Thorndike’s theory, the Law of Effect, proposed that responses to stimuli which resulted in pleasure or satisfaction by the individual are more likely to be repeated again by the individual within the context of that situation. Conversely, responses to stimuli producing discomfort (or a negative experience) are less likely to be repeated. Skinner’s concept of Stimulus-Response (S-R) centers on the relationship between behavior and consequence. An assumption is made that reinforcement of behavior through rewards (positive reinforcement) will result in that behavior being repeated.
A clicker device is used to train a horse to associate sound made by the clicker to a reward given for performing targeted behavior. Target behavior is any action you want the horse to perform. It could be anything from allowing its hoof to be raised for grooming to approaching you on your command.
To start the process, click then give the horse a treat. You can give a carrot, apple, sugar cube or other food. Use your knowledge of the horse’s food preferences in selecting a treat. You want it to be something the horse enjoys. It will not take long for the horse to associate the sound of a click with a treat (the Stimulus-Response process).
The next step in the training process is introduction the clicker to the horse and encouraging him to touch it. Horses are naturally curious and you want the horse to begin to recognize both the actual clicker and the sound it makes. Prompt him to touch the clicker with his nose. Immediately click the clicker and give a treat. Consistency is important. The horse touches the clicker; you click then give him a treat. Begin to incorporate time delay in providing the treat. You may decide to give a treat after every three clicks. In this situation, you are building anticipation of a treat with in association with the sound of the clicker.
As training continues, begin to integrate verbal commands. Commands such as “come”, “back”, “walk”, “whoa” can be different aspects of the training process. Use only one command at a time so the horse does not get confused. Introduce a new command only after the previous command has been learned and demonstrated by the horse.
Keep training sessions short, averaging no more than 10 minutes at a time. This will prove to be an optimal time frame to keep your horse engaged without becoming bored with the process.
REFERENCES
Labels: Training
¶ 1:33 PM 0 Comments
Implementation of a manure management plan is crucial for horses kept outdoors. The pasture is a natural grazing environment for your horse. It is an ecosystem offering fresh air, nutrition, opportunity to be with other horses and space to exercise. If properly managed, even a pasture of small acreage will decrease overall cost of feed and provide much enjoyment for your horse.
It is important that pasture where your horse is kept is free of hazards that can lead to injury and is maintained to minimize the buildup of manure. An adult horse weights in excess of 1000 pounds and will produce an average of 40 pounds of feces and 2.5 gallons of urine a day. Without proper measures in place, there is increased risk of soil and water pollution which poses health problems for your horse and raises public health issues regarding the safety of drinking water.
Unless you keep your horse on land that you own or lease, you should know the type of waste management procedures used at the boarding facility. As a responsible horse owner, you want to ensure manure is stored and disposed of within the constraints of environmental regulations. For many small operation, composting is a viable solution that falls within the realm of best practices for manure management.
Composting involves the process of decomposing manure and other waste. Organic material including straw, grass, leaves and household waste are added to manure to construct the compost pile. The actions of microorganisms convert these materials into a soil-like material known as compost.
Composting piles can be constructed using a free-standing approach where the pile is built by adding manure on top of previously added manure. The pile should grow large enough to maintain an internal temperature of 60 to 65 degrees to ensure that parasites and weed seeds are killed. The pile should be turned on a regular basis to thoroughly mix and aerate its contents which brings the outer materials internally so the entire pile is exposed to a critical temperature range. A pile that gets too hot (over 70 C degrees), can emit an ammonia-like odor; if it is not hot enough, parasite eggs and weed seeds may survive. Depending on the size of the compost pile, a complete decomposition process can take 30 to 90 days to complete.
An effective waste management plan will provide many benefits:
- it will greatly reduce the volume of manure in the pasture, which will in turn, reduce odor and provide a healthier environment for your horse;
- compose can be used to add organic nutrients to the soil which will improve the fertility of the soil which will result in improved grass production in the pasture;
- it will can reduce the risk of ground and surface water contamination from runoff;
- it will reduce the attraction of flies, parasites and bacterial and can pose the risk of infection to your horse.
Knowing how manure is handled is another consideration for being proactive in the care of your horse. It is another factor that can give you peace of mind in knowing your horse is in a safe and healthy environment.
Labels: Caring for Horses
¶ 8:24 AM 0 Comments
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It is important that horses are groomed on a regular basis. Horses in the pasture need to be closely monitored to ensure healthy hoofs and avoid a build-up of dry mud and manure.
Winter has proven an emotional but educational time for us. This is our first winter with Model. We wanted to ensure that she was comfortable once the weather got cold and was not in distress. Being warm-blooded animals, we knew that horses had to maintain a certain body temperature to survive extreme cold. We learned that horses can naturally tolerate cold temperatures which can cause less stress than extremely high temperatures. Our winters in the South are mild, in comparison to other regions in the Country, however we experienced days when temperatures fell below freezing. We planned for Model to stay in the pasture during the winter. We are assessing this decision on a regular basis to see if we need to make other arrangements for next winter.
So far, we have not encountered many problems. Model’s coat grew longer, which we need would become a natural defense in adjusting to changes in the weather. We initially assumed that Model would need a variety of coats and blankets for the cold. During our research on preparing for the winter, we found many recommendations against the continuous use of coats. Using coats improperly can inhibit the growth of the longer coat of hair needed for the winter. As temperatures drop, an increase the overall body fat is a second level of protection.
Rasheeda examines Model closely during grooming. With a thicker coat, it is important to ensure that she is gaining proper weight gain, especially around the ribs. Special care is given when examining her hoofs. It is an ongoing task to keep her hoofs dry and free of mud, dirt and dry manure. Model does wear a coat to protect her on rainy days and she is regularly checked for rain rot and other skin conditions.
Other considerations during grooming include:
- Checking the nostrils, gums, lips and inner eye for healthy pink membrane; purple or yellow discolorations should cause concern;
- Checking her hoof for sores and cuts;
- Making sure that her ears are not cold;
- Observing behavior: shivering or standing stiff may indicate that she is cold.
Model is receiving extra minerals and hay. Increased calories will help to maintain body heat. The suggested intake for horses should average 1 to 2% of its weight (National Research Council, Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 2007).
Model’s feeding habits are being closely monitored to ensure that she is getting enough calories.
Our experience working with Model this winter will provide the baseline we need to assess if improvements are needed for next winter. For now, keeping her groomed is our most demanding challenge.
Labels: Caring for Horses
¶ 11:45 AM 0 Comments
