THE RELEASE OF PRESSURE

TRAINING TIP: FEEDBACK IN HORSE TRAINING – ITS MORE THAN JUST THE RELEASE OF PRESSURE

This is a photo of Tegan and her young warmblood mare Ruby. This photo was taken on the weekend at the end of Ruby’s fourth ride under saddle. Also linked on this blog is a short video snap shot of Ruby’s first ride under saddle. Both these media gives a tremendous example of feedback that Ruby was receiving during her first rides that was very integral to her calm, relaxed and successful start to transition from an unstarted to a ridden horse. But what is this feedback you should be noting? And what is feedback anyway?

Feedback is EVERYTHING that can influence a horse’s motivation to adopt the behaviours we desire when we train them. Most people that use negative reinforcement (pressure-release) type training might think the feedback that we control that influences the horse’s learning during training is releasing pressure but there is more and that is OUR reactions and decisions.

Now look back at this photo…look at how proud, happy and confident Tegan is sitting up there on beautiful Ruby. Tegan bred Ruby and she is the first foal that Tegan has ever bred, she is also the first horse that Tegan has ever broken in so this experience of taking a horse from foal to ridden horse is extremely special to Tegan. Now in the video fast forward to approximately the 50 second mark and you will hear something else very significant. At this moment in the footage you will see Tegan asking Ruby for the first time to do a complete 360 degree turn and listen to the joy in Tegan’s voice as she praises Ruby for successfully completing this request for the very first time. This joy, happiness and appreciation of Ruby’s responses to cues and pressure are all identified and assessed by Ruby as she experiences the training conversation that she is learning to have with humans.

There was a time I didn’t even understand the significance of the “release of pressure” but it has only been a recent realisation for me of the importance of all the OTHER feedback and information I am giving the horse during training to help them learn. The importance of my speed of movement, energy, body language and emotions, the rest breaks I take and all the other things the horse is identifying and assessing as it is learning! Whilst emotions and feelings such as anger, sadness, fear and frustration are not helpful in the training process. Allowing joy and wonder for the learning of the horse to infiltrate your training session can be a positive and powerful aspect to successful training experiences.

So next time you are working your horse think about what feedback you are also giving your horse – do you have a scowl on your face because you are hunting better responses or busy thinking what you want to work on during the session or are you letting them know how clever and beautiful they are?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpPw2Do6cbQ