If you follow us on Facebook, you have probably seen a good few videos and posts about clicker training.
I first started using clicker training a about 3-4 years ago now. I can't quite remember what lead me down that path but I started using it for a bit of fun for the horses, not directly for any issues initially. I soon learnt how much of a good tool this can be for horses with issues however!
It has been studied that for dogs, positive reinforcement training is the most successful way of training, so why not for our horses? Especially those that have fear and anxiety about certain situations. It takes the frustration out of learning for them as you can clearly communicate (with a clicker or any bridge signal you choose!) when they have done what you wanted them to do, and they get a big reward so want to do it again!
I have most commonly used it for mounting issues and within a few short sessions, horses who would either not stand at the mounting block, or would walk off as soon as your foot was in the stirrup, or just not be happy about the whole situation in general, could stand at the mounting block in a relaxed and happy manner while we take as long as needed to mount without anyone holding or helping. It has so many practical uses and whilst I myself still have lots to learn about with it, I am a massive advocate of it.
Horses are generally big foodies, so it works brilliantly. People often think "well all those treats, my horse is going to get nippy or expect treats all the time!" Now if you just pile treats in to them willy nilly then yes, with some horses that would absolutely be the case. You have to be strict with yourself and the first thing to teach them is how to respect your space when you have food. (I am working on a 'tutorial' video for this so keep your eyes pealed) They pick this up so easily and from there on it is all good fun. There is no right or wrong, if they do things "wrong" they are just trying to figure out what you want and are starting to problem solve. It really is easy to learn and a lot of it is just common sense (as most horse related things are!) but it's also good fun for you and your horse. It can help over come problems that you may be experiencing but it also helps give your horses more confidence and encourages them to become problem solvers. It's a great way to keep your horses brains engaged, especially over these winter months where you may not be able to ride as frequently or if you have limited turn out, they may not be able to let off any steam.
There are lots of learning materials out there that you can look up if you're interested! Plenty of youtube videos, facebook groups and of course those old fashioned books ;)
If you are looking for something new to do with your horse I'd highly recommend playing around with some R+, you will absolutely not regret it!
I will be doing some follow up posts over the coming weeks, so if you're interested and want to learn more, follow us to keep up to date :)
Happy clicking!