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Some recent studies about positive reinforcement methods
How clicker training works: Comparing reinforcing, marking, and bridging hypotheses
Feng, Howell, and Bennett, 2016
Research discussing the use of the clicker and how it is interpreted by the animal. As a reinforcer: a clicker creates a positive feeling in the horse when they hear it; marker: to mark the exact behaviour as the correct one; and bridging: increasing the time allowed between the behaviour being done and the reward being given.
Link to paper: How clicker training works: Comparing Reinforcing, Marking, and Bridging Hypotheses
Negative versus positive reinforcement: An evaluation of training strategies for rehabilitated horses
Innes and McBride, 2008
Comparing positive reinforcement (+R) and negative reinforcement (-R) in the effectiveness of training horse to trailer load, stand to be groomed among other handling. Horses trained using +R had increased motivation and engaged in more trial-and-error learning than those trained with -R.
Link to paper: Negative versus positive reinforcement: An evaluation of training strategies for rehabilitated horses
Positivly reinforcing an operant task using tactile stimulation and food - a comparison in horses using clicker training
Ellis and Greening, 2016
3 groups of horses were trained, group A had a food reward, B had wither scratching for 5 seconds, and C had no reward. Horses were trained to touch a target within 10 seconds of a visual and verbal cue over 5 days. Group A learnt the behaviour significantly faster than the other two groups and only some of the horses in group B showed positive response to the reinforcer.
Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2016.08.008
Unwanted oral investigative behaviour in horses: A note on the relationship between mugging behaviour, hand-feeding titbits and clicker training
Hockenhull and Creighton, 2010
Horses had low rates of mugging when they received food rewards from clicker training, and when not receiving any food rewards. Mugging behaviour was greatest when given treats and tidbits independent of activity. Mugging was not increased because of clicker training.
Horses can learn to use symbols to communicate their preferences
Mejdell, Buvik, Jørgensen and Bøe, 2016
Horses were taught to touch a symbol that rempresented "take rug off", "put rug on", and "no change". Horses were able to communicate these preferences in different conditions demonstrated by all horses communicating to have no rug on in Summer and all (bar two) to have rugs on when it was cold, wet and windy.
Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.07.014