Gentling Mustangs with Positive Reinforcement

Ride On with Julie Goodnight

In this episode, I’m talking to Dr. Sarah Matlock, a professor of Equine Behavior at Colorado State University, about her fascinating research into using positive reinforcement to gentle mustangs. We’ll talk about Dr. Matlock's personal journey with horses, and how that led her to a career in equine sciences. Then we’ll delve into Dr. Matlock's exciting work studying the impact of positive reinforcement through clicker training on wild mustangs. She explains the concept of "gentling" mustangs and the challenges associated with it, as well as the importance of understanding horse behavior and motivation.

In my new segment, Long Story Short, I'll tell you about an important lesson I learned from my dad when it comes to recognizing horse behavior, and the importance of people taking responsibility for their actions—instead of blaming their horse. And in What the Hay? Q&A, I’ll answer listener questions about how to keep weeds in the arena at bay, and using tie-downs on trail rides.

Show Notes:

Sarah Matlock: [email protected]

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From What the Hay? Q&A

Resources on Tie-Downs/Martingales: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/tie-downs-martingales

Resources on High-Headed Horses: https://signin.juliegoodnight.com/tag/high-headed-horses