Equines do not live for grass alone: Training equines using social interaction as a reinforcer.

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.