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HSVMA WEBINAR

Reap What You Sow:
Applying Positive Reinforcement to Horse Health Care

Presented by Dr. Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, Certified Horse Behavior Consultant
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 8:00 pm ET
 

Horse

                                              

This webinar is FREE for all attendees.
1.5 hours of RACE CE credits (medical) will be available for HSVMA members only.
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This Equine Behavior program will provide information about the use of positive techniques to reduce distress and promote voluntary cooperation in horses, which in turn improve the safety of veterinary professionals. The techniques are based on scientifically validated principles of learning and behavior that have proven effectiveness and are recognized as being humane. The focus of the program is on horses and the objective will be to provide detailed information and illustrative examples about how to apply these techniques in a veterinary practice. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Attendees will gain knowledge about changing an animal’s behavior using positive respondent and operant techniques. Respondent techniques involve creating positive associations with individuals, equipment, locations, etc. in order to reduce fear-based problem behavior in veterinary care.
  • Positive reinforcement is an operant technique used to modify behavior. It can be used in practical work with animals to replace problematic with acceptable behavior and to promote voluntary cooperation.
  • The success of these techniques depends on how they are implemented, so the program will include details about how to apply them. Methods such as shaping, prompting, fading, adjusting reinforcement schedules, and differential reinforcement with be explained and illustrated.
  • Sufficient information will be included in the program for attendees to successfully apply the techniques on their own. Specific examples will be provided as illustration, but the principles are general and can be applied to a wide range of contexts.

 

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YOUR PRESENTER:

Dr. Foster

Dr. Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, Certified Horse Behavior Consultant

Professor Robin Foster is a life-long animal admirer, ally, and advocate. As an animal admirer, she earned a PhD in animal behavior and has taught university courses in animal learning and behavior for more than 30 years. She also conducts and supervises student research on animal learning, behavior, and human-animal interactions. As an animal ally, Robin is certified as an Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and an Equine Behavior Consultant (CEBC), and she owns a private consulting practice for equine and canine behavior cases. As an animal advocate, Robin has served on the board of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) and is past chair of the Applied Animal Behavior Committee of the Animal Behavior Society.