20240807_Alice_Morrison_coopcare

Summary

The video script discusses a delightful training session with horses, highlighting the use of the 'one two, three' pattern game for cooperative care. It emphasizes the importance of predictable treat delivery to reduce anxiety in horses, especially regarding pinned ears during training. The script suggests starting with a high rate of reinforcement and gradually building duration to keep anxiety at bay. It also touches on the idea of distant food protocols to further calm horses, offering insights into effective training techniques and the value of clear end-of-session signals for relaxation.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video was appreciated for its lovely training session and the pleasant surprise of Alice's daughter working in the animal behavior field.
• 🤝 The speaker suggests that combining knowledge can be beneficial for training horses.
• 🔢 The use of the 'one two, three' pattern games with horses is highlighted as an effective method for cooperative care, despite being less commonly seen.
• 🍎 The training aims to make Dauntless understand that treats are given predictably without needing to perform any specific behavior.
• 👂 The importance of not punishing behaviors and instead adding them gradually is emphasized for a positive training environment.
• 👂🏼 The trainer mentions the need to be cautious with the horse's ears, which can indicate anxiety, and the approach to lower anxiety levels from the start.
• 📉 The script discusses the varying opinions among trainers about dealing with years and anxiety, with a preference for a conservative approach to address issues early on.
• 📝 The trainer recommends starting with a high rate of reinforcement and gradually building up to more complex behaviors.
• 🍽️ The idea of treating the horse like a waiter delivering food is introduced, emphasizing the importance of not rewarding the horse when it reaches for the food.
• 🛎️ The end of the training session is marked with a clear signal, which is beneficial for the horse's understanding and relaxation.
• 🌱 The suggestion of using distant food protocols and protected contact to reduce anxiety and improve the horse's comfort with training is made.

Q & A

What was the general feedback on the video training session?

The video training session was described as lovely and really nice, with a positive note on the use of the one-two-three pattern games with horses.

What is the significance of the one-two-three pattern games in horse training?

The one-two-three pattern games are used to build duration and keep anxiety out of the picture, making the training process more predictable and less stressful for the horse.

Why is it important to make treat delivery predictable in horse training?

Making treat delivery predictable helps the horse understand that treats will come without needing to perform any specific behavior, reducing the reliance on the horse's behavior for rewards.

How does the trainer address the issue of pinned ears in horse training?

The trainer aims to lower all levels of anxiety and remove pinned ears from the training context from the start, although it's not always possible, especially if the horse doesn't show pinned ears while training with food.

What is the approach to handling behaviors that dauntless may use to request treats or speed them up?

The trainer may need to pause and re-evaluate if dauntless uses behaviors to request treats or speed them up, ensuring not to punish the horse but to maintain a high rate of reinforcement.

Why is it recommended to reward the horse only with the 'tree' in the one-two-three pattern games initially?

Rewarding only with the 'tree' initially helps to establish the pattern and is similar to charging a clicker, creating a strong association between the signal and the treat.

How can the trainer experiment with treat delivery to make it more like a waiter's service?

The trainer can experiment by delivering treats almost like a waiter serves food, ideally placing treats on the ground or in a bucket for the horse, avoiding the need for the horse to take the bowl or plate directly from the trainer.

What is the purpose of giving a signal for the end of the training session?

The end of session signal helps the horse understand when the training is over and can be associated with giving food on the ground or in a bucket, helping the horse to relax and lower their energy.

Why is it suggested to try training in protected contact or on the other side of a fence?

Training in protected contact or on the other side of a fence can help lower the horse's anxiety, as the trainer and food are a bit further away, creating a more relaxed environment for the horse.

What are distant food protocols and how can they help in horse training?

Distant food protocols involve not having the food on the trainer's body, which can make the horse calmer by reaching for food that is on the other side of the fence or in a bucket, reducing the immediate pressure on the horse.

What is the importance of high rate of reinforcement in horse training?

A high rate of reinforcement is important as it helps to keep the horse relaxed and focused during training, rewarding them frequently for standing still and being calm, which aids in building a positive association with training.