Clicker Train Spanish Walk

Service Dog

Carrots and Sticks

Have you ever wondered how a sheep dog, police horse, leopard or octopus is trained?

Drawing on interviews with leading animal trainers, Carrots and Sticks offers 50 case studies that explore the step-by-step training of a wide variety of companion, working and exotic animals; reviews the preparation of animals prior to training and common pitfalls encountered.

The book brings behavioral science to life, explaining animal training techniques in the language of learning theory.

Opening sections on instinct, rewards, punishers and intelligence are richly infused with examples from current training practice and establish the principles that are explored in the unique case studies.

Its accessible style will help reassess your preconceptions and simplify your approach to all animal-training challenges.

This exciting text will prove invaluable to anyone with an interest, amateur or professional, in the general basics of training, as well as students of psychology, veterinary medicine, agriculture and animal science.

Horse Lukas Spells His Name

This horse spells his name, and recognizes shapes.

ClickRyder

Obstacle Course for Horse Clicker Training

Clicker training your horse through obstacles is a fun way for the horse to learn and for both of you to bond.

Here are some suggestions of obstacles to try.

The pictures in this post are from Wanda, of Canada, with her Icelandic Horse.

Another course: http://www.fjordhorse.com/mounttrail.html

Clicker Training Rehab Icelandic Horses

Description by the owner: A new project horse we have here on his first day at Oakfield Farm. He should become a nice riding horse soon with some work with the clicker.

Clicker Training the PHN Friendly Game

Combining clicker training and Parelli Natural Horsemanship's Friendly Game:

Recognizing Cues

A video from Peggy, The Best Whisper is a Click; working on clicker training cues with her horses (bridleless riding).

Facebook ClickRyder Group

If you are a clicker trainer, or are interested in clicker training for your horse, you can join the Facebook ClickRyder group:

Facebook ClickRyder

Experienced clicker trainers are on board with pictures, videos, helpful tips, and discussions.

Our large, very active group is at YahooGroups:

YahooGroups ClickRyder

Horse Brain, Intelligence, Learning

Here are several articles from thehorse.com about the horse's brain, learning ability, intelligence, memory, attention span, etc.:

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6494

http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=7011

http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=9479

http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=13642

http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=6346

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10050

The articles are free to read, just login (or register if you haven't done so already).

Clicker Training Horses Interview with Jane Savoie and Sharon Foley

Listen to an audio interview with Jane Savoie and Sharon Foley, author of the clicker training book, Getting to Yes:

Interview with Jane Savoie and Sharon Foley

Bo's Clicker Training Demo

This is Bo's first clicker training demo for horses.

Clicker Training Horse Toys

Clicker trainer teaching her horse to pick up toys.

Targeting and Mugging

Yvonne, of Australia, clicker trains her Paso Fino and demonstrates targeting and how to deal with mugging.

Zedonk Mounting Block Lesson

Zeke, zedonk (zebra / donkey cross), has a mounting block lesson.

Teaching a Horse the Head Shake ("Say No")

Clicker Training Jimmi, Horse

From Germany:

Jimmi is three years old, very curious and friendly. He wants to be near the handler and her food pouch and doesnt know yet that people want horses to keep some distance.

Some of the topics that came up: getting to know the comfort zone of people, taking food more carefully, keeping distance while being fed, standing besides the handler relaxed without fumbling or nipping looking straight forward, being touched at the head/mouth/halter without nipping or head shaking, relaxing while the handler holds on to the halter, yielding to pressure.


More Jimmi videos.

Second Session, Pony Pivoting on Platform

This is the pony's second session of learning to pivot on the platform. His first session was about 3-4 minutes long (video in the previous post), then about a week later, this session.

In the first session, I tipped his head with the lead rope, and put pressure on his hind end. In the second session, I didn't touch him, but used one hand at his head to indicate "come", and one hand towards the hind to indicate "move away".

He does well with clicker training.

Horse Pivot Platform

This pony (probably a Welsh / POA cross, not an Icelandic Horse :-)) is learning how to pivot on the platform; a good suppling exercise, and an extension of Parelli Natural Horsemanship's disengaging the hindquarters.

Clicker Training Horse Mugging

This video addresses horse mugging during clicker training; taking treats with manners.

Training Horse to Mounting Block

An educational video by Brenda, of http://www.thelittleblackhorse.com/ about training a horse to stand at the mounting block for mounting.

Horse Pedestal Training

This young horse is being clicker trained to put his front feet on the pedestal and pivot around them.

Habits of Effective Clicker Trainers, Part One

Part one of Nine Habits of Effective Clicker Trainers:

Clicker Training a Horse That Has Not Been Touched

Here are three videos by Leslie Pavlich about clicker training a horse that has never been touched.

Clicker Training Horse Bath

A new video from Leslie Pavlich, on clicker training young horses for bathing:

Clicker Training Horse to Retrieve

Here is a video explaining and showing shaping a behavior (retrieving a cone), with a horse, through clicker training.

Behavior Chains

Buttons 057
Originally uploaded by EG3007

Behavior chains with horses / ponies:

Buttons performs a behavior chain, learned through clicker training, in this video.

Communication With Rein Aids

By CIE Studies:

In this video we look at the process of using clicker training to teach a young horse to respond to rein aids by basic flexions. Rein aids are the primary means of communication when riding, so it's important to establish them before actually getting in the saddle.

The basic flexions are forward, back, head up, head down, turn on the forehand (indirect rein), turn on the haunches (direct rein).

The flexions are clicker trained using rhythmic cues. Initially the horse gets clicked for their very first movement, which builds quick, light response to the cue. Later we can click for duration, smoothness of movement and other criteria.

These flexions are the basis of any under saddle communication including reining, dressage, hunter/jumpers and endurance.

Because we are using positive reinforcement (clicker training), the process is really enjoyable for the horse and trainer and we avoid the fights that often arise when working on subtle cues and small movements.

While we are training rein aids, we begin in the halter because young horses have a tendency to throw their heads when starting this work. As the horse begins to understand and respond calmly to the cues, we will add the bit to fine-tune communication.

Horse Lateral Work

This owner is training lateral work with her horse; and the specific exercise is "lateral movement towards me", through clicker training. The horse is rewarded for moving laterally towards her.



A description from Cheryl of how she worked on this lateral move:

`Lateral Toward Me' (3 ten minute lessons)

Front / Shoulders:

I worked with Candy's front end first.

Near and offside separately.

I asked Candy to bring her nose toward me `click'. I took a step backwards and her front feet started to follow me `click'.

After a few times Candy started to cross her front legs and take a step sideways with me when I stepped back `click'. (I did not worry about her hind at this stage). Once this was firm in candy's mind, I only needed to point my arm to her shoulder- step back and she crossed her front legs and stepped with me `click' (you can see this on video with her offside).

I then had -`The start of Lateral Towards Me' (front)

Hindquarters:

I then went to her hindquarters. I tapped her hip and I took a step backward, with the slightest idea she was going to come sideways towards me with her hind I `click'. (This was all she needed on her offside.)

At the start of our hind work with her near side, Candy needed a "clue" of how to come to me- what I was asking of her.

Clue:

What I did was placed her offside parallel to a fence meaning she could not move away from me when I asked but in fact she needed to come sideways with me.

(She could have backed up or left by walking forward though, as I prefer to work with my horse with no halter etc unless it is used only for a clue).

I then tapped her hip with my outstretched arm and I took a step backward.

Perfect!

With no hesitation her hindquarters came sideways toward me (just a small weight shift) but `click' and the best treat.

I then had `Start of Lateral Toward Me' (hind)

Full Body Lateral:

After that as you can see in the start of my video, I only needed to point an arm to her shoulder and an arm to her hip, step backward and she will sidestep to me.

Her full body is now `Lateral towards me'.

Softness:

The softness in Candy has come naturally while Candy and I worked through what I was asking of her and tiny step by step she `Got It'.

Footwork:

Candy and me are now progressing from my arm cues, (which I used as a clue for which body part to move) to her following only my footwork. This will be her cue for this exercise, as body language works well for Candy. I also like the result to be an easy neat `clear cue' for my horse to pick up on. (which she usually picks)

4th ten minute lesson:

On our 4th ten minute lesson tonight I worked with Candy on her offside.

She is now gliding sideways with me as she does with her near side, in a `full Lateral Towards Me'

There was a lot more `click' moments while teaching this. I am a trainer who looks at - the start of a behavior to the finish of a behavior- as one big jigsaw of a thousand pieces. `I click for each piece'.

Example: if I'm asking Candy in this particular exercise to come to me with her front and she moves her hind instead `click'. She is still heading towards the end result.

Hopefully you can get the idea, but remember to watch your horse, he will 'tell you' when to click. Each horse will react differently when you ask something, so be ready to `click' for the smallest thing.

Video Information, Clues:

Study the video for more clues if you need to, as there is quite a lot of information to find on it.

I love my horse she is such a pleasure to work with.

Enjoy yours!

Cheryl and Candy
_______________________

Another horse and owner working on lateral work:

Clicker Training Feet for Horses

Elizabeth clicker trains Dixie to lift her feet nicely.



Owner description: I'm clicker training Dixie to give me her feet nicely. The angle is horrible, but I'm putting it up anyway because I'm so impressed at how good she was. This is her third clicker lesson, second clicker foot lesson.

Clicker Training Horse for Line Dancing

This horse is being clicker trained to line dance, which includes foot work and full body turns.

Mimic Behavior with Clicker Training

Encouraging Horse Curiosity

Clicker Train Soft and Light

Marvin

Free Lungeing Jumps

Kali does an excellent job with the video and narration of her horse free lungeing over jumps.

Teeter Totter and Weaving Cones

Bo, the miniature horse, does the teeter totter, and practices weaving cones.

Clicker Training a Horse to Spin

Another great video by clicker training Leslie Pavlich, teaching her stallion to spin.

Matt, Trick Horse

Great tricks accomplished with clicker training.

See the ClickRyder email discussion list:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clickryder



and his reining spin :-)