So you are thinking of starting out trail riding with your horse?

TRAINING FOR SAFETY & ENJOYMENTwith

NICKI STUART

Nicki Stuart owns and operates Kersbrook Equestrian Centre, where she uses the principles of Equitation Science to help riders and horses become confident and safe in all their interactions.

HOW DO WE GO FROM THIS... … TO THIS?

What is Equitation Science?• The science of horse-riding and

training• Combines learning theory, ethology

& cognition.• Identifies what can be defined and

measured • Does not deny other aspects such as

trust, respect etc.

DEVELOPING A TRAINING TOOL KIT

• Resources

• Education

• Practice

Influences on training

HORSE’S TEMPERAMENT

LEARNING

INFLUENCES

ON

TRAINING

TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

HUMAN’S BIOMECHANICS & BALANCE

HORSE’S HISTORY

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

HUMAN’S KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

HORSE’S HEALTH AND SOUNDNESS

HORSES CONFORMATION

HOW HORSES LEARN

• Habituation: Becoming used to a stimulus.

• Positive reinforcement: The addition of something pleasant that rewards the desired response.

• Negative reinforcement: The subtraction of something aversive (such as pressure) that rewards the desired response.

• Classical conditioning: Where an unrelated signal becomes associated with a learned response.

TRAINING FOR SAFE, ENJOYABLE TRAIL RIDINGTRAINING CHALLENGES • Transport• Traffic• Company• Gates• Stiles• Terrain• Animals• Vehicles• Fitness (Horse & Rider)

TRAINING FOR SAFE, ENJOYABLE TRAIL RIDING

TRAINING SOLUTIONS

• Understand Learning Processes• Plan & Prepare• Use a System• Assess responses• Form Habits• De-sensitise where needed• Use your ‘toolbox’

Single Learned Responses – In Hand

Go Stop (Park/Stay)

Head Control Yield

Single Learned Responses – Under Saddle

Go

Stop

Turn (Direct & Indirect)

Yield

1. Basic Attempt

2. Obedience

3. Rhythm

4. Straightness

5. Contact

6. Proof

Shaping the Basics -Reinforce a single step from pressure

-Reinforce one stride from aid

-Reinforce multiple strides from one light aid

-Reinforce multiple strides on your line from one

light aid

-Reinforce multiple strides in the correct posture

from one light aid

-Reinforce all previous qualities in any

environment

Develop Consistent Habits

• Avoid over training• Train of 3 to 5 improved

reps• 3 sets• 2 minutes in between sets• Closely spaced repetitions • Train Required Responses

to RHYTHM, at least. (3 beats)

Context-specific behaviours• Same response in 5

different places

OVERCOMING FEAR AND FLIGHT RESPONSES

DESENSITISING TECHNIQUES

• OVER SHADOWING

• COUNTER CONDITIONING

• STIMULUS BLENDING

• APPROACH CONDITIONING

Thank you for listening

AND WISHING YOU ALL “HAPPY, SAFE TRAILS!

RESOURCES/CONTACT DETAILS:

www.kersbrookequestrian.com.auPH 08 83893028www.equitationscience.com