This is a comprehensive tutor-led online course lasting 12 weeks.
Whilst the content as per the outline sounds a little dry and entirely theory based, it really isn’t at all!
The whole course content has been designed to be a fun, educational means of exploring the different learning procedures, which are vividly brought to life in a way that is really easy to understand via real-life practical examples and first-hand training scenarios/experiences. Video footage is abundant throughout the course.
Optional home study is set for each module and self assessment as you move through is provided through quizzes.
Overview
Skill Level
No previous knowledge in these topics required. A good all round practical experience of equine management and training is useful
Number of modules
6
Total Hours
25 / 45 – dependent on student input
Course Duration
3 months with tutor support – 2 weeks per module
No Attendance Required
Conducted by home study + ability to access a horse locally for the optionalfinal module’s home study
The course offers free tutor support and approximately 25-45 hours of study time – depending on student input
6 modules
Multiple learning styles and home study
Self assessment through quizzes
Optional final online assignment (tutor assessed and required for certification)
Your tutor provides continuous feedback and support – plenty of help therefore if you want a certificate
Delivery
Entirely online through video lectures in the classroom and the private Facebook support group provided. Each Module’s material is released at the beginning of it’s two week period and remains for the entirety of the course.
Course Outline
Course Outline
Module 1 – Learning Theory – Operant Conditioning
Scientific study of Behaviour – Psychology
Learning Theory and Motivations
Quadrants of Operant Conditioning
Appetitives and Aversives
Freedom of choice
Module 2 – Learning Theory – Classical Conditioning
What is Classical Conditioning
Innate, involuntary reflexes
The scientific research
Positive reinforcement training – the bridge signal
The stages of Classical Conditioning
Module 3 – Learning Theory – Habituation & Flooding
What is habituation
The FEAR reflexes – fear potentiated startle reflex, freeze, flight, fight, faint
Escape & avoidance responses in a prey animal
Systematic Desensitisation
Thresholds
Risks with habituation
Sensitisation
Flooding
Learned Helplessness & psychological disorders
Negative reinforcement of escape behaviours
Conditioned fear
Module 4 – Affective Neuroscience – Emotions
Why emotions matter
Dr Jaak Panksepp – the blue ribbon core emotions
Primal emotional circuits
Social emotional circuits
A look at Aversive emotions
A look at Appetitive emotions
Module 5 – Equine Ethology – Body Language Communications
Ethical training protocols for modifying any behaviour that involves any kind of arousal or emotional reaction
Why are fears and anxieties best to be avoided in horses?
Why use appetitives such as food to train?
Learn how to shift a horses emotions in a more positive direction
Create calmness, curiosity, interest, confidence, happiness and contentment in your horse and enable time spent with you to be genuinely enjoyable, pleasurable and fun for you both – whatever your goal!
Taster Videos
Check out Part 1 of our taster videos about this course. In this video, Jo introduces Equine Ethology – the scientific study of the horse’s behaviour in its natural environment.
In Module 5 of the course, we delve into this area and learn all about equine body language communications.
The presence of equine play behaviours are a sign of an individual’s well-being and good welfare.
Learn more about the innate primary brain function of PLAY in our How Horses Learn, Feel & Communicate online course.
The Academy is the ONLY one of it’s kind – offering horse owners worldwide the opportunity to learn about up-to-date training protocols and, possibly more importantly, exactly HOW to apply them to horses through our online home study courses.
Learn more about how modern behaviour scientists help horses to overcome feelings of fear and anxiousness in the 21st Century.
Reviews
admin –
Loving the depths of analysis here for habituation and flooding – Debbie Busby
admin –
Oh Jo, you have no idea how powerful the How Horses Learn, Feel & Communicate course is. You have this amazing ability to gather a lot of information and then put into a format that makes sense of it all in a way that is easy to understand, but the subject matter is still huge! You literally compress it into bite size chunks for us to digest at which point it expands. You are amazing! – Heather Richardson
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
admin –
Loving the depths of analysis here for habituation and flooding – Debbie Busby
admin –
Oh Jo, you have no idea how powerful the How Horses Learn, Feel & Communicate course is. You have this amazing ability to gather a lot of information and then put into a format that makes sense of it all in a way that is easy to understand, but the subject matter is still huge! You literally compress it into bite size chunks for us to digest at which point it expands. You are amazing! – Heather Richardson