This message is from: "Gail Russell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Jean, all
This is similar (or possibly even worse) than the problem of a stallion wanting to take after mares when under your control. Beth Beymer managed to use Natural Horsemanship techniques involving negative reinforcement (best expressed by Ray Hunt's statement "make the right thing easy, make the wrong thing difficult") to get my stallion Romulus to focus on HER, not the mares. HOWEVER, she had to be on him ALL the time. Beth did get him to stop grass diving as well...but his desire to pursue sex popped up constantly.....which is what finally motivated me to geld him. She could train it out of him....but the training needed constant and vigilant reinforcement. (If you have ever seen Beth training horses, you have an idea of her vigilance.....she notices every little transgression, and addresses it instantly.....even when it is extremely inconvenient to do so!) I have had the same kinds of disobedience problems with Odin. Like you, my skills at administering negative reinforcement are not really up to the task with a horse that is not easily scared. I am just not that skilled a horseperson. So....I have been trying clicker training (again). The jury is still out as to how well it will work, but this is what I know about extinguishing grass diving if you are not as skilled as Beth: With Gunthar, I practiced a behavior that was incompatible with grass diving, specifically, "head up." At first, I taught him the "head up" command in situations where there was no grass, clicking and treating to reinforce. Then, when over grass, I would say "head up" as he started to go down to get grass. He would automatically put his head up, without really weighing his options. I liken it to a situation where one has gotten into the habit of using swear words. Then, in the presence of someone you want to impress....they slip out automatically, even if you want to clean up your language. If the incompatible behavior becomes automatic enough, the horse obeys the command without even stopping to consider that he would really prefer to have the grass. (I am aiming for: Gunthar to self, "Rats, I put my head up and forgot to dive for the grass!") With Odin I have been trying to teach him not to bull ahead of me when he sees something interesting. We have been practicing backing up in his stall....upon commands to "Whoa" (he is being asked to stop, and then back two steps after stopping...ala John Lyons college level leading), a touch to his chest, rope flopping in front of him, the word "back" or a backward pull on the halter. He is now extremely compliant with no distractions. Now we are opening the stall gate *part way*, and practicing in the presence of the distraction (the distraction is *dumbed down( by the fact that the gate is not fully open). In about ten one hour sessions we are now approaching compliance with a limited number of distractions (we have also worked on a few other things in that time). I am sure that, had I established respect in a round pen (I've tried, but Brigid and Dagrun will tell you it is not easy with Odin) it might take less time....but I have to use the tools I am skilled in using. So...the jury is still out, but I will say that it is clear that I do have a newly installed incompatible behavior that now works in the presence of certain controlled levels of distractions. I will probably be at this for a month yet......while going to huge extremes to keep from EVER setting him up to fail. I figure he has to succeed ALL the time, or my program will be set back. The other part of my program is to never hand feed treats without making Odin work for them, and to never let him graze in hand. My husband has let Romulus graze in hand since he came back from Beth's, and he has gone back to trying to dive for grass. It is not too bad yet...and I have issued an urgent request that no one allow any of my horses to eat grass while on a lead rope. On some occasions I have allowed horses that are less difficult about grass to graze when they are specifically told they are allowed to do it (via a previously trained "head down" or a downward pull on the lead rope.....but I am not at all sure even that is a good idea. Anyway...my take on the problem. Gail Russell
