A Certificate- Unit 1- Horse Behaviour

1.1 Part A. The horse has a number of adaptations related to vigilance and speed. Name three and explain how and why they evolved. (Length guide approx. 200 words)*
6 marks
1.1 Part B. (i) How and what the horse sees can be very significant in a range of equestrian disciplines. Describe equine vision in 200-300 words. You will need to do some additional research to complete this. *
5 marks
1.1 Part B. (ii) Discuss briefly how the horse’s vision needs to be taken into account for the following training scenarios – float loading, trail riding, cross country jumping. Length up to 250 words *
6 marks
1.1 Part B. (iii) Can gear (saddlery) affect a horse’s vision? Explain giving some examples. Length up to 100 words. *
3 marks
1.1 Part C. The horse has hypsodont teeth. Why is it important for riders and trainers to know this? How do we best manage the horse’s teeth in a domestic setting? Length up to 100 words. *
5 marks

1.2. It is said that horses need the Three F’s - forage, freedom and friends. How might modern management systems limit the horse’s ability to fulfil these basic ethological needs? *
6 marks
1.3. Horses have several ways of expressing the flight response. Find video or image examples of horses showing a flight response for at least five of the following equestrian sports: dressage, show jumping, cross country, rodeo, camp drafting, polocrosse, polo, trail riding, working equitation, endurance. Take a screenshot of each or join the video snippets together to go with your answer. You can submit as a video link, or upload a PowerPoint or pdf file. i) Explain in a few sentences what you see in each video/photo. Did you see any training/riding errors that, if rectified, could improve the horse’s welfare? (5 x 3.5 marks) ii) While each is only a moment in time, in a few sentences give your opinion on which sport had the most obvious expressions of the flight response? Why do you think that is? (2.5 marks) *
5 x 3.5 marks + 2.5 marks = 20 marks
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1.4 Part A. Think of a behaviour that your horse, or another horse that you know, has acquired that is less than ideal (rearing, bucking, biting etc). How and why did this behaviour develop? Was this behaviour resolved and if so, how? If not, how would you try to resolve it? Note: Do not use the same problem you described in 1.3. Length guide 200-300 words.*
5 marks
1.4 Part B. Is expressing the flight response inherently reinforcing for horses? How might you reduce expressions of the flight response in your daily training? Length guide: 200-300 words.*
5 marks

1.5 A: The word ‘naughty’ has no place in horse training. Discuss briefly. *
5 marks
1.5 B: Make a list of at least five anthropomorphic words that are used to describe horses and horse behaviour. What behaviour are they really exhibiting? *
5 marks

1.6 In your interactions with horses, you will have experienced situations that are examples of Thorndike’s two rules for behaviour. Write a paragraph each about YOUR two experiences.*
5 + 5 = 10 marks

1.7 Using the Operant Conditioning table on p37 (2024 edition) of your A Manual, think of two examples from your own life of positive and negative reinforcement. These may or may not be related to horses. If you use an example of you and your horse, explain what YOU learned. Non horse-related examples might include things like getting detention at school, missing the bus, being selected for a team. *
5 +5 = 10 marks

1.8. Can you think of two examples of positive and negative punishment? These may or may not be related to horses. If you use any examples of you and your horse, explain what YOU learned.*
5 + 5 = 10 marks

1.9. Decide on a behaviour that you are going to train using operant conditioning (either positive or negative reinforcement). This behaviour could be as simple as park (groundwork), or more complex, such as half pass (ridden). Document the training process with a series of short videos that demonstrate your progress, showing at least four stages. Note: do not be filmed from too far away; the assessor needs to see what you are doing. You can speak during the video clips, or when you submit the videos you will also add a written summary of the behaviour. This will explain what you were trying to train and a brief overview of the principles of operant conditioning. *
10 marks
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1.10 Your assessment task for this section is to train a behaviour to be elicited via classical conditioning and record the process of training it on video. You might choose to train your horse to lower his head from a voice cue or touch a target when the target is pointed at. But the possibilities are almost endless and it’s up to you! Take several short videos over the course of the training. The videos should also be supported by you explaining what you are doing, or a written description of what you were trying to achieve, and a brief explanation of how classical conditioning works. Note: do not be filmed from too far away; the assessor needs to see what you are doing.*
10 marks
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1.11 Using the 117 point welfare checklist in your manual, how would you evaluate the welfare of: i. A thoroughbred racehorse ii. A wild brumby and iii. Your Pony Club horse. Include a brief description of each horse first eg age, weight, health care, living and working conditions. The first two can describe a typical horse of this category. For each horse, explain in what areas you think their welfare be improved. Length guide: around 300 words each horse. *
5 + 5 + 5 = 15 marks
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1.12 When a problem behaviour is described correctly using Equitation Science terminology, the way to address the problem is often contained in the description. For example, a horse that is described as ‘lazy’ is a horse in which the forward responses have not been correctly trained. In a couple of sentences each, describe the following three behaviours in Equitation Science terms: • hot and tense • heavy in the hand • crooked Total suggested length for this question around 60 words*
6 marks

1.13 Pony Club Australia has developed a comprehensive welfare policy based on the Five Domains model of animal welfare. Do you think that owners adhering to a welfare policy like this would reduce the onset of stereotypical behaviour? Why or why not? Length guide: 200-300 words. The welfare policy can be found on the website www.ponyclubaustralia.com.au *
8 marks
This ends the Unit 1 assessment of the A Certificate. You may want to check your work before pressing Submit.
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