Operant Conditioning: Operants of Step Forward, Park, Displace the Shoulders, Yield the Haunches

Episode 2 - How horses learn through operant conditioning or trial and error learning.
In this video Erica Poseley shows how to train on the ground the basic operants of step forward, park, displace the shoulders or turn, and lastly yield the hind legs. By showing how the horse can be trained to respond to a light pressure in a gentle way, this sets a foundation for having each response also light under saddle. Thus the horse is able to differentiate between each cue or pressure, clearly understand them, and therefore becomes much easier to ride in a harmonious way.
Erica Poseley is a rider biomechanics expert who specializes in lunging riders to improve their seats. She is also a certified Ride With Your Mind coach. She was recently the first person in the United States to have earned a Diploma of Equitation Science from Dr. Andrew Mclean’s International course on equine learning theory.
For more information on how rider biomechanics and equine learning theory can help improve your riding experience, check out Erica's website at www.gotseat.com or email her at at [e-mail].

[@shelbsue1]

Thank you for making these videos. Can you please elaborate on how to understand + identify a “basic attempt”. I think I’m sometimes unclear in my communication because I do not reinforce at the moment of basic attempt and find myself instead looking for a perfect attempt. I’d also love to hear more about how to choose the placement of pressure. I would’ve thought that you’d apply pressure in the same place that the pressure would be if you were under saddle (so for shoulder displacement I personally might’ve placed pressure where my leg would be applying pressure)

[@EricaPoseley]

These are both great questions. Feel free to give me a call at 831 206 9613. I live in California. It will be much easier to answer your questions in a phone conversation..

[@finngamesknudson1457]

Nit picky quibble, ships do turn by “pushing their bum out.” Rudder pusher rear end of ship toward outside of the turn causing keel to point toward inside. So maybe not best example 😂😂