Sv: FEI Workshop in Lausanne - Andrew McLean
Negative reinforcement underpins all equitation. It relies on the immediate release of pressure as
an instantaneous reward and, in the best cases, is very subtle. Failure to release pressure can
cause conflict and learned helplessness. Confusion and conflict have behavioural and physiological
manifestations that shorten the horse’s working life.
Over-bending as a learned response may be as acceptable as other forms of negatively reinforced
postural responses, such as lateral bending. However, cervical flexion as a result of sustained bit
pressure has a lot more to do with compliance and pain avoidance than suppleness. Therefore,
some forms of Rollkur may be extreme, dangerous and capable of compromising welfare. It may
be dangerous for riders since it can "deaden the brakes" and that can lead to bolting as a
manifestation of habituation, and other unwelcome behaviours. It can compromise welfare since
horses can learn that there is nothing they can do to remove the pressure. If the horse’s head is
on its chest it has nowhere else to go and may be in a state of "learned helplessness".
The immediate incorporation of transient tests for self-carriage in all gaits and movements and at
all levels would effectively reward riders who apply learning theory correctly. Additionally, research
can remove emotiveness from the Rollkur debate by establishing, for the range of equine athletes,
how much contact is neutral; how much rein tension is too much; how can contact be measured;
how can discomfort be measured; how can pain be measured and how learned helplessness
manifests in horses?
