Anne Weston and Kismet, 6 year
old Australian Stock Horse mare,
demonstrating yawning on cue.
Yawning is a good way for the
horse to release any jaw tension
by stretching the jaw muscles.
old Australian Stock Horse mare,
demonstrating yawning on cue.
Yawning is a good way for the
horse to release any jaw tension
by stretching the jaw muscles.
Mickey, Thoroughbred gelding and
partner of Emma Keightley of
Canberra, smiling for the camera.
partner of Emma Keightley of
Canberra, smiling for the camera.
Willy, Thoroughbred
gelding and partner of
Katie Bartlett, USA.
Although this trick may
look easy, it has several
separate parts chained
together.
gelding and partner of
Katie Bartlett, USA.
Although this trick may
look easy, it has several
separate parts chained
together.
Pitch, 8 year old Appaloosa gelding
and Lisel's all rounder horse,
showing how he can stand
balanced on a tree stump (he has
Old Mac boots on his hind feet for
extra grip).
and Lisel's all rounder horse,
showing how he can stand
balanced on a tree stump (he has
Old Mac boots on his hind feet for
extra grip).
Pitch and Lisel backing up
bridleless (unfortunately the pic
was not taken at the most
flattering moment of the
movement!)
bridleless (unfortunately the pic
was not taken at the most
flattering moment of the
movement!)
Pitch in collected posture with no
tack
tack
Clicker trained horses can be
ridden with the usual aids like
any other horse. Note Pitch's
softness and calm focus on his
rider, which is typical of an
advanced clicker trained horse.
ridden with the usual aids like
any other horse. Note Pitch's
softness and calm focus on his
rider, which is typical of an
advanced clicker trained horse.
It is easy to give treats from the
saddle. Actively bending around like
this is also a good suppling and
balance exercise for the horse. The
horse is not required to hold this
position for very long but he is able to
repeat it as often as he is clicked. As
any athlete or body builder knows, its
all about reps and building duration
slowly. This is very different from the
way the horse uses his muscles when
his head is forcibly held in a certain
position for long periods of time.
saddle. Actively bending around like
this is also a good suppling and
balance exercise for the horse. The
horse is not required to hold this
position for very long but he is able to
repeat it as often as he is clicked. As
any athlete or body builder knows, its
all about reps and building duration
slowly. This is very different from the
way the horse uses his muscles when
his head is forcibly held in a certain
position for long periods of time.
Clicker trained horses view
strange new things with calm
interest if you make the
experience a fun game
strange new things with calm
interest if you make the
experience a fun game
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This was the first time I asked
Jimmy to pick up a stick and give it
to me while I was sitting on his
back and luckily we got it on
camera.
Although this required a very
different physical movement from
what he was used to, as he had to
bend his neck to pass the stick
backwards to me instead of
walking forward to give it to me, he
had generalised the concept "give
stick to human".
Horses are good at generalising
learned behaviours to other
contexts, generally more so than
dogs.
Jimmy to pick up a stick and give it
to me while I was sitting on his
back and luckily we got it on
camera.
Although this required a very
different physical movement from
what he was used to, as he had to
bend his neck to pass the stick
backwards to me instead of
walking forward to give it to me, he
had generalised the concept "give
stick to human".
Horses are good at generalising
learned behaviours to other
contexts, generally more so than
dogs.
One trainer can work with more
than one clicker wise animal at the
same time (but it is best to work
with new animals separately to
start with).
These horses will put their heads
down in response to a hand signal.
"Head down" on cue is a very
useful behaviour with several
different applications.
than one clicker wise animal at the
same time (but it is best to work
with new animals separately to
start with).
These horses will put their heads
down in response to a hand signal.
"Head down" on cue is a very
useful behaviour with several
different applications.
