This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To expand your understanding of clicker training, first suppose you have your horse associating the click with a treat, and understanding that if he touches the object with his nose, he gets clicked and then rewarded. When that is established, you can then build on it by moving the cone further and further away and then after he reliably touches the cone no matter where it is, withhold the click to see what he does: He will probably mouth the cone, push it around, etc. If you are wanting to teach him to retreive it, let him explore a bit and then if he mouths the cone click instantly at the mmoment. Keep doing this, waiting a bit longer each time until he eventually picks it up in his teeth for a moment: CLICK! expand on this so he is picking it up and holding it longer and longer, waiting for the click. In little steps you can start having him carry it , eventually moving toward you and finally bringing the cone to you!
The beauty of clicker training is that is trains US to break things down into tiny steps and look for the "slightest try" . The same principle is used by Ray hunt and all of the good horseman, even if they don't beleive in using food treats, they reward with a release of pressure, etc. Operant conditioning! The beauty of clicker training using food rewards, if done properly, it encourages the horse to think and be creative and enjoy looking for ways to get the "vending machine" to give out that treat reward. It is great fun thing to do when you can't ride, an you can just spend 15 minutes or so at a time when you have a moment. More on Clicker training: http://www.crisny.org/users/kurlanda/ A better explanation than I gave above: http://www.crisny.org/users/kurlanda/gettingstarted.html Hop ethis helps l;you understand more about this fun stuff! Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, Clear and cold, the weatherman has taken back his promise of snow! ************************************************************ Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
