 |
|
Understanding equine behavior is a critical skill any equine professional or horse enthusiast should acquire. A good knowledge of equine behavior allows you to become a better trainer and horse handler, recognize your horses' housing and social needs and stay safer as you work around your horses. Horsemen who apply the concepts of equine behavior to the horses in their care have horses who learn more quickly and who have more enjoyable lives. Instructor, Jennifer Williams, PhD, earned her Masters and Doctorate in Animal Science with emphasis on equine behavior, learning and welfare at Texas A&M University. In addition to teaching Understanding Equine Behavior, Dr. Williams runs www.EquineBehavior.net, serves as an expert witness on cases involving equine behavior, and writes articles for magazines, including Equus, Trail Blazer Magazine, Stable Management, AQHA Journal, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy and others. She is the author of “How to Start and Run A Rescue.” Dr. Williams works with a variety of horse behavior problems associated with rescued horses at Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society (BEHS) which she co-founded in 2005 and now directs as president. www.bluebonnetequine.org This course will cover the following topics that will help expand your knowledge of equine behavior and enable you to better communicate your knowledge to those around you. Lesson 1: 1.Psychological Terms Part I A.Operant conditioning B.Shaping C.Classical conditioning D.Reinforcers Lesson 2: 1.Psychological Terms Part II A.Punishment B.Desensitization and sensitization Lesson 3: 1.Language of horses A.Verbal communication B.Non-verbal communication Lesson 4: 1.Feral horse behavior 2.Herd dynamics Lesson 5: 1.Aggressive and defensive behaviors 2.Gender differences in behavior A.Colt B.Breeding Stallion C.Maternal behavior Lesson 6: 1.Foal training 2.Play Lesson 7: 1.The use of the senses A.Sight B.Hearing C.Vision D.Touch E.Smell a.VMO 2.Stereotypies Lesson 8: 1.Behavior problems and their causes and treatments 2.Horse and human interactions Lesson 9: 1.Welfare and ethics 2.Donkey and mule behavior Lesson 10: 1.Behavior Research |