Traditional training is based on negative reinforcement (R-). Taking away an aversive to strengthen a behaviour.
R- has only 2 phases in the training process, while R+ has 5 (!) phases before a behaviour is trained solidly.
You expect to reach your goal after two steps in the process. Yet, the process has five steps. This causes frustration and disappointment.
2 Phases of Negative Reinforcement (R-) Training
Phase 1: The horse knows nothing.
In this phase, the aversive is introduced to the horse.
Slowly (or rapidly, depending on the trainer), the aversive is increased until the horse yields.
Then, when the desired behaviour is offered, the aversive is released. This phase is repeated until phase 2 is reached.
Success is based on the duration of aversive stimuli, or on escalating aversives.
Once the horse understands how to escape or avoid the unpleasant stimulus (by anticipation), it’s time for the next phase.
Phase 2: The horse understands what’s happening
The horse anticipates the predictable aversive.
What precedes the aversive becomes the predictor and thus the command for the behaviour.
It might be a wiggling index finger or the end of the whip lifting from the ground. becomes the predictor and therefore the command for the behaviour.
It might be a wiggling index finger, or the end of the whip lifting from the ground.
Horses’ eyes are very sensitive to movement.
The horse yields before the unpleasant stimulus is applied. If the horse doesn’t comply, the aversive will come!
Horses, and all living beings alike, have a great sense of self-preservation. Remember, an aversive is an unpleasant or painful stimulus.
When R- is applied correctly, one can get a horse that is very light on the aids of the rider/trainer.
No wonder that most clicker trainers stop at phase 2 in positive reinforcement training.
Especially if they grew up immersed in traditional training techniques. The unconscious expectation is that clicker training is a two-step process.
They assume they have reached the end of the line in phase 2.
They look at their results and conclude, “Positive reinforcement training doesn’t work for my horse.”
They are correct in the sense that their desired end goal has not (yet!) been accomplished!
What they don’t realize is that they are not even halfway through the learning process of the horse.
Example
You wouldn’t be capable of read this if you knew only 15 letters of the alphabet!
It doesn’t mean writing and reading are imaginary skills, or don’t work.
It means that you don’t have all the pieces yet.
To read and comprehend this, you need more than just the alphabet.
You need knowledge of how symbols (letters) and certain combinations of letters sound.
You need to have advanced reading skills.
You also need to have an extensive understanding of the English language. When you’re a native English speaker, this never crossed your mind.
And it helps too, if you’re familiar with the jargon in animal training techniques!
Understanding written language takes more than knowledge of the alphabet.
The same goes for horse training. The horse needs to learn many skills. These skills help them understand what we want from them! They don't speak Human.
Benefits of negative reinforcement
With pressure-release, the end goal behaviour is quickly accomplished.
Everyone can pick up a whip and make a horse go. You can pull on the lead rope of a rope halter. Otherwise, it might not work so well. This can discomfort the horse while walking along.
Even inexperienced or sloppy trainers can do this.
Negative reinforcement for the horse (avoiding aversives) is positive reinforcement (result!) for the trainer.
Benefits of R- for humans
Results are easily accomplished
Even inexperienced, novice trainers can get results quickly
High status for the trainer, due to accomplishing fast results, even with impressive (high-status) behaviours, like lateral gaits or ground-tying
Tomorrow, I will explain in depth the 5 phases of positive reinforcement training.
You’ll understand that seeing R+ through the lens of R-, is like looking through the wrong side of binoculars.
The viewer IS RIGHT: binoculars won’t help you see far objects from close by. This ‘thing’ doesn’t work!
Until someone turns around your binoculars. Wow! Your perspective changes completely!
Everything falls into place.
Stay tuned to get your world rocked!
Tomorrow.