I've been interested in nh for a while and had various assumptions about 'leadership', 'respect' being the herd alpha (or passive leader)...
But when I watch the groundwork, the horse is being given clear information, and immediate +ve or -ve feedback and so now I'm wondering if actually it's all just different forms of reinforcement training.
I saw clicker as an add-on to nh to address specific issues - ie I viewed it as a particular 'technique' but it seems more like a variant on pressure/release? ('Pressure' is the cue and the ignoring, 'release' is the communication -'yes that's right' and the treat/reward.) If so, what happens to the 'herd hierarchy/leadership' theories?
If successful horse hanlding and training is about how the horse 'sees' you (ie trusts you, respects you) then how come good trainers can work with totally unknown horses in unfamiliar surroundings at demos and get spectacular results almost immediately. Trainers don't say 'I need to spend a month with your horse first so he learns I am a trustworthy and dependable leader'.
But when I watch the groundwork, the horse is being given clear information, and immediate +ve or -ve feedback and so now I'm wondering if actually it's all just different forms of reinforcement training.
I saw clicker as an add-on to nh to address specific issues - ie I viewed it as a particular 'technique' but it seems more like a variant on pressure/release? ('Pressure' is the cue and the ignoring, 'release' is the communication -'yes that's right' and the treat/reward.) If so, what happens to the 'herd hierarchy/leadership' theories?
If successful horse hanlding and training is about how the horse 'sees' you (ie trusts you, respects you) then how come good trainers can work with totally unknown horses in unfamiliar surroundings at demos and get spectacular results almost immediately. Trainers don't say 'I need to spend a month with your horse first so he learns I am a trustworthy and dependable leader'.