International Society of Equitation Science's Training Principles

As someone who strives to incorporate evidence-backed principles into my work with horses, the International Society of Equitation Science's principles are one of my cornerstones.

Equitation science is not a training "method," nor does it prescribe a single way of working with horses. Instead, it draws on learning theory, ethology, and welfare science to provide a framework for making training decisions that are both effective and ethical. The principles developed by the International Society of Equitation (ISES) help trainers and riders reduce confusion, minimize stress, and support long-term learning and welfare.

"Equitation science promotes an objective, evidence-based understanding of the welfare of horses during training and competition by applying valid, quantitative scientific methods that can identify what training techniques are ineffective or may result in equine suffering. Equitation Science uses a multidisciplinary approach to explain horse training, for example from a learning theory perspective that removes anthropomorphism and emotiveness." - International Society for Equitation Science

What are the ISES Training Principles, and how do they affect my training?

Their training principles are a set of ten guidelines to ensure that your training keeps the horse's welfare at the forefront. They are based on how horses learn, how stress and confusion affect behavior, and how training practices should support welfare.

They remind us to be intentional and respect the horse's emotional state and nature. Below are all ten principles, followed by a brief explanation of what they mean and how I incorporate them.

1. Regard for human and horse safety.

Training should prioritize safety for the horse and handler at all times. Working with horses should come along with recognizing that their size, power, and potential flightiness represent a significant risk.

In practice, this principle means being aware of the environment, having realistic expectations for what a horse can manage, avoiding actions that provoke aggressive or defensive behaviors, communicating clearly, and always choosing the safest option, especially when working with new horses. I'm always willing to slow down or adjust the plan when safety might be compromised.

2. Regard for the nature of horses

Horses are prey animals with strong social instincts and a natural tendency to avoid things that scare them. Training that ignores these traits can lead to unnecessary conflict or fear.

This also means being able to recognize signs of pain and stress and avoiding using dominance-related language for horse-human interactions. Although dominance theory is commonly referenced in the horse world, we know that's not how horses operate. Instead, they are likely scared, confused, or in pain.

Most importantly, this principle means prioritizing management that respects their natural need for friends, forage, and freedom. If any of those requirements are missing, it may be negatively affecting their welfare or their behavior.

3. Regard for horses' mental and sensory abilities

Horses perceive and process information very differently from humans. As a trainer, my job is to understand how they see the world and how they learn. It also means being precise with cues, realistic about their attention spans (especially for young horses), and being careful not to anthropomorphize or attribute human motives to equine behavior.

4. Regard for current emotional states

A horse's emotional state plays a critical role in learning. Being over threshold, or having elevated stress, fear, or frustration, brings a horse to a point where they can no longer learn. This is also where most accidents and horse-related injuries happen.

By prioritizing that horses stay below threshold, I can build trust, get better results, and keep myself and the horse I'm working with safer. When I'm training, I'm constantly assessing the horse's emotional state and adjusting my actions accordingly, rather than pushing through signs of anxiety or shutdown.

Other ways I follow this principle are to encourage the horse to adopt relaxed postures like lowering their heads or walking on a loose rein, keep my body language calm so I'm helping the horse to relax, and avoid triggering fight, flight, or fear reactions.

5. Correct use of desensitization methods

Desensitization is important, but it needs to be applied gradually and thoughtfully, ensuring the horse remains under threshold and able to process what is happening.

The kind of desensitization that many of us are used to seeing is often known as "flooding," which is a training technique that overwhelms the horse with a feared object like plastic bags or tarps until the horse stops responding. This can lead to learned helplessness rather than true bravery.

Instead, I use practices like overshadowing, counter-conditioning, and differential reinforcement to desensitize. I'll explain these approaches in more detail in a later article.

6. Correct use of operant conditioning

Operant conditioning is part of learning theory and includes negative reinforcement, positive reinforcement, negative punishment, and positive punishment. Pressure-and-release, the basis of most horse training, is negative reinforcement.

Following this principle means applying pressure thoughtfully, releasing it promptly when the horse responds, and avoiding escalating pressure when the horse does not understand what I'm asking.

7. Correct use of classical conditioning

Classical conditioning uses association to shape responses, and it plays a powerful role in whether a horse anticipates calm or stress in training situations.

This principle reminds me to be mindful of what experiences are paired with cues, environments, and equipment, and to avoid inadvertently creating negative associations. It also means that I train light cues by placing them before a pressure-release sequence and reinforcement, which uses classical conditioning in my favor to train the horse to respond to the lightest cue possible.

8. Correct use of shaping

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior. Clear criteria and appropriate steps are critical for this process. In my training, this means breaking tasks into achievable pieces and recognizing small improvements, rather than expecting the finished behavior too soon.

Trainers should maintain a consistent environment, give the horse enough time to learn, and plan training to make the correct response as obvious and easy as possible.

9. Correct use of signals or cues

   
   

Signals should be clear, consistent, and distinct from one another. Confusing or overlapping cues can lead to frustration and conflict behaviors. I focus on ensuring that each signal has a predictable meaning for the horse. Cues are our biggest way of communicating with horses, and it's our responsibility to make sure they are clear.

10. Regard for self-carriage

Self-carriage refers to the horse's ability to maintain posture, balance, and rhythm without constant support or pressure. In other words, the horse should be able to carry themselves on their own rather than relying on being held together by the rider. This especially applies to proper collection.

This principle influences both groundwork and riding, encouraging independence, balance, and responsibility. The goal of training should be for the horse to maintain gait, tempo, stride length, direction, head and neck carriage, and body posture with minimal input from the rider.

The International Society of Equitation Science's official training principles poster.

Why these principles matter to me

The ISES training principles do not prescribe a single method of discipline-specific approach. Instead, they provide a framework for making ethical, effective decisions in real-world training situations.

By grounding my work in these principles, I aim to provide training that improves understanding, reduces unnecessary stress, and promotes long-term welfare rather than simply producing short-term results.

These principles guide my decisions, and thoughtful observation of the individual horse that stands before me that day always remains at the center of my work.

For more information on these training principles, check out this page: https://www.equitationscience.com/ises-training-principles.