BEHAVIOR EDUCATION LLC

 Cooperative care means that animals are taught to voluntarily participate in their own care and training.

Use of cooperative care with equines means that horses are taught to actively participate in their own care. Through positive reinforcement techniques horses are taught to allow things like grooming, hoof trimming and shoeing, medical procedures, and deworming without force or restraint. These are voluntary behaviors the horses learn to allow, or consent to, in order to earn reinforcement. This approach gives the horse agency and makes them an active participant in their own healthcare, rather than being a passive participants or being forced.

Cooperative care training does not involve restraint or force, and the horse or other animal is free to leave at any time. This creates a positive experience for the horse or other animal and encourages voluntary participation.

Equine cooperative care training is done through shaping which involves breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps and rewarding the horse for each successful step, which trainers call approximations. Each successful approximation is a step closer to reaching the ultimate goal behavior examples of which include lifting a hoof for cleaning or trimming, coming when called, standing for grooming or a veterinary exam, or loading into a trailer.

When the horse does these and other behaviors voluntarily it benefits their overall welfare. By involving them in their own care, the horse gains a sense of control and becomes more comfortable with handling and procedures. This can make veterinary and farrier visits and other procedures less stressful for the horse. it reduces the risk of injury to both the horse and the handler and reduces stress and anxiety for the horse around people in general.

Equine cooperative care training can also improve the quality of care that the horse receives. When horses are actively participating in their own care, when they are choosing to perform a behavior or allow care to be done to them it is easier and more enjoyable for the human caretakers who are then more likely to be groom, handle, and spend time with the horse. The horse's improved behavior during procedures can also allow veterinarians and other professionals to perform more thorough examinations, procedures, and treatments. All of this quality attention to the horse by humans can lead to better overall health and well-being for the horse.

Cooperative care means that horses are given the opportunity to opt in or opt out of participating in the care or in the training itself. In fact, cooperative training can be used to teach horses to voluntarily participate in other training as well, like to be ridden for example. This is achieved by using a technique called "choice-based training." Choice-based training involves offering the horse a choice between two or more options, such as standing still or moving away. If the horse chooses to participate, they are rewarded with positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise. If the horse chooses not to participate, they are not punished or forced to do anything. This works very well to teach horses to consent to being groomed, saddled, bridled, and ridden. When they know they can choose to say no to an activity but will be reinforced for participating they are more likely to engage and interact. By allowing the horse to make choices, and reinforcing them for positive behavior, the horse is more likely to willingly participate in the training, volunteering to become an active participant in their own care and education. This approach can lead to a more positive and less stressful experience for both the horse and the handler or rider.

It is important to note that there may be exigent circumstance or emergency situations where restraint is necessary; however, remember that force and restraint are inherently aversive so these things should be reserved for true emergencies when the horse is not cooperating due to distress, confusion, impairment, panic, or lack of training and something must be done to save their life. If it is not an emergency and the procedure can wait, take the time to teach the horse first and subsequently use cooperative care and consent behaviors. Your goal should be to minimize the need for restraint and create a positive and voluntary experience for the horse. Equine cooperative care training will reduce fear, anxiety, and distress and is a valuable way to improve welfare, increase mental and physical health, and enhance well-being.

To learn more about cooperative care for equines, look into the Fear Free Equine program. Fear Free equine offers a set of guidelines and training resources designed to help equine professionals create a low-stress environment for horses during veterinary visits, handling, and other procedures. The program is based on the principles of Fear Free, a movement that seeks to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals in various settings.

The Fear Free Equine program provides a variety of resources to help equine professionals create a positive experience for horses. These resources include educational materials, webinars, and certification courses that cover a range of topics related to equine behavior, handling, and healthcare. The program also offers a directory of Fear Free Certified Professionals who have completed the training and can provide low-stress care to horses.

The Fear Free Equine program emphasizes the importance of creating a calm and positive environment for horses, using techniques such as positive reinforcement training, choice-based training, and environmental enrichment. The program also provides guidance on how to identify signs of stress and anxiety in horses and how to respond appropriately to minimize these negative emotions.

By reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in horses, the Fear Free Equine program can lead to improved health outcomes and a better overall experience for both horses and their handlers. It is important to note that while the program is focused on equine care, the principles of Fear Free can be applied to other species and settings as well.

There are Fear Free Veterinary, Trainer, Groomer, Equine, Avian, and Shelter programs but the concepts apply across species and settings. Cooperative care is common in zoos and aquariums, in some labs and other animal facilities. I use Cooperative Care and Fear Free principles with our snakes in addition to the horses, dogs, cats, and other animals in my work through Behavior Education at Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary.

REFERENCES

Cooperative care means that animals are taught to voluntarily participate in their own care and training.

Use of cooperative care with equines means that horses are taught to actively participate in their own care. Through positive reinforcement techniques horses are taught to allow things like grooming, hoof trimming and shoeing, medical procedures, and deworming without force or restraint. These are voluntary behaviors the horses learn to allow, or consent to, in order to earn reinforcement. This approach gives the horse agency and makes them an active participant in their own healthcare, rather than being a passive participants or being forced.

Cooperative care training does not involve restraint or force, and the horse or other animal is free to leave at any time. This creates a positive experience for the horse or other animal and encourages voluntary participation.

Equine cooperative care training is done through shaping which involves breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps and rewarding the horse for each successful step, which trainers call approximations. Each successful approximation is a step closer to reaching the ultimate goal behavior examples of which include lifting a hoof for cleaning or trimming, coming when called, standing for grooming or a veterinary exam, or loading into a trailer.

When the horse does these and other behaviors voluntarily it benefits their overall welfare. By involving them in their own care, the horse gains a sense of control and becomes more comfortable with handling and procedures. This can make veterinary and farrier visits and other procedures less stressful for the horse. it reduces the risk of injury to both the horse and the handler and reduces stress and anxiety for the horse around people in general.

Equine cooperative care training can also improve the quality of care that the horse receives. When horses are actively participating in their own care, when they are choosing to perform a behavior or allow care to be done to them it is easier and more enjoyable for the human caretakers who are then more likely to be groom, handle, and spend time with the horse. The horse's improved behavior during procedures can also allow veterinarians and other professionals to perform more thorough examinations, procedures, and treatments. All of this quality attention to the horse by humans can lead to better overall health and well-being for the horse.

Cooperative care means that horses are given the opportunity to opt in or opt out of participating in the care or in the training itself. In fact, cooperative training can be used to teach horses to voluntarily participate in other training as well, like to be ridden for example. This is achieved by using a technique called "choice-based training." Choice-based training involves offering the horse a choice between two or more options, such as standing still or moving away. If the horse chooses to participate, they are rewarded with positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise. If the horse chooses not to participate, they are not punished or forced to do anything. This works very well to teach horses to consent to being groomed, saddled, bridled, and ridden. When they know they can choose to say no to an activity but will be reinforced for participating they are more likely to engage and interact. By allowing the horse to make choices, and reinforcing them for positive behavior, the horse is more likely to willingly participate in the training, volunteering to become an active participant in their own care and education. This approach can lead to a more positive and less stressful experience for both the horse and the handler or rider.

It is important to note that there may be exigent circumstance or emergency situations where restraint is necessary; however, remember that force and restraint are inherently aversive so these things should be reserved for true emergencies when the horse is not cooperating due to distress, confusion, impairment, panic, or lack of training and something must be done to save their life. If it is not an emergency and the procedure can wait, take the time to teach and use cooperative. Your goal should be to minimize the need for restraint and create a positive and voluntary experience for the horse. Equine cooperative care training will reduce fear, anxiety, and distress and is a valuable way to improve welfare, increase mental and physical health, and enhance well-being.

To learn more about cooperative care for equines, look into the Fear Free Equine program. Fear Free equine offers a set of guidelines and training resources designed to help equine professionals create a low-stress environment for horses during veterinary visits, handling, and other procedures. The program is based on the principles of Fear Free, a movement that seeks to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals in various settings.

The Fear Free Equine program provides a variety of resources to help equine professionals create a positive experience for horses. These resources include educational materials, webinars, and certification courses that cover a range of topics related to equine behavior, handling, and healthcare. The program also offers a directory of Fear Free Certified Professionals who have completed the training and can provide low-stress care to horses.

The Fear Free Equine program emphasizes the importance of creating a calm and positive environment for horses, using techniques such as positive reinforcement training, choice-based training, and environmental enrichment. The program also provides guidance on how to identify signs of stress and anxiety in horses and how to respond appropriately to minimize these negative emotions.

By reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in horses, the Fear Free Equine program can lead to improved health outcomes and a better overall experience for both horses and their handlers. It is important to note that while the program is focused on equine care, the principles of Fear Free can be applied to other species and settings as well.

There are Fear Free Veterinary, Trainer, Groomer, Equine, Avian, and Shelter programs but the concepts apply across species and settings. Cooperative care is common in zoos and aquariums, in some labs and other animal facilities. I use Cooperative Care and Fear Free principles with our snakes in addition to the horses, dogs, cats, and other animals in my work through Behavior Education at Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary.

REFERENCES

https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-certification-program-equine-overview/

Leotti, L. A., Iyengar, S. S., & Ochsner, K. N. (2010). Born to choose: The origins and value of the need for control. Trends in cognitive sciences, 14(10), 457-463.

Carroll, S. L., Sykes, B. W., & Mills, P. C. (2022). Moving toward Fear-Free Husbandry and Veterinary Care for Horses. Animals, 12(21), 2907.

Fochtman, E. Cotton-Top Tamarins: The importance of natural cooperative care behaviors in a managed setting.

Melfi, V. A., Dorey, N. R., & Ward, S. J. (2020). Zoo Animal Learning and Training.

Larssen, R., & Roth, L. S. (2022). Regular positive reinforcement training increases contact-seeking behaviour in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 252, 105651.