Abstract: Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
“Problem” horses are usually horses that are trying to tell their owners that something is wrong and reacting in the only way they know how. Lesley Bayley leads the reader through Richard Maxwell's system of understanding equine psychology and for overcoming some of the natural responses that horses use in situations that frighten or confuse them. Beginning with two chapters on how horses communicate with each other (and with their owners), the authors go on to describe the effects of pain on the horse's behavior. Two chapters on establishing trust with older, difficult horses and with “starting” (breaking in) foals and young horses lead into the final sections on dealing with specific behavioral problems. The authors stress that positive reinforcement of desired behaviors will achieve the desired results, and that understanding why a horse is acting the way it does goes a long way toward getting it to develop desirable habits or toward changing undesirable conduct. This will be an extremely useful adjunct to all of the how-to books on riding and horse care. Nancy Bent
Book Description
A wealth of sound advice on how to “listen to” and really understand your horse, with a caring approach to techniques for training and overcoming behavioral problems.

Abstract: In 2 experiments, 9 female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were shocked every 30 sec. Before the barpress response, shocks were long (2 sec); for 3 min after a response, shocks were short (0.1, 0.5, or 1 sec). When responding reduced shocks from 2 to 0.1 sec, barpressing was acquired, and the shorter the shocks the more time spent with the short-shock condition in effect. In another procedure, the duration of individual shocks following a response was controlled so that the 1st shock was as long as those before the response (2 sec), but the remaining shocks in the 3-min period were short (0.1 sec). Barpressing was maintained in some Ss and acquired in others showing that, even when delayed, a reduction in shock duration is reinforcing. These findings question the generality of a 2-factor, safety-signal interpretation of negative reinforcement. These results plus others imply that to predict responding in aversive situations it is necessary to integrate, for at least several minutes, the parameters of aversive events that follow a response. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

Abstract: Introduction
Many scientists agree that information on the learning abilities of horses should be used in developing training methods (Fiske and Potter, 1979; Mader and Price, 1980; McCall, 1990) but nevertheless research where such knowledge is put to the test is limited (Flannery, 1997). Foals that are handled continuously between 4 and 22 months of age were quicker learners and were easier to train than those that got less handling (Fiske and Potter, 1979). The handling involved being lead, brushed, and acclimated to restraint. In some studies more relaxed foals learned more and were easier to train later on than stressed foals (Fiske and Potter, 1979; Heird et al, 1986) while no such correlation was found in another study (Mader and Price 1980). It is commonly believed, and has been established with tests, that younger horses are quicker-learners than mature (Mader and Price, 1980; Houpt, 1982), but the question remains to be answered if a certain age is better than another and if so, if the optimum time differs between breeds.
The idea of imprint training (Miller, 2000) is controversial but seems to be popular in the USA. Miller found that foals that had been treated by veterinarians at birth were easier to handle later on. He associated this with what Konrad Lorenz called imprint learning (1937), which involved irreversible learning taking place during a sensitive period early in life. Miller claims that the idea has been tested scientifically but no such papers are covered by Wed of Science. To our knowledge one systematic research has been carried out whose results will be published this year (Jennifer Williams, personal communication). Miller (2000) claims that it is very important to stroke and handle the foals quickly after birth (hence the reference to the imprinting concept) and desensitize them to touch and other interventions. A study by Mal et al (1994) did not support the claim that very young foals are more sensitive to treatment than older foals. It is possible that what we are witnessing when the foals seem relaxed after stroking is not “imprinting” but “learned helplessness”.
In Iceland where mares give birth out in the field within the herd (usually herds of mares, sub-adults and sometimes geldings) it is customary not to disturb the mare and foal for the first hours of the foal's life. That fact and the custom in many places to let the foals stay with their dams within large groups in the wilderness from 1-2 months of age till autumn, would mean that continuous handling would not have a practical value for most Icelandic horse owners. We wanted to test the idea that early handling and training of foals should calm the foals considerably and teach them valuable lessons, which would make training later on easier.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION to the social intelligence tests
This document contains the result of adjusting 12 tests written for dogs to the sensory modes and size
of horses. Stanley Coren calls the tests “Canine IQ Tests,” but also says the tests are probably
measurements of “social intelligence.” Coren's book also contains the list of dog breeds ranked by
score on these tests. The technical, psychological definition of “intelligence” is not relevant to these
tests (the usual academic caveats about data and variables). Also, an animal that is very clever and is
not interested in interacting with humans will score low on these tests, so if your horse is a low scorer,
it may mean that people just are not interesting for him.
I am posting the tests because 1) my riding club thought they were fun when I showed them the video
record of the testing protocol and 2) the several horses tested thought they were fun. Of these horses,
my two (a German sport horse and a Morgan) became more alert in responding to their human
companion (me) after the tests were run....

Abstract: Two related studies on injuries sustained by event horses during competition and during training are reported. During the cross-country phase of competition, the most common injuries were lacerations and abrasions to the carpus and stifle. Superficial digital flexor tendonitis and exertional rhabdomyolysis were significantly more common during Cours Complete Internationale (CCI) competitions compared to one-day event (ODE) competitions. The difference in injury types at ODEs and CCI competitions probably relates to the increased athletic demands of the CCI and the closer veterinary observation at these competitions. The results of the training study indicate that 21% of horses intending to compete in a CCI did not start due to injury. Forty-three percent of these injuries involved soft tissue structures with injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon and the suspensory ligament each accounting for 33%. The most important area for future research is investigation of the risk factors for these career-threatening soft tissue injuries.