Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2426939 Behavioural Processes 2012 4 Pages PDF
Abstract

Biting and chewing by horses on crossties can result in injury to the handler and damage to equipment. Operant-conditioning techniques have been used to train horses and could be used to reduce or eliminate undesirable biting and chewing. Presently, a differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedule, in the context of a reversal design, was effective in reducing biting and chewing in two horses. In DRO schedules, a reinforcer is delivered contingent on the absence of a target behavior for a specified interval. Positive-reinforcement procedures offer an alternative to aversive-control techniques typically used in equine training and may provide for better equine welfare and horse–human interaction.

► Aversive-control techniques are widely used to reduce undesirable behavior in horses. ► A differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedule was employed presently. ► The DRO schedule was effective in reducing biting and chewing in two horses. ► Positive-reinforcement procedures offer an alternative to aversive control.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences Animal Science and Zoology
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