The presentation about Equine Applied Social Learning to the International Equine Science Meeting 2012

1. International Equine
Science Meeting 2012
Why isolate during training?
Social learning and social cognition applied as
training approach for young horses
(Equus caballus)
Francesco De Giorgio - José Schoorl
16 march 2012 – IESM 2012

2. Introduction
The horse is a social animal
So why isolate during training?
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3. Introduction
In the last decade an increasing
number of studies has been
oriented towards equine social
learning and their social behavior
within the herd
Still‚ when it comes to horse training,
the social aspect and‚ in
general‚ cognitive abilities of the horse
are rarely taken into account.
Although it is widely accepted that
social isolation is stressful for horse still
isolating a young horse is the first step
when it comes to training methods.
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4. Social isolation = Stress
Especially when we
start the
young horse’s
training
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5. Also this is … ISOLATION
When other horses
aren’t as a family
group, there is no
communication
between the horses/
no reassurance
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6. A HORSE IS
A SOCIAL ANIMAL
Especially
during learning
------
The horse
elaborates a new
experience also
through the others
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7. So what if.. We would work
with young horses in their own
herd?
Without isolating them or
changing their environment?
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8. Material, method and…
horses
Six young horses from semi feral situations:
between two and three years old.
All six showed initial difficulties and defense behavior to human interaction
Three stallions (bachelor group), two of them with family relationships
Three females, two of them with family relationships
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9. Material, method and…
horses
TRAINING AREA: Pasture area (never in a restricted area)
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10. Material, method and…
horses
Each horse had one training session (10’) per week, without
isolating them, for a period of 18 months.
One horse “works” while
the others are watching
and learn by observation
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11. Material, method and…
horses
Every time a minimum of alert behavior would occur (for
example slightly backing away, resistance instead of
curiosity) the training activity was re-arranged to not over-
pressure the horse.
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12. Material, method and…
horses
Every trainer working with the
horses carried out the
activities without tight
expectations focusing on
the horses’ positive attention
and voluntary approach,
observing ear movements,
eye movements, head
position, muscle tension, ecc.
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13. RESULTS
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14. Behaviour Evaluation
“defensive”
from 0 to 6 months (144 sessions)
Rearing: none
Bucking: none
Biting: 4
Kicking: 5
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15. Behaviour Evaluation
“defensive”
from 6 to 12 months (144 sessions)
Rearing: none
Bucking: none
Biting: 1
Kicking: none
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16. Behaviour Evaluation
“defensive”
from 12 to 18 months (144 sessions)
Rearing: none
Bucking: none
Biting: none
Kicking: none
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17. Learning Results
at 6 months
Haltering: all
Saddling: none
Riding: none
Interaction with human: all six calm
Novel objects: all six immediate exploring behavior
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18. Learning Results
at 12 months
Haltering: all
Saddling: all
Riding: none
Interaction with human: all six calm
Novel objects: all six immediate exploring behavior
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19. Learning Results
at 12 months
Haltering: all
Saddling: all
Riding: none
Interaction with human: all six calm
Novel objects: all six immediate exploring behavior
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20. Learning Results
at 18 months
Haltering: all
Saddling: all
Riding: all
Interaction with human: all six calm
Novel objects: all six immediate exploring behavior
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21. GENERAL RESULTS
Six balanced horses
No signs of defence in human interaction
Calm and explorative in unknown situations
Very social towards (unknown) human
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22. DISCUSSION
Defensive and reactive behaviors seems to have been
reduced and welfare as the horses have been trained
in a social context without being isolated and thus
without being stressed during the training experience.
More time if social learning and social cognitive learning is
applied? Learning at the horses pace with other horses
present?
18 months, 10 minutes per week is 12 “training” hours in total
per horse, from a semi feral horse, to a calm riding horse.
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23. CONCLUSION
Social learning applied to equestrian activity can be
fundamental for:
 Safety and welfare
 Horses calm and not tended to flight or “spook”
 Communication without tension between horse-human
 Reduction of behavioral and relationship problem,
between horse and human
 Good results about horse learning and training, with
relatively less time spent and more ethical approach
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24. CONCLUSION
Maximum result with minimum effort
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