Choosing Training Tools

When discussing which tools to use when training horses, I see a lot of confusion over how the tools actually work. Many people think "but I use it gently" or "I use it differently" or "well my horse does better with this". Let's take a moment to understand how they work.

Are the tools designed to be something the horse works to avoid or seek out? Does it work to restrain, limit the horse's senses, inflict discomfort, fear or pain (no matter to what degree)? Tools like flash/drop nose bands, restrain movement of the mouth to avoid the bit. Blinders and ear muff limit the horse's senses. Whips, bits, spurs, inflict discomfort or pain, or fear of pain to motivate the horse to act. The removal of these aids reinforces the behavior (making them tools of negative reinforcement). This doesn't automatically make them abusive, but it does mean we need to understand they are working through aversion and negative reinforcement. This is something we can accept and use with knowledge and tact or chose not to include in our training, that's our choice. But understanding what it is, helps us use the tool more appropriately and with more empathy. Knowing the horse is working for the release can help us understand how to utilize these tools more ethically than we too often see.

But can't these tools be used gently? Of course! Some are designed to be the gentlest form of non-aversive tactile sensation. These extremely gentle options make great additions to our R+ training as positively trained tactile cues or emergency back ups. However, we want to choose tools that are soft, flat, flexible, and non-invasive, without any leverage, pressure points or methods to amplify our strength.

See many of these tools add pressure points, leverage, or squeezing, and are designed to amplify our strength so a gentle movement from us results in a stronger aversive to the horse. So while we may feel we are being gentle with the tools, its level of aversion may still be high for the horse.

If a tool is designed to inflict discomfort to motivate behavior it runs the risk of poisoning our positive training. So we want to be careful with out choices.