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Area of Science:

  • Animal Behavior
  • Equine Training
  • Operant Conditioning

Background:

  • Social interaction with humans is a known reinforcer for animals.
  • Previous research shows mixed results on tactile interaction as a reinforcer compared to food.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if tactile interaction (petting, scratching) can serve as a reinforcer for training equines.
  • To determine the effectiveness of tactile reinforcement in shaping specific behaviors in horses and mules.

Main Methods:

  • Equines were trained to associate reinforcement availability with specific behaviors.
  • Shaping steps and a changing-criterion design were employed to train 'stay' and 'come' behaviors.
  • Tactile interaction was used as the primary reinforcement.

Main Results:

  • All three equines successfully completed reinforcement training.
  • The equines mastered the 'stay' and 'come' behaviors using tactile reinforcement.
  • The study demonstrated the efficacy of tactile interaction as a training reinforcer.

Conclusions:

  • Tactile interaction, including petting and scratching, is an effective reinforcer for training equines.
  • The specific procedures of reinforcement delivery are crucial for the success of tactile interaction as a reinforcer.