b'LEARNED HELPLESSNESSto leg pressure anymore, but thatsjust desensitization, which is another kind of problem but not as extreme (as LH).Learned helplessness also gets con-fused with useful training techniques such as habituation (becoming accus-tomed to something), Randle says. Thats what we do when we train horses to not show a flight response when they see scary objects such as blowing flags, or when we train them to stand still while we spray them with fly spray or a hose. The term learned helplessness often ISABELLE BEAU DE LOMNIEgets overused, and its frustrating, Randle says. This means that LH becomes a blanket term and gets dumbed down. Without an accurate understanding of what LH is and how severe it is, horse wel-fare ultimately gets further compromised. One way to prevent learned helplessness under saddle is to practice groundwork, which can help you better identify your strengths and weaknesses as a trainer.Alternatives to Learned HelplessnessAlthough many things arent LH, anpressure. Keep training sessions shortspent many long hours working with her, ongoing mix of improper riding andand interesting, where the horses can seetrying to show her that she could have training methods can eventually lead to it,that the choices they make matter.control over various situations. But it was our sources agree. Thats why its criticalGroundwork can help prevent LH, astoo late. Under saddle she had lost all we take steps to avoid what researcherswell, because it reveals our strengths andhope, all motivation. We had back checks, call the slippery slope to LH. By gettingflaws as trainers better than ridden work,tack checks, teeth checks, and more. But informed and becoming better riders andsays Hall. The people working the horsenothing untoward was ever found. She more ethical trainers, we can avoid head- will understand better how the horsefelt like an unresponsive riding school ing down that path, they say. works when theyre on the same level,horse whom we couldnt reverse. By then, Poor equitation can lead to a negativeliterally, as the horse, she says. the only thing anyone could do for her affective (relating to moods, feelings, andOf course, there are ways to improvewas offer her a happy pasture for the rest attitudes) state marked by pessimism,our riding to reduce the chances of caus- of her life. meaning the horse isnt really interesteding LH. One way, is with simulators, in trying new things, says McLean. Asimulators, simulators! says Hall. WhenTake-Home Messagecombination of welfare invasions, includ- you ride a simulator, you can develop bet- Does your horse care what happens to ing bad training, sends horses down thatter balance, core strength, and familiar- him? Does he actively try to avoid pain, LH slippery slope. ization with movement patterns, withoutpressure, or negative stimuli? If he does, To help prevent this, make sure yourcausing lasting harm to your horse. its up to you to keep him responding. horse always feels like he has a choice andNot an embarrassment, a trick, or aMany training styles and riding mistakes that his choices have consequences thattool reserved for novices, a riding simula- can make a horse less responsive to cues, allow him to control what happens to him,tor can improve welfare-critical skills forpressure, and even painand thats often says Hall. For instance, with the negativeequestrians of all levels, she says. Severalthe early stages of learned helplessness. reinforcement example given earlier, if youtypes are available commercially. You might need to work with a profes-ask the horse to leg yield, he knows he hassional to make sure youre training your the choice to continue moving off the legCan it be Undone? horse in a way that teaches him he has pressure laterally, with the consequence ofWhile the slope to learned helplessnessa choice (and that not responding to you releasing the pressure. is a dangerous one, you might be able tosomething frightening, or moving away Understand learning theory, she says.halt its progress by using the learning- from leg pressure, for example, is the Its main learning processes are habitua- theory-based techniques described, ourbest choice). When horses end up not tion, sensitization, shaping, operant con- sources say. Once a horse reaches a trueresponding to stimuli because they think ditioning (positive and negative reinforce- state of LH, however, theres little you cannothing they do will make the pain or ment), and classical conditioning (usingdo to bring him back, says Hall. fear go away, theyve hit rock bottom. predictable signals).I bought a mare once who sufferedAvoid this irreversible state through Train horses according to what wefrom LH, she recalls. She was verysound, science-based training principles already know about their cognition andhappy to be handled from the groundand effective riding skills. And above all, learning, Hall adds. Pay attention tobut unresponsive when ridden. I triedmake sure none of your horses ever have how we give cues, and how we releaseeverything I could to bring her out of it. Ireason to say, Je men fiche. h20October 2019The Horse | TheHorse.com'