What has changed since equestrian sports emerged from the Beijing Olympics (2008) in tatters with the dubious distinction of being the most drugged-up of all sports? A total of 8 positive samples from 6 horses were identified at Beijing, these being spread among horses from the German, Irish, Brazilian, Norwegian and American teams.
It has been especially personally embarrassing for Princess Haya, head of the FEI when, following statements that banned substance use would not be tolerated, her husband Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s endurance horse ‘ Tahhan’ tested positive to two banned substances in April 2009.
Drug use seems to be particularly rife in the sports of show jumping and endurance riding, however also dressage rider, Isabell Werth’s horse, Whisper 156 (GER) failed a drug test in 2009.
January 18, 2010, the FEI has rolled out it’s new anti-doping website FEI Clean Sport, with the new regime to clean up the sport’s act to be implemented from 5 April 2010.
The process itself has not gone untainted, with raging disquiet following allowance of a substance previously banned for 20 years – Phenylbutazone (‘bute’) – which failed to attract objections prior to the FEI General Assembly (Copenhagen 2009), but which achieved an assembly vote of 48/53 FOR the new ‘progressive’ drugs list versus the old. With the obvious implications for competition horse welfare, and following moves by veterinarians and concerned others, the drug is to undergo a further review in 2010 before it’s acceptance in competition.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Kentucky in September this year will make an interesting study…
Every now and then you here a story, it touches a cord and you know others will benefit from the telling. Soso’s story reminds us of every child who never had a pony, the child who ‘made do’ with whatever animal encounters (s)he could seek out, and the life-long love of animals that ensued. Soso’s story follows, in her own words, and she shares some great ideas about how to learn more about horse and animal training – even if you don’t own a horse!
Just wanted to thank you for taking on some of the biggest issues in the horse world today…. as a young girl I always wanted my own horse but came from a poor family so it was not to be…..
As I grew older, I spent many years working around horses,cleaning stalls, exercising, etc. learning as much as I could and riding whenever someone would offer me a mount to work with…. never had any formal training as most of the trainers I had access to at that time were rough, even cruel to their show horses in the name of winning ribbons…. I just couldn’t bring myself to treat horses in that way…
Though I may not have had my own horse during those years I spent the time learning about other animals as well, working in zoos and museums and eventually acquiring my own USDA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Educators licenses, as well as a wonderful group of exotics, mammals, birds of prey, insects and reptiles who traveled with me to help teach people of all ages about respect and understanding for the other creatures that share this planet with us….
During that time I also had the opportunity to engage in many different animal interaction programs with elephants, sea mammals and big cats learning about the training methods used by trainers at Sea World, Ringling Brothers’ circus and Disney World among others… these methods were different than what I had seen being used with horses and dogs, for the most part by people who believe that animals need to be “dominated”… the exotic and sea mammal trainers I worked with had very different methods, kindness and empathy for the animals feelings ruled the training sessions…. and I learned how to communicate what I wanted not just with voice cues but with body language as well….
When I turned 50 a few years ago I decided that it was time to revisit my deepest desire to acquire a horse, however, after doing quite a bit of research I decided to start with a mule!!! I never regretted that decision and still have mules today…. I will always remember my first mule Tigger who taught me a lot about training equines of all types especially as she was a rescue case and needed retraining on a grand scale…. I learned how to work with her rather than try to beat her into submission and to this day I refuse to carry a crop or whip while working with equines…… there is no need if you put in the time to train properly from the ground first and develop a strong relationship based on friendship not fear….
To be honest I’m not into the horse training method du’jour, instead I take the lessons I have learned while working with other animals and bring them to my equine training with great success… I enjoy reading what other people have to say about their own training methods but mine is a potpourri of methods learned over a period of 30 years which allows me to evaluate each animal as an individual and create a training method that works for that particular animal…. it is unfortunate that too many trainers treat horses in the same way without giving any thought to individual needs creating a cookie cutter methodology which is easy for the trainer but hell on the individual horses they train….
I know a lot of people in the horsie set here in New England think that I’m nothing more than a stall mucker and stable hand, however, all those years mucking stalls, working closely with horses of all types, observing behaviors has given me a base education in equines that goes far beyond a couple of hours a week taking a riding lesson from some trainer who may or may not be competent or even empathetic to the animals they are training… for many training horses and riders is nothing more than a paycheck…..
Based on my own experiences I hope you will encourage all horse owners and trainers to participate in animal interaction programs with other species in order to start thinking outside the box… most aquariums and zoos offer some sort of “trainers day” or “behind the scenes” tours to patrons in order to help people learn more about training methods….
Just because someone has won a couple of blue ribbons or even an Olympic Gold Medal does not mean that they are humane or even capable trainers…. as far as I’m concerned if they need to use methods such as Rollkur, harsh bits, whips, etc., I consider them incompetent, lazy idiots who have the empathy level of a kumquat…. harsh perhaps, but with all of the amazing things that people are doing these days without the use of cruel methods and equipment it’s time that we set the bar a lot higher when it comes to working with and training one of the most beautiful creatures that walks this planet….
With thanks so Soso for sharing her story, which is used here with permission.
Negative reinforcement gets a bad rap – after all, why would someone want to beat a horse? Why indeed! When asked about if they use negative reinforcement in their training, riders frequently assure one that they do not… ‘no, I only use positive reinforcement’ comes the earnest reply.
But in fact, negative reinforcement is indeed the trainer’s friend, and has nothing to do with beating horses or performing any other dodgy activities.
But what does negative reinforcement actually mean?
Unlike the common misconception that it is something ‘bad’ – as humans, we tend to associate the word ‘negative’ to averse consequences, for example a sarcastic remark is ‘negative’, a fight is ‘negative’; but negative reinforcement in animal training is simply the removal of something that results in improved responding rates.
While this terminology originates in behavioural psychology, the meaning can be found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary [negative n. 2. negative quality, absence of something, negative v.t. neutralize (effect)].
To understand this negative reinforcement, we also probably need to know what ‘reinforcement’ means… the Concise says that to reinforce something means ‘to strengthen or support’, including in quantity, size, importance – so this suggests an impression of an increase in force or magnitude.
But The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology, written by Arthur and Emily Reber recognises use of the term also elicits confusion among psychologists. Is it any wonder we are confused?! The Rebers – after a useful diatribe exploring ‘reinforcement’ finally come up with
any event, stimulus, act, response or information when made contingent upon the response that preceded it, serves to increase the relative frequency or likelihood of occurrence of that response.
Simply put, negative involves removal or absence, and a reinforcer increases responses – Simple!
What does it mean to a horse-rider? No matter what anyone says, people ride using negative reinforcement. The stimulis (aids) are applied using a bridle, bit, halter, string around the neck and the legs on the horse’s sides. The removal of the bit pressure or the leg pressure removes discomfort and signals to the horse that his response was correct. The horse has no way of determining that his response is ‘correct’ if he is not rewarded by a removal of the stimulus when the response occurs.
All good horsemen (yes, women too) know this. The Dorrance brothers knew this, Philippe Karl knows this, Andrew McLean knows this, Steffen Peters knows this. The old masters knew this ‘leg without hand, hand without leg’. Gas pedal and brakes do not go on together.
Repeat after me…
‘correct use of negative reinforcement is a good thing’!
At the most subtle level (blink and you will miss it) the best proponents of the German system may recognise this, but that system is terrible at expressing it or teaching riders to ride using correct negative reinforcement, with confusion produced by statements such as ‘the horse must be through’, and be ridden ‘with the forward-driving aids into the hand’, undoubtedly leading to some of the abominations seen at all levels of the sport with horses suffering from relentless pressure.
Another day, we will explore positive reinforcement – also a good thing!
The start of a new year… 2010… I want to share with you some words that – believe it or not – come from an advert (I can’t even remember which advert or what product… I’d simply clipped the words, adding them to my collection of ‘great things’…) [My apologies to the author; should anyone be able to identify him or her, I will of course give full attribution - I felt it worth sharing].
My chances of making the Winter Olympic’s
Bobsled Team diminish year by year.
My dream of being an astronaut was
abandoned long ago.
I will never be a test driver for Ferrari
or fly a jet plane.
I will never run out of a burning building
with a crying baby in my arms.
I will never perform emergency surgery
whilst on an airline flight to Buenos Aires.
But I will leave the world a better place than when I arrived.
I will last longer than me.
I will make my mark.
However you choose to make your mark – in your thinking, your approach to animal welfare, your riding, how you conserve the earth’s resources, your friendships, your work, your contribution to sport or art, or simply living as the person you want to be, I wish you well in 2010.
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Helmetless horse-riding shows you are an inspired horse trainer, if Pat Parelli is to be believed.
The reason you do not see our people wearing helmets is because we try to teach people that rather than be brave because they are wearing a a helmet to protect them, they would be better off not riding until their horse is behaving safely.
If you have been around horses for longer than a nano-second, you realise that a horse is indeed a flight animal and that no horse is immune to slipping, stumbling, getting a fright, or some other mishap – NO MATTER HOW WELL TRAINED, as demonstrated in this video by Belle441 (via YouTube):
Horse falls – best to be wearing a hat
Of course training is important (and underestimated by many), but apparently common-sense is not always so common…
Perhaps the Parelli ‘preposterous position’ needs changing. Pop over to Kimberly Cox Carneal’s Enlightened Horsemanship blog for a letter and response from the Parelli organisation on helmet-use.
I don’t know about where you live – but here horse professionals pay a small fortune to be covered for horse-related accidents, yet one of the biggest suppliers of people to hospital wards is not the professional, but the amateur rider (who may have lower skills and experience), and who is easily influenced by a high-profile horse/rider trainer telling them they don’t need riding helmets.
Protect your most precious asset – wear a lid!
