Imprint Training Study

Group D had begun the experiment with similar results as Group N––with many mistakes––but after the initial 10 days of no reward followed by food rewards, Group D ended the experiment with very little mistakes, like Group C. This experiment proved that the rats really did know where they were at within the maze––especially Group D––and that within the first 10 days they had spent in the maze they were actually building a mental representation of the maze, or a cognitive map. In the "spatial orientation experiment" (Hock 113), the results concluded that the highest number of rats selected path 6 as their route; path 6 was the route that led almost directly to the location of the food reward, and this supported the idea that the rats had not only built a cognitive map of the maze, but could comprehend in which general direction the location of the food reward was in relation to the rats' starting point. Why is this study significant to the field of

They sense our emotions and often move away from fear and anger because these register as potential danger. However, they don’t feel threatened by the more vulnerable human emotions such as sadness and loneliness. Horses can sense the feelings in us that are often out of our conscious awareness and, thus, give us information about ourselves. They mirror our feelings back to us through their body language, therefore, they teach us how we impact those around us. For example if a patient begins to get angry with a horse and loses their temper, they will be able to see the horse recoil which gives the patient a clear understanding of the effect their emotions can

I have met some very stubborn horses that years down the road I discovered had actually taught me so much more than any other horse ever would. That is what influenced me to take on the opportunity of buying and training a three-year-old unbroken arabian. He has come to teach me not only things about riding but also life-lessons. I have gained patience, trust and understanding from him. He is now six years old and despite the fact that some days I felt as if we would never get anywhere in our training he is now an excellent horse. Taking an animal that has never had a person on it before and making it completely calm and even excited to work with a person on it’s back is an incredible thing and I am happy to have been able to experience this.

Horse’s have developed into highly specialised locomotor machines. Modified themselves to travel long distances at a moderate speeds and capability of shorter distances at higher speeds. The most efficient running machine that has evolved with many structural adaptions for untiring rapid progress on the ground so that they run long distances efficiently and changing of muscle size and grouping all suggests locomotor adaption (Williams, 2013).

There is a trail down the road in Delaware where I enjoy taking my dog for a walk. It is a beautiful, five-mile loop traversing cornfields, thick patches of forest, steep hills and flowing streams; a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the suburban lifestyle and spend some time amongst the peacefulness of nature. It is not a complete escape, however, for I am not the only person that knows of the trail- it seems to also be a favorite of horseback riders. Often times I will encounter a rider or two at some point during my walk and, without fail, I will be in awe of the size and majesty of the horse. What an incredible, gentle beast it is. Standing next to a horse, you cannot help but gawk at the bulging, toned muscles and long, agile legs. It is truly an athlete with a rare combination of strength and speed. Yet, they are gentle and kind and have therefore been joined at the hip with humans; today, nearly all horses have been domesticated. So I find myself

Equine-assisted therapy. The use of equine-assisted therapy has been proposed as a method for facilitating positive sensory experiences for children with autism. A doctoral dissertation by Stickney (2010) finds that “the consistent, rhythmic movement of the horse as well as its warmth, appearance, smell, and furry coat sends an array of sensory signals to the central nervous system, affecting motor, visual, proprioceptive, tactile, and vestibular systems that are necessary for development of motor control” (p. 33). Preliminary research studies indicate that the experience of riding a horse can improve motor function, posture, balance, and reaction time. This can encourage positive sensory experiences, which causes the brain to release chemicals

On observation, Chloe presented with limited knowledge and insight relating to equine and horsemanship skills. For example, she asked for a halter to assist with connecting to the horse and when provided with one, she was unable to independently place the halter on the horse’s head. She asked if the horses were wearing shoes, rather than investigating herself. On

Twenty American Quarter Horse geldings, aged between four and eight years and weighing ideally 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, shall be used. All horses should ideally be non-athletes that were previously kept as pleasure riding horses. The horses will be completely evaluated clinically and ultrasonongraphically by veterinarians blinded to the study before the experiment to ensure that there are no preexisting health conditions to hinder healing, or any history or signs of previous injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon. All horses will be placed in individual stalls and paddocks and adapted to their new daily routines for thirty days before the start of the experiment to allow acclimation. Any horses that obtain injury or disease during the course of the study will be removed from the study group to reduce confounding and returned to their provider.

Quarter horses routinely compete in short distance racing and got their name in part by racing one quarter of a mile. They can also be found working on ranches across the United States and are known to have “cow sense.” With an ability to turn and accelerate quickly, they are ideal to corral cattle and other horses for various reasons to include: grazing, medical treatment, inoculations, branding for identification, and for fun. They are strong and known for

place to another. Horses today play a much different role than they did thousands of years ago. I

Behavioural development in animals undergoing domestication is characterized by changes in the quantitative rather than qualitative nature of responses (Price, 1999). When being ridden McGreevy et al., (2009) found that horses may be that at their most dangerous (e.g., when bolting and bucking), ridden horses have simply reverted to responses within the predator model. This is interesting because it suggests that no matter how ethologically parallel in-hand work may be, a ridden horse can later revert to these counter–predator responses, seemingly confirming that ridden work may not be emphatically within, the horse’s ethogram. It could also suggest that whatever performance enhancing products are used, will the horse just revert back to these behaviours regardless. This shows that when the dialogue between horses and humans is consistent there is a positive correlation with relaxation and rapport. Inter-specific communication may help the horses overcome their fear and therefore reduce the tendency to use counter-predator responses. When the horse shows something of its own intention, it is often seen from a human perspective to be undermining the human-horse interaction. What horse people erroneously consider examples of reasoning in their horses, turn out to be excellent examples of trial-and-error

Therapeutic horse riding is a program that benefits children and adults who have challenges wither is physical or emotional. Some of the program's most common challenges are a variety of special needs relating to cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and autism to stroke recovery and learning disabilities. The program helps increased balance and muscle control, improves concentration and short-term memory, and enhances their confidence and self-esteem. Research into animal-assisted therapy is fairly new; however, even among professionals who believe more research is in order, there is a general consensus that therapy animals can be a highly beneficial addition to treatment programs for children with autism or Asperger's.

This lab took place at the Linn Benton Horse Center, and it was an introduction to halter horses and how to judge them. We looked at three stallions; two were halter horses and one wasn’t. We assessed their balance, muscling, and structural conformation in the way that a halter judge would.

1st point: Horses and Ponies are both really sensitive (Hausberger 6). “ A horse can live for 25 years. With great care, some horses can live for 30 years or more.” In the United States, there are more than 750 Therapeutic Riding Centers” (Nichols 25). Horses are stars of ice sculpture (Williams 6). They did a survey on how many horses were responsible in the accident. The survey said horses were 15% responsible in horse accidents. A Report says that horses aren’t even nervous at the time of the accident. Dogs and cattle have a higher accident rate than horses have alone (Hausberger 3). Horses are not just for therapy, they are also used for transportation and pets (Scott 18). Unlike house pets, horses are not kept

2 and 3D Video techniques - following a large racehorse performing high-speed over-ground exercise over long distances (Khumsap S., 2004).