This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <<i have heard of using it with horses, but was discouraged in its use by my former trainer. i think it would be interesting to try with oz........have you used it a lot?>>
A lot of trainers discourage using clickers with horses because they believe it will lead to grabby, nippy horses. If you are doing it correctly, and consistently, it actually can cure grabby nippy horses by teaching them that only polite, waiting horses get a treat. Grabbing for a reward does NOT get it! I use clicker training a couple of times a week unless I have lost all my clickers, like I have now. I should be able to train them to a voice click, but haven't focused on that - once the rains start (are you listening weather gods??), I tend to do more clicker work because I am inside. Joe is a smart, smart horse, and I have never seen him learn anything the way he does the clickering! Within a few sessions he was putting his nose on whatever I pointed to, following a target as I walked or moved it around, doing a simple bow (not a knee to the ground, just a head between the knees), dropping his head, and we had just started retrieving when I lost my clickers. It works great in conjunction with other training methods, or alone. Because of my portly pals, I usually break up their yummy supplements into little bits and use those as rewards, or small carrot bits. There is a great series of videos on a lady who is using clicker training only to raise up a foal _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Uo6SmtVtE_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Uo6SmtVtE) _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLDbkFaVXh8_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLDbkFaVXh8) There are so many fun things to do with the ponies, my biggest challenge is trying to decide what to do every day - riding, ground work, clicking, grooming, chilling. No wonder I can't get around to driving - not enough hours in the day! Kate and Joe and Della (who wholeheartedly endorse the concept of training with treats!) ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
