Published February 8, 2025 | Version v1 | https://doi.org/10.12794/metadc1703369

Equines Do Not Live for Grass Alone: Teaching Equines with Social Interaction

Creators

Description

Most horse training methods heavily rely on negative reinforcement and punishment. However, there is a movement in the horse community to utilize positive reinforcement to meet training goals. Although food has been used effective as a reinforcer with horses, social interaction has also been demonstrated to function as a positive reinforcer for animals. Utilizing social interaction as a reinforcer may lead to several benefits for both the trainer and animal. Some of the benefits can be improved relationships between animals and their caretakers and improved animal welfare. The purpose of this study was to apply Owens and Owens et al. previous research protocols to three equines to assess if social interaction, in the form of petting and gentle scratching, would function as a reinforcer. Using a changing criterion design, this study demonstrated that petting and gentle scratching could function as a reinforcer to teach three equines to stay and come in their natural environment.

Additional details

Identifiers

URL
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1703369/

Dates

Issued
2025-02-08T14:01:31Z

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