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Today, the words "positive reinforcement," "R+ training," and "clicker training" are getting thrown around more and more often in the horse world. However, with many riders and trainers still relying on outdated "traditional" methods or pressure-and-release training, this new-age lingo might sound foreign.
Since I started positive reinforcement training with my OTSB, Erving, about 2 years ago, he has made a complete transformation from a difficult, strong-willed horse into a willing (usually!) partner.
More riders and trainers are finding success with positive reinforcement today and many have permanently made the transition. This reward-based training method allows trainers to communicate with precision and create a more fun and joyful experience for their horses.
If you are interested in learning more about positive reinforcement, and how it can be used to transform your life with horses, keep reading for a comprehensive look into the method, the benefits, the misconceptions, and how to get started.
Table of Contents:
What is Positive Reinforcement Training?
Positive reinforcement is a training method that uses rewards (i.e. treats, praise, pats) to increase desirable behaviors. It is a method that allows trainers to change an animal's behavior over time and create desired responses that make them easier to live and work with.
R+ training has been used for decades by some of the most prominent animal trainers in the world. Traditionally, positive reinforcement is mostly associated with dogs or zoo animals. However, despite its widespread popularity, it has only just recently found its way into the horse world.
Positive reinforcement trainers most often use a clicker, target, and treats to train their subjects. The clicker serves as a bridge, or a precise signal that a reward is coming. After a desired behavior is performed, the trainer will quickly give a click and hand the animal a small bite of food.
For most horse trainers, positive reinforcement is not the predominant method used. R+ training makes up only one of the four quadrants of operant conditioning. A general understanding of the four training approaches can help you decipher them in your own training and help you adhere to positive reinforcement principles.
Reinforcement vs. Punishment
There are two main categories that all training methods fall under. A method is either punishment or reinforcement and positive or negative.
Punishment: Any action that is taken to DECREASE the likelihood of the behavior happening again. It is best to avoid punishment horse training, but with serious safety issues, it may be necessary to eradicate the response.
Reinforcement: Any action that is taken to INCREASE the likelihood of a behavior. Because trainers are usually trying to create responses in their animals, reinforcement is most used the vast majority of the time.
Both punishment and reinforcement can be broken down into 2 types: positive and negative.
Negative: Affects behavior by REMOVING a stimulus. Whether that be an unpleasant one (reinforcement) or a pleasant one (punishment) the removal of the stimulus will be responsible for changing the behavior.
Positive: Affects behavior by ADDING a stimulus. The stimulus can either be pleasant (reinforcement) or unpleasant (punishment).
By these definitions, positive reinforcement will ADD a pleasant stimulus to INCREASE the likelihood of a desired behavior. The most common form of horse training is negative reinforcement where an unpleasant stimulus is REMOVED to INCREASE a behavior. The distinctions are subtle but make a big difference for the horse.
Does R+ Training Work With Horses?
For centuries negative reinforcement training has been the predominant method used on horses. However, most horsemen probably recognize the method by the term Natural Horsemanship, a name coined only in the past few decades. Big names like Clinton Anderson, Pat Parelli, and Monty Roberts have spread the word about natural horsemanship across the world.
While the method is touted to work in harmony with the horse's nature, these claims lack scientific proof. Many horses over the years have been chased, hit, and forced to endure unpleasant "negative reinforcement" in the name of natural horsemanship.
Today, there are numerous trainers that are adamant that R+ training does not work with horses. These people are likely to point to herd dominance theory to back up their claims that horses need a strong leader, and you cannot coax them with treats into doing what you want.
Other trainers might disparage positive reinforcement training for other reasons. Many believe that training with treats teaches horses bad habits and that you cannot reliably train behaviors using food rewards. However, positive reinforcement training has been used for over a hundred years and has trained everything from fish and chickens to humans to perform complex behaviors willingly.
Despite what some people say, positive reinforcement works with horses too, and is a very effective way to teach new behavior and instill good manners in equines. Today, positive reinforcement horse trainers have used the practice to help horses overcome fears, teach high-level maneuvers, and instill behaviors that make them easier to work and live with.
Benefits of Positive Reinforcement Training for Horses
There are several known benefits of using positive reinforcement with horses. After trying positive reinforcement, many trainers never turn back and make it a permanent fixture in their stable. Even just mixing positive reinforcement with traditional training methods can yield beneficial results.
Some of the benefits of switching to R+ horse training include:
1. Building a bond between horse and trainer
Many trainers are surprised to find out that traditional, negative reinforcement training does not foster a relationship between horse and trainer. The horse doesn't get any enjoyment out of avoiding pressure, however, R+ training uses pleasant rewards and positive stimuli to shape behaviors. These positive feelings are transferred to the trainer, allowing the horse to build trust and find joy in their time spent together. Horses trained with positive reinforcement often do not want to leave their trainer's side.
2. Fostering willingness and excitement to learn
3. Allows precise communication
4. Is fun for horse and trainer
What Types of Behaviors Can You Train?
The sky is the limit with positive reinforcement training. With a solid plan in place, there is almost nothing you cannot train a horse to do with positive reinforcement. Some examples of places R+ horse training can take you include:
Common Misconceptions
Despite the principles of positive reinforcement horse training becoming more mainstream, there are still numerous misconceptions surrounding the practice. Here are some of the most common misconceptions debunked.
Misconception #1: R+ makes horses nippy
The biggest reason many trainers decided to forgo positive reinforcement is because of their fears that the horse will become nippy, nosey, or aggressive looking for food. Horses that are trained correctly using positive reinforcement will not get nippier because of the training.
However, it is easy to accidentally reward mugging behavior. Early on in training, trainers need to teach their horses how to take food and be sure not to reward food-seeking behaviors.
The best way to avoid mugginess when feeding treats in training is to set specific criteria for when the horse can get food. Only handing your horse a treat when they are standing still, with their head out straight and not near your body will set them up to have good manners around food. Horses are smart, and with consistent training, you will not have to worry about them biting or mugging you for a treat.
Misconception #2: Using too many treats is unhealthy
If your horse is obese or has metabolic issues, you may want to discuss using treats in your training with a vet before starting. However, for the majority of horses, treats can be safely used in training as long as you pick the right ones.
Feeding heavily processed, high-NSC treats are a recipe for health problems in many horses. That is why most trainers use grass pellets (like alfalfa, timothy, or teff) as the main reward in their training. These roughage-based treats are low in sugar and high in fiber, making them a healthy addition to your horse's diet.
More palatable treats like horse cookies, carrots, and peppermints can be used sparingly throughout training as a special reward. If you are worried about your horse's intake, praise and scratches can also work as a reward for some horses.
Misconception #3: The horse will rely on treats to perform
When many people think of positive reinforcement training, they picture a trainer coaxing the animal along with a treat held out in front of their face. Luring with food is not positive reinforcement. Instead, a behavior is asked and only when it is completed correctly does a treat get procured for the horse.
If your horse begins to only perform for treats, the problem is in the technique and not the method. When just getting started training, your horse will need to be rewarded at every instance of a behavior. In most cases, the behavior may need to be broken down into smaller steps that are rewarded even more frequently.
However, with proper training, food rewards can eventually get phased out of training until you are only giving treats to maintain a response. Over time, the duration can be built up in behaviors so you do not have to reward as often for the horse to perform willingly.
Getting Started With R+ Training for Horses
Like with any training method, positive reinforcement requires knowledge and finesse to do right. You cannot just head out and start feeding your horse treats and expect them to learn. While R+ horse training is extremely effective, it has to be practiced with precision and in the proper order to avoid frustration and keep them engaged.
Classical conditioning and loading the marker
Correct positive reinforcement training with horses relies on the use of a marker signal to bridge the time between correctly completing a behavior and getting the reward. Before you can start effectively using a marker, you need to classically condition the horse to sound so they know it means something good is coming. This process is called loading the marker.
Loading the marker is done over a series of sessions. Start out by giving the marker signal (click, verbal cue, whistle, etc.) and immediately handing your horse a treat. This is best done in a stall or small paddock where distractions are minimal.
Keep repeating giving the marker sound followed by a treat for a couple of repetitions and then stop. About 20 repetitions per session a couple of times a day will create the association. Once you see your horse perk up at the sound of the marker, you can move on.
Target training
The vast majority of positive reinforcement horse trainers use a target to encourage desired responses. Trainers teach their horses to touch the target and, eventually, to follow it. This allows them to position the horse exactly where they want and prompt forward movement and transitions. Many trainers use targets to lunge their horses instead of whips, get them going over jumps, or checking out scary objects willingly.
Shaping
As previously mentioned, the sky is the limit with positive reinforcement training. However, that does not mean you can immediately start asking for effortless flying changes or a graceful piaffe. R+ horse trainers use shaping to break down complex movements into easier-to-learn pieces.
For instance, if you wanted to train a piaffe, you might start by teaching the horse to shift their weight back over their hindlegs, then practice lifting each back leg one at a time. Finally, you would work to bring the cadence of the trot into the movement. Shaping allows the horse to easily learn complex movements and behaviors without stress or confusion.
Every horse rider, trainer, and owner should give positive reinforcement training at least once. If you want to learn more about positive reinforcement training for horses or want to get ideas about how to add R+ to your current methods, follow The Classical Riding School (@the_classical_riding_school) on Instagram.