27/11/2024
๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ: ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐บ ๐๐ญ๐ถ๐ฃ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ข ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ข๐ต ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐จ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ถ๐ฅ๐บ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ญ๐บ.
Effective training that prioritises horse welfare is crucial for Pony Club members. The study ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฏ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ (Holcomb et al., 2021) shows that horses learn faster and perform better with short, repeated work-and-rest intervals.
This approach, called spaced training, offers significant advantages over traditional methods and has the potential to improve training efficiency while maintaining a positive experience for horses.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด?
Spaced training involves breaking up a training session into alternating short periods of work and rest. In the study, horses trained under this method worked for two minutes, rested for two minutes, and repeated the cycle. In contrast, horses in the massed training group worked continuously for four minutes before resting.
Despite equal total training and rest times, the results strongly favoured the spaced training approach:
โช๏ธ Higher Success Rates: 94% of horses in the spaced training group mastered the task, compared to only 39% in the massed training group.
โช๏ธ Faster Task Acquisition: Horses in the spaced group initiated and completed their tasks more quickly than their massed training counterparts.
These findings demonstrate that short, spaced intervals of training promote better learning outcomes, a phenomenon consistent with findings across various species, including humans.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ?
Spaced training allows horses time to process new information during rest periods, enhancing their ability to retain and apply what theyโve learned. This approach aligns with horses' natural instincts and their capacity for incremental learning.
For prey animals like horses, which rely on quick decision-making, the paced structure reduces stress and confusion, making it easier for them to respond confidently to new challenges. The method also minimises frustration for riders and handlers, fostering a positive training experience.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Spaced training can be incorporated into your activities with a few simple adjustments:
โช๏ธ Alternate Work and Rest: For every two minutes of active training, provide a two-minute rest. Use the rest periods for the horse to stand quietly or engage in a calm, low-stress activity.
โช๏ธ Focus on One Task: Concentrate on teaching a specific skill, such as crossing an obstacle or loading into a float.
โช๏ธ Keep Sessions Short: Shorter, more frequent sessions are more effective than prolonged, intensive ones.
โช๏ธ Be Flexible: While regular training is important, spaced training accommodates interruptions, making it adaptable to real-life schedules.
๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
The study highlights how simple adjustments in training structure can lead to better outcomes for horses and their handlers. By integrating spaced training into your routine, you can help your horse learn more effectively, reduce stress, and build a stronger partnership.
This evidence-based approach aligns with Pony Club Australiaโs commitment to promoting the welfare and education of horses and riders alike. Whether youโre preparing for competitions or teaching everyday riding skills, spaced training is a tool worth trying.
๐ธ The novel obstacle-crossing task. The experimental obstacle including ground component that needed to be stepped over as well as a hanging tarp that moved freely above the horses as they crossed. The horse with hypothesis-naรฏve rider is in the process of one crossing on the task where learning criterion for success was completing eight crossings in a single session.
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