Clicker Training to Correct
Food-Related Misbehavior
I experimented very successfully with Equine Clicker Training with one of the ponies—Fudge. He simply took it into his head that he would just run away when he felt like grass was more enticing than Horse Agility—and it became a habit. It was too easy for him to leave without a moment’s notice, run as far away as he could, and eat until someone retrieved him. This began when he was working free, then when he was put back on the lead rope to rectify the situation, he would pull the rope out of his handler’s hands and leave—and all because he found that he could!
Since food was his motivation for action, I figured I had better find out how to use it to our (my own as well as other handler’s) advantage. Ben Hart, a clicker trainer, came out for one morning and helped with the all-important timing of “click” and “reward,” and after two training sessions with Fudge, the habit was broken. He no longer left nor did we have to use the clicker again. I may have been able to break his pattern of misbehavior by being hard on him, but I preferred this way, and I think he did too.
Always I ask myself ‘Why isn’t the horse doing what I ask?’ What is missing in our relationship if he leaves me when I take the lead rope off? I want him to work with me because I am a safe and trustworthy companion, not because I feed him treats or cause him to be frightened of what might happen if he leaves.
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CHAPTER 3
horse and Handler attitude and suitability
It’s likely that most of you will be handling a horse that was previously owned by someone other than you—one that already thinks he understands what humans want based on his past experiences. For example, when he is “pushy” or “stubborn,” he may well be offering behaviors that were acceptable in the past. In order to “expect better” of him, you need to show him how you want him to be. (Remember he is not a small child in disguise; he is a horse and will always react like one.) You need to appreciate that horses are not born “bad.” They are the “mirror” of their training—and therefore their handler. To be at all successful at Horse Agility you need to know what your horse is “saying.”
Is he refusing to do something you ask because he’s afraid, doesn’t understand you, or is just tired of the whole thing? Once you can “read” why a horse isn’t doing what you ask, you can start to change the question. In the pages ahead, I will outline the ground skills that will help you teach your horse what is acceptable, safe behavior (fig. 3.1).
Reading the Horse
Is the horse happy, tired or frightened? To be a responsible horse trainer, you need to know what your horse looks like when he’s in different moods. The best way to start to learn “horse language” is to watch horses over the course of a whole day. Then, you’ll see a range of signals, from sleeping to threatening behavior. It’s much better if the horses you are watching live as part of a herd—at least for part of the time (fig. 3.2). Horses kept alone do not behave naturally enough to help you learn the body language they use to interact with others.
When you want to learn a new language,
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fig. 3.1
3.1 I have developed the ability to “read” my horse Secret—I work hard to understand why she does what she does, when she does it, so I can react appropriately. This is the basis of our happy partnership.
let’s say Japanese, where do you go to become fluent? You could go to a local college offering night courses and pick up enough simple phrases to get you around Japan, but you could never become fluent enough to blend into the customs and culture of Japanese life—even if taught by a Japanese tutor. The only way to get really good at Japanese is to go and live in Japan.
Wild horses or herds that live free speak pure “horse,” but domestic horses speak horse with a “human accent.” The domestic horse has learned to adjust his language to communicate with humans; sometimes this is successful and sometimes not. However, because the human being is so poor at communicating and understanding the horse there is often a complete breakdown of harmony between the two due to lack of communication.
If you are to be a real expert in the language of “horse,” you need to go and live in the country of “horse” for as long as you can—just as you would to be really good at
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fig. 3.2
3.2 Watch horses and how they communicate with each other. This will help you gain an understanding of what your horse might be trying to say to you.
Japanese. This isn’t possible for most of us, but there are ways you can still learn to understand what your horse is trying to tell you and give a response that is appropriate for the situation.
Reading Specific Signals in the Horse
Horses rely mainly on body language to communicate with each other, but since this is such a vast subject, I will keep the list of signals you need to be familiar with simple and only relevant to the handling techniques needed for Horse Agility.
The Body
Because humans are such weak creatures in comparison, when the horse uses his body for control, the situation can become dangerous. When on a lead rope and the horse walks in front of his handler (for example), he is trying to take control of speed, direction and distance. The horse must learn that pushing (or pulling) a person around is unacceptable.
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In chapter 5 (see p. 40) you will learn how you the handler can take control of speed, direction and distance—not by being a bully or a boss, but by taking control as any good leader should. It’s not called leading for nothing when you walk about with your horse on the end of a piece of rope!
The Shoulder Barge
Because the shoulder is such a big flat muscular area, horses get very good at using it to move horses (and people) around without injury to themselves. The “shoulder barge” happens when a horse wants to say “Get out of my way!” (fig. 3.3). Watch a group of horses in the field with each other: The older the horse, the less likely he is to use the shoulder barge because he’s been told in no uncertain manner that it is not acceptable, but younger horses and those that play a lot will often use gentle shoulder barges with each other (rarely with much real power behind them).
However, this signal doesn’t need much energy to squash a person in a doorway, and a horse in flight mode heading for a gap in which a human is standing will often use his shoulder so he can get through. Therefore, this signal is very important to recognize (and prevent) when working with a horse around agility obstacles. I will teach you how to deal with it later (see p. 92) so don’t panic! My aim is not to scare you but to make you aware that horses are not giant cuddly toys—they can hurt you if you don’t “read” them properly.
“Presenting” the Hind End
The other part of the horse that can seriously hurt you is his back end. When a horse presents his rear to you, he may either be saying “Scratch me,” or “Go away or I’ll kick you.” I never indulge a horse that backs up to me to have his rear end scratched. I’ve seen too many people either squashed against a wall or kicked because the scratch wasn’t forthcoming. However, in situations when you initiate the scratching and stay in control, it’s okay.
I also never accept a horse’s presenting his hind end to me when I go into the stall or paddock; I always expect him to face me. When I discuss catching you will see how easy it is to get a horse to do this—and it is paramount to becoming successful at