Science: comparison of methods for training

This is a study which I find very interesting. Scientists have compared two different methods for starting 28 horses. While the horses where trained to accept saddle, bridle and rider the scientists monitored the level of stress experienced by the horses. After 5 weeks all the horses demonstrated their newly acquired skills by performing a simple dressage test.

The scientists came to the conclusion that although the horses' level of stress and thus their experiences differ due to the method, the technical performance at the dressage test were not affected. Thus one can use a method that the horse will find less stressful without compromising the technical performance.

Conventional horsemanship
The two methods that were used was a conventional method for starting horses and what in this study was called “sympathetic horsemanship”: The conventional method was based on Steinbrecht's system for starting horses.


This means that the horses where trained according to a pre-defined program. This included longing, first without and later with bridle and saddle during the first week. The second week the horses were backed, first while being longed. At the end of the first week the horses were ridden in walk and trot. The continued work focused on the outline and rhythm of the horse.

Sympathetic horsemanship
”Sympathetic horsemanship” means that every signal was first taught separately and then introduced together. The training program was made to fit each individual horse's progress. The method included ground work, yielding to pressure and de-spooking to objects and events. The horses were first introduced to the rider and after that to a bareback-pad and later a bit made of leather.

Less stress during the training period
The results show among other things that the horses trained with ”sympathetic horsemanship” showed lower levels of stress during the training period. This means that these horses, compared to the ones trained with the conventional method, showed a more relaxed body language with a lower head position and lower heart rate.

No visual difference, but measurable
What I find very interesting is that at the dressage test at the end of the test period, there were no differences whatsoever between the technical performances of the horses trained with the two different methods. The horses where ridden in all three gaits. Neither were there any differences in behaviour between the two different groups. But the horses trained with the conventional method showed a higher heart rate.

Official conclusion
The scientists in the study draw the conclusion that the horses experience the two methods differently but that the technical performance in spite of this was not affected. Thus one can use a method that the horse will find less stressful without compromising the technical performance.

My conclusion
I draw the conclusion that horses are extremely forgiving animals that always do their best even during less than optimal circumstances. That is why the official and conventional methods are still practised.

Reference
”A comparison of sympathetic and conventional training methods on responses to initial horse training” by Visser, K; VanDierendonck, M; Ellis, A; Rijksen, C. & Van Reenen, C. Publicerad 2009 in “The Veterinary Journal”.

PS Thank you to Mark Stanton of Natural Horsemanship magazine for proof reading!