I got an earfull for calling CAT 'operant counterconditioning,' but I will continue to put CAT/CAT-H/BAT/LAT (and all the other Dr. Seuss techniques, lol!) under the umbrella term of operant counterconditioning, mostly because a better term to encompass all of them doesn't exist. WHAT IS ALL THIS ALPHABET SOUP? Building an behavior is operant conditioning. Building… Continue reading Operant Counterconditioning
Riding The Spiral Path
Roadblocking old neuropathways…
The mind wanders down the old pathways before the feet do... When is it appropriate to block our horse from wandering down the wrong neuropathways? I like the word ‘block,’ instead of ‘correct.’ Language matters, because it shapes our intention, and our intention shapes our interactions. I’ve learned that there are some situations where letting… Continue reading Roadblocking old neuropathways…
Tapping
MY CURRENT APPROACH For me, the goal of tapping is achieving that deep postural release we see in the ‘grazing stance,’ and using that not only somatically as a form of bodywork to release physical tension, but cognitively and limbically to release mental and emotional tension by communicating “All is well, get back to grazing,”… Continue reading Tapping
‘TAPPING’ INTO HERDBOUND ISSUES
OR CLICKER ISN’T A CURE-ALL The distracted, scanning horse… I want to use this as an opportunity for observation. First, what do we think she’s looking for? She definitely doesn’t appear confident being on her own, here. Me 10 years ago:Well, she just needs to learn how to be separated from other horses.Let’s tie her… Continue reading ‘TAPPING’ INTO HERDBOUND ISSUES
New Paradigm? Or Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? Part 2
Isaac Newton For science-based trainers, there have been some really good conversations here recently that are challenging how, in some circles, we assume the need for a ‘new paradigm’ which throws the baby out with the bathwater, and often, influential horsemen under the bus. Some of these conversations have gained momentum from being discussed at… Continue reading New Paradigm? Or Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? Part 2
New Paradigm? Or Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? Part 1
I’ve noticed a trend that, as our horsemanship evolves, we seem to forget that we are standing on the shoulders of giants. For instance, while natural horsemanship clinicians are often criticized as fixating on marketing by ‘reinventing the wheel,’ I find that us science-based trainers aren’t immune to this Christopher Columbus syndrome either, sometimes throwing… Continue reading New Paradigm? Or Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? Part 1
CAT-H AS OPERANT COUNTERCONDITIONING
I will probably start referring to the work I do with unhandled or reactive horses as Operant Counterconditioning, instead of CAT-H, to avoid any misunderstanding of my stance on how it functions. I personally no longer refer to CAT-H as Negative Reinforcement, but Operant Counterconditioning, which, from my understanding, is how the originators of CAT,… Continue reading CAT-H AS OPERANT COUNTERCONDITIONING
HYPERVIGILANCE AND REACTIVITY, PART 1: THE UNREGULATED ANIMAL
“Why do you do all that head-lowering relaxation posture stuff? It seems unnatural. Why don’t you just let the horse relax on his own time? Why don’t you use straight positive reinforcement to fix the mental state instead of fixating on posture? Looks like learned helplessness.” Because horses aren’t built to self-regulate; they are built… Continue reading HYPERVIGILANCE AND REACTIVITY, PART 1: THE UNREGULATED ANIMAL
CLICKER COMPATIBLE NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
This year’s Art and Science of Animal Training Conference seemed to focus on a lot of the issues which are a little controversial in the positive reinforcement community right now, such as… CAT-H (Operant Counterconditioning)The potential for coercion in Positive ReinforcementThat Negative Reinforcement cues don’t necessarily function as conditioned aversivesThe idea of clicker compatible Negative… Continue reading CLICKER COMPATIBLE NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
Lions and tigers and working over threshold, oh my!
Two hands for first touch… and, Lions and tigers and working over threshold, oh my! and, How do I tell the difference between approach and retreat and CAT-H? Mary Kitzmiller is also the horsewoman who inspired me to try clicker training. Little tricks like this are great when we’re working with a lot of unhandled… Continue reading Lions and tigers and working over threshold, oh my!