Test Me Maybe.

[skye06]

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if you could think up some stage 4 questions for me to practice. I won't cheat honest. Thank for any help.

[eml]

Stage 4 tends to be mainly more open discussion than question and answer...try disussing topics such as field management or vaccination routines with friends who have different views.

Anatomy and physiology questions such as are in the 'examinations handbook ' are worth practicing but ideally have some examples in your mind of horses you have seen with problems so you can add to the disussion and show more knowledge, examiners love to write 'speaks from obvious experience'.

Added just to set you off

What is a reflex action and what are conditioned reflexes?

[skye06]

Yeah I had thought that but i don't have that many equine friends around here to talk to.

A reflex action is a movement done without concious thought eg blinking or flight when scared, these are due to instinct and happen with out horse having to think about doing it.

A conditioned reflex is a reflex to something which has to be learned, nodding head every time you pat his nose or most aids result in conditioned reflexes.

Don't laugh at me now if I got that back wards. I understand how hard it is to get what your thinking across when on computer.

[bexj]

So ( I have no idea of the answer - haven't even done stage 1), is something like cribbing or windsucking a conditioned reflex or not?

[eml]

No you are quite right Skye...

Bexj that is just the sort of thing which would be discussed in a Stage 4, ...I won't bore everyone as I suspect I would run over a word limit discussing all the views I have heard on cribbing or windsucking but basically no ...its more akin to fingernail biting or other sterotypes.

Conditioned reflex is essentially the pavlovs dog type reaction like when your horse starts door banging when you walk to the feed room , sterotypical behaviour is more complex.

[skye06]

I'm begining to think maybe putting in for my stage 4 was a bad idea, I was so sure I would be OK when I put in for it last month but as the date gets closer I'm getting more nervous, Wish I had some equine friends to go over things with.

[eml]

PM me if you want Skye ..both myself and daughter have done it...she's more up to date than me but we will try to help if you want.

Have you got the 'Examinations Handbook'..that gives the best feel for the level of knowledge needed.

[Sparklie]

Is cribbing and windsucking not a form of stereotypical behaviour rather than a reflex action? Eg: something derived from stress rather than a reflex

Good luck doing your stage 4...I can't imagine knowing enough to do that

[eml]

I personally think they are but some argue that windsucking soothes acid/ulcerated stomachs and so you can go down the reflex..I do..I feel better..therefore I do again... route.

[Sparklie]

so are stage 4 questions more a discussion on different views on certain subjects? So that you can add your own personal thoughts and show your experience this way?

I'm no where near that standard...just curious

[Charlie76]

In stage 4 you are expected to know about breeding, grassland management, training horses, conformation,give short practical lectures, be able to put on knee and hock bandages, know about specialist tack, assess horses for soundness, be able to fit a variety of specialised tack, talk about foot balance, have a good knowlege of illness and ailments, fitness of horses doing novice events and endurance horses, have some knowledge of running a yard as a buisness, have an in depth knowledge of feeding, minerals and vitamins- basically have a lot more knowledge!

In the riding section you have to be able to show jump over a course of approx. 3ft 6 inc a combination, xc over 3ft 3 and ride on the flat up to an inc. elementary and be able to discuss the horses way of going and how you would improve it.
With regards to lunging you may get any horse and you have to lunge for work NOT exercise and use poles if appropriate.

Just to warn you- I had to give a 10 minute lecture on the anatomy of the eye!

Good luck,

[cvb]

Originally Posted by eml

I personally think they are but some argue that windsucking soothes acid/ulcerated stomachs and so you can go down the reflex..I do..I feel better..therefore I do again... route.

ah - but reflexes are direct responses that go from stimulus to reaction without hitting the brain, so isn't the windsucking thing a *response* rather than a reaction i.e. its being processed by the brain...

(you did want discussion practice !)

[skye06]

Well without being a horse I can't put it down to either and I don't think there is no way to prove response or reflex, I mean when a horse first starts to windsuck it may be a response but once its become habit and imprinted in horse then maybe it becomes a reflex, something the brain doesn't need to think about.

[cvb]

Skye

Reflexes and responses apply to us as well, and it is not as simple as "not thinking about it"... we do stuff all the time that our brain IS processes but we do it without being aware of it.

The difference with a reflex - like the knee jerk one - is that it doesn't go via the brain at all. And as a result tends to be way way faster.

Like when you touch something very hot or very cold - it is a reflex that makes your muscles contract and pull you away from it, not the "learning" that it will hurt.

Its a biology thing...

EDIT: thats why when you are using positive and negative reinforcement in training, you are taking conditioned *response* (Pavlov's dogs thing - is a response not a relfex)

[dawnbringer]

Skye,
Why are you doing your stage 4? Are you a RI or hoping to be?

[skye06]

Doin it cos i want to, doing my ptt to am already teaching so may as well be qualified and get paid better for it. I have a livery yard too so I'm thinking it will help.