Clicker Training?

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Clicker Training?

spirithorse · Advanced

Not fond of it because it is nothing more than Pavlov's Classical...............

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Fair enough. Is it the treats, then, that turn it for you? (sorry to be so nosy, I love having all sides of the equation)

spirithorse · Advanced

Well actually no. Its the conditioned response rather than an educated response.

I treat horses so much that I have been called a spoiler. Yet, the horses respond with the correct actions when asked because I do not treat them regularly, the treat is a 'surprise'.

It is like the rider being dependent upon the spur or whip....the rider is doing nothing more the conditioning the horse. I want the horse to respond because she/he has been educated not conditioned.

"A trainer is one who teaches a specified skill, while an educator gives intellectual, systematic instruction for particular purposes through development of character and mental abilities."

sedonasilver · Advanced

I am inclined to agree with spirithorse on this one.

The whole point of dressage is to display the ultimate synchronicity of horse and rider, and this is created by obedience and willingness from your mount.

When you ask for an action, it should be executed by your mount instantly, obediently, and willingly because you ASKED for this to be done.

Not because he wants a piece of carrot.

However, Lorenzo is very spoilt and does get a fair few treats if he's been a good boy (which is most of the time!)

Ranna · Well Schooled

I use clickertraining for about 6 months now and absolutely love it and more important my dog and horses do to.
Yes they get rewarded for doing what you ask but it doesn't always have to be a treat.
You can pet them where they like it, give them a good scratch or give them a rest as reward as well.

In my opinion you have to use whatever you can to understand your horse (or what kind of animal you've got) and make it easy for him to understand you. Try to find a way you communicate best.
If that's with a treat, a treat it is no matter if it's something edible or not.

Whatver works for the two of you right?!

And when I see how much fun it is for all of us I don't want anything else. But that doesn't mean I only use clickertraining. But I'll sure mix it in with my training every time because to me it is a very clear way of talking to my animals and make them think about what it is I'm asking.

sedonasilver · Advanced

Ranna wrote:

Whatver works for the two of you right?!

You're spot on Ranna. Each to their own! You know your horse best and whatever works for you, there is no harm in doing it :) Sounds like the two of you have a great relationship

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Can you tellme more about your clicker training techniques?

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

I think clicker training has it's place, depending on what you'd like to do with your horse (or animal). I'm not sure exactly how one would tie it into riding, but for trick training (which is a profitable industry), I think it is great. Such as for movie horses, as the trainer you may have to stand off set and you want to be able to ask the horse to stop whatever trick it is doing in a way that the horse can recognize it without being confused. The clicker sound signifies that the horse has given the response requested and his reward is to stop when he hears the clicker sound. The reward eventually is a release of pressure, like with any other training method, I say eventually because like any other training you'd begin with lots of praise when the horse is learning something new.

It is just another aid, there is nothing holding the horse to responding to a clicker (after all, racehorses are taught to pee on command before a race by passing the stall whistling, and you in no way teach this response through touching the horse). Just like when training undersaddle, in the beginning the horse doesn't know how to respond to your aids and through asking and rewarding for proper response, he learns that you'll stop putting pressure on him when he responds the correct way and then links a nudge in the side to trotting off.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

fascinating. My boyfriend is involved with film. Perhaps I'll try to train a movie horse? My horse Jay, he knew how to 'shake' and how to work zippers. Such fun!!!

Ranna · Well Schooled

Horse-hearted wrote:

Can you tellme more about your clicker training techniques?

You start of with letting your horse get used to the idea that a click = treat

Because horses a curious by nature all you have to do is stick out your hand. As soon as he touches it with his nose there's the click and immediately a treat. Because most horses like a sweet of some kind you can start with a sweet for a treat so you get your horse's attention.

Repeat that reveral times. Touching your hand = click = treat. The treat should be given in the same second that the click is given.

When you horse understands the game you change it but always set your horse up for success. For example you can put something in the arena and as soon as he touches that = click = treat.

It won't be long before you see the light come on in your horses head aww

To me that's the most beautiful moment of all.

From that you can teach him anything really but there are some important things you have to take in account.

Your timing has to be perfect. Click at exactly thát moment when the horse does that what you want BUT don't ask to much. Go with little babysteps.

For instance: if you want your horse to lift up his foot and hold it up high. Don't wait untill he does the whole lecture before you click.

Start of by clicking as soon as he takes his weight of that foot as soon as you touch it with your hand or whip. When that's understood you ask him again to lift up his foot and after a few times your horse will get your drift and offer to pick it up for a short instance. Click straight away when he does to tell him thát's what you want.

By this time your horse is sure who the game is played and next time he probably will lift up his foot even higher what gives him a click and an extra treat because he is doing so great!

You get the idea I guess biggrin

Oh, don't use the same kind of treat all the time, every time. Make him curious about what he can earn next time he tries his best.

And don't make your sessions longer than a few minutes at the time. It's better to do more short sessions a day than 1 of 30 minutes.

Remember, it is like with riding. The horse gives you what you ask. So if he gives you something you didn't think you asked for - the mistake is with you not your horse! Your horse is always right. (Can be realy frustrating at times to know this biggrin )

Hope this helps.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

That actually helps alot. I can't wait to try it out. Thanks so much!

Ranna · Well Schooled

Let me know how you get on!

As I said, it is sooo great to see the light bulb moment in your horse's eye!
You actually see him make the connection between the click and the treat.

The pro for a click sound is that you can immediately reward exactly thát movement you are looking for. The con is you always have to carry a clicker.

That's why you can make up a sound that has the same function as the click. Just be sure it is something you don't use in other situations because that will be very confusing to your horse.

And, another important rule is. Do not use the same clicker for another animal if the first animal can hear its sound. I use 3 different clickers. Although to us they all seem to make the same sound, to animals they don't and so every animal here has his own clicker.

Good luck I'm sure this is going to be a lot of fun for you!

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I was hoping to find one at the Royal, but where on earth do I find clickers? Pet stores?

alhoss · Yearling

yeah and you can also get them online. I got one from amazon.com

MagsNMe · Advanced

We've used some clicker training on our various horses. The one, you can see in her eye that she knows she just has to figure out what you want and she's in for a cube of sugar. It's pretty rare that we use it with her now, it was a good thing for her while she was laid up, more of a game for her.

But, when we were having some issues and hitting a dead end with training her baby to lead, out came the clicker and he was very motivated to figure out what these weird people wanted. It got him over an impasse.

Like any other method, it has a time and a place. My kids like it as a diversion, a different way to work with me.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Interesting! Most of our herd is well-trained older crowd, and I thought they might enjoy something new to spice up routine. We also have some up-and-comers, so I hope to use the clicker training to help them on their journey.
Thanks for the tips, I will start looking around for clickers.

sally forth · Yearling

Ranna wrote:

The pro for a click sound is that you can immediately reward exactly thát movement you are looking for. The con is you always have to carry a clicker.

Plus, eventually, each behaviour becomes self-rewarding (because of the Pavlovian conditioning) so you don't need to mark it or reward it.

meanddd · Foal

I am new to this forum and very new to horses. I started clicker training my two horses a few months ago. My girl was very spooky and shy and since the clicker she has become curious and confident. She will go over jumps, push her toys around, figure 8's all off line and she is learning something new every session. My boy has fun with it, he knows when I head out with the clicker he is in for some fun. As I am so new to horses I think everything they do is amazing. I enjoy the clicker as a switch up to their other training and for a great bonding experience.