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Discussion on Positive reinforcement
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 5:44 am:
My Arab loves to do flying changes, galloping around in small circles changing legs whenever he feels like it. He does a version of this behaviour even on the trail, but it is his favourite when he is a bit hot, and I ride him in the arena.
If I correct him every time he does this, he will continue to lead off incorrectly, disunite and DrOp back to a rough trot, for the entire ride. If I allow him a little time to have fun and work off steam, and then keep asking him nicely, he will settle and do nice canter circle work on the correct lead.
The question is...... why is this so? I thought surely that letting him "get away with it" sometimes was the worst form of training, the old "random positive reinforcement". However, it appears that he improves if I "let him get away with it" for the first bit of the ride.
The worst thing I can do is "demand" the correct leg from the beginning. The only reasons that I can think of are: that running around a bit makes him more willing to listen to me, or that when I demand I am not giving a clear message, or I am blocking him somehow, (with my own irritation?) or he somehow gets resentful of "all work and no play".
He is 10, is a little one sided (so am I) and has definitely improved since I got him, when he often wouldn't canter right at all.
How does a trainer know when to insist on correct behaviour, and when to allow the horse some leeway?
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 12:26 pm:
Hello Debra,
You already know the answer. You can only ask a horse for something when he is in a listening mood. If he is not listening you have to wait for him to settle down a bit.
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 5:03 pm:
Hi, Deb,
From what I have learned and observed over the years, I would say that the horse isn't getting away with it if you cue him for it. When you know he is going to change or take off on a particular lead you have not asked for, then follow immediately with the cue for that lead. That way you are reinforcing the cue, and your horse thinks you were asking for it anyway. You can "kill two birds with one stone:" the horse is enjoying the feel of his body and expending energy, and you are training him, too.  When you want to switch leads, the opposite cue will be much clearer to your horse.
Holly
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