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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Cogn / Spaced training enhances equine learning performance.
Animal cognition2021; 25(3); 683-690; doi: 10.1007/s10071-021-01580-7

Spaced training enhances equine learning performance.

Abstract: This field experiment examined whether the well-documented benefit of spaced over massed training for humans and other animals generalizes to horses. Twenty-nine randomly selected horses (Equus ferus caballus) repeatedly encountered a novel obstacle-crossing task while under saddle. Horses were randomly assigned to the spaced-training condition (2 min work, 2 min rest, 2 min work, 2 min rest) or the massed-training condition (4 min work, 4 min rest). Total training time per session and total rest per session were held constant. Days between sessions (M = 3) were held as consistent as possible given the constraints of conducting research on a working ranch and safety-threatening weather conditions. During each training session, the same hypothesis-naïve rider shaped horses to cross a novel obstacle. Fifteen of 16 horses in the spaced-training condition reached performance criterion (94% success) while only 5 of 13 horses in the massed-training condition reached performance criterion (39% success). Horses in the spaced-training condition also initiated their first obstacle-crossing faster than horses in the massed-training condition and were faster at completing eight crossings than horses in the massed-training condition. Overall, task acquisition was higher for horses undergoing spaced training despite both groups experiencing the same total work and rest time per session. These findings generalize the learning-performance benefit observed in human spaced practice to horses and offer applied benefit to equine training.
© 2021. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2021-12-03 PubMed ID: 34860336PubMed Central: PMC9107396DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01580-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper investigates if the learning benefits of spaced training, commonly observed in humans and other animals, also applies to horses. After conducting an experiment, the researchers found that horses undergoing spaced training performed better and learned faster than those trained using a massed technique.

Research Methodology

  • The study was designed as a field experiment, involving 29 randomly selected horses (Equus ferus caballus).
  • The horses were exposed to a novel obstacle-crossing task while being ridden and were divided into two groups. One group was assigned to the spaced-training condition (2 minutes of work, 2 minutes rest, repeated twice) while the other underwent massed training (4 minutes of work, 4 minutes rest).
  • To maintain uniformity, the total training time for each session, as well as total rest time, was kept constant. Similarly, the average number of days between sessions was kept as consistent as possible.
  • The same person, who was not aware of the hypotheses of the study, rode each horse during all training sessions.

Findings and Conclusions

  • The results showed that 94% of the horses in the spaced-training condition reached the performance criterion, compared to only 39% in the massed-training condition.
  • Not only were the spaced-training horses quicker to start crossing the obstacle, but they also completed eight crossings faster than the massed-training horses.
  • Overall, the study found that horses undergoing spaced training had higher task acquisition, despite the fact that both groups experienced the same total amount of work and rest per session.
  • This indicates that the learning-performance benefit observed in humans through spaced practice also applies to horses. It also offers practical benefits for equine training techniques.

Cite This Article

APA
Holcomb FR, Multhaup KS, Erwin SR, Daniels SE. (2021). Spaced training enhances equine learning performance. Anim Cogn, 25(3), 683-690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01580-7

Publication

Animal cognition
ISSN: 1435-9456
NlmUniqueID: 9814573
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 3
Pages: 683-690

Researcher Affiliations

Holcomb, Frederick R
  • Psychology Department, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 28035, USA.
  • Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M, College Station, TX, USA.
Multhaup, Kristi S
  • Psychology Department, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 28035, USA. krmulthaup@davidson.edu.
Erwin, Savannah R
  • Psychology Department, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 28035, USA.
  • Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Daniels, Sarah E
  • Psychology Department, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 28035, USA.
  • , Savannah, GA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cues
  • Horses / psychology
  • Learning
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal

Grant Funding

  • 1 R15 AG038879-01A1 / NIA NIH HHS
  • Abernethy Award to Frederick R. Holcomb / davidson college (us)

Conflict of Interest Statement

None to report.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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  2. Henderson ARP, Valverde A, Koenig J, Sears W. Effects of anesthetic protocol, procedure, and recovery stall and interval on the quality of recovery in repeatedly anesthetized horses. Can J Vet Res 2025 Jan;89(1):17-25.
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  3. Khalafi A, Fallah Z, Sharif-Nia H. The effect of spaced learning on the learning outcome and retention of nurse anesthesia students: a randomized-controlled study. BMC Med Educ 2024 Mar 21;24(1):322.
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