Tag: animal learning theory

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What’s in a word?

What is in a word?

Take learning theory and peoples interpretations, some say release of pressure is a reward some say it is a relief at best.

What is certain is that in operant conditioning terms it is negative reinforcement, therefore for the release/relief to happen there has to be an aversive stimulus applied first. Once the animal complies with our request the stimulus is removed.

So it may be leg aids – use and remove as soon as the horse complies, it may be ground work – apply an aversive stimulus to form a behaviour e.g teaching a horse to back up. Often people teach back up using a light touch on the chest – getting firmer until the horse backs, the pressure is removed on the slightest of movements.

I don’t wish to argue about various methods of horsemanship – it is a personal choice but the more I learn about the emotions involved the more I wish to use positive reinforcement as much as possible.

We do live in a world where most people use aversive stimuli to form behaviours, so our horses need to understand other peoples cues.

Dictionary defintions:

Reinforcement – The action or process of reinforcing or strengthening; The process of encouraging or establishing a belief or pattern of behaviour

Stimuli – A thing that arouses activity or energy in someone or something; a spur or incentive; A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue

Reward – A thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement; A fair return for good or bad behaviour:

Relief – A feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress; The alleviation of pain, discomfort, or distress

Release – Allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free: Allow (something) to move, act, or flow freely; Remove restrictions or obligations from (someone or something) so that they become available for other activity: Allow (something) to return to its resting position by ceasing to put pressure on it:

Aversive – Someone or something that arouses a strong dislike or disinclination.

References
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com

http://www.equitationscience.com/aversive-stimuli – some are challenging the notion that horses are not safe unless we use negative reinforcement.

Connection Training
Academy of Positive Horsemanship

Read and decide, which would you prefer for yourself? Also worth looking at the emotions involved in negative versus positive reinforcement.

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33927/study-human-interaction-shapes-horses-negative-emotions

Jaak Panksepp describes the 7 basic emotional systems all mammals exhibit.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181986/

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Flood Desensitising

Learning theory is fascinating as is equine behaviour analysis. Learning to look analytically at horse behaviour and the interaction between horse and humans is a sometimes distressing process, seeing videos of flood desensitisation and realising that at some point in the past you have done a similar type of training is very upsetting.

Flooding is a form of habituation and is classical conditioning, designed to stop a horse reacting to a stimulus. Horses are neophobic so are innately afraid of any new stimulus.

Even done well with animals it may never work, we have better ways to desensitise and habituate horses to novel stimuli.

Flooding entails applying an aversive (remember this is anything the horse perceives as a threat) stimulus at full intensity for as long as it takes the horse to habituate. Take note of the word perceives – it is the horse, not us, who decides what is aversive.

Inadvertant flooding can be as simple as clipping a horse whilst restrained – if he calms down during the process he may habituate or he may be worse the next time you try to clip. Many sedate to clip but the fear is still there, this happened to a horse I know – he had been twitched by a previous owner to be clipped, he is now so sensitive to the sight and sound of the clippers it is going to take a long time to regain his trust.

More extreme examples are putting a saddle on a horse whilst it is still anxious about the process and sending him round an arena – so he can buck if he feels the need to get the aversive stimulus off his back.

When watching horses see if they do that to each other and the answer is no – a horse may move another horse from a resource he wants but the pressure is not unrelenting – horses are gentle creatures and really just want to survive with out us chasing them round.

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Animal Learning Theory

Animal Learning Theory

Animal learning theory is fascinating, I have read a lot about it but never really understood the different components. It is not a training method but can be used to construct or deconstruct a method.

Max Easey did a course for a group of us in West Sussex and we all went home with lots to mull over!

Classical Conditioning is learning through association, e.g. a horse will associate the sound of his owners car with the possible arrival of food. Or the wag of a finger can mean if he doesn’t do something an aversive will follow.

Counter – conditioning is presenting something they like at the same time as presenting a mildly fearful stimulus or in an environment they find mildly aversive.g treats and a scary object. It is also called perception modification. The food is only presented once they relax.

Operant Conditioning is learning by consequences:-

Positive Reinforcement – add something he likes as a consequence of performing a behaviour to increase the likelihood that he will repeat it under the same conditions.

Positive Punishment – add something he doesn’t like as the behaviour is happening to decrease/discourage a behaviour.

Negative Reinforcement – add and then take away something he doesn’t like as the behaviour is happening increase the likelihood that he will repeat it under the same conditions.

Negative Punishment – take away something or deny access to something he likes to reduce/discourage a behaviour.

All have pro’s and con’s, negative reinforcement e.g pressure/release has consequences for our relationship with the animal if we apply an aversive.

Positive punishment is also detrimental if we are associated with the aversive as we add something he doesn’t like e.g. a whip if he finds that aversive. A whip can be used as a target and not be aversive. Can cause fear which may lead to aggression or depression.

Negative reinforcement – where you put pressure on the animal as an aversive then take it away when he performs the behaviour harms the relationship if the animal looks on you as all or part of the aversive element.
An example would be back up – we ask for a back by making it uncomfortable for him to go forward – the degree of pressure used depends on where on the motivation scale the stimulus is in relationship to other motivations, so may need to be escalated. This is aversive otherwise the animal would not move, on the slightest move back the pressure is released to gain relief from the aversive. So eventually a wag of a finger makes him go back – this is so he avoids the aversive element. Likewise the draw towards you works because he considers you aversive so when you go back he feels relief when you remove yourself if you are the aversive.
Negative reinforcement can cause resentment and aggression.

This is not what I want with my horse so will be exploring positive reinforcement and negative punishment. So I reward the tries and behaviours I want and ignore and withhold the rewards for unwanted behaviour.

Timing is crucial with every motivator, as the animal needs to know immediately the consequence of his actions. All motivators (even positive reinforcement and negative punishment) can cause frustration if the animal doesn’t get what he wants.

Some mild steady pressure can guide him to the solution but it is better for him to investigate and find the answer for himself or use a target.

There will be times when in a extreme situation negative reinforcement/positive punishment may be needed for safety.

I will add more as I explore the bridge and target training with the horses.