Problem Behaviours in Horses Flashcards
Examples of stereotypies in horses
Cribbing +/- wood chewing
Wind sucking
Weaving
Pacing
Difference between cribbing and wind sucking?
Cribbing = horse bites hard surface then sucks in air
Wind sucking = does not bite hard surface
What is weaving
Rocking from one leg to the other
What needs to be ruled out before behavioural therapy
If not ruled out, what is compromised?
Physical/medical causes
Performance and welfare are compromised
What is the purpose of a bit
Amplify the signal the rider is trying to send
Increased pressure to overcome horses resistance
Magnify pressure riders can apply
Where do bits apply pressure
Can focus on different parts of the mouth, or the same area with greater force
Why might punishment not show great results
Undermines the horse-human relationship
What kind of conditioning is habituation
Classical conditioning
What are the commonly accepted horse behaviour modification techniques
Habituation
Counter-conditioning (shaping alternative response through operant conditioning)
What approach is favoured to treat unwelcome behaviour
Holistic approach (nurture horse-human relationship)
Do animals remember positive or negative experiences more
Negative
When starting behaviour modification, you should always try first to identify…
the causal factor
Cause and therapy for biting/bite threats
Cause = deter approaching personnel
Therapy = refurbish horse-human bond
Cause and therapy of claustrophobia
Cause = innate fear of enclosed spaces
Therapy = clicker train to approach, stand beside and enter enclosure
Cause and therapy for difficulty bridling
Cause = learned evasion of discomfort
Therapy = identify aversive aspect of bridle, counter-condition with clicker training to stand quietly
Cause and therapy for difficulty saddling
Learned evasion to past pain
Counter conditioning; clicker training to stand still
Cause and therapy for difficulty shoeing
Learned evasion from fear
Habituation, counter-conditioning using clicker training
Cause and therapy for dislike grooming
Ticklishness, learned evasion
Habituation, counter conditioning
Cause and therapy for fear of vet
Innate aversion to pain, learned evasion to associated stimuli
Habituation, counter-conditioning to owner, then vet. Clicker train for approaching vet
Cause and therapy for difficulty catching
Learned evasion
Clicker training for approaching person, extinguish association with leaving group
Cause and therapy for refusal to load
Learned evasion +/- claustrophobia
Clicker training for approaching/entering, reinstall leading cues
Cause and therapy refusal to stand while mounting
Learned evasion to bit, anticipates kinetic behaviour
Clicker training to teach to stand for longer periods
Cause and therapy of rearing
Learned evasion
Reinstall leading cues
Name common handling problems in horses
biting
claustrophobia
difficult to bridle/saddle
difficulty shoeing
dislike grooming
fear of vet
hard to catch/load
refusal to stand while mounting
rearing
Horse agonistic response to conflict
bucking, rearing, balking or bolting, rushing fences
Purpose of bucking/rearing
Response to fight conspecifics and predators
Performance problems under saddle
Fatigue (lack of response due to lack of energy)
Tripping, toe dragging, stumbling, clumsiness (fatigue, conformation, hoof issue)
Hitting fences
Common rider faults that confuse the horse
Nagging
Poor timing (signal after response)
Inconsistency (pressure release when desired behaviour displayed)
Failure to reinforce (by relieving pressure)
Inappropriate reinforcement
Equine behaviour therapy relies on
Consider ethological relevance of the behaviour
Rule out pain and discomfort as cause
Apply learning theory
Reasons why behaviour modification might fail
Inconsistent application of learning theory
Horse is physically unable to perform task
