It is widely agreed that every time we interact with our horses we are teaching them something. Sometimes we are teaching them what we want them to learn and sometimes it is the opposite. But what do we mean when we say a horse has “learned” something?
A Little Bit of Stick and a Little Bit of Carrot
All training works by inducing emotional discomfort in a horse to search for a new response and then reducing that anxiety when the horse gets it right. When the training is done well, the level of emotional discomfort doesn’t exceed the threshold amount required to evoke a change of thought and a search. Every training method depends on this and none are more gentle or cruel than the other if this principle is applied.
Confirmational Bias
It’s hard to ignore that some trainers are leaning on science to explain and justify their training principles and methods. However, none of the trainers I am familiar with have a background in science and research. None that I know read the peer-reviewed literature. None of them appear to have the depth of knowledge to gauge the merit of the science they are relaying. They depend on a third party to explain it to them in a way they can slot into their training and teaching.
Feel Goes Two Ways
Nature Versus Nurture
Discomfort Avoider or Comfort Seeker
People argue whether or not a horse can be happy in their work. I have serious doubts about their ability to be happy regarding work as if it were something they would choose to do. However, I do believe horses can feel contented and untroubled by working with us. But it can only come by helping them understand that their idea to avoid discomfort comes about by following our idea to work together.