Do you find any similarities in how you train a horse to how you train a dog? What are the significant differences?

I actually spent a significant amount of time discussing this topic with a dog trainer, and we agreed that there are more similarities than differences in method.

Pretty much every trainable non-human animal learns through what is called operant conditioning. Either positive or negative reinforcement can be used to shape behavior – which means either addition of reward or removal of pressure.Both forms of reinforcement are used in horse and dog training. In addition, all animals who learn through operant conditioning benefit most from reinforcement that starts on a regular schedule and then migrates to an irregular schedule.

In addition, dogs and horses both can connect operant conditioned learning to classically conditioned verbal cues using similar methods.

At a detail level, the incentives and reinforcements are sometimes different. But both species can use avoidance of pressure (the pressures, of course, are different) and the reward of treats (though horse trainers typically make more use of contact rewards like wither stroking).

The major difference between horse and dog training is the intimacy of horse and trainer compared to dog and trainer. The horse trainer is largely in direct contact with the animal at all times and can easily deliver correction or reward within the 1-3 second causal horizon of the horse. But dog trainers are now able to use remote training collars to give them that immediacy even when at longer distances.

I would say in general that the differences are exaggerated and the similarities tend to be overlooked. But I think horse and dog trainers have a lot to share.

My horse is trained english and i currently use a French link snaffle on him. I recently decided that he should also be a western horse lol. I’m extremely comfortable western and I can train him myself, but I’m not sure what bit to use. I planned on starting him in a loose ring snaffle. Where should I go from there? I probably only need something mild.
I was thinking I would switch him to a curb but I don’t know too much about the ports and shanks and stuff.

I would start him on a hackamore at first and on and off switch to a curb bit. The hackamore gives me more control and to my opinion much easier on the horse as he spends less time mouthing the new bit and more time paying attention to what I want him to do. First a few days with one and then switch to the other until he has the idea…I always do this and use the hack as a transition bridle….I like the bitless because of what I said less time mouthing the bit more time paying attention…Good luck hope this helped you some….

What are some tools or equipment used in any kind of horse training with any type of horse?
I’m working on my senior project so I can pass high school and i’ve been lookin for days on the web for information on tools or equipment to train horses and i’m lookin for some people who are smart in this area to tell me of some tools or some equipment used to do any kind of training on horses!

In training a young filly it is common to use a bag of grain and kind of slap it across her back a few times. She is being taught discipline.