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Discussion on Research Summary: Reduction of biting using differential reinforcement of other behavior.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 7:56 am:
Still more support for operant conditioning and behavior modification in horses but this example brings to focus something that might be overlooked in this training technique. Here the emphasis was not the rewarding of good behavior but a reward when the horses are not misbehaving.
It makes me wonder how many well intentioned folks with misbehaving horses have tried to calm their upset horses with rewards but tend to ignore them when they are behaving well?
DrO
Behav Processes. 2012 May 14.
Reduction of biting and chewing of horses using differential reinforcement of other behavior.
Fox AE, Bailey SR, Hall EG, St Peter CC.
Source
West Virginia University, USA.
Abstract
Biting and chewing by horses on crossties can result in injury to the handler and damage to equipment. Operant-conditioning techniques have been used to train horses and could be used to reduce or eliminate undesirable biting and chewing. Presently, a differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DrO) schedule, in the context of a reversal design, was effective in reducing biting and chewing in two horses. In DrO schedules, a reinforcer is delivered contingent on the absence of a target behavior for a specified interval. Positive-reinforcement procedures offer an alternative to aversive-control techniques typically used in equine training and may provide for better equine welfare and horse-human interaction.
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