Horse Behavior and Trainability
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Behavior is a product of both instinct and experience. To
some degree, all horses behave in a similar fashion. Successful
training depends on the trainer’s understanding of
these traits and how stimuli (cues) can be applied to modify
behavior. Behavioral traits important to training include the
fight or flight response, memory, perception of and reaction to
stimuli, and the response to dominance.
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Rocky Asbury
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Horses possess many attributes which make them a species of choice for human companionship and service. Relating to horses requires a knowledge of their behavior. Without this knowledge, involvement with them can be dangerous. With more than 30 years combined experience in almost every aspect of the horse business, Rocky Asbury, the owner of Asbury Stables and Dan Frazier offer professional horse breaking and training for all breeds. Rocky also specializes in team penning and mounted shooting.
Asbury Stables has a twenty stall facility for boarding horses while at our ranch for training. We offer 30, 60 and 90 day training programs with evaluations after each 30 day period.
Rates:
Training (per month, minimum 60 days) includes board $550.00
Yearling Training: $250.00
Board for other horses: $250.00/month
Trimming: $35.00
Shoeing: $75.00
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Chelsey Asbury
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This is Rocky's daughter on one of our trained horses Boomer.
At Asbury Stables we have a proven system that we use to train horses.
Some of the tecniques we use to produce well trained horses are;
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Stimulus:
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We apply a cue (stimulus), the horse
reacts (response), and we reinforce the response based on its
acceptability. The response to most cues must be learned by
the horse because the desired action often does not come
naturally.
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Response:
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A horse will respond to a cue by fighting or moving to
escape from pressure. When a lead rope is pulled to
cue the horse to move, an acceptable response would be for
the horse to move in the direction of the pull. Reinforcement
allows release from pressure on the halter. An unacceptable
response, such as moving against the direction of pull, results
in negative reinforcement.
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Reinforcements:
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Reinforcements may be positive or negative. Most positive reinforcements are learned.
Negative reinforcements encourage the horse to respond
and avoid another cue. Negative reinforcements use
the principles of escape and avoidance.
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Repetition:
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Horses learn through repetition. Repetition increases a
horse’s ability to master a task. It also serves as a review
before new or more intricate movements are performed.
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