Introduction
There are many scientific layers of actions we can take to communicate, bond with, and safeguard horses.
Our actions and inactions decide how comfortable horses are with us.
The International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) adopts a few principles of training horses based on decades of research.
We have kept that list and the principles in mind while creating this list of training methods for horses. Do give it a quick read if you also want to train your horse for healthy bonding and agile performance during a race.
6 Scientific Ways to Train a Horse
Preparing your horse for horse racing is nothing like preparing for volleyball season.
Unlike games like volleyball, which take place according to different organizational game seasons, horse racing takes place year-round.
Here are some scientific methods for training a horse that led to a stronger bond between the trainer and the horse. It can also result in a never-before-seen performance on the track.
1. Regard for Horse & Human Safety
Humans possess far superior thought processes compared to horses. So, when on a ride, the responsibility for the safety of both the human and horse depends on the human and horse at the same time.
Horses are strong animals with a flight instinct. If they start to pick up the pace, they also start to give in to their flight instinct and take risky leaps. That’s why it’s up to humans to think about the safety of the human and the horse at the same time.
Think of it this way: you’re a rider, and you are responsible for understanding the environment around you while riding. You use the environment to the best of your interest for both safety and victory. Slow the horse down when you have to.
2. Understand the Nature of the Horse
There’s one thing basic to all horses. They need to eat food they can chew for a long time, and the preferred type of food usually includes a fiber-based diet like grass. Your horse also demands as much time as possible in the day to interact with other horses.
Horses are active creatures. They would also want to move around and use their strengths for mobility. So, even when not racing, they would want to use some of their physical energy to loosen up.
These are the freedom-loving creatures we’re talking about. They want some time to roll in the dirt and graze in the pasture as they want. Sometimes, they have to find their own path during a hack in the forest.
Experts also say that horses prefer good communicators who understand their language, more like their body language.
3. Show Regard for their Sensory & Mental Abilities
Sometimes, we expect too much of our horses or overappreciate them. Sometimes, we have different opinions about the horse we’re riding for a race. It could be thinking of the horse as confident or idle at times.
We subconsciously start treating the horse how we feel. On their side, their sensory abilities and cognitive skills are different from those of humans. Our physical behaviors can alter our mental state and affect our performance on the racing track.
Instead, we must know what we are doing wrong and how we can mend that. It helps to understand how our hearing, smell, and vision are different from ours.
4. Emotional States and Training
The cognitive part is one thing; dealing with the emotions of your horse is another. Their mental state can get in the way of their training, and sometimes, it can also help them learn at a faster pace.
A trainer can keep the horse trained with clear cues that hardly create any conflicts. Trainers must know about the body postures that convey the right cue to the horse, reducing the chances of any conflict.
When both are clear about the cues, it’s easier to go ahead with the training without any conflict.
It gets difficult as we get our own moods to get the best of ourselves and reflect that on the horse. The best advice in such cases would be to downregulate our emotions to reduce stress and avoid emotional conflicts.
5. Correctly Use Training Methods
Trainers can rely on ethical training methods to reduce flight responses. It’s possible to reduce the fear horses face using scientifically proven techniques.
Horses get scared of things like umbrellas and needle pricks.
The cognition and sensitivity to these things cause a flight response, increasing the chances of an accident for both the rider and the horse.
However, techniques like desensitization, overshadowing, and counterconditioning can help reduce the chances of those dangers.
Also, it’s important for the trainers not to force the horses to face scary things by keeping them from moving. It’s a technique known as flooding. The technique is bad for the welfare of the trainer and the horse.
6. Proper Use of Operant Conditioning in Horses
Operant conditioning is the term that describes the trainer-horse relationship, where the interaction is based on a cue and a reward.
Here’s an example: applying leg pressure and immediately removing it as the horse moves forward is a sign of this conditioning.
It’s a way to modify the horse’s behavior. Sometimes, it involves giving treats to reinforce specific behaviors from the horse. However, trainers must avoid punishing the horse for showing the opposite of the desired response. This should help create ethical training behavior.
It’s inappropriate for trainers to deprive the horse of their freedom or food as part of an operant conditioning technique.
Conclusion
The equation between science and behaviors from the trainers should lead to better bonding and lower risks for both the horse and the human.
However, should the horse show any sign of discomfort, stress, or pain and get hurt, it’s best to withdraw from any of those training practices.
For example, operant conditioning is a technique that allows the horse to make an association between how they behave and the outcomes they receive.
It’s important for a horse trainer not to exploit these methods and affect the health of the horse. NB: All the methods described here are based on the research of ISES. It’s advisable to contact an expert before utilizing any of these on a horse.