R+ ( also called positive reinforcement) uses rewards, such as treats, to increase desirable behaviors without the use of aversives or punishment. It relies on connection, communication, and clarity, over force and pressure, strengthening the relationship between horse and human and creating a partnership founded on trust and understanding.​ 

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It works like this: if you were trying to get your horse to stand still, you would

give a marker signal (a classically conditioned sound that tells your horse

good things are coming) and hand them a treat the moment they stand in

place. Over time, you can slowly increase the amount of time they are

expected to stand before giving them a reinforcer (this is a process called

shaping, and it allows us to teach our horses complex behaviors in a way that

is easy for them to understand). 

With training, your horse will realize that when they stand, they get lots of

treats, making them more likely to stand still in the future. This same simple

framework works for any behavior you want to teach your horse, be it

lunging, leading, trotting on command, jumping jumps… You name it!

This process differs from the traditional and natural horsemanship methods. Many traditional forms of training rely on negative reinforcement and involve adding pressure and aversives that are removed when the horse performs a desirable behavior. 

For instance, in natural horsemanship, it’s common to teach a horse

to stand still by lunging them or making them back up every time

they move. Eventually, the horse will learn that it is easier to stand

still and avoid being worked. 

In this case, the horse isn’t standing still because they want rewards;

they are remaining in place to avoid an unpleasant experience. 

Both training methods can yield similar results: horses that are

obedient to their trainers' commands and can perform a wide array

of behaviors on cue. However, the emotional state and motivation

behind performing are not the same.

Positive reinforcement encourages the horse to offer behaviors willingly, and transforms training into a conversation and a game as the horse works to figure out what will earn them a treat. This leads to increased understanding, confidence, and motivation. 

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​Imagine having a horse who wants to be trained! With positive reinforcement, it is possible. 

Are you ready to delve into the world of R+ training? To learn more and gain the skills you need to successfully launch your R+ journey, check out the blog posts below.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​