This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » What Makes for a Good Trainer »
  Discussion on Research Summay: Rein tension and training acceptance
Author Message
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 2:30 pm:

While there is nothing surprising about the conclusion that horses introduced to riding with a harsh technique become resistant to training it never hurts to have this emphasized with good research. Resistance by the young horse in training often represents moving a little to fast or harshly with technique.

It seems logical that many of our older horses with resistance problems developed these do to improper early training. The question then becomes what is the best way to overcome this early learned resistance. With these horses there is often a fine line between not pushing the horse to resistance while not allowing bad behavior to be reinforced. It takes a concerted but patient effort to come up with a plan that rides this fine line and may take the form of backing up to the very beginning of training and starting over.
DrO

Equine Vet J. 2011 Mar;43(2):223-8.
Rein tension acceptance in young horses in a voluntary test situation.
Christensen JW, Zharkikh TL, Antoine A, Malmkvist J.
Source

Department of Animal Health and Bioscience, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark; Biosphere Reserve Askania-Nova, Ukraine; and Agrocampus Ouest, France.
Abstract

Reasons for performing the study: During riding, horses are frequently exposed to pressure from the rider, e.g. through the bit and reins, but few studies have investigated at which point rein tension becomes uncomfortable for the horse. Objectives: To investigate how much rein tension young inexperienced horses are willing to accept in order to obtain a food reward; whether the tension acceptance changes during 3 consecutive test days; and whether rein tension correlates with the expression of conflict behaviour and heart rate. Hypotheses: Pressure-naïve horses will apply only little rein tension in the first voluntary trial, but their acceptance will gradually increase. High levels of rein tension will lead to expression of conflict behaviour and increases in heart rate. Methods: Fifteen 2-year-old, bridle-naïve mares were encouraged to stretch their head forward (across a 0.95 m high metal bar) to obtain a food reward in a voluntary test situation. On each test day, each horse was exposed to 2 control sessions (loose reins), an intermediate and a short rein session (1 min/session). Rein tension, heart rate and behaviour were recorded. Results: The horses applied significantly more tension on the first day (mean rein tension: 10.2 N), compared to the second and third test day (Day 2: 6.0 and Day 3: 5.7 N). The horses showed significantly more conflict behaviour in the short rein treatment. There was no treatment effect on heart rate. Conclusions and potential relevance: The horses applied the highest rein tension on the first day, and apparently learned to avoid the tension, rather than habituate to it. Rein tension correlated with expression of conflict behaviour, indicating that the horses found the tension aversive. Further studies should focus on the correlation between rein tension and conflict behaviour in ridden horses.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC