The Journal of Animal Consciousness Vol 1, Issue 2 Vol 1 Issue 2 | Page 39

of the horse (Reagan, 2012). Separation anxiety is Operant conditioning renders the being devoid of reported as a problem by horse owners with some interiority. horses affected more than others. Are these intra- being removed and replaced with a black box where species differences related to developmental stimuli are sent in and the result is behavior. This is attachment styles in equines? The perspective has a simplistic and reductionist approach. According to not been investigated to date. Additionally, the De Giorgio and Schoorl (2013, p.98), operant ‘breaking’ of a horse requires the breaking down of conditioning “disrupts a horse’s problem-solving it’s natural instincts often to the point of learned abilities, his abilities to be creative and his abilities helplessness (Hothersall and Casey, 2011; De to deal with changing circumstances, because they Giorgio & Schoorl, 2013). Consequently, there are reinforce linear reactions by asking for precise less natural equine expressions presented. These are reaction that is independent from the actual systematically repressed using operant conditioning situation......the animal is consequently trained....to in the attempt to make equines ‘safe’ (De Giorgio & ignore and inhibit his capacity to create sound Schoorl, 2013). It is the belief of this author that this understanding of his environment”. type of breaking the horses spirit causes there are effects upon the physiological structures, psychological and emotional damage to the Equus such as, state of being