Equine learning theory

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Equine learning theory

Essential skills free mini course

Knowing how horses learn will help you better understand different training methods so that you can feel confident in choosing methods that best suit your individual partnership.

What will you learn?

In this course you will learn about the basic psychology of how animals learn and explore the dangers and ethics of negative reinforcement and positive punishment when training horses (positive and negative in this context refer to something being given or taken away).

By the end of this course you will have a good understanding of different types of learning and be able to understand the psychology behind various training methods. You will be encouraged to think about the methods you use or have used and your understanding of how horses learn will be assessed by a multiple choice assessment at the end of each module.

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Course curriculum

1

Welcome
- Welcome
2

Module 1: Classical and operant conditioning
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
- Counter conditioning and extinction.
- Module 1 assessment
3

Module 2: Non associative learning
- Habituation and Flooding
- Sensitisation and systematic desensitisation
- Module 2 assessment
4

Module 3: Aversive and Appetitive based training.
- Aversive based training
- Appetitive based training
- Module 3 assessment

Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone who handles or trains horses, ridden or not. Having an understanding of how equines learn can help you make decisions about the training methods you choose to use. This knowledge is an essential tool for being mindful within your equine relationships.