q
Welcome to moose theme.
Enter any text or widget here.
RPlus | history of rewards
Marlitt Wendt, Conny Ranz, Pferdsein, RPlus, R+, Clickertraining, clicker training, Clicker, Clickern, Positives Pferdetraining, Positive Verstärkung, Pferdeverhalten, Pferde-Ethologie, Pferdeethologie, Equine ethology, Native horses, Shaping, Target, Pferdetraining, empowered equestrians, Wildpferde, positive reinforcement, positive reinforcement training, Zirkuslektionen, Bodenarbeit, Freiheitsdressur, Freiarbeit, Wenn Pferde lächeln, Belohnung, Belohnungslernen
353512
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-353512,single-format-standard,eltd-cpt-1.0,ajax_leftright,page_not_loaded,,moose-ver-2.1, vertical_menu_with_scroll,smooth_scroll,side_menu_slide_with_content,width_370,blog_installed,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.5.2,vc_responsive

Never forget the base

 

In training we human beings frequently focus on achieving specific lessons and goals, or in other words we tend to focus a lot on the final results we envision for our work with the horse. With this focus in mind we also frequently tend to forget the zero position that acts as starting position for the horse to perform a certain behavior, and the kind of resonating behavior that is involved, and that we should train too. An inexperienced clicker trainer tends to imagine training a specific chain of behavioral responses according to the sequence “signal – behavior – click – reward”, and maybe then a repetition follows. Yet, the fragment we want to train in the course of a certain session does not float in thin air but is embedded in a whole symphony of behavioral elements.

Reality is complex

 

This simplified description is not very helpful in practice because it ignores that we mostly want our horse to perform a certain behavioral response one time, and another time we request a different behavioral response in between. For example, it is not enough to give the signal, to click for correct execution, to reward, and to repeat this sequence if we want to train Spanish walk. We have to admit just as much time within this setting that is dedicated to encourage a normal, relaxed form of walk next to us. Otherwise, it will quickly be difficult to “switch off” the horse. Why? Simply, because in terms of figures it has received more rewards for performing the requested behavior, in this case Spanish walk, than for following in a normal, relaxed manner. So from the horse’s point of view, it is more profitable to perform the learned lesson more often than to just walk along. Depending on the lesson, this can be a really unfavorable starting position.

Relax!

 

So according to RPlus, it is essential to never neglect the base, and to continue training all the basic forms of behavior we need in our everyday life. This includes, for example, standing in a relaxed manner, training the horse to be led in all gaits, and walking backwards. Over time, these actions become highly reinforced forms of behavior that can be requested at any time, and even when the horse is excited or unfocused. So, in order to find out the forms of behavior that require further training, we can compare the reward history (or the number of times a specific behavioral response has been rewarded in the past) of one behavioral response to the reward history of another behavioral response. My experience tells me that quite often the patience to work on the kind of basic training that is necessary to perform more difficult lessons is lacking; I guess, this is because all too often we quite narrowly focus on our objectives, and do not perceive the whole landscape of forms of behavior that unfolds as we pass by.

Marlitt Wendt & Conny Ranz

AUTHOR: Marlitt Wendt