Blogs

The Power of Animal Personality

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Pull Out Your Science, Dog Training, Horse Training, Equine Science, Canine Science

April 24, 2024

Introduction Imagine walking into a room filled with people: some may immediately greet you with a smile, striking up lively conversations, while others might keep to themselves, observing quietly from a distance. Just as humans have diverse personalities, so do animals—from the solitary leopard prowling the wilderness to the gregarious dolphin frolicking in ocean waves. But what exactly does it mean when we talk about “animal personality”? And why is it gaining so much attention from both scientists and animal lovers alike?

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Navigating the Nuances of Equine Training: Understanding Desensitisation vs. Flooding

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Positive Reinforcement, Dog Training, Horse Training, Equine Science, Canine Science

January 16, 2024

Introduction In equitation, understanding the difference between desensitisation and flooding is crucial to: promote learning, reduce fear in our horses, provide safe handling and achieve our training goals. I believe that arming you with this knowledge significantly enhances the effectiveness of your training and helps you to resolve behavioural issues. When these methods, flooding and Desensitisation are confused, it can lead to less optimal outcomes for us and our horses. Understanding these distinctions is essential for our sucess, as it not only helps in achieving the behaviour we want from our horses but also supports the our horses long term learning, their emotional weflare and helps us achieve our goals.

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A Christmas Treat for Horse Lovers: Special Q&A Session with the IHWT

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Positive Reinforcement, Video, Horse Training, Equine Science

December 17, 2023

Special Q&A Session with the Irish Horse Welfare Trust Hey Horse Lovers! I have a little Christmas surprise for you all, as requested. I often work with the incredible team and the lovely horses at the IHWT (The Irish Horse Welfare Trust). For those unfamiliar, the IHWT, established in 1999, is Ireland’s largest dedicated equine charity, tirelessly working to improve the lives of neglected horses in Ireland. It’s a cause that’s very close to my heart

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Learning is Messy

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Positive Reinforcement, Dog Training, Horse Training, Equine Science, Canine Science

December 17, 2023

Introduction Learning is Messy. And teaching our animals to learn something new is no exception. There isn’t a single ’trick’, tool or quick fix that magically installs a behaviour we want our horse or dog to learn. Learning isn’t a one-hit wonder, and I’ll be very clear here: Any trainer or product that promises to do just that, is one you avoid like the plague. When we want to lose weight, we accept that it takes time for sustain change.

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How Horses Learn - A Live Session Recording

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Behaviour, Video, Pull Out Your Science, Horse Training, Equine Science

July 26, 2023

How Horses Learn - A Live Session Recording Below is the recording of a live session hosted by Bright Horse and LS Horsemanship which took place on July 26, 2023. The session features an engaging discussion on “How Horses Learn,” introducing key concepts in learning theory, equitation, and Behavioral Science. Watch the Full Live Recording Here Discover more about Louise Stobbs and her work at: Facebook LS Horsemanship

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Equine Pain Face

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Pull Out Your Science, Horse Training, Equine Science

June 16, 2023

Horse Grimace Scale The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS), or ‘Pain face’, is a tool used by experts to figure out if a horse is feeling pain or discomfort. It’s based on looking at the horse’s facial expressions. This helps us check on the horse’s health without causing any harm, and we can see if the horse might be going through a tough time. The HGS was created to help horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians notice small signs of pain that horses might show.

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Headshy Horse

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Horse Training, Equine Science, Positive Reinforcement

May 26, 2023

No Touch-a-Da Face Horses can be quite head shy. I’m not sure about you, but I’m not a massive fan of a stranger rocking up and touching my face… We sort of just assume that horses wear bridles and head collars, so they must be ok with it. Right? 🤷🏼‍♀ But like everything, it is something that needs to be trained. My preference, as a behaviourist, is to break this down into the two main parts;

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Conflict behaviours in the Horse

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Horse Training, Equine Science

May 9, 2023

So, What is conflict behaviour? Conflict behaviour in the ridden horse refers to behaviours that indicate a horse is experiencing discomfort, pain, fear, or anxiety while being ridden. These behaviours can range from subtle signs of stress, such as tensing the muscles or flattening the ears, to more overt signs of distress, such as bucking, rearing, or bolting. The frequency of conflict behaviour in ridden horses is more common than we are aware of.

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Cooperative Care for Veterinary Treatments

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Positive Reinforcement, Dog Training, Video, Canine Science

March 1, 2023

So, What is Cooperative Care for Veterinary Treatments? Cooperative care for horses and dogs is an approach that emphasises the importance of building a cooperative relationship between the animal and the trainer, teaching our dogs and horses to participate willingly and actively in their own care. This approach prioritises our animals emotional and physical well-being, while also acknowledging their preferences and limitations. For canine behaviourists, cooperative care can be an effective way to manage and modify behaviour in dogs/horses.

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Clicker Training

By Barbara J. Hardman in Behaviour, Equitation, Positive Reinforcement, Video, Dog Training, Horse Training

January 6, 2023

How is it used? The sound of the clicker is paired through classical conditioning with a primary reinforcer, usually food, until it the animal links the sound with the food. Once this association has been made, the sound is used to mark precisely the desired behaviour as it is displayed by the animal being trained. As the clicker does not require direct interaction with the animal, it can be used accurately to mark the behaviours when the animal is further away, or if the animal is fearful and requires space, and this way the accuracy of training can be improved.

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