will solve that. becuase then it will trust you . therefore he/she WILL be safe and will respect you .  

Answer 7

Get some information on Linda Telling-ton Jones and on horse therapy. Maybe something is bothering your horse. Also use relaxation methods such as T-touch and herbal remedies to create a good atmosphere around your horse. Not only will your horse calm and become more obedient and respectful, your relationship with him will grow as well. Here, I did some research and found this.

http://www.lindatellingtonjones.com/abou...

I hope it helps!

  

Answer 8

We have donated horses to the mounted patrol, and here are a few of the things they do to "test" the horse.

walk over tarps/raincoats

throw tennis balls at them (not hard!)

open umbrellas in their face

blow car horns

bump into them with other horses

walk sideways over poles on the ground

I can't remember the rest of the stuff they did, but that's a start :)