September 19, 2012

Positive Reinforcement for Horses

I have never claimed to be an animal behaviour expert...
...or a videographer who can actually speak full sentences without coughing up a whole lot of gibberish.

But I have learned how to get Ike and Duke in their stalls without completely losing my cool.
It is called positive reinforcement.
Try it out on your pets...your kids...your husband.....
...it's all kinds of fun.


I could get all technical and start talking about stimuli, shaping, fading, response and all of the other behaviour "lingo" I learned in college and during my BC {before children} career, but it really is just a simple trick with Ike and Duke.
Present a desirable stimulus {treats in food jugs}.
They respond with the desired behaviour {coming to me}.
And then are rewarded with the treats.
Seems like common sense, right????
It is.   But most people forget to use it.
Just sayin'.
 
No whips needed.
No yelling.
No cursing.
No kicking.
No stress.
 
Horses are fun.
Who knew?!


6 comments:

Gigi said...

I will have to try that with my husband!

I love the way they came walking up in step with each other.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful video and 'positive reinforcement works as you know ~ excellent ~ (A Creative Harbor)

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing this...brought back a good memory for me when I was little and on a horse. HE took off down a very steep ravine and I couldn't stop him...great memory.
Laurie @ Pride in PHotos

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Now see, if someone would just tape a bag of Reeses peanut butter cups to my vacuum, maybe I'd be more willing to clean...

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Too bad this doesn't work on cats. ;)

Nancy said...

I think this works for husbands as well. :)