How, exactly, does a horse learn?
First, remember that with horses, you must convey your intentions without words.
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Show them what you are asking in a calm, clear way- without triggering alarm. If a horse is pushed into the Sympathetic Nervous System (or “X,” as Sharon Wilsie of Horse Speak® calls it), they shift into fight-or-flight mode. Once that happens, there is no learning.
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The most effective way to teach is with baby steps, followed by pauses that allow the brain’s neurochemistry to process. This “wait time” is often longer than people expect. Research shows a horse can take 1–3 minutes to fully process a thought. Three minutes may feel like forever, but rushing usually backfires: the horse must repeat the process over and over, and may never fully grasp it.
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So how do you build on each step when your horse cannot tell you in words? You convey intentions through clarity, timing, and release- showing them they are on the right track.
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If your request is unclear, or if you increase pressure without the right release, the horse can become stressed, escalate into the Sympathetic Nervous System, and stop learning. In that moment, their only thought is: “How do I get out of here and find safety?” No amount of added pressure will create more learning-only more fear.
Operant Conditioning- Pressure & Release
​When first introduced to a new cue or routine the release is the answer “Yes“. When you give them the release will tell them which behavior you are saying "Yes" to. In reality, the timing is just as important as the release. It must come immediately after the horse gives you the correct response. Too slow and they'll get confused and frustrated.
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Communication with a horse begins as soon as they become aware that you are nearby- WAY before you enter the paddock, enter the stall or put the halter on. When they first see, smell or hear you, the pressure is already starting to build. The first thing we need to do is make sure they feel us in the release position (homeostasis) first. Then we can begin to learn.
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