Janet L. Jones Ph.D.

About

Janet Jones, Ph.D., applies brain research to the training of horses and riders. She earned her Ph.D. from UCLA and taught the neuroscience of perception, language, memory, and thought for 23 years. Janet trained horses at a large stable early in her career, and later ran a successful horse training business of her own. She has schooled hundreds of green or difficult horses and competed in hunter, jumper, halter, reining, and western pleasure disciplines. Learn more at www.janet-jones.com.

Books by Janet L. Jones Ph.D.

Recent Posts

The Importance of Difference in Studying Animal Cognition

Human brains are biased toward the comfort of similarity, but in horses and life, differences are more important.

Abuse and the Control of Executive Function

Punishment is the least effective means of education. It increases fear, hostility, helplessness, stress, and violence—none of which enhance learning. Let's make better choices.

Horses and Humans: Prey vs. Predator?

Most people don't like to be considered "predators," but we belong to a species of that biological class. Yet we can interact with prey animals to great benefit.

Never Punish Fear

Without thinking, we often punish fear in small ways—by scolding, humiliating, or trivializing. Instead, teach fear management gradually and methodically in people and animals.

Soothing Anxiety or Rewarding Relaxation?

When training fearful individuals by reward, how can we best distinguish between rewarding relaxation and soothing anxiety?

Coaching in Layers

Coaching an athlete, teaching a student, or raising a child? To ensure successful growth, we must consider the layers of skill, cognition, and emotion at a minimum.

Equine-Assisted Therapy: You Can't Push a Horse Around

Horses are so large that human strength is useless. We must rely on emotional intelligence and knowledge-based skills to handle them. Not a bad idea for handling people either.

How Horses and Humans See Color

Color vision differs strongly between horses and humans. Applying this knowledge yields better horse-human performance and fewer injuries.

How Horses See the World

Working in horse-and-human teams, people often assume horses see the world as we do. But they don't.

Racing for Human Motivation

A Personal Perspective: Horse racing must change to protect equine welfare, but it should be saved for its inspirational effects on human life.