Hi Guys, Shawna here! I am often asked about the feasibility of combining positive reinforcement(R+) and negative reinforcement(R-). It is not a simple answer. Some people have referred to this practice as combined reinforcement, but this is not a scientific term or construct. I think the thing we need to […]
Below I have included a link to a fascinating article. I think what struck me most was the benefits of FREE play. While we humans can become a bit too goal-driven, we know that utilizing positive reinforcement (R+) training with lots of freedom to choose is way more mentally productive, […]
As we bring the concepts and skills of R+ into the traditional equestrian world, one of the first confusions to arise is often, “What is truly positive reinforcement? Is using pressure to create behavior, then rewarding that behavior, a form of positive reinforcement?”
Both ‘treat’ and ‘reward’ have been used in […]
There are many reasons we want our horses to load into a trailer easily, from heading out for shows, to traveling to the vet, to going for a trail ride. The terrible fires in California remind us of one of the most crucial: our horses live in wildfire country. We’re […]