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Horse Behavior and Training

Vibration collar

By:
DLCconsul
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed
Has anyone ever tried a vibration collar on a horse? I've been reading about some using this methodology. NOT a shock collar but a vibration. The vibration distracts the horse when he performs some undesirable behavior. Like Monty suggests bumping a horse on the leg when he tries to bite or mouth the lead rope. The vibration serves the same purpose as the leg bump.

Some dog trainers are moving away from the shock collar to the more humane vibration collar.
Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed
No, haven't tried that. Haven't even thought of it. Didn't even know they came in size for horses. 
Raises interesting thoughts, though: Where would it go? Neck or leg? 
I don't think I would want to try. I can see it work, as you say, to distract, but instinctively, I'm worrying that a horse would be so surprised by the vibration it might overreact and either hurt itself or the handler. 

DLCconsul
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed
It's is worn around the neck like a cribbing collar. Never seen or used one, seems it could be good for biters, etc. I read that you should have one made for horses because the dog type are to strong. They have different levels of intensity. Certainly need to make sure it is a safe environment to try it. 
JoHewittVINTA
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed
Hi. I'd like to say I think this is a potentially dangerous idea. It's not incremental enough! If the horse panics you have no SAFE way to remove the collar & the horse WILL associate the collar with the need to panic. Example: Monty uses a little string to initially fasten the breast plate before tightening the girth on starters. Why? So if the horse panics & flees the saddle can fall away safely & not end up under the belly & back on the horses hips over the kidneys. He only clips the breast plate fully to the saddle once he has the girth fully  tightend. Horses learn by the release of pressure. A dog is a predator. It does not learn for the same reasons as a prey animal. Yes, there are many common areas between the two but fundamentally a horse thinks very differently from a dog. I've seen people using REALLY unsafe lunging aids that are fixed in a single position & attached to the bit. There is no elastic, no give, no release of pressure. If the horse gets a fright or muscle cramps it can only fight against the bit. This damages the mouth, causing PAIN, FEAR & MENTAL STRESS. That's exactly what was done to my Humphrey. Monty is still refining & honing his pain free methods which have been repeatedly proven to be effective over decade after decade. He says we've only scratched the surface of what can be achieved but not by taking shortcuts. Cheers, Jo.
vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed
I would strongly advise against using this. Very often 'vibration' is just a euphemism for shock to make it seem more appealing. However, whatever the merits of the gadget itself the fundamental thing is to address the CAUSE of the behaviour; all this does is address the symptom. Further, if you make an animal afraid to display the symptom it will displace it into a different symptom e.g. pacing so you get a chain reaction of distress.

Their is an irony to stereotypie behaviours; they serve a purpose for the horse; they are coping strategies devised to reduce the impact of the original stressor. So it is vital to establish the cause. In addition, there is some evidence growing, though mainly anecdotal at the moment, that horses can learn and mimic habits from each other so the sooner it is addressed the better.

Have a really good luck at the horse's environment and what exactly is the behaviour that needs addressing? Hope that helps a bit :-)

As an aside Re: dog shock collars. Reputable, modern dog trainers never use these (despite the hype that many trainers give it), Any trainer that does immediately identifies themselves as a poor trainer. In Wales, shock collars are illegal, England is considering it (not sure if it's happened yet) and I don't know about the rest of the UK.

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