was wondering if anyone has attempted/had any success with clicker training their horses? also what have you used in the beginning to associate the click being positive with the horses (specific treat, etc.)? also if anyone has any particular tips for clicker training a horse that would be great, thanks!!
black bunny
Favorite Answer
A lady I know does clicker training...
http://user.cavenet.com/parkerk/default.htm
Click on the "Articles" link and that will help you get started. Her horses are fantastic to watch...I've seen them in person many times.
Anonymous
Clicker training is great.
Start out teaching the horse to bump something with their nose (a lid, a ball or something) and when they do click them and then give them a treat. They learn really quickly. It's probably worth getting the Alexandra Kurland book but also look out for dog training books on clicker because they have a lot of good tips as well.
Best treats are something not too sugary but something that they'll like. It's probably best if you give a mixture of pony nuts, chopped up carrots, horse sweets etc. If you use carrots cut them up quite small, you don't need a whole carrot, just enough to give them a treat.
Once they're doing something all the time you can then go onto not clicking every time but maybe click after every 5 times, then 2, then 6, then 4, then 3, then 1 so that they don't know when it's coming and will keep on trying (a bit like playing slot machines, you don't know when you're going to win so you keep on trying).
?
If it works for people, that's great and they can keep doing it. It doesn't bother me. Personally, I'd never want to deal with clicker training a horse. And like you said, if there are 2 people who both clicker train standing right next to each other, I can see a disaster happening! From what I understand a lot of it is food related? You need to give them treats to train them, is this correct? If so, I'd never do this... training horses with treats is a bad idea, they don't learn the same way dogs do. They're not extremely food-motivated animals usually.
Jamie Z
Maybe on the positive aspect associate the clicker with grain. I know after we take out horses for a long ride they get a little grain when they get back. They know they are going to get grain so they get ansy on the way back and want to run and not listen to me, but they love it. I haven't tried clicker training with my horses, sorry.
zombie
i have my horse trained to bow and hug. i started with a clicker and using a simple treat - a carrot. i dont like to use grain cause it takes longer to give to them and they want it more. but with a carrot i just give them the treat fast so they kno wat they did right. be clear and precise wen u train. it works pretty good as long as u get the timing right. there are lots of ways to clicker train depending on wat u want th horse to do. some horses get the hang of it pretty fast others u have to take time every day. do it in steps, be clear, click wen the horse does wat u want even only for a split second and be sure to say 'good' in a nice tone and reward.