By Brian Capraro

Unwanted Behaviors: Equine Stereotypies and

Conflict Behaviors
 Learning Theories
• Non-Associative Learning
– Habituation
– Sensitization
• Associative learning
– Classical Conditioning
– Operant conditioning
       Non-Associative Learning
Habituation
• Occurs when a stimulus is repeatedly
introduced to cause a decrease in a
certain response.
– I.E. exposure to loud noises and potentially
frightening stimuli in the training of a
police horse (McGreevy 2004, pg. 90)
Sensitization
• Occurs when a response to a
stimulus is increased after the
stimulus has been introduced
repeatedly.
– This type of learning can override
habituation and lead to a horse reverting
to instinctual responses.
 Associative Learning
• Classical conditioning
– Seen in Pavlov's dog salvation experiment
– The acquisition of a response to a new stimulus
through association with an old.
– Helpful for horse-breeding and copulation, and
racetrack grooms
               Associative Learning 
• Operant Conditioning
– Is a method of learning responses through a reward or punishment
system.
– Used to increase voluntary completion of desired behaviors for a
positive outcome.
– Used to decrease the likelihood of repeating undesirable behaviors
                Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement
• Positive reinforcement
– Rewarding for the completion of
a desired behavior with its desired cue.
• Negative Reinforcement
– The release of pressure or
another undesirable stimulus
upon completion of a desired behavior
Punishment
• Positive punishment
– The addition of pressure when an
undesired behavior is performed.
• Negative Punishment
– The removal of a desired stimulus
when an undesirable behavior is
performed
Stereotypies
• Behaviors that are repeated consistently without
any apparent function or purpose.
• Oral Stereotypies
– Cribbing, Licking, Wood-chewing, etc..
• Locomotive Stereotypies
– Weaving and Stall-walking
• Management
               Conflict Behaviors

• When a stimuli conflicts with a command and the horse reverts to

instinctual prey animal responses. 
• Ground Conflict Behaviors
– Needle shyness, rearing, and kicking.
• Under-Saddle Conflict Behaviors
– Bolting, Unresponsiveness, Biting
• Management