Greenwalt Equine

01/09/2025

✨ Are you balancing your training sessions for long-term success? ✨

Your horse’s training sessions shouldn’t just be about learning new tricks or skills—they should be balanced to support emotional wellness and build trust.

In my latest podcast episode, I'm sharing why session structure is key to building a balanced, joyful relationship with your horse. It's easy to get caught up in just "doing the fun stuff"—but true partnership comes from thoughtful session planning!

I break down:
👉 Learning vs. Relationship vs. Confidence Sessions
👉 How to prevent overtraining and frustration
👉 Why documenting your sessions matters more than you think

PLUS, I introduce my new Positive Reinforcement Training Planner to help you stay on track with hundreds of behavior ideas and training prompts!

🎧 Listen now and learn how to balance progress with positivity!
You can find my podcast on Spotify:
"Happy Horse, Happy Human: Positive Training Connections"

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wSKfXe4ZnaqeuI24RUFRo?si=o5hEZkYsRS6YUsJsC6NUBA

01/09/2025

Really appreciate The Willing Equine reaching out yesterday in the heat of things and being encouraging and respectful, even if we disagree. She practices what she preaches and I have a lot of respect for Adele

A open letter those within the R+/horse-centered/LIMA/force-free/kind/ethical/compassionate equine community:

We can disagree without there being hard feelings.

We can disagree without it being personal.

We can disagree while remaining respectful and kind to one another.

We can disagree while valuing what the other person is bringing to the table.

It’s important as a community that we are able to talk about things, bring ideas to the table, share our thoughts, and have disagreement without causing widespread dissension.

We can hold another professional in high regard and treat them with respect, while strongly disagreeing with them on certain points. I know there are many professionals that I speak highly of, that I also disagree with in certain areas.

Not only is this critical for the survival and furthering of ethically minded training (as well as other professions within the equestrian community), it’s important for representing the very thing we are such advocates for!

Kindness, compassion, consideration, empathy….

For people too.

I don’t say all of this to imply we should never disagree. It’s important to disagree. We will never move forward if we never disagree, if we never exercise reconsidering positions on things, if we never are put into the uncomfortable position of change.

Disagreeing is important. Being disagreed with is important.

But as we know, being confronted with conflicting ideas or information to your beliefs and what you have been practicing is uncomfortable. And all too often we redirect this discomfort at the person making us feel uncomfortable with their opinions and information.

All I ask is that we pause before we react.

-> You don’t have to agree with everything you read or hear or see, but for the sake of the health and future of our community, please treat others with kindness and respect.

-> And when someone disagrees with you? It doesn’t mean they don’t like you or respect you. It’s okay for people to disagree with you. You are still a valuable, important member of this community that we want to hear more from! ❤️

01/09/2025

🍆 More research on dropping, because I think it is needed at this point.

First, behavior should not be reduced to a single function, context, horse, observation, biochemical response, or research study. It is critically important to consider all observable behaviors, context clues, and situational factors when attempting to interpret behavior. Behavior is the study of one, and most—if not all—behavior should be evaluated on an individual and situational basis, and CAN have multiple functions and motivations.
Once again, I am presenting this data solely because it is rarely seen circulating or discussed in the broader debate on dropping. There certainly needs to be more research conducted on this topic. However, when we examine the current research available, it does seem to suggest that dropping is NOT USUALLY a sign of stress.

I am not arguing that dropping can never be a sign of stress or pain. I am simply presenting the current research we have and asking you to keep an open mind, READ the studies, seek out additional research on your own, and observe your horses' behavior with a neutral perspective. Horse owners are not always the most reliable at interpreting their horses' behavior and emotional states. And yes, there is even a study on that. 😉 Do we have some bias, preconceived notions, and superstitious behaviors ourselves?

One of the best studies was behind a pay wall. So, I bought the article, and have attached it as a Google Drive link, because I think this research should be available to the public. If you want the PDF version, I am happy to email it to you!

🔬 Key Findings from the Research:

🧬 1. Dropping in Male Horses During Training (Merkies et al., 2023)
Observation Study: Video analysis of 24 horses during training sessions.
Key Result: Dropping occurred in 69% of the sessions, with no correlation to stress behaviors such as head tossing, tail swishing, or lip licking.
Main Drivers:
Increased food rewards were linked to higher instances of dropping.
Dropping was more frequent in prime-aged horses (11-15 years).
No significant correlation with clicker use or physical touch.
Conclusion: Dropping appears related to affective states and food anticipation rather than stress responses. No evidence linked dropping to discomfort or emotional stress.

🧬 2. Spontaneous Er****on and Ma********on in Equids (McDonnell et al., 1991)
Study Focus: Natural occurrences of SEAM in horses without human interaction.
Key Result: SEAM was observed frequently in relaxed, non-stressful environments such as turnout and resting periods.
Conclusion: SEAM is a normal, spontaneous behavior unrelated to stress or anxiety. It appears to be a standard physiological response in stallions and geldings under calm conditions.

🧬 3. Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Horses (Hall et al., 2013)
Study Focus: Identification of reliable stress indicators in horses.
Key Stress Indicators Identified:
Elevated head carriage.
Tail swishing.
Lip licking (when paired with other stress behaviors).
Conclusion: None of these stress behaviors were associated with dropping during training sessions in other studies, suggesting dropping is not a stress indicator.

🧬 4. The Role of Dopamine and Positive Reinforcement
Physiological Link: Dropping has been associated with the dopamine system, a neurotransmitter linked to reward and motivation rather than stress (Giuliano & Allard, 2001)
Food Rewards: Positive reinforcement training with food often triggers dopamine release, which can result in dropping without any link to stress.

🧬 5. Age and Time of Day Factors
Age: Horses between 11-15 years showed higher rates of dropping, possibly linked to peak physiological maturity rather than emotional states.
Time of Day: Dropping was less common during afternoon training sessions, aligning with circadian hormonal fluctuations (Kirkpatrick et al., 1976).

🔬 Conclusions Across Studies:
No Evidence of Stress Correlation: Dropping and SEAM were not linked with stress behaviors in any of the reviewed studies.
Physiological Basis: The behavior appears primarily linked to dopamine activity and food rewards, consistent with relaxed states.
Natural Occurrence: SEAM and dropping are common, spontaneous behaviors observed in both training and natural contexts without stress triggers.

This evidence reinforces the importance of understanding equine body language within the broader context of behavior science rather than assuming stress-based interpretations for natural physiological responses.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159123000473

Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11_4UCD4fjUkaeY5Xs1-vob9qhhD8uEMr/view?usp=drivesdk

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432005001855

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/421 -animals-12-00421

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Spontaneous+er****on+and+masturbation+in+equids&author=McDonnell,+S.M.&author=Henry,+M.&author=Bristol,+F.&publication_year=1991&journal=J.+Reprod.+Fertil.&volume=44&pages=664%E2%80%93665

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080606812426

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749073917304662

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0014299986902773

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/64/1/27/2653453

https://madbarn.com/research/nitrergic-relaxation-of-the-horse-corpus-cavernosum-role-of-cgmp/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080621003270

01/08/2025

My big project is finally done!! I’ve been thinking about this for at least 2 years and slowly chipping away at this project for months. And it is finally live!

As a professional positive reinforcement horse trainer, I know how hard it can be to stay inspired, motivated, and organized. One of the biggest challenges I face—and hear from my clients—is knowing what to train, keeping sessions fresh and engaging, and sticking to long-term goals. That’s why I created this planner.

This isn’t just a calendar; it’s a complete guide to help you structure your training, stay on track, and keep moving forward. It’s packed with lists of hundreds of behaviors to spark ideas when you feel stuck, training and enrichment prompts to keep things fun and varied, and goal-setting pages to help you plan your sessions with purpose.

With monthly calendars, weekly planners, and space to track every session, this planner keeps you organized and ensures you’re including the right mix of training and enrichment for your horse. It also helps you document your progress, so you can see how far you’ve come and make adjustments along the way.

I know how overwhelming it can feel to juggle everything, from daily life to maintaining a training routine that meets both your goals and your horse’s needs. This planner is designed to take the guesswork out of your training, keep you focused on what matters, and make sure you never run out of ideas.

If you’ve ever struggled with staying consistent or wondered how to get more out of your training sessions, this planner is here to help. It’s the tool I wish I’d had when I started, and I’m so excited to share it with you. Together, we can make this your most productive and rewarding training year yet!

I am desperate for feedback, so I have significantly reduced the price for now. If you decide to purchase this, PLEASE send me some feedback. Let me know if the flow makes sense for you, what is missing, and of course what you like! I will then make adjustments and send you the updated journal. If you do like the journal, could you leave me a review on Amazon? That really helps others find the planner. Thanks so much!

https://amzn.to/40pA1r5

01/08/2025

The 🍆 post caused quite the controversy, as I knew it would. My intentions were only to point out a piece that I have not seen discussed.
I do want to say, that I originally struggled to make this post clear, as it is such a murky topic to begin with! My nerdy self got too in the weeds on the science of it all and made the interpretation of it quite grey. While that kind of was the point - it is grey and not black and white - some of my wording was contradictory and led people astray. I have since edited this post, hoping it brings more clarity. Thank you for showing me how my words could be misinterpreted. While I do not think I can be responsible for how every person on the Internet uses or interprets my posts, I do have a responsibility as a professional to not lead people astray. Unfortunately, that direction is up for interpretation and quite the debate. My goal was just to bring up a side that I don't see often - the biochemistry behind the behavior. I am SURE people have seen dropping in MANY contexts with MANY perceived emotions and motivations - that's kind of the point. Hopefully, I have made that more clear.
I do encourage you all to read the additional articles, as they are written in a much clearer way and have things explained much better than I could.

01/07/2025

🍆 I've seen too many posts with incorrect information and have had enough clients ask about this topic that it's time for me to make a post. 🧼📦

There’s a lot of debate about geldings (and stallions) dropping during positive reinforcement (R+) training. Is it stress or happiness? Let’s clear up the science. 🧪

Biochemistry Matters! The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight mode) releases norepinephrine and cortisol, which inhibit nitric oxide (NO) and cause the retractor p***s muscle to contract, pulling the p***s back into the sheath.

On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest) releases oxytocin and NO, which promote smooth muscle relaxation, vasodilation, and sometimes pe**le engorgement.

So, What Does Dropping Indicate? ➡️ Dropping during R+ training typically signals relaxation, not stress. The biochemical processes that cause this (smooth muscle relaxation and blood flow increase) can't occur when the horse is in a stressed state.

However, horses can become overstimulated even when excited, leading to tension or distraction. Ideally, we aim for calm, relaxed focus during training sessions. 🌿

Key Reminders:
✔️ Context Matters: Behaviors need to be interpreted alongside other body language.
✔️ Behavior Chains: Dropping can become conditioned if reinforced consistently.
✔️ Individual Differences: Some horses thrive under light challenge; others need simpler steps.

📖 In Conclusion:
Behavior is complex! Avoid making assumptions from a single behavior snapshot. Look at the full context and what the body is actually signaling.

🔬 Curious to learn more? There is so much more to this, much more than I can put in a 400 word Instagram post. I've written a whole blog post on this, and included several additional sources for you to reference. Head to my website to read the full blog (or see my page).

This, and other helpful blog posts can always be found on my website:
https://www.greenwaltequine.com/blog

More info:

Horse Sport. (2023, October 6). Observing pain in elite event horses at Badminton and Burghley. Horse Sport. Retrieved from https://horsesport.com/magazine/behaviour/observing-pain-elite-event-horses-badminton-burghley/

Pedrosa, K., & Clinton, R. (2012). Mechanisms in Erectile Function and Dysfunction: An Overview. InTech. doi: 10.5772/39088 https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/30215

Salvio, G., Martino, M., Giancola, G., Arnaldi, G., & Balercia, G. (2021). Hypothalamic–Pituitary Diseases and Erectile Dysfunction. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(12), 2551. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10122551 https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/12/2551

Stress in horses: what impact on health and performance? Mar 15, 2022 | Physiology, Welfare https://vet.arioneo.com/en/blog/stress-in-horses-what-impact-on-health-and-performance

01/07/2025

🍆 I've seen too many posts with incorrect information and have had enough clients ask about this topic that it's time for me to make a post. 🧼📦

There are a lot of discussions circulating about geldings (or stallions) dropping during positive reinforcement (R+) training sessions. And, as always, this has sparked the debate: Is it stress or happiness?

Many professionals have been weighing in on this lately, with most leaning toward the explanation of stress. However, there's a crucial piece of information I rarely see discussed. Thank you, reproductive physiology classes, for locking this into my brain years ago! Funny how certain facts just stick with you.

First, let me be clear: You cannot take a snapshot of a behavior and definitively declare the motivation or emotion behind it. Behavior is far more nuanced than that. Every behavior must be interpreted within its full context, considering other observable behaviors.

For example, consider pawing. It could indicate:

🐴 Distance-creating or defensive behavior

🐴 Anxiety

🐴 Anticipation due to excitement

🐴 A trained behavior offered calmly

🐴 A trained behavior offered excitedly

🐴 A foraging behavior

🐴 A precursor to rolling

🐴 Pain

The function, motivation, and emotion behind pawing can vary widely, which is why context and accompanying behaviors are essential for interpretation. The same applies to dropping. Now, let's circle back and take a look at what is going on inside the body, when dropping is observed.

🧑‍🔬 🦠 Biochemical Lesson: The Physiology Behind Dropping
While emotions can't be reduced to pure biochemistry, biochemistry can offer significant insights. Let's break down the biological processes involved.

🧬 Biochemical Process of Pe**le Er****on:

Sexual Arousal Triggers Neural Activation:
The parasympathetic nervous system releases nitric oxide (NO) from non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve terminals and endothelial cells.

Nitric Oxide (NO) Production:

NO is synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes (eNOS and nNOS).

Calcium influx activates these enzymes, leading to NO release.

Guanylate Cyclase Activation and cGMP Production:

NO activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), converting guanosine triphosphate (GTP) into cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP).

cGMP reduces intracellular calcium, inhibiting calcium channels and promoting calcium storage.

Smooth Muscle Relaxation:

Reduced calcium allows smooth muscle relaxation in the corpora cavernosa, causing pe**le arteries to dilate and fill with blood.

Increased intracavernosal pressure compresses venous outflow, maintaining the er****on.

🧬 Biochemical Process of Detumescence (Pe**le Retraction):

Sympathetic Nervous System Activation:

Norepinephrine (NE) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) activate G-protein coupled receptors in smooth muscle cells.

This triggers the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway, increasing intracellular calcium.

Calcium-Dependent Contraction:

Increased calcium activates myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), which phosphorylates myosin, causing smooth muscle contraction and reducing blood flow.

PDE5 and cGMP Breakdown:

The enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) breaks down cGMP, reversing smooth muscle relaxation.

🧬 Stress (Cortisol) vs. Oxytocin (Relaxation)
Cortisol (Stress Response):

Released during stress, cortisol inhibits NO release and reduces cGMP production.

This results in increased smooth muscle contraction and pe**le retraction.

Oxytocin (Relaxation and Bonding Hormone):

Released during positive emotional states, oxytocin stimulates NO production and vasodilation.

This promotes smooth muscle relaxation and pe**le engorgement.

🐴 🧬 🔬In Simple Terms:🔬🧬🐴

Simply put, norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline) is part of the sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight response). It triggers the body's process that causes the p***s to retract. There is also evidence that cortisol, a stress hormone, can reduce or even block nitric oxide activity, which is essential for blood vessel relaxation (vasodilation). Additionally, when the sympathetic nervous system is active, the retractor p***s muscle contracts, pulling the p***s back into the sheath.

On the other hand, oxytocin and other neurotransmitters released by the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest-and-digest or feed-and-breed response) help the body relax. During positive reinforcement training, these chemicals promote smooth muscle relaxation, sometimes leading to pe**le engorgement.

In summary, when a horse "drops" during a positive reinforcement session, the biochemistry behind the behavior would indicate relaxation, not stress. According to the biochemistry, this physiological response cannot happen when the horse is in a stressed or fearful state.

👀 What This Means for R+ Training:

When a gelding drops during a positive reinforcement session, the biochemical processes occurring in the body suggests the horse is in the parasympathetic nervous system, not the sympathetic nervous system. The physiological response you’re seeing (smooth muscle relaxation and pe**le engorgement) cannot occur when the sympathetic nervous system (stress response) is active.
HOWEVER - I want to reiterate, that we cannot interpret a behavior looking at biochemistry alone. There are MANY things at play for each and every behavior.

Both animals and humans can become overly excited or aroused, even when the excitement is positive. This state of being over threshold (even in a positive way) can lead to distraction and loss of focus, or even frustration, anxiety, and conflict behaviors, even if the emotions are positive. This is not a place we want to hang out in either! That is also something we want to address and change.

🚨 *Important Considerations* 🚨

🚨 Superstitious Behaviors: Dropping can become conditioned during training, just like other behaviors such as ears forward or back. If a horse is consistently reinforced while dropping, the behavior might become linked with the training itself. (The old “click-a-dick” phenomenon.)

🚨 Individual Differences: Not all horses respond to pressure or learning challenges the same way. Some horses thrive when working through minor challenges, while others may struggle or shut down. Training should always be adapted to the individual horse in front of you.

🦓 Conclusion
Let’s not rush to judge a behavior based on a single observation. Behaviors have many possible functions, motivations, and emotional underpinnings. It’s crucial to consider the context and accompanying behaviors before making assumptions. Understanding the biochemistry behind behavior can also offer valuable insights into what hormones and neurotransmitters are active at the time.

When in doubt, remember Dr. Susan Friedman’s words: “Behavior is the study of ONE.” Trust your observations, stay curious, and keep learning.

I encourage you to explore this topic further—I've linked some excellent articles and studies below for more in-depth information.

Happy Training!

🚨 **** EDIT **** 🚨
To clarify and reiterate - dropping can go one way or the other. It depends on the horse and the situation. But if we JUST look at the biochemistry - THAT would suggest that it can not occur under stress. However, like I said, behavior cannot be interpreted solely on the biochemistry.
Pain and physical issues are a whole other thing.
Dropping (or SEAM) can be observed in MANY contexts and have MANY reasons.

This, and other helpful blog posts can always be found on my website:
https://www.greenwaltequine.com/blog

More info:

Pedrosa, K., & Clinton, R. (2012). Mechanisms in Erectile Function and Dysfunction: An Overview. InTech. doi: 10.5772/39088 https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/30215

Salvio, G., Martino, M., Giancola, G., Arnaldi, G., & Balercia, G. (2021). Hypothalamic–Pituitary Diseases and Erectile Dysfunction. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(12), 2551. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10122551 https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/12/2551

This evidence reinforces the importance of understanding equine body language within the broader context of behavior science rather than assuming stress-based interpretations for natural physiological responses.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../abs/pii/S0168159123000473
Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/.../11_4UCD4fjUkaeY5Xs1.../view...
https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../abs/pii/S0378432005001855
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/421 -animals-12-00421
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Spontaneous+er****on+and+masturbation+in+equids&author=McDonnell,+S.M.&author=Henry,+M.&author=Bristol,+F.&publication_year=1991&journal=J.+Reprod.+Fertil.&volume=44&pages=664%E2%80%93665
https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S0737080606812426
https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S0749073917304662
https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../abs/pii/0014299986902773
https://academic.oup.com/.../article.../64/1/27/2653453
https://madbarn.com/.../nitrergic-relaxation-of-the.../...
https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../abs/pii/S0737080621003270

12/31/2024

🎉🌟 Happy New Year! Welcome, 2025! 🌟🎉

As we step into this fresh chapter, let’s take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve been on — together with our horses and this amazing community of compassionate trainers.

✨ In 2025, let’s resolve to:

🐴 Prioritize choice and control in every interaction with our animals.

💡 Seek out opportunities to learn and grow in the science of behavior.

❤️ Build deeper relationships based on trust, consent, and compassion.

🌱 Celebrate the small wins — because every step forward is progress!

This new year is a blank slate, full of potential for growth, creative problem-solving, and joyful moments with our equine partners. Whether you're exploring start button behaviors, teaching a fun trick, or simply being present with your horse, remember: every moment matters.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for making the world a kinder, more ethical place for our horses and animals everywhere. Let’s make 2025 our best year yet — for them and for us.

💬 What are your training goals for the new year? Drop them in the comments — let’s cheer each other on!

Here’s to choice, compassion, and connection in 2025! 🥂🐾

12/30/2024

🌱 Helping Horses Thrive Through Training 🌱

What’s the key to building a resilient and confident horse? Shawna Karrish and Jesse Hillegas share their secrets in this week’s podcast! 🐴✨

It’s all about balance:
🔹 Recognizing and respecting a horse’s emotional state
🔹 Keeping training sessions fresh, fun, and forward-moving
🔹 Expanding their world with positive experiences instead of shrinking it with overprotection
Training isn’t about avoiding challenges—it’s about teaching horses how to navigate them with confidence. This episode is packed with insights to help you strike the perfect balance between emotional awareness and meaningful progress! 💪

🎧 Tune in now on Spotify: "Happy Horse, Happy Human: Positive Training Connections"

https://open.spotify.com/episode/69TwhFSIcvAkt31w01xP8O?si=bdIQi6bCSPKhJSM2YOwA2A

12/27/2024

💡 Finding the Balance in Training: Emotional Awareness & Progress 💡

In this week’s episode, Shawna and Jessie share how to balance emotional awareness with forward momentum in positive reinforcement training. 🐴💡

🎯 Highlights include:

✅ Helping horses see the world as a safe, positive place
✅ Avoiding the trap of overprotection while still prioritizing emotions
✅ Practical tips for making training sessions dynamic and engaging

Learn how to create a resilient, confident horse ready to take on new challenges with curiosity and joy! 🌟

🎙️ Listen now on Spotify: "Happy Horse, Happy Human: Positive Training Connections"

https://open.spotify.com/episode/69TwhFSIcvAkt31w01xP8O?si=kCk2riEFQPCdF2zUsalSBQ

12/24/2024

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with my friends Shawna Karrasch and Jessie Hillegas for our podcasts after a clinic at Heart Horse Training LLC. I got to ask them some challenging questions, as well as some fun ones! This has been my favorite podcast yet.
Shawna has been an amazing role model for me from the beginning. It was her podcast, Equine Clicker 10, that made me quit my career as a zookeeper and go all in on R+ horse training. Never in a million years did I imagine that Shawna and Jessie would become amazing mentors to me, and be sitting on my podcast years later. It was truly a full-circle moment for me.
Shawna and Jessie are so much fun to be around and to learn from! I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did!
Merry Christmas!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/69TwhFSIcvAkt31w01xP8O?si=k-nzgg7hQ9K9xLEZ2S9ybQ

12/24/2024

Have you listened to this episode yet? Josiah the hoofstock keeper came on to talk about enrichment hoofstock, including horses. It was a very interesting conversation, and he will be back to talk about hooves!
Don't forget, if you are needing some inspiration or guidance on enrichment, I do a monthly enrichment planner for the members in my membership.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify:
"Happy Horse, Happy Human: Positive Training Connections"

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qAB0DV2wmfQwnbIKx7mb5?si=hgziK2aEQd6JWQZ_cWCZNw

12/22/2024

She's doing it!! Katie is sitting on Phoenix!!!
Phoenix is what most people would call a "mean mare". She is very quick to pin her ears, kick, and bite. Additionally, the last time they sat on her, she bucked like a bronc. Thankfully, she is owned by the wonderful Audrey Christie Mclaughlin so she did her due diligence and got any physical issues taken care of, and then we were just left addressing the behavioral side of things.
Katie is her person. She lets Katie do a lot that no one else can. And she is very clear about preferring to hang out with and train with Katie. So Katie has made it her goal to sit on her, and eventually get her back into riding. Katie has been working soooo diligently on Phoenix's mounting block behavior for MONTHS. We have been working on counter-conditioning the mounting behavior, for both of them honestly. Katie has been understandably nervous and very cautious of Phoenix's emotional state. And finally, this week we made the breakthrough we have been waiting for, Katie sat on Phoenix!!!!!🙌🙌🙌
We still have a long way to go, and plenty of things to continue counter-conditioning, but I think it's important to celebrate the wins when we get them! I am super proud of Katie and Phoenix. They have both successfully worked through some very complex training!!

12/22/2024

It's super exciting to see that positive reinforcement and understanding about behavioral science training techniques are becoming more widespread! But with more people starting to learn about the science, the more myths and misunderstandings are becoming prevalent. So let's clear some of these up!

Some people believe that operant conditioning (the learning quadrants) are tools we use to train horses, that we can choose whether or not, or how to use to train. The truth is, the quadrants are a description of how learning happened. So if learning happened, if a behavior increased or decreased in frequency, we know a quadrant happened. The quadrants describe how a behavior was learned/unlearned. So if we've worked with our horse and a behavior increased or decreased in frequency, we've used a quadrant to teach that (though it may not have been what we intended).

Classical Conditioning is always happening in the background of all of life. This means the horse is always making associations. So what you use in your training is being associated, paired, conditioned with YOU, which forms your relationship. If your relationship is built on aversives or appetitives WILL influence how your horse feels around you, because of classical conditioning.

Some people believe that operant conditioning is the only way learning can occur, but again it's just a description of how learning (in life) happened. There is also instincts they're born with - these can change with operant learning, but is more resistant to change than learned behaviors. Imprinting at birth, things that are conditioned fast within the first few days while the horse is sponging up new information, though this is mostly associations/classical conditioning. Which brings us to classical conditioning, which is the simple pairing/associations within life, not behavior focused. Finally there's social learning/imitation. Some species are highly attuned at mimicry and learn fast with this, horses are social creatures, but aren't the best at social learning. They seem to pick up the basics, like if something is safe or not, but aren't as attuned to copying complex behaviors as species like birds or primates.

Some people also believe trainers who use behavioral science tend to be cold, clinical, and unemotional. But most of us who have learned behavioral science, also take the time to study Ethology of our species and the neuroscience of emotions. So while we tend to love science giving us a guidebook, we mix that with our own instincts, relationships, and intuition. Ethology is the study of our species in nature, how they behave and function outside of our influence - which is vital if we hope to provide them healthy and appropriate management. Neuroscience of emotions gives us a great foundational understanding of how our horses feel and how to influence and support those emotions in a beneficial way for their wellbeing and for our relationship. Science based training is far from cold, it's a passionate love of our species and the desire to provide the best for them we can, through knowledge and understanding.