(This blog was
originally posted on June 13, 2016)
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Me with Monty
Roberts at the Pomona Equine Affaire in 2008
Photo courtesy
of Sara Fogan
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The first time I heard the term “inferential learning” was at a Monty Roberts horse-training seminar at
the 2008 Equine Affaire in
Pomona, California. To help a horse overcome its fear of obstacles, Mr. Roberts
asked some assistants to roll and lay out a blue tarp on the ground for the
animal to investigate. Over the course of about 10 minutes or so, the horse
sniffed, pawed at and eventually put a hoof on the tarp. With some
encouragement and tons of praise, he eventually built up enough confidence to
stand on the material. Mr. Roberts explained that this process facilitated the
horse’s inferential learning: by allowing it to investigate at its own speed
and even make a few mistakes along the way—the horse did balk at the tarp when
it was first laid out—he was able to figure out how to negotiate the new
stimulus and get the situation to work for
him.
I went through a similar process when I started to write this blog two
years ago.
For some reason, the cursor pad on my laptop stopped working a few weeks
ago. The technicians at Staples deduced
there was a problem with the computer but I could easily navigate the screen
with an external mouse. That was no problem until tonight, when the cursor
froze again. This time I was in my
office waiting for a client to arrive; there was no time to go back to Staples to get assistance. If I couldn’t use
the computer it wouldn’t be the worst thing—I would have to improvise creating
the reinforcement track on a different machine at home, was all. However, I had
a few minutes to spare so I decided to figure out a way to resolve my problem,
a la inferential learning.
I knew that the remote external mouse I use worked off of a USB
attachment, so I started moving the attachment back and forth to different
ports. I soon discovered that one of the ports was not working at all, but I
had no problem using the mouse when it was plugged into one of the other ports.
Phew! At least I could get my work done this evening and deal with the
defective USB port when I had more time (and no one waiting for me).
Once again, I had to credit my hypnotherapy training for helping me
remain calm and using the rational, logical part of my mind to address the
unexpected challenge. Ten years ago, I probably (definitely) would have become
panicked and frustrated right away. I am sure that it would have taken a lot
longer for me to even consider trying possible solutions for this problem. In
fact, I felt like I imagine my horse does when he figures out a new movement in
his dressage training. When he gets it right, his tail floats merrily from side
to side and he even gets a little spring in his step when he trots off again. Whenever
Galahad completes a turn on the haunches, a lateral movement he is currently
learning, my trainer or I give him a lot of verbal praise and a few pats on his
neck or shoulder to acknowledge his success.
Maybe I should give myself a pat on the back for my successful
problem-solving with my computer.
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist
based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation
Institute in 2005. For more
information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an
appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
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