some questions about clicker training

[notpoodle]

ha! found something angel is scared off now (i was almost worried there might be something wrong with her senses because she doesnt seem to be phazed by anything!!!) - UMBRELLAS!!!! as i was grooming her a kid walked past with the tiniest of umbrellas and angel froze, jerked and jumped backwards (not much and she didnt bolt or anything, she just looked petrified).

so now id like to get her used to the sight of umbrellas using clicker training. im not sure how to go about it though. has anyone got any tips or a good link to clicker training maybe?

julia
x

[notpoodle]

anyone?

[galadriel]

Alexandra Kurland has a lot of useful info on clicker training:
http://www.theclickercenter.com/

There's a site called ClickRyder with a lot of articles:
http://clickryder.com/

[notpoodle]

thanks :) ill have a look!

[lexi]

Hi Julia! I clicker trained Star a lot when she was a scaredycat baby and used an umbrella. If you don't find out everything you want to know on the website (I bought Alexandra Kurland's book from the Robinson's catalogue- it's really good) I'd be happy to tell you how it went! :)

[Mary Poppins]

Hello,

I started clicker training with my horse Barney. However, we didn't really get very far with it, as he was consistently more interested in the food in my pockets and trying to mug me for it, rather than associating the food with the clikcer. I tried it on another horse in the yard who picked it up in 5 minutes! I think that the problem is that other people feed him treats all the time so he doesn't associate the good behaviour with food. I need to find another motivator but don't really know what to use. I have tried patting and rubbing his neck, but this doesn't seem to work either. Any ideas anyone?

[virtuallyhorses]

clicker training and similar methods are more about teaching what to do when frightened rather than how to deal with specific objects.

By this I mean, if you just want to teach your horse to deal with umbrellas - then this would be done through desensitisation techniques, and there are loads of routines and strategies for this. Clicker training on the other hand is a more generic training to teach your horse to respond to cues and 'targets' which can then be applied to specific objects.

Examples:
Desensitisation might be leaving an umbrella hanging around the yard so that the horse sees it at a distance and gradually getting closer until the horse is completely unphased.

With clicker training you would teach the horse to touch a target (or perform some other task) on voice command. Once this is learned you would then use the target and voice command anytime you wanted to approach a new object or situation. The horse uses the target\voice command like a security blanket.

[virtuallyhorses]

Mary Poppins, the second task you would have to train with a horse like that is 'look away'. With clicker training the very first task is always to associate the click with the food (for no particular good behaviour) - you just stand and click\feed click\feed click\feed for 5-10mins at a time.

If the horse mugs you then you have to ensure that he NEVER gets food when you haven't clicked - so its got to be in a secure container. After you've had 1-2 sessions of association you simply continue but only click when he looks away. If he is highly food oriented he will pick it up provided that you are consistent(keep the sessions short and frequent) . Other people feeding shoudn't actually sabotage you - but you can always put up a sign asking that others don't feed your horse.

[Avid_Rider]

i started my horse on clicker training after she was nearly trained and she loves it. Sure she's a glutten for treats but she doesnt always get treats.
I started her by asking her to "touch" my hand (i held a treat in it the first few times) and as soon as she would, i would click and reward her. (i used a cap off of a glass bottle as my clicker. such as snapple, nestea, any of those).
After she got the hang of it we would go to other things. i had her just touch stuff for awhile, then i taught her to ground tie using a clicker. i would drop the lead, put my hand on her nose and say stay. then i would walk around her body as if i was grooming her like she was tied. then i'd reward with a treat or by switching activites.
then next time i would walk away a bit farther and farther.
the good thing about clicker training is that once your horse associates the clicker with a reward of some sort, you can do anything with it.
even teach a horse to stand while mounting!

[Mary Poppins]

So when is the best time to clicker train? When I get my horse in from the field, he is always looking for his haynet and won't concentrate on anything until he gets it. Should I try and use this time to clicker train and then give him his haynet as a reward? I have tried this before but didn't feel that he is concentrating.

Or, would it be better to wait until after I have ridden and spend some time clicker training before he get's his dinner.

Or, would it be better to go and see him at a random time of day and play with him in the field.

Or, should I try and clicker train him in all 3 situations? What has worked best with other people.

[Avid_Rider]

I clicker trained my horse, and still do, anytime. Sometimes i'll do a quick one or two stretches or "touches" in the field when i get her.
or after she has had a few oats and is, like your horse, more willing to pay attention.
I pretty much do bits and pieces of clicker training every day. Whether I spend 5 minutes to 30 on it.
As long as my horse is listening and paying attention, it usually goes over well.
However if my horse is not paying attention, i usually lunge her for 5 minutes and then she usually wants to do some clickering so that she doesnt actually have to work (ex. lungeing).
Hope that helps