Puberty for my young colt Dustin approached quickly – time to practise those cooperative care procedures, hoping my plan for what I would need was good!

Wearing of a headcollar was in place, but no cues for leading or turning had been introduced or transferred to the headcollar, so we were left with target leading to get from A to B. At the time this omission seemed to not matter, but it did cause a minor problem due to the effects of sedative.

My main focus to prepare had been training for the intravenous (IV) injection, and in my youngsters case, training to allow a non-me (and male!) human to approach and perform the IV routine.

The other behaviour I envisaged needing (and had started training) was ‘stationary head’ training, to incorporate head still while the catheter was placed and the two injections were administered –

I started off with my modified chin rest, really a jaw rest, my cupped left hand positioned under his jaw where a cavesson noseband would go, with no weight in my hand. Once this behaviour was progressing, I then added my other hand to the front of his face (or where a blaze would run) after my under jaw hand was in place. Pause, click, treat.

My main focus with this boy had been ‘polite treat taking’, as adolescent males can sometimes be mouthy, plus teaching an equine how to behave calmly around food is really a much needed foundation behaviour.

Dustin was also a big boy, and a little gumby as he was growing, so a lot of my training had been with him in “Protected Contact” but basically with him behind a barrier. This kept us both safe, me from the accidental head swing or foot tread contact, him from my bad timing!

During training there was hay and grass available, and I was using pellets that were part of his diet as his reinforcement. Criteria for reinforcement was head in straight forward, or neutral position. Regardless of where I was. Face forward, neutral, working toward waiting calmly.

Well it turns out I had done so much of this, that while the Vet was preparing his gear, he noticed how still Dustin was with his head over the gate, and said "he is so still we could almost inject him there” so we did! His ‘stationary head’ was so good he didn’t even notice the needle!

Here was our only problem, once sedated our target leading failed to be effective enough for quick positioning – we needed to turn him to stand in the shade of the tree for the General Anaesthetic. Half way had to be good enough!

Apart from my turning over-sight, the whole procedure was calm and stress free (for equine and Vet, if not for the owner worrying if her training had been sufficient!)

Dustin stood quietly for his injections, sat on his brisket once awake for his recovery (his friends were quietly eating hay in the next yard in sight), and got up quietly an hour later.

A good outcome; and a good introduction to positive reinforcement co-operative care for our local veterinarian.

Written By Vicki Conroy & the PPGA Equine Sub-Committee

Food is a primary reinforcer. By which I mean, it's something that horses require to survive. Other primary reinforcers are things like water and sleep.

While it would be rather unethical to use water or sleep as a reinforcer, food is a very valuable tool when working with your horse.

"But isn't that just bribery - I want my horse to work for ME"

No living animal is intrinsically motivated by a desire to please us. The most common alternative to using food and positive reinforcement is to use pressure, punishment and fear.

In horse training this is often referred to as pressure and release training. An example of this would be keeping tension on the lead rope until the horse walks forward, at which point you drop the tension and the horse gets relief. Great! She has learned to walk forwards.

Have you ever tried this with a horse and not gotten the expected response? You’re pulling forwards, you obviously want them to walk forwards, right?

Well, for a horse, it’s not always that obvious. Many horses will feel the pressure and pull back against it, looking for relief (and a quick exit from your company). What then? Hmm, maybe tapping a whip on their rump will help them get the message. Ah, that’s got it. Now they’re walking forwards. You just needed to put some weight on the lead rope (Negative Reinforcement) and a whip (This is getting close to being Positive Punishment).

Imagine someone had a solid grip on your arm until you did.. something?? But you don't know what. You don't speak the same language as this other person, and they're not giving you any clues as to what will get them to let go. The relief you might feel when the grip finally does ease, would also be accompanied by negative feelings towards that person, and probably a reluctance to keep being near them. (Why is my horse so hard to catch?!)

Along with that tension and negativity, the other main issue with using this tactic is that you as the trainer always need to be the scariest thing in the vicinity. You might have a great grip on them, but suddenly when an air horn goes off, their first instinct will be to evade that bigger and scarier noise. In this scenario, the horse is unlikely to look to you to help them. You're the pressure person, and they want safety.

When you start training with positive reinforcement, multiple things will occur.

You’ll begin to develop a reinforcement history that will aid you in future emergencies. Sometimes trainers refer to this as adding some coins into the ‘trust account’.

You’ll begin to develop a Positive Conditioned Emotional Response, shortened to +CER. By frequently engaging in an activity your horse enjoys (positive reinforcement training), YOU yourself become a sign that something good could be about to happen. This +CER is a result of Classical Conditioning, you’ve heard of Pavlov’s dogs?

Next time you take some carrots to the paddock, think about how you’re using them. Are you feeding them at random? Can you use them to reinforce a behaviour you like? Try leaving the whip at home and see what you can accomplish only using the primary reinforcer of food.

It's knowing how horses learn, and teaching them in a way that makes pressure and intimidation unnecessary - it’s not a bribe!

Written by Madi Holmes and the PPGA Equine Sub-Committee

When we think about horse welfare, we often focus on physical health—good nutrition, hoof care, and exercise. But true welfare goes beyond the physical. A horse that is physically healthy but mentally broken or struggling is not a happy horse. Fear, stress, and loneliness can be just as damaging as malnutrition or injury.

When we observe wild horses, we see them living in strong, stable herds—where they form deep bonds, communicate constantly, and rely on each other for safety and comfort. Our domesticated horses share these same instincts and needs. When we isolate them in stables or paddocks or constantly change their social groups, we disrupt their ability to feel secure and at ease.

Many of us in Australia rely on agistment for our horses. While full-time stabling is less common here than in other parts of the world, many agistment setups have limited options, often offering only individual paddocks. Even when horses are kept in group paddocks, there is often continual change, with herd members coming and going. This instability disrupts social bonds and can lead to stress, anxiety, and even difficulty adjusting to situations or changes in daily life.

Horses are playful, curious, and deeply social. They need to roll in the mud, scratch on a fence post, and play with their herd. These natural interactions are essential for their well-being. If living through Covid and lockdown taught us anything, it’s how detrimental isolation can be to mental health. Horses are no different! They need companionship, choice, and control over their social interactions to truly thrive.

Promoting Stable Herd Environments for Better Welfare

While many of us may be limited in what we can offer due to time, budget and/or agistment restrictions, we can still advocate for better living conditions:

✅ Choosing options that offer consistent herd environments rather than frequent social disruptions.

✅ Encouraging agistment providers to prioritise long-term herd stability over constantly shifting paddock groups.

✅ Supporting the idea that horses should have companionship, choice, and control over their social interactions whenever possible.

Why a Stable Herd Matters:

✔ Social Bonds & Emotional Security – A consistent herd structure allows horses to form deep relationships, reducing anxiety and stress.

✔ Reduced Stress & Anxiety – When horses don’t have to adjust to ever-changing paddock mates, they become more resilient in daily life.

✔ More Choice & Control – Allowing horses to choose who they interact with, where they rest, and how they move helps create happier, more confident animals.

✔ Safety & Comfort – A stable herd provides natural security, reducing fear and reactivity.

✔ Fewer Behavioural Issues – Without social frustration, horses are less likely to develop vices like cribbing, weaving, or fence-walking.

Providing species-appropriate living conditions should be a priority in how we care for our horses. By promoting stable herd environments, despite our limitations, we can improve their mental and emotional well-being.

Let’s give our horses the life they deserve—one filled with companionship, choice, and security. "

Welcome to the Pet Professional Guild Australia Blog page.

The PPG Australia is a membership organisation representing pet industry professionals who are committed to science-based, force-free training and pet care. We have pet trainers (dogs, cats, birds and equine), veterinary behaviourists, dog walkers, groomers, and even people involved in doggy day care.

We are an official branch of the Pet Professional Guild, a worldwide organisation committed to advocating, educating and encouraging improvements in companion animal welfare through the use of fear free techniques.

We look forward to providing regular tips, tricks and thought provoking articles to help you learn more about your animal’s behaviour and how we can help them learn and have enriching lives.

So, I hope you will join us on this blog as delve into different training topics on a regular basis.

First off, there will be a post by Maddi Holmes from our equine sub committee. Enjoy!

- Sarah Campbell, President