Award Winning Equine Scientist, Equine Trainer, Equestrian Coach and Speaker
(Listeners’ Choice)
By Popular Demand we have re-published this episode. Each weekend we are choosing the most listened to and commented on episodes for you to enjoy.
This interview was previously published in 2017 (Andrew McLean) (003)
About Dr Andrew McLean
– Andrew is the winner of the highest Australian science award, the Eureka Prize for Science, Andrew McLean is in great demand as a trainer, coach and speaker. In addition to establishing the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, he has written 5 books, including an international best seller, and authored 35 peer-reviewed journal articles.
An accredited coach for more than 30 years, Andrew’s own riding achievements include winner of the advanced section of the famous Gawler Three-Day-Event, representing Australia in Horse Trials, short-listed for the World Championships, competitor at State and National events in FEI level Dressage and Eventing, and Show Jumping to Grand Prix level. he also held a racehorse owner/trainer licence, and raced bareback in Australia and New Zealand in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Andrew also began training elephants in Nepal in 2007, which led to the establishment of the not-for-profit HELP Foundation (Human Elephant Learning Program), of which he is now Senior Vice President. This cooperative project focusses on the optimal management, welfare and training of elephants in Asia using innovative training techniques based on learning theory and the elimination of punishment.
To Listen to Dr Andrew McLean on iTunes – Click Here
Or Listen below
Favourite Inspirational Quote
Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see
Who Has Inspired Andrew
Tom Roberts who was the first person Andrew ever knew who correctly described negative reinforcement in user-friendly terms of ‘profit’ and ‘profit you not’, as an integral part of his horse training principles.
About This Episode
Andrew talks about his background in zoology and learning about natural animal behaviour led him to explore how animals learned.
His PhD studies in Learning Theory explored training methods in horses, what good trainers do and the theory behind it.
Andrew discusses how he has transferred his knowledge to elephants with a link to the charity to support this work, relevant to all animal lovers.
Time Stamps
04:00 Living on King Island with lots of animals
05:00 First thoughts of Learning Theory
06:45 Main lessons learnt in PhD research about training horses
07:30 How horses learn with pressure, and their motivation may not be what you currently think
09:30 Classical conditioning used by the old Masters in Equitation
10:00 Application of habituation technique – how fast and how far
11:00 About raising a horse’s arousal level
12:25 Counter conditioning and teaching horses to be brave
13:00 Great trainers, Charlotte Dujardin and implicit learning
13:55 Reminiscing about Woodmount Magic & Woodmount Enterprise
16:00 Why Andrew became a racehorse trainer
17:30 Which horse paid for Andrew’s farm
18:20 Proudest moments
19:40 Training tips for horses and riders
24:10 Differences and similarities between elephants and horses
26:00 What the future holds for Andrew
28:30 Andrew talks about the books he has written
33:00 Final message with training exercise to practice
Music
BenSound.com
Andrew’s Contact Details
Phone: 0408 101 141 or + 61 408 101 141
Email: AndrewMcLean@esi-education.com
Website: www.esi-education.com
Facebook Link: www.Facebook.com/EquitationScienceInternational
Books
The books that Andrew has written can be found on this link
http://www.esi-education.com/shop/
The Truth About Horses: A Guide to Understanding and Training Your Horse
Fabish: The Horse That Braved a Bushfire
Tom Roberts Go Forward, Dear: A Horseman’s Life and Legacy (First)
HELP (Human Elephant Learning Program) Charity
https://www.facebook.com/helpelephants/
When Andrew is a return guest on Horse Chats, what question would you like to ask him?
(Please leave comment below)
Also Listen to
111 Andrew McLean – “Ten Training Principle for Horses”